Maddie spins around, and we almost bump into her. “You have blueberry lemonade here?”
I give her a grin. “We do. And all kinds of amazing junk food. Let’s gorge ourselves. Maybe then you won’t be able to run very fast when the sun rises.”
“Ha,” Maddie says. “Maybe.”
At least I got a smile out of her.
We get lemonades, corn dogs, and funnel cakes. We chat about silly things, and I almost forget they are dead and that I’m an Obeah queen. We are just teenagers at the circus. It’s so normal I almost cry.
This is the life we should have had. Instead, we’re trapped in a nightmare. Even if I defeat Lorena, this is our reality. Benny and Maddie will only be alive once every two weeks for eternity.
Maddie stares off into space. I reach over and grip her hand, but she pulls away. My heart clenches. I don’t know how I’ll ever make this up to her.
The sky begins to lighten, and my nerves go on high alert. “I need to make sure Luke went back to Ruth’s tent.” I can’t lose him too.
Benny shakes his head. “There’s no time.” He points at the trees. I hate that I’ve never quite figured out how time moves on circus nights. Sometimes it moves excruciatingly slow, and other times, it flies by. I don’t get it. The sun is almost crested. I wait, scared of what’s about to happen. The sun creeps over the tops of the trees, and they both run. I don’t even have time to ask who they are after, but all the ghosts are rushing in the same direction.
Toward the big cats.
Chapter Twenty-Two
I take off after them, hoping against hope I can get there before them. I run as fast as I can, but it’s no use. They leave me in the dust. I turn the corner and see the ghosts crowded around the big cat’s tent, and all at once they disappear.
Benny and Maddie are still on the edges.
I race forward, my boots hitting the soft dirt hard. I fling open the tent flap and rush around the raised bleacher seats to the center of Luke’s tent, the massive cage where he does his shows with his cats.
He lies on the dusty floor, Fiona hovering over him.
I collapse on the ground with a shout.
No. No. No. No. No.
Not my dad.
After all the people she took from me, she took him too.
I want desperately to approach Luke, to hold him one last time, but I can’t—not with Fiona.
She licks his face, and I study his body as he lies there motionless. Someone gutted him.
His body twitches, and he props up on all fours and then stands on two legs, his guts spilling out. It makes me sick.
He stumbles a bit at the door of the cage, but he catches himself. I want to help him, but the last time I did that, I nearly got dragged into the swamp.
I shut the cage door so Fiona doesn’t follow him.
Lorena killed my father. That bitch is taking everyone, and I still have no idea why. She’ll pay for this.
Fiona prowls in the fenced circle. I will need to find someone to take care of her and the rest of the animals. Ruth can help me figure that out. I’ve asked too much of Amy, and her job right now is to protect her kids. I’m grateful I at least have Ruth, but if I don’t do something about Lorena before the next new moon, Ruth will be the next to go because she has the most to offer me. I don’t care what she says about protections. She doesn’t have a clue who she’s dealing with. Lorena is not only powerful, but she’s vindictive and cold-hearted.
I feel numb like this isn’t real. Like everyone I know isn’t dead. This grief is different because I know I will see them again, but this still isn’t fair. In the end, after Lorena is taken care of, I’ll do my damndest to free all those trapped on the island, including the ghosts.
Maybe that means letting them move on, and maybe that means giving them their lives back.
I may be playing right into exactly what Lorena wants, but really, what’s the alternative, sit back and watch as she destroys more lives? I can’t let her do that. It feels like accepting defeat. But maybe it’s time to surrender to the inevitable.
And maybe, just maybe, I can outsmart her. It’s wishful thinking, but I can’t give up completely. That’s not who I am.
Lorena has done far too much damage. It’s time to end this.
Chapter Twenty-Three
I march over to Lorena’s house and pound on her door. She opens it and purses her lips.
I want to punch her and rip her hair off her head. I want to yell and scream and beat her senseless. I want to take all the emotions broiling in my stomach and unleash them all on her.
She looks so innocent, standing there, dishtowel in hand, waiting expectantly for me to say something. But she murdered them all.
I take a deep breath and clench my fists. “You killed Luke.”
She gives a small smile and wipes her hands on her towel. “That I did. Worthless thorn in my side is gone now.”
“No, he’s still around. He’s just not here right now.”
Lorena cackles. “Whatever makes you feel better, sweetie. Now, is that everything, or did you come here to yell at me about taking out your good-for-nothing father?”
Lorena has killed so many innocent people, people who didn’t deserve to die, and here she is acting like it’s all okay. I dig my nails into my palms to slow the shake. I’m afraid I’ll do something stupid, and I can’t afford stupid right now.
I think about setting her on fire, but realize if I do that, I’ll get zero answers. “Oh, there is plenty we need to talk about, but Luke first. Tell me why he had to die.” I hold her gaze. I’m done backing down to her.
“Because he loved you. He tried so hard to keep you hidden, you know.”
My stomach lurches. I wasn’t nearly as good to Luke—correction, Dad—as I should’ve been. He was the one person who fought to keep me safe. And now he’s dead.
My curiosity nearly overrides my anger. “How’d you find me?”
“Tracing spell. I made it seem like Samuel did it because I knew Luke would find out, and I couldn’t have him suspecting me. The spell Samuel placed on you was a good one. I needed something that had your touch. A blanket, an old toy, something. I didn’t keep any of that around after you supposedly died, but Luke did. I snuck into his house and found the box of your old things.
“He came crashing over to my house, asking why I’d taken it. I played dumb of course. So after the tracing spell, I had to let enough time pass before I brought you to the island. Luke was suspicious and accused me of bringing you here. I had to act all innocent like I’d never do such a thing.” She looks off into the distance, and I wait. I want more of this story. Then she shakes her head. “It was his love for you that got him killed. His stupidity, really.”
I rush at her, press my hand against her neck, and push her up against the wall. “Don’t you ever talk about my father that way again.”
My hands burn, wanting to release fire on her. Her eyes widen, and I let my hands burn her just a little bit. I should let it go more, but I need more answers out of her. I know this. I have to control my emotions.
I release her, my breathing heavy, and she brings her hands up to her blistering neck.
“You’ve got some tricks up your sleeve.” She snaps her fingers, and her neck goes back to normal. I still need to learn how to do that. “Now why don’t we sit like civilized human beings and discuss our predicament?”
She closes the slider and points to the couch. I don’t sit.
“What predicament?”
She perches on a chair. “I need you dead, and you refuse to die.”
I’m so sick and tired of this. “What have I ever done to you? I’m your daughter!”
“Kin means nothing. You are no more to me than a stranger on the street. Except my blood runs in your veins. Which is exactly why I will see you dead in the end.”
I roll my eyes and frown at her. “Nice try, Mother, you can’t kill me anymore.”
“Says you. I haven’t found a way
yet, but I will. Don’t you worry.” She gives me a crooked smile. “Sit, this is a conversation long overdue.”
She makes a sweeping gesture with her hands to the couch. I sit on an armchair instead, just to be obstinate, but I am a little wary. This seems too easy. Lorena brings her hand up to her neck again and shakes her head.
“I became trapped on this island years ago. You already know the story of Sileas. I was pregnant when he died. I didn’t even know until a few months later. I gave birth to a healthy baby boy, but I didn’t have any of the mothering instincts I should’ve. I was still deep in grief.
“Sileas’s death changed me. Some might think it broke me, but it made me stronger. I was now able to embrace my magic in ways that I wouldn’t have before. I wanted one thing. Revenge on Samuel for taking Sileas away.”
She pauses, a faraway look in her eyes. “And I found a spell. It required the life of my child, but it would take control of the island away from Samuel and give it to me. And so I did.”
I swallow. “You killed a baby? Your own son?”
She shrugs like it’s no big deal. “He was a means to an end. Plus, he was too much work—all that crying and dirty diapers. I solved two problems at once.”
I’m truly sickened by her attitude. It’s no wonder she’s so nonchalant about killing me. If she is willing to kill a baby, there is no line she won’t cross. I’m dealing with a madwoman.
“But I didn’t anticipate the consequences.”
I snort. Of course, she didn’t.
“I am stuck here. I long to explore the rest of the world. I need to leave. I learned of a spell that would do the trick, one that required the life of my firstborn daughter. It would require me to be patient, as she would have to come of age first.”
“Me.”
“Yes, dear. You. I wanted to raise you, but your father had different plans. It worked out for the best really. Except, had I raised you, you might be a bit more compliant.”
“But I’m only sixteen.” I don’t want to be her puppet or take her place. I’m not an adult, and I won’t be for two more years, and even then, I’m not ready for any of this responsibility.
“Coming of age is actually when you become a woman, capable of bearing children.”
Oh. So, that would’ve been thirteen for me. She waited three whole years. I wonder if she thinks I should be grateful. Probably.
“This would’ve been much easier to do if you had been raised here. But, in the end, I got you here.”
“How?”
“Magic, dear, a lot of magic.”
I stand, wondering what on earth I could do to her to avenge not only my father but my brother, my sister—who I guess is really my cousin—and all the countless others she’s killed or tortured.
She looks up at me with an irritatingly calm face. “Sit down, my child.”
I stalk over to her and hover. She brings a hand up to her neck.
“Listen to me, Lorena, I am not a child, and I certainly have never been your child. You may have birthed me, but you are not my mother.”
She laughs. “Oh, your poor, pitiful mother. She had no idea who you were really. Samuel made sure they thought they were your real parents. But I needed you, and so I sent a letter infused with a simple spell that convinced her and your father that you should be here.”
“A simple spell? No, it was rather powerful or they would have stormed the island to bring me back.”
She crosses her arms and smirks. “Do you really think they loved you that much? No, they would have done that for Maddie—their true child. In fact, her face is on every news station in the country. People want to know what happened to that fresh-faced beauty. They’ve all but forgotten about you.”
“Because of you.”
She cackles. “Whatever makes you feel better, dear.”
I try not to let her get to me. I know they’re not looking for me because of the spell. They love me.
“So how will my death set you free?”
She shakes her head. “You ask all the wrong questions.”
“What questions should I be asking?” I can’t see what would be more important than that.
“You should be asking how you came to survive all this time.”
I sit back down on the chair. Maybe she’ll let slip how I can continue to survive. This all became so much bigger than I had imagined. Not only would my death be bad for me, but it would also unleash this monster on the world. At least right now, her wrath is confined to the island.
“Okay, I’ll bite. How did I survive all this time?”
Lorena leans forward, her eyes sparkling. “You know, I don’t know. You were supposed to die that first night, but then Benny picked a death that took too long, and I had to wait a whole month to try again. I’m hoping that perhaps this conversation will shed light on the truth.”
“Why did you have to wait? You could’ve easily killed me in between.”
“I need you to be a ghost, love. That’s part of the spell. You have to take my place.” She stares at me for a moment. “Anyway, you’re still very much alive because, by the time the next new moon came around, Benny had developed feelings for you. Shame. Well, that doesn’t matter now. Soon you’ll join him in ghostland. Though, maybe I’ll make him move on right after you die. That would be so lovely.”
I can’t think about that right now. I’m trying to get answers from her, but at some point, I’ll have to figure out how to make sure that Benny doesn’t move on.
“So you decide who moves on and who stays?”
“Of course I do.”
“Why hasn’t he moved on already? You’ve done away with all my friends.”
“Because Benny will be key in your death. Otherwise, I would’ve definitely done that.”
Is she playing with me or being honest? There is no way to tell.
“Anyway, where were we?” She gives me a big grin. “Oh yes, that stupid boy fell in love with you, and that made it impossible to kill you. But then, I was just going to use another ghost. Then you found a way to charm Samuel as well and went behind my back and became Obeah. Now you are nearly untouchable. But I’ll find a way.”
The only reason I’m still alive is because she messed up. Or is this all part of her scheme to get me to do what she wants. This directly contradicts what she said earlier about me falling right into her plans. So either she was lying to me then, or she’s lying to me now. I have no idea which one is which.
I have to work with what I know.
“So, why do I have to take over the island? Find someone else.” I try to find a way around the problem. What she wants is me dead. That’s all she ever wanted. But she has a big problem. No one can kill me. Samuel made sure of that.
“Only you can do it because you are like me, an ancestral witch. You’ll still be able to control the island after you die.”
“I thought I was Obeah.”
“You are both. If you were properly trained, I expect you’d be stronger than I am. But isn’t that the way of things? Daughters always outshine their mothers.”
Well, now I know what I need to do. Find a way to use both magics to defeat her.
“Why can’t I rule the island alive? I would probably agree to that. Anything to get you out of my life.”
“Because you must die to free me and to ensure that I can’t be called back.”
“So what do we do now?” I ask.
“I suppose we avoid each other, and one of these new moons, after I figure out how to kill you, you’ll die. In the meantime, your friends will die one by one. I may even lure over others from L.A. You could just agree to die on the next new moon. That would make this much easier.”
“You lured Maddie here? You’re a bitch, you know that, right?”
She cackles. “Witch, dear, I think that’s what you meant to say.”
I don’t correct her. I just let myself out.
I take the long way home, wandering through the circus, thinking. If she figure
s out how to kill me, I’m not sure what will change. I’m already trapped on the island, so that doesn’t matter. But being dead will definitely have its disadvantages. If I’m as powerful a witch as she says I am, I could probably find a way to resurrect myself. Though, that’s likely massive wishful thinking.
I might sacrifice myself to get out from underneath her thumb. I don’t want to see anyone else die. My chest tightens at that thought. I don’t want to die. I’ve come so close so many times, and I’ve managed to escape.
But if I just give in to her plans of me becoming a ghost, there could be unintended consequences, things I can’t foresee, so I can’t risk that. Even though it might actually be easier at this point. I’d see Benny, Juliette, and Maddie more often.
I feel so alone. All my friends are dead, which means I can only see them once every two weeks. I don’t even know what to do in the in-between time. I could practice magic, but I need people.
People who love me. I know Amy and Ruth do, but I don’t want to hang out with them and risk their lives. Raptor trails behind me, but he’s not exactly talkative.
He squawks as if he can hear my thoughts. He does actually talk a lot but just not in any words that I can understand. Loneliness might be worse than death. Maybe this is what Lorena means. She’s taken all of my friends away from me so that death seems like my best option.
I can’t let her win.
Not because of pride or anything but because of the future that I cannot see.
I take the boardwalk around the island and pause at Amy’s boat. She’s on the porch, doing laundry, all her kids chattering at her. She hears me and waves. I wave back.
I hurry on the docks. Ruth’s boat is dark, but that makes sense. She spends most of her time at her tent. I come around the corner to my own boat and find Elias outside, smoking a cigarette. I go onto my porch and sit on a chair on the edge so I can talk to him.
It’s ridiculous what I’ve been reduced to.
“No alligators today.” He blows out smoke and leans back in his chair.
“Nope. She’s decided I’m not worth trying to kill. Well, at least until the new moon.”
Circus of the Dead: Book 3 Page 13