by TJ Green
Little had caught their interest so far. The occasional figure drifted past in scruffy jeans or combat trousers, boots, trainers, t-shirts, and jackets. The passed a lone juggler, a middle-aged man with long, wild hair, throwing half a dozen balls into the air and catching them with grace and dexterity. He was mesmerising, and Avery dragged her gaze away as Alex pulled her towards the inner caravans. The light was brighter here, and as they peered around the corner of a van, they saw a small, central area with a blazing fire in the middle, and a muddle of seats around the edge in which a few people were sitting, chatting, and eating. They seemed comfortable and familiar with each other, which wasn't surprising, and so far there was nothing untoward happening, just the usual hustle and bustle of a crowd of people who knew each other well.
They walked on, heading to the outskirts, passing more vans grouped together around other fires, and it reminded Avery of music festivals, as every group sounded different; different music, different languages, and different types of performers. Eventually they reached the vans tucked beneath the furthermost hedge. An old gypsy caravan was set apart from the others. It was beautifully decorated, the door open to reveal a colourful interior lit with lamplight. It had its own small wood burner in there, and smoke poured from a tiny chimney, but there was a small fire burning outside, too. As she watched, the woman who she'd seen earlier that day in the town dressed in earthy colours walked down the steps in the same clothes, but with a large jumper and an old parka, too. She was rolling a cigarette between her fingers, but she paused and looked up towards Avery, and Avery quickly slipped back into the dark shadows next to a van, pulling Alex with her.
Alex looked puzzled, but she said nothing, watching the woman and wondering what she would do. For a moment she stood, looking perplexed, and then glanced around quickly as if unsure of her surroundings, but after another brief moment, she carried on down the steps and settled into an old wooden deck chair, propping her feet on a log as she smoked her cigarette and watched the flames.
Avery was rattled. For a moment, it felt as if she'd been seen. She raised herself up on tip-toes and whispered in Alex's ear. "Sorry. She's the woman I saw in town earlier, the one I thought looked into me."
Alex watched the woman. "Are you feeling anything from her now?"
"No, but for a second there, I thought she'd seen me through my spell, but I must be wrong."
"Interesting," he murmured. "I wonder who she is. I also wonder if I'd have had the same feeling if she'd seen me today, too."
"Like maybe she's some kind of witch detector?"
"Maybe."
They watched for a short while, but she remained alone, unmoving and remote.
"I wonder why she's set apart from the others?" Avery mused. "I'm too worried to get any closer to her. I feel as if she has an Avery-radar."
"I'm sure she doesn't, but let's not take any chances and check out the vans further along the hedge. Some of these look bigger than the others---maybe they belong to the managers."
They kept to the shadows, moving between the cars, vans and caravans, hearing snatches of conversation, usually about what crowds to expect, complaints about rehearsals, and relief the weather was warming up. And then they saw a tall, gaunt, middle-aged man exit a large camper van that had been converted from an old army vehicle. He bristled with authority and strode through the vans with purpose, but rather than follow him, they tiptoed up the steps to look into the interior.
It was dimly lit with one small lamp, and it illuminated a sitting area, a small kitchen, and large bed at the rear behind the driver's compartment, and it was a mess. Dirty glasses and plates crowded the surfaces, the bed was unmade, and clothes were strewn everywhere, but what was more interesting was the costume that draped over a chair. It was a cloak of black feathers, and a mask hung next to it---a feather hood and large beak.
"This must belong to the owner, Corbin, aka the Raven King," Alex suggested. "Isn't he the Ring Master?"
Avery nodded. "That's what Dan said. It's an amazing costume, but so were the ones the performers wore in town today. It's going to be quite the show."
"It doesn't tell us anything about who could be responsible for these deaths though, does it?" Alex headed for the exit, but before they could leave, they heard voices, and the man returned with another man behind him. It was Rafe. They walked up the shallow steps, shutting the door behind them.
Avery quickly reinforced their spell and they retreated to the back where it was dark, squashing next to the bed behind a row of clothes. If necessary and they were spotted, they could glamour them so they could escape, but Avery hoped it wouldn't come to that.
Corbin rounded on Rafe. "How is she? Is she keeping it at bay?"
He nodded. "For now. But it grows stronger, and I have a feeling that soon she won't be able to control it for much longer, despite the sacrifice not being complete. It will hunt, regardless."
Corbin punched the wall and swore. "Damn it, Rafe! I thought we'd get away with one more show."
Rafe drew himself up and looked him squarely in the eye. "And I told you we couldn't. It will feed before the first show, it's inevitable, but we'll make sure it happens away from here, as usual. Just stick to your end of the bargain. Caitlin's arrangement feeds this place---and you, don't forget that. Your costume wouldn't be half so impressive without it."
"You didn't fully explain the consequences of this," Corbin said, almost snarling.
Rafe laughed grimly. "Don't give me that crap. We did, but you just heard what you wanted to hear---money and success. You just let Caitlin do what she needs to, and we'll be fine. Hold your nerve, Corbin."
With that, Rafe pushed the door open and left, and Corbin watched him go, his hands clenched and his expression furious. He stood for a moment, breathing deeply, no doubt in an effort to calm himself down, and then he strode to a small fridge, grabbed a beer, and headed out again, slamming the door.
Avery let out a breath she hadn't even realised she'd been holding. "Wow. What did that mean?"
Alex was already untangling himself from the clothes. "I don't know, but we need to follow Rafe. He clearly knows more about this than anyone."
Unfortunately, by the time they stumbled down the steps into the night, Corbin and Rafe had both disappeared. For the next half an hour, they hunted between the cars, caravans, and camper vans, desperate to find Rafe, but he'd gone.
Avery scanned the crowd looking for Mairi, but couldn't see her, either. "If Rafe knows about this, Mairi must, too. They're married, so they must all be in this together. But who's Caitlin?"
"Good question," Alex said, as they left the field, frustrated that they had more questions than they'd had before.
They met the others back by the cars. Reuben leant against El's Land Rover, his arms crossed, and his hands tucked under his armpits. His long legs were stretched out on the road, and his head was tipped back, looking up at the stars. El sat inside, the engine running, trying to keep warm. Briar and Shadow were nowhere in sight.
"Any joy?" Reuben asked, straightening up as El joined them.
"You could say that," Alex replied. "Although, what we heard raises more questions than answers. You?"
"We sat on the seats in the dark at the back of the tent, watching the performers. They've already set up the high wires and trapeze, and a couple of acrobats were in there warming up. They're still decorating the inside, though."
El said, "It looks so cool. They're decorating the inside like the out. The walls are covered in paintings of leaves and images of the Green Man, but they're hanging thick curtains of leaves and feathers over the walls, too. The whole place felt like it was rustling, like it's alive, and that there are things watching you. Only half the stuff is up at the moment, but it will feel like we're in the middle of a wood when it's done."
"Any sign of magic?" Alex asked.
"None. Not yet, anyway," Reuben said. "At this stage, I just think it's well put together."
El agreed. "It wi
ll be interesting to see what it's like on a performance night, though. I certainly didn't pick up on any magic from the performers. And we didn't hear anything strange, either."
Avery placed her hands on the warm bonnet of El's car, which was still running. "We didn't feel any magic either, but after what we heard, something strange is definitely happening there." She looked beyond Reuben's bulk, up the slope to the castle in the distance. "I'm starting to get worried about Briar and Shadow, though."
Alex checked his watch. "They get five minutes, and then we go and find them."
"Tell us what you heard," El urged them.
Avery had only just started to tell them when they heard footsteps, and Shadow and Briar emerged out of the darkness, Briar glancing nervously behind them.
"Is everything okay?" Avery asked, alarmed. They seemed unsettled, even Shadow.
Briar's eyes were bright with excitement. "Ancient magic is happening up there. I felt the Green Man. Did you?"
"No!" Avery said, startled. "What about you, Shadow?"
Shadow also looked excited, and a bit furtive, which was worrying. "He's here, and he's bringing spring with him. Things are going to get very weird."
"Let's head to my place," Avery said immediately. "See you there."
***
"How come you could detect ancient magic when we couldn't?" Reuben asked Briar. He sat on one of the chairs that were placed around Avery's dining table, but he'd turned it around so that his legs straddled the seat as he leaned forward on the raised back of the chair.
Briar pointed to her bare feet that were currently flexing on Avery's rug. Her back was to the fire, and she faced the rest of the room, her hands cupped around a mug of tea. "These feet are very sensitive when bare and connected to the earth. Although it was freezing, I decided it was worth trying, and I immediately felt the connection, stronger than I've ever felt before. The Green Man is powering the earth up there. The actual Green Man! The strongest nature spirit of all is truly here! And now that I've felt him, I can't un-feel him. He's here---he's everywhere!"
Avery's stomach fluttered with worry. "Please don't say it's like what happened at Samhain in Old Haven Church." The earth in the wood had been saturated with blood magic, and with the aid of a powerful spell had enabled the opening of the portal. The earth had been tainted, and they had needed to cleanse it after they banished the Wild Hunt.
Briar shook her head vigorously. "No, absolutely not. This was very different. No blood magic, just good, strong Earth magic."
Shadow agreed. "I did what Briar did, and dug my feet into the earth, not expecting to feel anything really, beyond what I normally would, anyway." She shrugged. "As a fey I always have a connection with the earth. It sings to me, responds to me, like it recognises me. But," she paused, her violet eyes darkening to a stormy blue, "something else recognised me. He recognised me." She gazed into the fire and whatever visions lay in there, and her hand flew to her heart. "It felt like home."
The witches exchanged worried glances, and Avery said, "Forgive me for saying this, Shadow, but in the short time I've known you, you seem pretty impervious to anything, and yet, you look upset tonight."
Shadow just stared at her, unflinching. "You would be too if something had tugged at your soul."
"It must have been good to feel your home, though," El said to her gently. She turned to Avery and Alex. "What did you find out while you were hanging around their vans?"
"We found Corbin," Avery told them. "It seems he wears the Raven King's costume, which means he's the Ring Master. Well, that's what Dan told me, anyway." Between them, Avery and Alex related what they had seen and heard, and immediately the collective mood dipped even further.
Reuben reached for another beer and repeated what Avery had told them, "'It grows stronger, and I have a feeling that soon she won't be able to control it for much longer, despite the sacrifice not being complete. It will hunt, regardless.' Have I got that right? What the hell does it mean? Sacrifice sounds ominous."
"But who is Caitlin? And what is her arrangement that gives Corbin's costume power?" Alex asked.
"Whatever it is must be responsible for the Green Man's presence, too," Briar mused.
El brightened. "At least we know there's some kind of magic going on up there, enough to attract the Green Man, and maybe the Raven King---if that's what Rafe meant."
Briar was playing with the ends of her hair as she sat, thinking. "Maybe the circus is named after crossroads magic? Maybe that's what Rafe was talking about?"
Reuben's eyes widened. "Ooh! This sounds fun. Enlighten me."
Briar just looked at him. "Don't you read anything?"
To his credit, he was completely un-offended. "No. You know that. I surf, practice magic---which, admittedly involves some reading of grimoires---and work, when I have to. I'm not the research type."
Alex laughed and toasted him with his beer. "I love your honesty, Reu. You'd better educate all of us, Briar."
Briar settled on the rug, cross-legged, and pushed her long, dark hair back over her shoulders. "I know a little bit. Crossroads are liminal places, and offer a bridge between this world and the Otherworld." She noted Shadow's excited face. "But what the Otherworld is, is debatable. It could be the world of fey, or Hell, or where the spirits live. Common myths talk of being able to summon the Devil at the crossroads, or that the Devil will appear unbidden, promising you your heart's desire in exchange for your soul. They're a powerful place to perform magic, too. Offerings of food or wine can help you make decisions at important times of your life---when you're at a metaphorical crossroads."
"Do these myths occur all over the world?" Alex asked.
"I believe so, all with their own legends and interpretations. In Britain they're commonly linked with standing stones."
Avery sat up straighter. "Is that why there are standing stones at the entrance to the circus?"
Briar shrugged. "I guess so. Crossroads mark thresholds, keep the fey from our doors, and maybe show places where mythical creatures are buried. Like many thresholds, they are more potent at dusk, dawn, and midnight. And of course, they're more powerful on Samhain."
El agreed, adding, "One of Hecate's many roles includes that of the crossroads witch, which I guess fits with her guarding the thresholds of the dead."
The room fell silent for a moment as they thought through the implications, and then Reuben spoke up. "So, the fact that the circus is named after crossroads means what?" He waved his half-empty beer bottle. "It's a good fit for British myth and magic, especially as their performances are based on myths, but is there a deeper meaning?"
A smile hovered on Alex's lips. "Of course there is, because..." He trailed off, looking at them expectantly.
"There's no such thing as coincidence," Avery finished for him. A heaviness settled in her bones and the pit of her stomach. The circus was bringing more than performers to White Haven. She turned to Shadow. "Are there crossroad myths in your world?"
Shadow's face broke into a smile. "We have many stories, old legends that stretch back years---well before I was born---but we would call them less myths than just old tales. The creatures that exist only on the periphery of your world walk about in mine, as real as the sun. But crossroads myths, I'm not so sure."
"What sort of creatures?" Briar asked, her face becoming animated.
That was a good question, Avery reflected. Shadow was a fey; she was a treasure of stories they hadn't even started to unpack.
"There are so many. This world feels only half-alive to me. So many things should be here that aren't." Her eyes dulled as she looked into the fire. "The trees and rivers have spirits---dryads, nymphs, water sprites---all of them are visible, with their own special magic. Satyrs, animal spirits, shapeshifters..."
"We have those," Reuben pointed out. "Briar's boyfriend is a wolf-shifter."
Briar rounded on him. "He's not my boyfriend."
Reuben smirked. "Liar."
Shadow smiled. "I
would like to meet him. It's nice to be around creatures with blood from the Other."
Briar looked startled. "What?"
"Of a sort, surely? I told you that Gabe and the Nephilim are half-sylph. These Angels you speak of," she shrugged, unimpressed. "Sounds suspicious to me."
Avery rubbed her face. "This is great, Shadow, but we need to get back to the topic and find out if it is crossroads magic in that circus."
"And if it is, how it works," Alex added.
***
Newton looked at Avery bleakly. A frown creased his face, and he pulled at his tie, loosening it slightly. "Are you sure?"
"Yes, that's what we heard, and that's what Briar and Shadow felt."
They were in the back room of Avery's shop, which was her stock room and meeting place, and it was just past nine the next morning. Avery had forgotten how energetic Newton was at this hour; he sipped his tea with furious concentration, looking alert and calculating. She, however, felt barely alive. Avery hated mornings.
"But you have no idea who this mysterious Caitlin is?"
"None. We tried to find her, but Rafe had disappeared." She'd told him about the woman who was dressed in earth colours, and she referred to her now. "She might be Caitlin, or she could be unrelated."
"But someone, a woman, controls it, whatever that is," Newton pointed out. "And it needs to feed. That has to be our killer."
Avery mulled over his suggestion. The woman was perceptive, with an uncanny knowing about her. "The woman I saw could be her, but I'm not sure. It's just too soon to say."
After another moment of silence, Newton smiled, and his entire demeanour lifted. "Brilliant work, though. Thanks, Avery, and thank everyone else for me. It's unfortunate to know that we were right, but at least we know something about what's going on. I'm going to look into this Caitlin woman, and I think we need to get Ben and the guys involved."