Olivia
THE FLYING PHOENIX
The world lurched around me and my eyes sprang open as the ship creaked and the swaying movement stopped. Sitting up, my hand shot to my chest when the door swung open, a wide eyed Adrena poking her head in my room.
“We’ve docked at Skycliff. I’ll be back in five to take you to breakfast.” She closed the door and disappeared again.
At the end of my bed sat a neatly folded pile of clothes. Climbing out from under my sheets, I changed into the tight black leather pants and cropped tank that threatened to reveal my stomach if I lifted my arms any higher and ran my hands over my braid.
My heart skipped a beat when the door swung open again and Adrena beckoned me to follow. Doing my best to keep up with her fast pace it was as though my body had started growing used to the ship’s movement and was sluggish now it was stationary.
“Lucky for us we aren’t part of the docking crew but I hope you got plenty of rest because it’s all hands on deck when we disembark.” She led me down the hall and two flights of stairs until we arrived in a wide hall with a long wooden table through its centre with bench seats on either side. It was empty except for Calix and Ember, who sat together eating. Ember giggled at something Calix said before spotting me.
“Olivia,” she called. “Come sit with me.”
“You’ve met Ember?” Adrena cocked her eyebrow.
“Yes.” I didn’t want to give any details.
“I shouldn’t be surprised,” she said. “That girl moves about this ship like a ghost. Lucky she’s cute.” She ruffled Ember’s long white hair as we reached them.
Ember grimaced at her touch.
“Good morning,” said Adrena.
“It’s not that great,” groaned Calix.
“Don’t mind him he’s always complaining,” said Adrena.
“He’s heart broken,” said Ember. “So be nice.”
Adrena gestured for me to sit beside Ember, who hugged my arm tight before releasing it again.
She fetched us each a plate of food before sitting next to Calix and sliding me a plate of eggs and sausages. “He’s heartbroken after every port we visit.”
“This one was different,” he said. “Salvadeer was the love of my life.”
“They all are.” Adrena rolled her eyes.
“Shush you, not everyone can travel the skies with their one true love,” he said.
“Too bad he has to spend every moment steering the ship so I don’t get to spend much time with him anyway,” said Adrena.
“And how is Lukah’s new toy?” Calix raised an eyebrow my way.
“Olivia,” said Adrena. “Is doing well. She’s going to help us set up today.”
“Does she not speak for herself?” He raised an eyebrow.
“Of course I do,” I replied.
“Maybe you’ll get to meet Ebony today?” said Ember.
Adrena and Calix exchanged a glance.
“I hope so,” I told her.
After breakfast, I skulled a mug of some kind of sweet berry juice before following Adrena onto the deck of the ship. A wooden gangway led to a bustling port where people chatted and yelled out. Boxes were being loaded onto carts and a sheer white cloud filled the damp air.
“Welcome, to Skycliff,” said Calix, arriving behind us.
“Stick with me,” said Adrena.
I turned to find Ember hadn’t followed.
“If you’re looking for Ember, she isn’t allowed to leave the ship until the show tonight,” said Calix. He lowered his voice. “Causes too much trouble.”
How could one little girl cause so much fuss?
“What about her brother? Blaze?” I asked.
“Don’t let Lukah find out you have a crush on one of the crew,” said Calix.
“I don’t have a crush. I just haven’t seen them together,” I said.
“He’s one of the burlier men, so his job is to carry big heavy boxes on and off the ship. They share a room together.”
“A job you should be helping with.” Apollo made his way across the gangway, pulling Adrena in for a deep kiss before continuing across the deck.
“I’ll see you two later.” Calix followed.
“Follow me.” Adrena led me across the gangway onto a stone dock. Looking out, my stomach lurched at the sight of the earth dropping into nothingness. “How far up are we?”
“High enough if you fell over the edge you’d pass out before you hit the ground,” said Adrena.
She tugged my arm, tearing my gaze from the cliff’s edge and the way the ship seemed to float effortlessly over it and toward a cobblestone road that made me feel like maybe home wasn’t so far away. A horse-drawn cart rolled up, a tall thin man wearing a suit, top hat and with a grey moustache sitting atop holding the reins of a dappled grey horse. “Phoenix Flying Circus,” he announced, his voice much shriller than I’d thought it’d be.
“This is us,” said Adrena.
She climbed up and I followed, sitting on the open bench beside her. I spotted Apollo and Calix carrying boxes off the ship as the cart began to move.
The clop of hooves and rattle of the cart on the cobblestone street drowned out the sound of the port as we travelled away, tree’s and green hills coming into view. A chill blew through the air and I hugged myself, wishing they’d thought to give me a cardigan of some sort.
“You’re not used to the cold are you?” asked Adrena.
She wore pants much like mine, but her top covered no more than her breasts, revealing her slim, toned stomach.
“No, I don’t know how you wear so little,” I said.
“I grew up in the clouds, you get used to it. I’m guessing you’re a grounder, that’s why you can’t handle the altitude and haven’t been to Skycliff.”
“I guess you could say that,” I said.
Small buildings came into view as we traversed the stone streets and my chest ached with thoughts of home. Edith sitting at her little table sewing. Narelle and Audrey gossiping about boys.
“Are you okay?” asked Adrena.
“Yes, just missing home,” I admitted.
She placed a hand on my knee. “I know this must be a lot for you but give the circus a chance. You might find you love it.”
“Thanks.” I patted her hand. I couldn’t tell her leaving wasn’t a choice. Not without my hot air balloon. Without it, I had no chance of ever returning to Yarington, to Edith.
As we wound through streets, passing other horse-drawn carts, we made our way out of town again across a grassy plain to a field laden with boxes, ropes, canvases, and people. The cart pulled up, and we thanked the driver before climbing out.
“This is where our work begins,” she said.
I spotted Lukah in the middle of the field, weaving his hands through the air. Canvas and ropes lifted, forming a giant tent above him as he moved to a silent melody. The canvas grew taught, and people ran to secure the ropes.
“That’s incredible,” I said.
“Without Lukah’s magic it’d take us a week to set up,” said Adrena.
“Does everyone have magic?” I asked.
“Only a select few. Magic always comes at a cost and for many it’s too high of a price to pay.”
I wanted to question what price she’d paid to gain her small amount of magic, but something told me to ask would be rude.
“Adrena. Your boxes are here.” Blaze’s white hair was a dead giveaway that he was Ember’s brother, and I didn’t know how I hadn’t guessed it the moment I’d seen him.
“Nice to see you again,” he said.
“Likewise,” I replied.
“You’ve made quite the impression on my sister,” he said. “Any friend of Ember’s is a friend of mine.”
I offered him a smile and watched as he used a crowbar to tear off the top of a crate. Following Adrena I lugged ropes, tools, bags and boxes until my arms and legs ached to the point of sheer exhaustion. When we stopped to eat a buffet of baked good
s, I was sure once I sat there wasn’t a chance I would stand again.
The crew talked and chatted merrily as though they hadn’t just had a gruelling days’ work.
“How are you not dying?” I panted.
Adrena passed me a mug of water, and I gulped it down. “We’ve done this many times, and we’ll do it many more. We still have to perform tonight.”
Calix joined us. “How’d the new toy go?”
“She did great, managed to keep up anyway.” Blaze joined us, patting Calix on the back.
Calix’s cheeks turned redder than they already were.
“My name’s Olivia,” I reminded him.
The sound of Lukah’s voice caught my attention and I turned to find him talking to a group of people, Loretta so close behind him if he stopped too fast she’d run up his backside.
“What’s the go with those two?” I asked.
“My sister is infatuated with him,” said Adrena.
“Infatuated is a bit strong,” added Blaze.
“Unrequited love,” sighed Calix.
“Look at her. It’s pathetic,” she said.
“Isn’t she your sister?” I asked.
“She wasn’t always so…”
“Miserable?” said Calix. “A hot headed cow?”
“That’s a bit harsh. Ignore them.” Blaze told me.
Adrena laughed. “Yes, she’s those things I suppose. But, we all make our choices.”
“Lucky for me I was one of your better choices.” Apollo stood behind her, his frame immersing us all in shadow.
Her face lit up as she rose to her feet and wrapped him in a tight hug, as though she hadn’t seen him for days.
“Don’t look, they’ll make you nauseous,” said Calix.
“Come on, Calix, you know what it’s like to be in love,” said Blaze.
Calix’s cheeks heated once again, and he rolled his eyes.
“Olivia. There you are.” Lukah’s voice quickened my heart and I turned to find him making his way over.
We all stood, Blaze helping me to my feet, and greeted him and his sidekick.
“How’d you go? I hope they didn’t work you too hard,” he said.
“She kept up with the rest of us,” said Adrena.
“Now I feel like I need to sleep for a week,” I said.
“No time for that. We’ve got a show to put on.” He turned to Loretta. “Go on, give them to her.”
Loretta threw an armful of clothes into my chest and I caught them.
“How would you like to be on ticket sales this evening? When you’re done, you can sneak a peek at the show,” he said.
I held up a silver strip of fabric with the ship’s phoenix emblem embroidered on it. The other strip of fabric appeared to be shorts of some description. “I could give it a try?”
“That’s the spirit,” he said. “Adrena, did you find somewhere for Olivia to sleep?”
“We’re sharing a tent,” said Adrena. “I’m not allowed to share with Apollo when we’re off the ship.” She gave Apollo a nudge.
“Too much of a distraction,” he said.
“Lukah,” someone called from behind us.
“I have much to do. I hope you enjoy the show.” He looked to Adrena. “I trust you can get her ready.”
“It will be my pleasure,” she replied.
He gave me a wink as he left, trailed by Loretta.
Adrena shook her head at her sister. “Alright, come check out our tent.”
The city of canvas tents was bustling with activity when we arrived and Adrena found ours, the number forty-four printed on its front in red, and beckoned me inside. The tent was basic, two cots on either side, and a small area in between for getting changed. But it was bigger than the storage room they’d turned into my quarters on the ship and it was nice to be on land again.
“Sorry about your uniform,” said Adrena. “Lukah likes to lure in the customers with his pretty girls and buff men. My outfit is smaller if it makes you feel better.”
We both turned our backs to change and I looked over the glittery shiny silver fabric. Pulling on the tiny shorts I was thankful it covered my entire butt if not any leg, and the top was lucky to cover my breasts but pushed them up to get the most out of them it could. I turned to find Adrena wearing almost the same outfit only hers was purple and black.
“And you’ll need a pair of these.” She reached down beside her bed, her butt cheeks somehow staying in her pants, and pulled out a pair of white knee-high boots.
I took them from her and pulled them on, stumbling a little as I found my balance on the heels. She tugged on a similar pair and looked me over.
“Sorry, I guess I lied. You have just as little on as I do,” she said.
I hugged my exposed stomach. “I’m going to freeze to death.”
“Ah, I’ve got something to help with that.” She turned and rummaged through her bag before revealing a vial of purple liquid.
“I thought that was to help with air sickness?” I said.
“No, this one’s different. This should increase your body temperature enough to make the night bearable. You don’t have to take it.”
A cool breeze fluttered the tent’s door, sending goosebumps racing over my skin. I held out my hand and she passed me the vial. “Thank you.”
Removing the stopper, I gave it a sniff and cringed. It smelled just as bad as the last one.
“You have to drink it all I’m afraid,” said Adrena.
I poured it down my throat, swallowing hard and doing my best not to gag. “Why do you make all of your potions taste so gross?”
She put her hands up in defence. “I don’t make them. I only drink them when I need to. I’ll have some myself before I perform. Until I do, I’ll wear this.” She pulled out a sheer dressing gown. “You, however, need to get to work straight away.”
She guided me out of the tent, still hugging my stomach, and towards the front of the circus. The sun was disappearing in the distance and as the sky had darkened. Bright, colourful lights dotted the path to the main circus tent. Music sounded from inside and at the front gate a large sign read, ‘Flying Phoenix Circus.’
“Maritia, this is Olivia. She’ll be helping you tonight,” said Adrena as she approached a pretty young girl with her hair in long piggy tails wearing the same outfit as me.
Maritia looked me over. “I guess she’ll be okay. Come on, let’s sell tickets.”
“I’ll see you after the show.” Adrena gave me a kiss on the cheek before disappearing towards the main circus tent.
Any nerves I’d had about my outfit went to the back of my mind as what appeared to be hundreds of people lined up to buy tickets. With only four of us on the front gate, Maritia took money I’d never seen before while I tore tickets and handed them out to the guests. People, young and old, had come from far and wide to see the circus and I couldn’t help but absorb the buzz of excitement pulsing through the air.
My aches from the day all but forgotten, and the elixir from Adrena doing its trick, we continued to work until Maritia turned to me. “That’s it, we’re all sold out.” She turned to the crowd still lined up. “Sorry everyone, we’ve sold out of tickets. You’ll have to try again tomorrow night.”
The crowd booed and sighed, but didn’t cause any trouble as they shuffled away.
“You did well,” she said to me. “See that tent flap over there.” She gestured towards a spot where two performers left.
“Yes,” I replied.
“Head in there and you’ll be able to see some of the show.”
“Thank you,” I told her.
Making my way over, I could hear music and voices from inside. I gripped the canvas and pulled it aside, stepping in to find a dimly lit space full of crates and people moving around in a hurry.
“You finished?” Blaze arrived beside me.
“Yes, we sold out.”
“Lukah will be happy,” he said. “You look good by the way.”
My
discomfort crept back in, and I hugged my stomach. “Thanks.”
“Want me to find you something to throw over it?” he asked.
“That would be great, thank you.”
Blaze disappeared for a moment before returning with a black silk robe. He helped me put it on and I tied it around my waist.
The crowd roared and my eyes widened.
“Want to see the show?” he asked.
He guided me to the wing where I could see a round stage area surrounded by a semi-circle grand stand full of people cheering with excitement.
“I need to go get ready. I’ll see you after,” he said.
“Break a leg,” I told him.
He gave me a curious look before leaving.
The lights dimmed and two spotlights spun around the room as a drumroll sounded and the bright circles of light landed in the middle. Music struck up and there was a loud explosion as smoke filled the room. As it cleared Lukah stood in the centre wearing his long purple jacket and a top hat tilted to one side.
“Welcome one and all to the Flying Phoenix Circus, where we will dazzle your senses and leave you in awe and wonder with the magical performances you are about to witness. Performances I can guarantee you’ve never seen before. So, come with me on a fantastical adventure…” the lights dimmed and Lukah spun in a slow circle, lights dancing all around him before he stopped, the room falling into darkness, “and let the show begin.” Light filled the room and the crowd cheered.
15
Olivia
The Flying Phoenix
Lukah weaved his hands, sending balls of light racing around the room illuminating the audience until they all combined at the top of the tent and exploded into fireworks, sparkles of light falling over the arena as Adrena and Keaton flew high above the stage, Adrena soaring towards him, their hands linking before he threw her back in the air, flipping over herself.
A tugging on my robe drew my attention away from the acrobats and I found Ember standing beside me.
“Hey, when are you performing?” I asked her.
“We are last,” she said. “Do you want to meet Ebony?”
I looked back to see Adrena backflip high above the ground before she was caught mid-flight by Keaton. Their costumes glistening beneath the bright lights.
Circus in the Clouds (The Balloonist Chronicles Book 3) Page 11