by Trudi Jaye
High Flyer
The Magic Carnival Series, Book 4
By Trudi Jaye
www.trudijayewrites.com
Running away is never the right answer…
Despite being the star trapeze act at the Jolly Knight Carnival, Missy’s life couldn’t get much worse.
Her parents were thrown out, she was forced into a fight to the death with the evil Lucietta, and now one of the Ringmasters thinks she killed Luci as revenge for her father. And don’t forget the nightmares plaguing her since that terrifying night high in the rigging.
She can’t take much more—which is why, when her abilities are questioned, she storms out, leaving the Carnival and everything she knows behind for good.
Luckily, sexy motorbike daredevil Zeph arrives at the right time and they head to L.A., where they both think they’re going to find what they’re looking for.
At first it seems they were right: The Experiment appears to be the kind of innovative show that’s going to make them both stars.
But they soon learn they’re now part of a circus where no one ever escapes, and everyone is expendable…
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High Flyer (Magic Carnival Series) is published by Star Media Ltd
Published 20 August 2015 by Star Media Ltd
Copyright © Star Media Ltd, 2015
ISBN: 978-0-9941048-5-4
Cover: www.ravven.com
Urban Fantasy
All rights reserved. High Flyer is a work of fiction. Names, places and incidents, except those clearly in the public domain, are products of the author’s imagination, or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, names, places or incidents is purely coincidental. No part of this publication may be reproduced, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or otherwise, without written permission from the author.
Table of Contents
Title Page
Readers Group
Prologue
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-One
Chapter Twenty-Two
Chapter Twenty-Three
Chapter Twenty-Four
Chapter Twenty-Five
Chapter Twenty-Six
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Chapter Thirty
Chapter Thirty-One
Chapter Thirty-Two
Chapter Thirty-Three
Chapter Thirty-Four
Chapter Thirty-Five
Chapter Thirty-Six
Chapter Thirty-Seven
Chapter Thirty-Eight
Chapter Thirty-Nine
Chapter Forty
Chapter Forty-One
Chapter Forty-Two
Chapter Forty-Three
Chapter Forty-Four
Epilogue
Thank You!
Excerpt of Hidden Magic
Chapter Two
About Trudi Jaye
Thanks to my husband for helping me follow my dreams. You’re my shining star.
PROLOGUE
The Winter Spectacular
Lucietta’s knife glinted evilly in the glare from the lights above them in the rigging. Missy was half-crouched, her skintight UV leotard glowing strangely in the dim space high above the Jolly Knight Carnival’s Winter Spectacular show. She was still buzzing from the surge of magic that had stormed through her body during the performance. Ever since her father had left, their powers had been resurfacing, and this show—despite the drama that was unfolding—had become a powerhouse of energy.
She gave herself a small shake, a reminder to concentrate. Lucietta would pounce at any moment.
“Come closer, pretty little trapeze girl,” said Lucietta, her smile wide. “I want to cut you up.” The reflection of the fire flickered over her face, making her look like the caricature of a villain from a comic book.
“No thanks, old lady.” The heightened power still flowed through Missy’s veins. She had to move now to disarm Lucietta—the older woman had crazy on her side.
Leaping high, Missy grabbed a pole over their heads, kicking down at Lucietta’s shoulder. Luci grunted in pain but didn’t let go of the knife. Recovering quickly, Luci took a swipe at Missy where she was still dangling, only narrowly missing her foot.
Missy curled up and over the bar, climbing nimbly to a position just above Lucietta’s head but out of her reach.
Luci glanced up through the smoke that was now hanging around them. “I’ve changed my mind. You’re not that much of a prize, little girl. Convincing your father to destroy the Carnival was much more of a coup. I have other things to do tonight.” She glanced over to where Maddy was crouched on the tiny trapeze platform.
Missy’s heart leaped at Lucietta’s words. She wanted to question the mention of her father, to demand answers, but she knew Lucietta’s intentions toward Maddy were a more immediate problem. She swung out, holding her body lean and long, feeling the gentle hand of the magic pulling her along. She landed lightly behind Lucietta and wound one arm around her neck, trying to block her airways.
Luci grabbed at Missy’s arm with one hand, fingers surprisingly strong. She swung her knife hand backward, trying to stab Missy. The awkward angle worked in Missy’s favor and she leaped back, the blade swishing through air. Looking up into Luci’s face, Missy saw the hatred etched into the lines there.
“What did I ever do to you?” she blurted, appalled at the woman’s expression.
“You’re just like all of them. Thinking you’re better than me, more bound to the Carnival. More powerful. More special. This time, you’ll learn who’s more.” Luci snarled, thrusting forward with her knife, spinning unexpectedly to one side and making a jab toward Missy’s chest.
Leaping to the side, Missy grabbed at Lucietta’s wrist, trying to make her drop the knife. They struggled against each other for a moment, their arms straining, and then Luci slammed her knee into Missy’s stomach. Missy gasped and stepped back, the air leaving her lungs in a rush. Lucietta attacked again, trying to slam the knife into Missy’s chest. Long practice sessions with Garth kicked in, and Missy raised her arm in a defensive block, holding her at bay for a moment and then pushing her away. Lucietta stepped back, panting heavily.
Wiping at the sweat on her brow, Missy tried not to breathe in too much of the smoke curling between them. Lucietta surged forward, kicking out. Her foot connected with Missy’s side. Missy stumbled back, her feet slipping on the narrow pole. Taking several steps backward to correct the balance, Missy felt the magic surging to help. Anyone else would have fallen, and Lucietta growled, slashing her knife in front of her in frustration.
Lucietta moved forward again, and Missy blocked her with two hands. Their arms locked together in a battle of strength, the knife in the middle the prize.
Movement just above distracted Missy for a moment, and Lucietta’s triumphant yell was cut off by a rush
of foam to the face—from the fire extinguisher held by Maddy just over their heads.
Lucietta stumbled backward, trying to shake off the foam. Without hesitation, Missy swept one foot low and wide, knocking the other woman’s feet out from under her.
Lucietta screamed as she fell, and there was a communal gasp from the audience. It settled into a relieved sigh as she grabbed a bar about five meters down, hooking her elbows over the metal pole. She clung there, looking dazed from the heavy landing, unable to see through the foam still coating her face.
Maddy climbed down from where she’d been hiding just above them. “You okay?” she asked.
Relief flowing through her body, Missy nodded. The fight had been too close. “Thanks. I can keep her in line from here.”
Maddy smiled then headed back the other way, toward Garth and Hugo.
Climbing quickly down, Missy landed close to where the older woman dangled. “If you want me to help you up, you’ll have to promise to give up,” she said, knowing what the answer would be.
“You won’t let me fall. You’re all too goody-two-shoes around here. I think I’ll take my chances without any promises.”
Missy nodded, although Lucietta couldn’t see her through the coating of foam she couldn’t quite remove while she dangled from the bar. Kneeling one leg on the beam, Missy put one hand out to grasp Lucietta’s arm and pull her up. Luci’s smug smile was almost enough to make Missy drop her again, but as if she’d sensed it, Lucietta grabbed on with her second hand and made it impossible.
As soon as she was standing securely on the bar, Lucietta launched herself at Missy. She blocked it, then punched Lucietta square in the face. Magic fuelled her aim, and it was a powerhouse blow. She felt bones break in Luci’s nose, and the woman spun backward. Missy leaped forward and grabbed her just before she fell, hauling the now-unconscious Luci over her shoulders.
She glanced around. The only thing she could do to help would be to distract the audience somehow. Lucietta was fairly light, and an idea came to Missy. She moved nimbly along the beam and then climbed to the high wire. Dumping Lucietta’s still unconscious body up on the platform, she followed her up, and then dragged Lucietta into her arms. She glanced down to the hard ice below. The net was broken and useless; there was no room for error.
Missy took a deep breath and focused down into the very core of her being, where she shared space with the Carnival that both ruled and saved their lives. She needed to find the power and skill to somehow walk across the wire, balancing Lucietta in her arms, and make this whole fiasco look like it was part of the act.
Placing one careful foot out on the wire, Missy kept her eyes on the other end. She felt rather than saw the spotlight that appeared over them. She didn’t hear or see anything else, simply felt the roar of energy flowing through her veins, keeping her in place. One foot after the other, she crossed the wire, trying not to think too closely about what she was doing.
It seemed like both years and seconds, but she eventually made it. Her final step onto the other platform was hurried, and she stumbled. Her heart thundered in her chest as she steadied herself. She wouldn’t let herself fall now. Leaning Lucietta’s unconscious form against the back pole as if she were awake, Missy sat next to her and waved out at the audience.
“Ladies and gentlemen, give a round of applause to our daredevil high-wire walkers, Missy and Lucietta!” Rilla’s Ringmaster voice filtered up through the tent, calming Missy’s panic and making everything seem more possible. Missy clasped Lucietta’s limp hand in her own, and lifted them both high in a gesture of achievement. The crowd went wild, delighted to learn it had all been a stunt.
She was vaguely aware of Maddy and Garth doing a stunt on the on the other ropes, and then all around them, the audience was on its feet, clapping and stomping over what they thought was some kind of new performance theatre show.
Missy slumped where she sat, all her energy completely drained. They had made it. Ever since she’d seen Lucietta with the knife, she’d been running on adrenaline.
But now it was over, and she wondered how she was going to make it down the steps to ground. Lethargy filled her, her eyes closed to halfway, and she let out a small sigh.
A small movement beside her made her open her eyes, and only her sharp reflexes allowed her to block the attack from Lucietta. Her brain took a few moments to catch up. Lucietta was awake and, against all odds, still had her knife. She must have tucked it away before Missy made it down to rescue her.
Missy scrambled back, grasping at a pole behind her, trying to push back on Lucietta at the same time. Blood caked Lucietta’s face, and her eyes were wild with a fury directed solely at Missy. All Missy could do was block Luci’s frenzied attack and try not to fall from the small platform.
Lucietta took a breath, holding the knife high over her head. “Try to avoid this, you bitch,” she said and slammed the knife down hard towards Missy’s face.
It was only Lucietta’s warning that saved Missy. She stepped back away from the swipe, grabbing Lucietta’s hands as they swung past her, trying to twist the knife out of her grip.
Lucietta growled. “That’s mine,” she said, putting her other hand over Missy’s. She jerked the knife back toward herself, blade first.
The sharp knife-edge sank into Lucietta’s chest, sliding neatly between the ribs. It happened so fast; Missy didn’t register what had happened at first. Lucietta glanced down in surprise, her eyes wide. A gurgling sound emerged from her throat, and she fell to her knees, Missy still holding the knife.
A noise behind Missy made her turn. Henry stood at the top of the ladder, taking in the knife, the blood, and Lucietta dying beside her.
CHAPTER ONE
Two months later…
Zeph Jolly stood at the arrivals area of L.A. airport and looked around. He could barely keep his eyes open he was so tired. His body ached all over, and his leg felt like his motorbike accident had only just happened yesterday. His boss’ final words to him were still ringing in his ears.
Sorry, Zeph, we can’t keep you on anymore. If you can’t do your old act, you’re useless to us.
His heavy bag smashed against his bad leg, and he swore. All he wanted to do was curl up in a nice warm bed and go to sleep. Preferably for several days.
But his ride was nowhere to be seen. In fact, she was more than an hour late.
Maybe parking had been lousy. Maybe she was waiting at the wrong terminal.
Or maybe his mother had forgotten.
His heart dropped, and all he could think about was how it had felt when he was little and his father and sister had left him and his mother like rubbish on the side of the road because he needed medical care. His mother had been the only one who’d cared, who had stayed with him through the hospital stays and the doctor visits.
He knew logically that his mother would never desert him—was in fact more likely to cling to him like a limpet—but he wasn’t feeling very logical at the moment. He hurt all over, and he was tired, dammit.
It had been five months since the accident, and the only time he’d actually talked to his mother was one crackling phone call early on when he’d been half out of his mind on pain meds. He’d expected her to come rushing to his bedside, but she never did. He’d been confused by it but figured she didn’t have the money, and he sure as hell didn’t have enough to get her to Europe, not with the hospital bills he’d been forced to pay up front. He was going to hound the insurance company until they coughed up the money they owed him, but in the meantime, his funds were short.
He took a deep breath and picked up his luggage. He’d have to get a taxi. He just hoped he had enough money in the bank to pay for it.
He limped over to the taxi stand. There were no seats, so he stood awkwardly in the queue, leaning on his good leg, trying not to think too hard about the pain relief he would have been on at the hospital in Prague.
It took another hour to finally get a cab. Zeph settled back in the leather se
at and closed his eyes with a sigh of relief, rubbing at his thigh to try and ease the throbbing pain.
A throat cleared in the front of the car. “Excuse me, sir, but my air-conditioner isn’t working. You just open the window, and it’ll be fine,” said the driver apologetically, his voice soft and musical.
Zeph opened his eyes again and stared at the man, who’d already turned back to steer his way out of the busy concourse. Pink fuzzy dice swung from the rearview mirror, and a small Buddha statue was stuck precariously to the dashboard. For a moment, it seemed like the Buddha did a little dance, but he shook his head and it returned to being motionless.
“You look beat. Long flight?” said the driver, glancing at Zeph through the mirror. His eyes blinked rapidly behind thick glasses. “You just sit back and relax. I’ll get you where you’re going.”
Zeph looked at the strange man through pain-focused lenses and just nodded tiredly. What did he need air-conditioning for? He laid his head back and stared out the open window, letting the humid, smog-filled air of L.A. blast over his face.
He was home. That was all that mattered.