Circus in the Clouds (The Balloonist Chronicles Book 3)

by L. J. Higgins

  “Tracey has been bullying me for years,” I confessed.

  “I thought that had all been sorted,” said Dad.

  “So did I,” I said. “Then I get to school this week and find out she’s started a new rumour. She told everyone Mum killed herself because I was both a girl and a boy.”

  Catherine swallowed hard and turned to Dad. “It’s silly teenage girl stuff, Bruce. We all say things we regret later.”

  “She didn’t just say it once,” I said. “She said it enough times to get the whole school talking.”

  “Why would you say such a thing, Tracey?” asked Catherine.

  “I was only repeating what you said,” said Tracey.

  Dad squared his jaw. “You said that?” He rose from the couch and narrowed his eyes at Catherine. “My wife fought till her last breath to stay with Lucy and me, and you say she wanted to die? That my daughter is half boy, half girl?”

  “Of course I didn’t say the boy, girl part. I said you’d mistake her for a boy with the way she dresses sometimes,” said Catherine. “The other part was a silly comment I made.” She patted the seat beside her. “Please Bruce, sit down and I’ll explain.”

  “Explain what? I’ve let you make me feel as though I wasn’t a good enough parent for Lucy. I’ve let you drive a wedge between us. But this?” Dad turned to look at Tracey. “And you. You made my daughter’s life a living hell for years and I gave you the benefit of the doubt. I believed you were trying to be a better person, but you’re just as nasty and cruel as you were before.”

  Tracey’s mouth gaped open but no words came out.

  “They’re young girls Bruce, there’s bound to be nastiness between them at some point,” said Catherine. “Tracey has been through a lot and I won’t have you talk to her like that.”

  “And I won’t have you talking about my daughter the way you do. She’s perfect just the way she is and if she doesn’t want to wear horrid floral dresses and have her nails done, that’s fine with me.”

  Catherine rose, placing her hands on Dad’s shoulders but he shrugged her off and stepped back.

  “I’ve been trying to help you,” she said. “Look at her Bruce. She’s come to a dinner in jeans and a t-shirt. She’s a young girl and you’ve been raising her like a boy. No wonder her classmates are confused.”

  “My real friends know exactly who I am. He’s been raising me like a loving father and letting me be my own person,” I said, finding my voice.

  “Girls. Go out to the car,” said Dad.

  “Dad…”

  “Go!” He pointed to the door, his stare never leaving Catherine.

  Olivia took my arm and guided me through the house towards the front door, Dad’s and Catherine’s voices fading away as we stepped outside into the chilled night air.

  “Why did you do that?” I looked back to the house, wishing I hadn’t left Dad inside alone.

  “Because it was about time all of this was spoken out loud. She’s horrible to you, Lucy. And you shouldn’t have to pretend to be nice to her when she’s so mean. It’s about time your father stood up to her,” she said, her breath coming out in plumes of smoke.

  I sighed. “But did it have to be here and now?”

  “Was there ever going to be a convenient time? I try not to interfere in your lives more than needed because I’m not your family and I’m so thankful I get to be part of your world, but I can’t sit by and watch that woman berate you and your father any longer.” Tears filled her eyes.

  Wrapping her in a hug, I let out a long breath. “We’re so lucky to have you, and you are family.”

  She squeezed me back. I shouldn’t have been surprised. In every one of her stories she’d risked everything to keep the ones she cared about safe.

  Dad stormed out the front door with Catherine on his tale.

  “Please Bruce, come inside and we can work this out.” Tears poured down her cheeks.

  “I’m done Catherine. Whatever this was, it’s over.” He faced Olivia and me. “Girls, get in the car.”

  We did as he asked, both of us climbing into the ute, me in the middle.

  Dad pulled away from the house, anger rolling off him as he sped down the road.

  “I’m so sorry, Bruce,” said Olivia.

  “No, I’m sorry. I’m sorry I made you spend time with that nasty bully, Lucy. I’m sorry I listened to that woman and her crazy ideas,” he fumed.

  I hugged his bicep. “I just wanted you to be happy.”

  “Catherine doesn’t make me happy. She makes me feel small and not good enough, and I don’t want either of you girls to ever be with someone who makes you feel that way. You’re both strong young women and whoever you’re with should understand and appreciate you for who you are. I kept making excuses, telling myself I’d been single so long I didn’t know what modern women were like. I’m so embarrassed I let her treat me like I was an idiot and treat you both like you needed to change.”

  “Don’t be embarrassed,” I told him. “I love you so much and I’m proud you stood up for us and yourself tonight.”

  He sighed. “It shouldn’t have taken so long. Thank you, Olivia. Thank you for forcing me to see who Catherine really is.”

  “I couldn’t watch her hurt either of you anymore. You’re a kind, generous man Bruce, any woman would be lucky to have you,” said Olivia.

  Dad let out a loud breath. “All of that yelling and carrying on has made me hungry. How about we go to Big City Burgers for dinner?”

  “I’d like that,” I said.

  “I could go for a honeycomb thick shake,” said Olivia.

  “And you could tell us how you escaped the Flying Phoenix,” I said. “I feel like Lukah and Catherine would be good together.”

  Olivia shuddered at the thought. “Imagine the lives they could destroy.”

  23

  Olivia

  THE FLYING PHOENIX

  My head spun with the sudden change in Loretta. She’d marched me back to my room and checked every corner and space someone might hide before locking the door. She ruffled through the cupboard and pulled out a pair of tan pants and a white tunic.

  “Here, put these on.” She shoved them into my hands.

  “I, umm.” I couldn’t find the words.

  “Stop, muttering like a blithering idiot and change,” she ordered.

  Maybe I’d imagined her kindness? I slipped off my dress and boots and tugged on the clothes she’d given me before returning my boots to my feet. “What’s happening?”

  “I’m getting you out of here before you’re trapped like the rest of us.” She picked up my bag and pressed it into my arms. “I feared I might be too late.”

  I hugged it tight. “I don’t understand. Why are you helping me?”

  “I’ve been trying to help you from the beginning,” she said. “I tried to scare you away and keep you out of Lukah’s clutches, but you’re too damned stubborn or stupid… I can’t decide.”

  Her stinging words helped ease my stiff spine. “You were being mean to scare me away?”

  “That’s what I said, isn’t it? But, all I did was push you closer to Lukah and my sister. Thank goodness Calix told me he’d talked to you. I came to find you but you were missing so I assumed you were with Lukah… Sorry it took me so long to find you. Are you okay?” Kindness seeped back into her gaze.

  I rubbed at my still aching cheeks. “I’ll be fine. But I can’t find my hot air balloon without the magic and Lukah made me drink the purple potion.”

  “Of course he did,” she groaned. “It’s fine. We’ve got something to help with that.”

  “We?” I asked.

  “Loretta?” My heart jumped into my throat at the childlike voice and I turned to find Ember standing in the dark corner of the room. “Is she ready?”

  I swung my bag over my shoulders.

  “I asked Ember to keep an eye on you, but I think Lukah realised she was up to something and that’s why he kept Ebony away from her and made
her stay on the ship while we were at Skycliff. You need to follow her and I need to get back to the celebration and distract Lukah. Give him the attention he needs and craves.”

  “Come with me, both of you, and Blaze and Calix. Leave this horrible ship,” I said.

  “As Calix told you, we’re bound to Lukah and this ship. It’s too late for us, but not for you. He doesn’t own you, not yet.”

  “I wish there was something I could do,” I said.

  “We got ourselves stuck in this situation so it’s our burden to bare and ours alone. The best you can do is leave and never look back.”

  “But Blaze…”

  “He’s going to try to meet us.” Ember held her hand out to me.

  I nodded, turning back to Loretta. “Thank you. I’m sorry I didn’t get to know you better.”

  “Ember and Blaze have told me how wonderful you’ve been to them. But, there’s no more time. You need to go.” She crouched down to Ember, love and kindness in her eyes that I’d never seen before. “Stay hidden, stay safe.”

  “Yes, Loretta,” said Ember.

  Loretta kissed her on the forehead before Ember took my hand. In the darkness of the corner of the room, a hidden door stood ajar. That was how she’d been sneaking into my room, keeping an eye on me for Loretta… Loretta, who wasn’t who I’d thought she was.

  Gripping the strap of my backpack, I met Loretta’s wide eyes. “It wasn’t you who spiked my drink at the party, was it?”

  She shook her head. “That would’ve been my darling sister.”

  Crouching down, I let Ember pull me through the door, Loretta closing it behind us, plunging us into darkness.

  “We must stay quiet,” said Ember. “Keep a hold of my hand, I know the way.”

  Fingers entwined with mine, Ember lead me through the darkness, my head bumping the wooden ceiling now and then as I tried to straighten my aching spine and my shoulders grazed the wooden panels lining the walls that were much too close. At times my stomach squeezed as the floor seemed to tilt downwards until Ember stopped and whispered a, ‘shh.’

  She released my hand and I heard creaking as dull light filled the room, forcing me to shield my eyes as I blinked until they focused on a trap door of some kind. Ember was already climbing down a ladder inside of it and I followed.

  At the bottom of the ladder was a room full of barrels and crates lit by a single lantern on the wall. Some type of storeroom I imagined. Ember strode across the room to slide a lock across the lone wooden door before returning to me and pulling a vial of blue liquid from the pocket of her yellow dress.

  “What’s that?” I asked.

  “Loretta said it will stop Lukah’s potion so you can find your balloon,” she said.

  Another potion. I swallowed hard. “Can I trust Loretta?” I asked Ember. “Are you sure it’ll do as she says?”

  Ember nodded. “She looked after me until my brother found me and she sneaks me down to see Ebony when I’m not supposed to.”

  I drew in a deep breath and exhaled. “Why not? It’s worth a shot.”

  Taking the vial from her, I pulled the stopper and tipped the liquid onto my tongue. It was sweet, like marshmallow and peppermint and it warmed my throat as it made its way to my stomach.

  “Did it work?” she asked.

  My heart beat a wild rhythm in my chest and I stilled, hoping to feel the pull of the balloon’s magic… Nothing. I shook my head.

  “Maybe it takes a little bit?” she suggested. “We can wait here. No one will find us. I hide in here all the time.”

  She sat herself on a crate, hands in her lap, a relaxed expression on her face that helped ease the tension in my body.

  I sat beside her. “What would happen if I kidnapped you and made you come with me in my balloon?”

  “My soul would be torn from my body and I’d either die or be an empty shell for the rest of my days,” she said matter-of-factly.

  “How do you know?” I asked.

  “It’s in the contract. Blaze told me so I’d never risk trying to leave.”

  “Calix told me you signed it because Lukah had Ebony. But how did he manage to contain her?”

  “He said if she didn’t he’d kill me, so she went with him. But while he was tricking her, he was tricking me and I signed the contract. Blaze was so angry.” Sadness had crept into her eyes.

  I took her hand and held it in mine. Blaze. I wasn’t sure what it was between us, and I never would. How was it the moment I found a guy who liked me and wanted to be with me just as much as I did him, I had to leave him behind? It wasn’t love, it was no more than a crush, but I’d never know what it could’ve been and that was what saddened me the most.

  A rattling at the door made us both jump. Ebony looked at me, her golden eyes wide.

  “Em? Em? Are you in there?” My shoulders relaxed at the sound of Blaze’s voice.

  “Blaze!” Ember lunged from the crate and let her brother into the room, locking the door behind him.

  He knelt down, wrapping her in his bare muscular arms. He wore a blue tank and long black pants and when he looked at me, I ran to him, wrapping him in my arms.

  He hugged me tight and the aroma of black tea and peppermint filled my senses. Lukah’s scent.

  I eyed him over. “How did you know where to find us?”

  “He sits in here with me sometimes,” said Ember. “Don’t you, Blaze?”

  Blaze’s golden eyes darkened until they were as black as night.

  “I don’t think that’s Blaze.” I wrapped Ember in my arms, backing her away from her brother.

  “What do you mean?” He had Blaze’s voice, but his eyes, and Lukah’s scent.

  “You smell like him.” I stepped away from his reach.

  “Like who?” His eyes flickered.

  “Lukah.” I narrowed my eyes.

  “What are you saying?” he asked. “I probably smell like ale from the party.”

  Blaze’s eyes were golden again and they pleaded for me to believe him but he kept his distance. As a familiar tug started in my chest, relief spread through me. The pull of the balloon. I could feel it growing in power. Down. It was farther down in the belly of the ship. If I closed my eyes I could see the room, see Ember’s midnight dragon, Ebony sleeping beside it, tethered by some magical chain.

  Blaze stepped forward.

  “Stay there,” I demanded.

  “Olivia, this is stupid. I’m here, don’t you like me anymore?” He edged forward.

  “Stop,” I said. “If you are who you say you are, you’ll stop moving.”

  He paused, a flash of darkness in his eyes.

  Kneeling down I whispered to Ember. “Is there another way out of this room?”

  She shook her head, eyes never leaving Blaze. “That’s not my brother.”

  “Come, Ember, let’s get Olivia to her balloon,” he said.

  There was a flash in his eyes again, the darkness turning to the molten gold that mimicked Ember’s eyes and his features contorted and scrunched as he groaned in pain. “Beautiful, has magic, and she’s clever.” His voice was smoother than normal, like a lullaby that gave you nightmares. “You are full of surprises, Olivia.”

  “Leave Blaze alone. It’s me you want,” I said. Somehow Lukah had possessed Blaze’s body.

  He righted himself and stepped towards me. I positioned myself between him and Ember, tears running over her cheeks.

  “I just needed him to show me where to find you,” said the strange voice, more like Lukah’s than Blaze’s. “But I’ve quite enjoyed playing in Blaze’s mind. He likes you, you know. He thinks you’re beautiful, and he can’t stop thinking about the kiss you shared in the tent. The one you shared after he was told to stay away from you. Naughty boy. One look from a pretty girl and he’s forgotten he belongs to me, as does his sister.”

  Blaze’s eyes scrunched and he curled over himself, his voice rasping out, “run.”

  Seeing the gold back in his eyes I ran to him, c
rouched down and gripped his shoulders. “Come with me.”

  “Take Ember, run,” he said through gritted teeth.

  Taking Ember’s small hand in mine I lead her to the door. Blaze’s groans and pained yelling trailing behind us as we ran. But Ember was much too slow. She wrapped her arms and legs around me as I lifted her to my chest and continued following the familiar tug of the balloon’s magic.

  24

  Lucy

  Bilstone, Australia

  The bus pulled up to Suzan and Mike’s stop and I looked up to spot Mike walking up the aisle his eyes trained on me. I averted my gaze, looking out of the window into the clear blue sky. Someone sat beside me and I turned, my breath hitching as I realised it was Mike not Suzan who’d taken the seat next to me.

  “Hey, what are you doing?” Suzan put her hands on her hips.

  “Making Lucy listen to me,” argued Mike.

  I looked at Suzan, my gaze begging her to make him move.

  “She doesn’t want to talk to you. Just leave her alone,” she told him.

  “Sit down,” called Gus, the bus driver.

  “Please,” Mike begged her.

  “This is ridiculous. Leave her alone,” she said.

  He turned to me and although my heart tried to ram its way through my ribcage, I squared my jaw and stare back at him chin high. I wished he’d just leave me alone. There was only one touch game left and the season was over and then I wouldn’t have to do more than see him on the bus. I’d convinced myself that was when the twist in my stomach every time I saw him would go away, when we didn’t have to spend time together anymore.

  “I’m not moving until you listen to me.” He held my stare.

  Scared I couldn’t hide the lump in my throat and the sweatiness in my palms, I turned away, rolling my eyes towards the window.

  “Sit down,” called out Gus.

  Suzan let out an unimpressed sigh and plonked down on the seat behind us.

  “Do you have to sit right there?” asked Mike.