by Dani Rei
She sits on the grass and takes off her shoes, keeping her bare feet just off the ground. She drags the unlit torch along her shin, causing the other members to howl and whistle. She lights the trail along her leg like before and blows it out before doing the same on the other. When that goes out, she rises to her knees and sticks out her tongue. She dabs the unlit torch on its surface, then the lit one, then the unlit one again, and pulls her flaming tongue back into her mouth and holds up the two lit torches. The other members continue cheering while Blake stares, slack-jawed and wide-eyed.
Inez turns her head to the side and places one torch onto her tongue, carefully guiding it inside her mouth and closing her lips around it. When she parts her lips again, the fire is extinguished, and Inez grins at the audience as a bit of smoke sneaks out of her lips and caresses her cheeks as she grins. Her eyes land on Blake’s, making his heart skip a beat, and she reaches to a spot behind her to pull an oddly shaped wire contraption. It looks like a triangle, but with a curved base.
Inez lights a wick at the corner of the curve, then stands and blows out the torch before tossing it aside. She twirls the contraption on her fingers, and the flame grows to cover the entire curve with multiple wicks. She tosses it, and it splits into two parts.
Fire fans!
She catches one in each hand and spins her body, twirling claw marks of flames around her.
Lines of orange and yellow cut through the night air, lighting up Inez’s face in a warm glow that leaves Blake breathless. The roar of the flames sends chills across Blake’s arms, and with each blink, there are trails of light etched onto his eyelids.
Inez moves with the music as the fire traces and frames her body. She tosses one fan, then both, then juggles the two with one hand, making everyone scream and cheer, including Blake.
She catches them both in one hand with the wicks forming an O shape and dances with them for a minute before separating them again. The flames have gotten much smaller now, and Inez puts them out with one quick motion, and the audience erupts into applause and cheers. Blake follows suit as Inez kneels beside him.
Don’t say it.
“Your turn.”
Shit, you said it.
Blake nods and grabs the poi, taking his place in front of everyone.
At the back of the audience, Rex stands with crossed arms while Victor sits at his side with a hand on his chin. In front of the audience, Mishkin holds a safety blanket while Inez approaches him and lights the poi the way she’d done before. Blake swallows hard and swings the poi into all the shapes and patterns he can think of.
There aren’t many.
As the music shifts, he spins both poi in one hand; meanwhile, he wiggles his foot under the third poi that lies on the ground, kicks it up, and catches it by the rope in his free hand. He meshes the circles of the third poi with the other two, lighting it with the trails they leave behind. The rest of the cast cheers, and a smirk grows on his face.
Blake takes a deep breath and lets it out quickly as he tosses all three poi above his head, creating a ladder pattern in the air. As they fall, Blake’s hands move in the patterns and routines he’d practiced with Inez.
Shit. He’s trying to use too many club patterns he hadn’t practiced yet. He tosses one poi too high, another too far, and almost drops the third. He tosses one as high as he can while maintaining control and swings the other two around his body until the third poi passes his face. He catches it on his ankle and kicks it back up to go into a more familiar juggling pattern.
His fumble must have been obvious, and it sends a pang into his chest. He goes back into the new patterns, attempting some turns he hadn’t rehearsed yet. A risky move, but it works, and the others don’t seem to care about his previous mistake. Perfect, they’re in the palm of his hand now. Just like he rehearsed with Inez, he kicks up a fourth poi, lighting it with the others, and goes into juggling two in each hand.
Everyone roars as he continues spinning in the only patterns he was able to master with four. He snuffs out the first three and rolls the fourth up and down his bare arm, making quick work of putting out the flame that trails his arm, and blows out the poi in one huff.
Applause echoes into the night air as Blake holds the poi out at his sides and gives the members a quick bow. The applause and cheering are like music to his ears, and they cover his arms with goosebumps.
He lifts his head to look at Rex, whose grin has disappeared into a pensive glare.
I messed up. Of course he’d notice.
Blake’s heart sinks in his chest as he takes his place next to Inez, who is still applauding with a smirk. Other members are giving him friendly punches and words of praise.
“Not bad, Pup,” says Inez. “Looks like you’ve got a place here after all.”
Blake opens his mouth to thank her, but Rex’s figure looms over the two.
“You weren’t perfect,” he says, “but your showmanship makes up for your fumbles. I look forward to seeing what you bring to the stage.” He makes his way back inside the mansion, leaving Blake at a loss for words until a hand pats his shoulder.
“You did it,” says Mishkin with a smile. “You passed!”
“I passed?” says Blake, and he’s bombarded with compliments and congratulations by the others, including Ronan, who holds out his hand with a grin.
“And to think I tried to keep you away. Brothers?”
Blake shakes Ronan’s hand with a smile and a firm grip. “Brothers.”
The night goes on with marshmallows and more freelance performances.
MOONLIGHT SHINES THROUGH the empty halls of the mansion as Blake approaches one of the doors, double checking the plaque.
INEZ MARQUIS
He takes a deep breath and knocks on the door—hard enough to hear but quiet enough not to wake her if she’s asleep. It’s well past one in the morning, but everyone only retreated to their rooms a short while ago.
When a few seconds pass with no answer, he turns to leave, but then the doorknob shifts, startling him back into place as Inez peeks through a crack in the door.
“Pup?” she whispers. “What are you doing here?”
“I wanted to check on you. The way Ian’s been acting is pretty fucked up, even if you can handle it. I just wanted to see if you were okay.”
“You wanted to check on me?” Inez asks, a slight pink forming on her cheeks.
“Of course. And you were right. I have no idea how this place works, and I shouldn’t be jumping into situations I don’t understand. I’m sorry for butting in earlier.”
“It’s okay,” Inez says, eyes lowering while she shifts her feet. “Your heart was in the right place. I shouldn’t have yelled. It is nice knowing that you would stand up for me like that.”
Blake smiles and shifts in place. “I also, um...I wanted to thank you. I would never have passed this test without your help. And uh...listen, if I can ever return the favor, if you ever need my help, I’ll be right there. Not that you need it, but...you know.”
A tiny smile creeps onto Inez’s face, and Blake’s heart flutters.
“Thanks, Blake. That means a lot.”
Silence fills the air between them, and Blake can’t take his eyes off of her. The blue hue of the night caresses her face, and her brown eyes sparkle through the darkness. A tiny smile forms on his lips as Inez narrows her eyes at him.
“What?”
“You said my name.”
“Oh, please,” she scoffs, rolling her eyes and hiding red cheeks behind her hair. “That’s what friends do, isn’t it? Good night, Blake.”
“Wait, what did you say?”
“I said good night!” Inez barks just before closing the door, and Blake lets out a quiet laugh as he heads back to his own room, ignoring every instinct to barge into hers and pull her into his arms.
Inez is too adorable.
He stops in his tracks and looks back over his shoulder at her door.
Yeah, she i
s adorable, isn’t she?
He shakes his head, rushes into his room and closes the door behind him, leaning on it and tilting his head to the ceiling.
Inez is adorable. Beautiful. Magical.
He drags his back down the door and plops down behind it. Seeing Inez has been making his heart race. He shuffles his fingers around to check, and yep, his palms have been sweating the entire time.
Is this a bad thing? Maybe not. Inez said she doesn’t care for Allistair that way, and never mentioned having feelings for anyone else. He can ask her to breakfast tomorrow, then to the ball.
He leaps to his feet and throws his arms around his pillow as he drops himself onto his bed. His heart flutters again as images of Inez in his arms flash through his mind.
He stares out the window at the star-speckled sky and begs to whatever or whoever might be watching.
Please, please let this work.
Chapter 13
I
t’s warmer today than Blake had anticipated, but none of the other members are out enjoying it. He and Inez practice more partner work, and they’re much closer this time than last time. He tries to pretend he doesn’t notice, but it seems like Inez is doing it deliberately. Her breasts rub against him as she steps closer, and she looks up at him with her eyes glossed over; Her lips parted, cheeks red, and she’s leaning up.
“Please,” she breathes.
Without hesitation, he presses his lips to hers; heat surges through his veins when she pulls him close, confirming her desires. He drops his poi and wraps his arms around her waist, guiding her onto the grass while his tongue parts her satin lips to taunt hers.
Delicious.
Her body is warm against his, and her fingers grip at his hair. He licks and nibbles the smooth skin on her neck while a hand traces her sides. She’s as beautiful to touch as she is to look at. He considers asking her if she wants to go inside, but he can’t wait anymore. He wants her, needs her, right the fuck now. And she doesn’t seem too patient either.
Her moans are like music, filling his blood with joy and his body with hunger. His cock grinds against the warm slit through their clothes, and their mouths fall open, panting.
He kisses her again as he lifts her shirt, revealing pink nipples, begging to be tasted. He teases one with his tongue and grabs the other, while his free hand slips down her pants, spreading over the soft skin just below her stomach, waiting for her prompt or rejection. She raises her hips toward his hand, and his fingers slip further down.
The blaring alarm yanks him from his sleep, and a heavy groan escapes his throat. Whyyy?
He slams the clock to stop the nagging and sits up, glaring at the pole in his lap that confirms how good the dream was.
Every image replays in his mind: her scent, her taste, her warmth. Desire pulses through his body, begging for release. He double checks the clock and shrugs.
I still have time before breakfast.
BLAKE STEPS OUT OF HIS ROOM, his hair still damp from his shower. The cloudy sky creates a soft light through the mansion. Cast and crew members crowding the halls must be a sign that breakfast is coming. His eyes flick to Inez’s door as she’s leaving.
His heart skips a beat and he takes a deep breath, forcing the images of his dream back down.
“Hey,” he calls as he approaches her, “is there any way we can get out of here today? I’m going a little stir crazy, and I’d love to buy you breakfast.”
Inez looks surprised by the question. “That sounds fine, but the restaurants around here aren’t cheap, and you haven’t been working. I can pay if you want.”
“That’s alright. I had a job before I came here, and it’s not like I spend much when I’m served three hot meals a day.”
Inez purses her lips to one side and shrugs. “Sure, I know a place nearby. We can walk there.”
Blake agrees, doing his best to hide the leaping in his chest. When they get downstairs, everyone gathers around a bulletin board in the lobby.
Inez nudges her way through the crowd, and he struggles to follow, being much more apologetic to everyone they’re passing. He reaches the front and spots a large white sign pinned to the board.
CHALLENGE FOR THE NEXT KING OF FOOLS
EACH CHALLENGER WILL HAVE A TEAM AND WITH ONLY THAT TEAM, THEY WILL PUT ON A PERFORMANCE. THE WINNER WILL BE DECIDED BY VOTES FROM EVERY MEMBER OF THE CIRCUS, INCLUDING THOSE PARTAKING IN THE CHALLENGE.
PERFORMANCES MUST BE 7–10 MINUTES LONG AND SHOWCASE THE TALENTS OF EACH PERFORMER.
THE SHOW WILL TAKE PLACE AT THE END OF THE WEEK. EACH TEAM HAS TWO HOURS ON STAGE PER DAY TO REHEARSE, STARTING AFTER LUNCH. FAILURE TO COOPERATE WITH THESE TERMS WILL RESULT IN DISQUALIFICATION.
IAN’S TEAM: CELIA, MISHKIN, AND XAVIER
ALLISTAIR’S TEAM: MAYA, AXEL, AND KNOX
LET THIS BE AN HONORABLE COMPETITION WORTHY OF MY STAGE
“This is insane,” says Inez. “I can’t believe Rex is letting it go this far.”
“Does he generally shut these things down immediately?” Blake asks as they walk away from the bulletin board.
“I don’t know. I’ve never seen anyone go up against Rex’s demands before. I always assumed it wasn’t allowed. It would be fair to let the others have a say in who the next King will be, but I have a bad feeling about this challenge.”
Against the far lobby wall, Allistair is sitting with his head hung low. Inez rushes over to sit next to him as Blake stands close by.
“So, you get to put on a performance,” Inez chirps. “Are you nervous?”
“I’m terrified,” Allistair mumbles. “I don’t know why Ian is doing this. My father doesn’t even know. It’s not just friendly competition, and it never would be with Ian. If it were anyone else, I could at least try to have fun with it. I’d even know the circus would be in good hands if I lost.”
“It’ll be fine,” says Inez. “Just don’t lose. Make that asswipe cry like a little bitch!”
Allistair chuckles, and Blake gives his shoulder a supportive pat. Before anyone can say anything else, a trio surrounds them.
“Allistair’s cast and crew reporting for duty, sir!” Maya raises her hand to her head in salute.
Axel rolls her eyes, and Knox chuckles as he does the same. He gives Axel a tiny nudge, and she begrudgingly mimics the movement. Maya’s brown eyes sparkle under her black bangs, and her petite frame is shifting in excitement.
“At ease, team,” Allistair chuckles, standing as they lower their hands. “Thank you all. I won’t lie, I’m really nervous, and I have no idea what’s going to happen. But we can gather on the stage after lunch, get some ideas together, and put on a show we all love.”
The team agrees, and as they chatter on about their excitement, it seems they’re all rooting for Allistair to win.
Behind the crowd, Blake sees Mishkin sitting on the floor against the wall with his arms around his legs and his knees hiding his face. Vladik is crouched next to him with an arm on his back. Blake taps Inez, who follows his sightline, and she’s just as intrigued. She signals him to follow, and they sneak over while Allistair is busy.
“Mishkin,” Inez calls, “what’s wrong?”
Mishkin lifts his head from his knees, eyes raging. “I’m on Ian’s team.”
Blake freezes as he remembers the blade on his throat last night. He touches the spot, trying to push the memory out of his mind. “He won’t hurt you, will he?”
“That’s not the only problem,” says Mishkin. “I have a heart defect. Too much strenuous activity can be dangerous. It’s why I’m only a side character in the shows. Nothing I perform can be too physically demanding.”
Blake glances at Inez, whose color had drained from her face. She quickly replaces her wide eyes with calm ones and crosses her arms. “You’re overthinking it. Ian can’t put you in danger. He’d lose his chance of ever being on stage again. Get your ass up and quit scaring yourself.”
Mishkin shoots a glare
at her, lifting himself and taking a step forward. He towers over Inez, whose gaze flicks down for a split second, but she stands her ground.
Blake’s heart pounds against his chest, and Vladik holds an open hand behind Mishkin, ready to grab at him if need be.
“Yeah right,” Mishkin scoffs as he walks past her. His demeanor remains threatening, but he keeps his eyes ahead. “Thanks, Inez.”
Vladik stands from his spot, stepping over to give Inez’s head a light pat before following his husband upstairs.
Inez keeps her gaze on the floor, her bottom lip pinched in her teeth.
“You are nervous,” says Blake.
“Don’t tell him that. Just go get a sweater.”
Chapter 14
“Y
OUR PERFORMANCE LAST night was beautiful,” says Blake as he and Inez stroll down the sidewalk. Scattered leaves crunch under their feet as the breeze carries a few toward the blue sky. “I can see your love of fire when you use it.”
“Actually, I hate fire.”
“You hate it?”
“When I was nine, my home burned down. My last memory with him is when the upstairs floor collapsed on us. I got free, and he urged me to keep going, get outside. It sort of felt like the fire betrayed him. The detective who investigated said it was just a case of faulty wiring and that the issue was common in older homes, so it wasn’t anyone’s fault.
“But I’m here because my grandmother died of cancer a few months later, and my mom’s mind came undone. I had nowhere else to go but the mansion. Fire spinning was the only tool at my disposal, and part of me still wanted to perform. I thought it would be temporary. Mom was supposed to bring me back home when she got better. But she never did. She succumbed to her grief and left me on Earth alone. So, I never left the mansion.”