Circus of the Dead: Book 2

by Kimberly Loth

  I crease my eyebrows. “Even Juliette?”

  “Her mother did. Amy’s contract protects all her children.”

  “Oh.”

  “I’m willing to sign a contract with you. If you bring me paper, I will write a contract out. You will live out your days on the island, but you cannot be harmed by any of the ghosts or myself. We will both sign it, and you can let me out of this wretched circle.”

  All I’ve wanted since I got here was to get out of this place, but I can’t risk the lives of everyone I’ve come to love. Those ghosts have a taste for blood from all their years here. And with Samuel gone, they will go on a rampage and kill all these innocent people so they can get their own lives back.

  Once again, Samuel has put me in an impossible situation.

  At least I’ll be safe. No more murderous ghosts hunting me down. Or Samuel threatening me with all kinds of horrific futures.

  He points to his desk. My hands shake as I pull out the faded parchment paper. I give him a quill and ink, and he starts scrawling. It all seems so archaic. Raptor nudges me, and I pat his head.

  I’ve never seen Samuel concentrate so hard before, and I fuss with my clothes because I don’t know what else to do.

  After what feels like forever, he blows on the ink and hands me the paper. I read through it twice, and I still don’t know what it means.

  “These words make no sense.” Some of the words are English, but many are not.

  “They are words that don’t translate well into English. They have to be exact, or the contract is not binding.”

  “I’m not signing something I can’t read.” He can’t really be that dumb, can he?

  He shrugs. “Your choice.”

  I look down at Raptor. I could still sacrifice him, finish the spell, and Samuel would be no more. But maybe I don’t want to embrace the darkness inside me. Maybe I can’t kill living things. Plus, if Samuel is telling the truth, then everyone will be at risk. It’s so hard to know if he’s actually being honest. I don’t know if I can risk it.

  Samuel grins. He knows he’s won.

  “You have to at least tell me what the contract says.” I don’t trust him, but hopefully I can make sure I’m not selling him my virginity.

  He translates the words, and once he does that, the contract makes sense even if I did have trouble focusing on what he was saying. I agree to live the rest of my days on the island, and I cannot be killed or harmed by him or any of the ghosts.

  I give a nod. “Where do I sign?”

  “May I have your knife?” he asks.

  I jerk back. “No.”

  “I’m not going to hurt you, but I need to prick my finger. I’ll sign first.”

  I hand him the knife and step away so he can’t stab me. He slices his fingertip open and presses it onto the paper. Then he hands me the knife. As soon as I press my finger to the paper, there is a visible change in the air. It goes heavy and oppressive for a moment.

  I shudder, hoping I haven’t made a big mistake.

  Chapter Fifteen

  “Will you let me out?” he asks, pointing to the circle.

  I rub away the chalk markings on the floor, and he steps out. “Thank you.”

  He watches me as I clean up my things. My insides feel funny, empty somehow like the chocolate bunnies I get on Easter. I put my hand on the door, and Samuel clears his throat.

  He gives me a small smile. “Now that there is no longer a threat from me, perhaps you and I could become friends.”

  I snort. “Nice try. Not happening.” I open the door to leave. The damp air envelopes me like a warm blanket.

  Lorena is pacing in front of the boat.

  “Did it work?” she asks, her voice raised a notch.

  I shake my head. She frowns, but it looks almost forced. It’s a look reminiscent of one my mother gave me as a child. I never quite knew what it meant.

  “What happened?” she asks.

  “In the end, I didn’t go through with it. I couldn’t kill Raptor.” I drop my shoulders. It’s a relief, really. Now, all I want to do is go home and hit my pillows.

  Her eyes darken. “You just gave up because you couldn’t kill the bird? You know what awaits you.”

  Geesh, not too long ago, she didn’t seem to care what Samuel did to me, and now she does. I don’t get Lorena.

  “That was part of it, yes, but Samuel said that if I killed him, all the ghosts would be free to kill at will. I couldn’t take that chance. So I made a deal.”

  “What kind of deal?”

  “He promised me protection from harm. I took it. I figured it was better than risking the lives of those on the island.”

  She stalks toward me like a lion about to pounce on a deer. “You fool. You signed one of his contracts? Do you have any idea what you’ve done?” She looks down at her hands and takes deep breaths, her nostrils flared.

  I take a couple steps back. “I read the contract.”

  “It doesn’t matter if you spoke fluent English and Voodoo, he’d still find a way to trick you.”

  She storms into the house and starts screaming the second she crosses the threshold, but I don’t hear her words. I don’t know what I signed away, and I don’t care. I’ve drunk the Kool-Aid. There is no going back.

  I take off down the dock toward my place, Raptor following close behind. I’m protected now, and I can focus on not having to worry about staying alive. I walk around the corner and nearly run into Benny.

  Worry creases his brow, and he pulls me into his arms. I hesitate but return the hug. I have no idea where I stand with Benny at the moment. I’m just relieved I’m not dead, and neither is Raptor, though my whole body feels heavy. The sky behind Benny is green and blue almost like the northern lights. It’s odd.

  “You’re okay.” He pulls back and puts his hands on my cheeks.

  “I am. What made you think I wouldn’t be?”

  “Most people who cross Samuel don’t usually come out of it okay. I tried to find you when the sun went down, but you were already in his boat with him. I nearly barged in, but Lorena wouldn’t let me. So I went to see if I could find another way in. What happened?”

  “I couldn’t do it. Samuel said if he was dead, the ghosts could kill everyone.” The whole night flashes in my mind. I can’t believe I nearly killed my bird. And Samuel. Who have I become?

  “Because you will never be dark. I love that about you.” His face softens. “My desire to kill you has disappeared. Did you sign some sort of deal?”

  “I did. But I can’t leave the island.” The reality of that hits me, and I suddenly feel very small. Never again will I see the skyscrapers of Los Angeles or the stormy sea. Or my family.

  “What made him give you the deal?” Benny’s eyebrows crease, and he frowns.

  “He knew he was about to die.”

  He takes my hand and leads me toward the circus. His skin is soft against mine. Not sweaty at all. The sky is starting to lighten, and in less than an hour, he’ll be gone. He buys me a piece of chocolate cake and milk. The cake is heavenly, but the milk is too warm for my taste. I enjoy his company more than I probably should.

  Now that I’m stuck here, I don’t know what I’m going to do about Benny. I like him, and he definitely likes me, but I don’t want to complicate things. At least, not yet. There are too many things to process at the moment. I feel different even though I didn’t go through with the spell.

  “You okay?” Benny asks. Then, he shakes his head. “Of course you aren’t. Can I do anything?”

  I look past him. He won’t be around long enough. The sun peeks over the trees, and Benny disappears. Someone died as soon as the opportunity came.

  I take the long way around to my home, thinking about the night. I probably did do something stupid, signing that contract with Samuel, but it’s too late now. Perhaps after I sleep, I’ll be able to wrap my head around everything. My bed is definitely calling to me.

  I step around the corner as the sun r
ises high above the trees, causing the air to smell of lilies. A shadowy figure sits on a chair on my porch. I roll my eyes, probably Juliette waiting for me to tell her all about my night.

  I skip forward, excited to tell her everything.

  But I notice something strange.

  She is stiff, not moving at all. A lump forms in my throat, and I rush forward.

  Juliette is sitting in the chair, her eyes wide and staring, her mouth hanging open. Everything goes loud and silent all at once like a bomb went off. Her neck has vampire bite marks, and her skin is ghostly white.

  Chapter Sixteen

  Juliette’s hands are cold. My voice catches in my throat, and I can’t speak. I want to. I want to scream. I tug on my hair. A sound like a speeding train rushes in my ears.

  She’s really dead.

  All the feelings of success disappear. Juliette shouldn’t have died. She was protected.

  I expect the tears to come, but they don’t. I can’t move, but I have to. I have to tell someone. Anyone. Nausea wells up in my stomach, and bile rises in my throat.

  I can’t stop staring at her. She looks wrong like it’s not her. Maybe it’s not. Maybe this is just some sick joke. I wouldn’t put it past her. I spin, searching for her hiding behind a tree or something. But she’s not there.

  Because she’s in front of me.

  Dead.

  Suddenly, her body starts to move, and I bite down a scream. She falls to the ground, her limbs going every which way, but she manages to prop herself up on her elbows and slowly army crawl off the porch. She falls into the swamp with a splash.

  I back away, reality setting in. I have to tell someone. Thunder rumbles in the distance, and big fat raindrops fall on me. The wind picks up, and my hair whips against my face.

  I run aimlessly through the trees, not looking back at my boat. I don’t know if I’ll ever get that image out of my head. Juliette’s face. Her eyes vacant and unseeing. Her cold skin and the tiny pricks on the side of her neck.

  Lightning flashes, and a huge burst of thunder shakes my body. I end up at Luke’s. I trip over a cooler and land hard, scraping my hands. I scramble up and pound on his door.

  After what feels like forever, he answers, rubbing sleep from his eyes and his hair a mess.

  I’m out of breath. “Luke, Juliette is dead.”

  “What?”

  “Dead. On my porch. Well, now she’s in the swamp. I saw her go in. I don’t know what to do.” I want to know who did this, and I want to know why, and then I’m going to kill them.

  He covers a yawn. “How did she die?”

  “The vampire, I think. But that’s not possible, is it?” I gasp for breath. She’s gone. Juliette is really gone.

  “Shit.” He grabs a shirt off the back of a chair and slams the door behind him. “We have to tell Amy.”

  “I can’t go with you.” I can’t face her. Not yet. Besides, I have to figure out what happened, and the only person who can tell me that is Samuel.

  “She’ll want to hear it from you.” Luke’s already moving, but I can’t go with him.

  “I know, but I don’t want to see her face when she’s told. Please, can you do it for me? I’ll visit her this afternoon.”

  He nods slowly, and I don’t hesitate. I run to Samuel’s. The sky has gone faintly green, and the rain pelts my face and arms, cold tiny pricks. My brain still can’t process that Juliette is dead. I fight back tears. This is not the time to go to pieces. I have an ass to kick. He’s behind this somehow. Why would Victor do it? And why would he leave her on my porch?

  I pound on Samuel’s door. Nothing. Oh, he doesn't want to see me. That much is certain. I wonder if Lorena is still here.

  Well, he’s not getting away with this. He will answer for what he’s done.

  I try the handle, and it opens. “Samuel!”

  The mess from earlier is gone. There is zero evidence I’d been there, trying to kill him. I take a cautious step inside.

  “Samuel,” I call again, but silence settles over the house. He can’t have gone far. I’ll just wait here until he returns, and he will tell me what the hell just happened. I’m still in shock, but in a few hours, I’ll be a sobbing mess in my bed.

  I hesitate in the doorway. Juliette died after I signed that contract. Dammit. What the hell did I sign? Could this possibly be my fault? I dismiss the thought as soon as I have it. No, this is Samuel’s fault.

  I go to the desk where I fetched the paper earlier. I rifle through the things, but I can’t find anything that looks like the contract I signed. Most of the papers seem just like order forms and lists, anyway. I open a few drawers and find a stash of granola bars.

  There are books and pens. Lots of tiny scraps of papers with random words scrawled on them, but it’s basically gibberish.

  I wander around the living room and look for another place that might have the contracts. The bookshelf holds mostly old books, but nothing special. I push open a door to another room. It’s an office. Score.

  I rush in and open more drawers, but I find nothing useful. In the bottom drawer of a desk, I find a button. Hmm. Good things must be kept in there.

  A hand grabs my wrist.

  I look up into the smiling eyes of Samuel. He looks just as I left him but much less scared.

  “You know, you refused my bed. I dare say that means you can’t go rifling through my things whenever you want.” His voice is lazy and relaxed like we’re just having a normal conversation. If we were a couple, I’d laugh and kiss him. But we’re not a couple, and this is not okay.

  I jerk my arm out of his hand. “Juliette is dead. What did you do?”

  “I didn’t do anything. Perhaps she simply got on the bad side of the vampire.”

  I cross my arms and glare at him. “She was protected. You and I both know that you are behind it.”

  “I’m not behind anything. Now, would you like some breakfast? I’m famished after the last twenty-four hours. It’s been very trying.” He motions to the door.

  “Tell me what happened. Why did she die?” I have to fight to keep my voice down. He’s so damn calm that I feel like I can’t go to pieces or I’ll look like an idiot.

  “You want answers? You’ll have breakfast with me.”

  Oh, that sneaky bastard.

  “Fine.” I follow him into a formal dining room where steaming plates await like he knew I’d have breakfast with him. I wonder if it would be possible to trap him again because, this time, I really will kill him.

  “How did you…” I stop myself. I don’t want to know how food magically appeared out of nowhere. He didn’t have time to get this done. I should be used to this kind of thing by now after being on this island for three and a half months, but it still surprises me.

  The plates are next to each other instead of across from one another. I do not want to sit next to this man, but I don’t have a choice. He holds my chair out for me like he’s a gentleman. Hardly.

  I sit and shove the plate across the table and nearly knock over the lit candles. His hands linger on the back of the chair for a moment, and then he pulls my hair back over my shoulder, brushing his fingers against my neck.

  I shiver and hate that my body betrays me. How, after everything, can he still make my blood race?

  He slips into his own chair and slides it over so there are only a few inches between us. Oh, he knows exactly what he does to me.

  “What did I sign?”

  It’s time I accept that I had something to do with this. Something somewhere in there allowed Samuel to kill Juliette. After I find out what it is, I’m going to kill him. I know how. My sudden desire for murder is a new one, and I hang onto that hatred. I’ll need it.

  Samuel slices his knife through his steak and cuts off a bloody piece. He stabs it with the tip of his knife and slowly brings it to his lips. He chews and swallows. I stare, waiting for an answer. I will not let him get the best of me.

  “I will give you answers after we eat, so
eat.” He waves a hand over my plate.

  I roll my eyes and slide my plate back. The food is heavenly. I eat with a vengeance, not caring that I must look like a pig. I’m starving, and the faster I get through breakfast, the faster I’ll get answers. I’m finished before he is even halfway done.

  I watch him, hoping he feels uncomfortable with me staring at his forehead. I read somewhere that it makes people feel creeped out. There is no denying his good looks. He’s the kind of guy who plays the lead in romantic comedies but more polished. I’ve long accepted I’m attracted to him, but at the same time, he repulses me.

  After what seems like ages, he finally finishes eating. My forehead trick didn’t work.

  “Now I want answers.”

  He runs a finger along my arm and threads his fingers through mine. I jerk my hand out of his.

  “What will you do for those answers?” he asks in a low voice, bringing his face close to mine.

  “Nothing. I had breakfast with you. That’s it.”

  “Oh, come on, love. You’ve been watching me for weeks. You want another kiss, don’t you?” His voice is low and sexy.

  “No. I just want you to tell me what my contract had to do with Juliette’s death.”

  A strange look passes over his face. Like he is kind of surprised but also expecting this. “Nothing.”

  I let out a breath of relief. It wasn’t my fault after all. I’m still going to kill him, but at least, I could honestly say I had nothing to do with Juliette’s death. It doesn’t lessen my sadness, though. I’m stuck here forever, and my friend is gone.

  “Then why did she die?”

  “Because you tried to kill me.”

  “I don’t understand.”

  “Each one of my contracts has a void clause.” He taps his fingers on the table.

  I remembered that. If I tried to harm him or something, my contract would be void.

  “Yeah, but that’s my contract, not hers.”

  “Exactly. The wording in every contract is that if anyone tries to kill me, everyone on the island’s contract is void, leaving them unprotected from the ghosts. Any one of them could’ve died the second you started that spell.”