by Trudi Jaye
Missy’s eyes went wide. “So we can’t call anyone?”
“No. But that doesn’t matter. I wouldn’t go anyway. Your mother is happy here, and I won’t have her disturbed, not even by you.”
She had to keep trying. “But—”
“No, Missy,” her father said angrily. “I’m not going to change my mind. The argument ends here.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
Sometimes her power felt like she was taking candy from a baby.
Veronica smiled and felt the energy surging through her body, bright and clear. Zeph was even stronger than she’d suspected, his store of power hidden so well from view.
She pondered his blank face as he sat in her office opposite her on the white couches that had seen so much. He looked older than before, the lines in his face more pronounced and the black smudges under his eyes darker. The draining often did that to people.
What kind of power would he have? She knew from Helene that his act in Europe had been with motorbikes, so perhaps something mechanical? It was sometimes hard to tell, especially with those like Zeph who’d lived away from their inheritance.
Not that it really mattered; all she needed was his power. That was why she’d searched out Helene. As soon as Barbarina had mentioned that Abba had another child, her heart started to pound. It was how she imagined an addict felt when they were about to score a hit of their favorite drug. She’d been able to taste the potential power, to feel it surging through her veins.
She’d worked hard to ensure Zeph would come to her, and now finally, here he was. A thrill of anticipation zinged through her body. She’d won.
He was here under her spell, giving up his power so Marco could live. Zeph was like a giant puppy dog; so eager to do her bidding it was almost embarrassing. He was even rather attracted to her. She hadn’t been able to help herself; he was such an attractive boy. She preened. Not today, but perhaps soon.
A knock at the door made her jump slightly, but she smoothed her skirt over her legs. “Come in, Lorenzo,” she said.
Her tall Ringmaster entered, his dark eyes taking in Zeph’s state. He closed the door firmly behind him.
“Lorenzo, darling, come here and help me,” she purred. They’d been lovers a long time, and she’d used that fact to gather power for Marco on many occasions.
“What do you need me for when you have that child?” he asked viciously, gesturing with one hand toward Zeph.
She smoothed the seat beside her. “Come, my darling. No one could ever replace you. I’m simply using the boy. He is powerful. Can you not feel the magic pulsing around us?”
Lorenzo walked stiffly over to where she sat, not entirely convinced, but unwilling to give up his spot next to Veronica.
She kissed Lorenzo hard on the lips, giving him what he wanted. She opened her eyes and saw Zeph watching them from the other couch. She smiled and leaned back slightly.
“I need magic for Marco. I need your blood, Lorenzo,” she whispered.
“Why do you not take it from the boy?” he said dismissively.
“He doesn’t mean as much to me as you do.” It was simple really. She needed to hurt someone she loved to gather the right kind of power for Marco. Perhaps one day, Zeph would be enough. But not yet.
She pulled out her favorite implement, a small bone-handled knife with flowers painted onto the side. Lorenzo held out his arm, and she cut, careful to avoid the major arteries. Straightaway, the power exploded around her, holding her in place as she struggled to control it. His was such a wild, unpredictable talent; she always had to spend time trying to pull the curse magic she garnered from him into submission.
As she gathered the magic leaking out of the wound and then pushed it to Marco, she considered her other possible problem.
Missy was an unexpected boon, her magical strength undeniable. She’d never expected to have a talent like Missy land in her lap. She was pleased she’d decided to take in Barb and Christoph, despite her reservations about the older pair. Her intuition had tweaked, and she’d known it was the right decision. They would be useful in keeping the young flyer in line.
She glanced down at Lorenzo as he lay beside her with his head on the back of the sofa. He’d once been like Missy—wild, out of control, unwilling to give in to her superior talent. He’d come around eventually.
If Missy could be controlled and convinced to do curse magic, she would be very useful. She was much stronger than either of her parents, her power fresher and deliciously wild. It would all be worth it if she could break Missy and have her in the circus alongside Zeph.
The only problem was Veronica wasn’t sure she was going to be able to control Missy, and that was… annoying to say the least. It would be like having another Tilly around. Like a stone in your shoe, rubbing your heel raw while you’re walking amongst the most beautiful landscape you’ve ever seen.
She smoothed her hand along the soft leather of her sofa, frowning gently as she recalled all the times Tilly had made her swear and throw things in anger.
In agitation, she dug the knife deeper into Lorenzo’s arm. He was so far gone into the curse magic that he didn’t even blink. She sighed. On the other side of that argument was the fact that after a while, it was no longer a challenge. They would just lie there and take almost anything she could give them.
But whatever happened, she could use Missy. She would be able to suck her power from her like she’d learned to do with Tilly. That had always been rather satisfying—owning Tilly, even though the girl had resisted the full mind control. Veronica smiled. Maybe it could work.
Marco would benefit, whatever happened. That was the important thing. Her brother had been through so much. Whatever it took to keep him alive, Veronica would do it.
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
Zeph blinked and looked again. He was standing in front of his mother’s house. There were no terrible garden ornaments. The lawn was mowed, the windows perfectly clean. Everything was perfect.
There was something wrong.
The front door opened, and his mom looked out. “I thought I saw you out here. Come on in. How did your session with Veronica go?”
Frowning, Zeph walked up the path. “My session?” He didn’t remember anything.
“I left you with Veronica a couple hours ago. You must have walked home.”
A chill went down his spine and didn’t leave. He rubbed his bare arms and wished he had a jacket.
Helene must have seen something on his face, and when he reached her, she gave him a big hug. “It’s okay. You’ll remember again soon. It’s like that the first couple of times.”
“What is?”
“Sessions with Veronica.”
“What does that even mean, Mom?” Zeph couldn’t get himself warm despite the heat of the day. What had happened to him?
“She just likes to spend time with people when they first arrive. Get a sense of who they are. I did the same thing when I first got here.”
“But why don’t I remember?”
“She’s got a strong personality. It’s overwhelming.” His mother shook her head. “She doesn’t mean to do it. It just happens.”
Zeph felt panic rising up through his body. He opened his mouth to say something but stopped. A warm, soft feeling flowed over him. It emerged from his core, his heart and lungs, and spread out until he felt so good all over that he smiled. Looking down at his mother, he gave her another hug.
“It’s good to see you, Mom,” he said.
***
High up over the practice ring, Missy flew through the air, the wind caressing her body like a lover. It was a mixture of sweetness and pain. It felt good to be back up and practicing after a couple days away, her body flying through the movements she knew so well. But the knowledge of what was happening to her parents made it hard for her to concentrate properly. All she knew was she had to stay on Veronica’s good side until she could figure out a way to get them out of here. Those same words kept echoing through her he
ad as she flew back and forth over the ring.
Landing lightly beside Alphonso, she nodded at her new flying partner.
“You are very skilled,” he said, nodding. “Although, currently not concentrating fully. Veronica was right to allow your participation.”
“Thank you. I think.” Missy glanced around at the people running around like ants below them. “What do you want to do for our act?”
Alphonso shrugged. “I have not thought about it. We need to work together first to determine our strengths and weaknesses. Where we can improve. It will become obvious to us over time.”
Missy frowned. “But how will we know what to practice?”
Alphonso smiled without humor. “We will practice everything.”
Missy stared at him for a moment, then blinked. “Where do we start?” she said without inflection. She was used to hard work.
Alphonso nodded, almost to himself. “You will be a good partner. I can already tell. We start with throws and catches. But you must concentrate. I cannot abide when my partners are not paying full attention.”
Missy frowned at his words. “You’re not under this magic of Veronica’s, are you?” she said bluntly.
Alphonso shook his head. “I have been here a long time. I was one of the first people to join Veronica in her plans for a better life. I do not need to be under her spell to stay here.”
“Then why are you still here? She’s got all these people running around like they’re puppets.”
“You’re looking at this the wrong way. This place is a utopia. There’s no fighting, no crime. We have money and state-of-the-art facilities. We are harming no one.”
“Except each other.”
Alphonso shrugged. “Curse magic has its uses.”
“Do you do it?”
He hesitated. “I am an unusual case.”
“So no?”
“You will not be such a case as I. You will need to use the curse magic to perform in The Experiment. It is the only way.”
“But why?” said Missy desperately. “What made Veronica do all this?”
Alphonso’s eyes were grave. “Sometimes the greatest miracles are born out of the greatest tragedies. Veronica’s brother Marco was a great performer. He was being groomed to take over the circus where they grew up. But his father was careless.
“Marco fell from the high wire during a difficult act, and the net failed. He smashed into the hard dirt floor, leaving his body a broken mess. Veronica was only young, no more than seventeen. She accidentally used curse magic, using some of her brother’s own power to heal him.” Alphonso’s face was distant, his eyes focused on some other scene in his mind.
“So what happened to Marco? Did he die?”
Alphonso shook his head. “Marco lives here in the village. He’s still alive. She created The Experiment to provide enough magic to sustain him.”
“She mentioned she was trying to prove something to her parents?” prompted Missy.
He nodded. “Yes, that is also her desire.” Alphonso swept his arm around the practice rings. “I think she proved her point, no?”
Missy nodded. If nothing else, she could agree that the practice facilities were state-of-the-art. Everything was near new, no expense spared. She even saw people checking and double-checking safety equipment and others cleaning and polishing every inch of the area.
“Shall we get started?” said Missy. She’d learned enough from Alphonso to think about for now.
“Certainly. We have an act to prepare.”
***
It had been a hard few hours of practice. Alphonso was as much of a perfectionist as Missy, and between the two of them, they’d pushed themselves hard. He was an amazing artist, his techniques flawless. It had been an honor to work with him—but now she was exhausted.
Alphonso had gone up higher to check some of the rigging for the maintenance manager, but he’d said she could have a break for a while.
“We will get back into it this evening,” he’d said.
She snorted. He was definitely more of a perfectionist.
Missy let go of the bar and did a double flip before landing on the net below. She bounced a few times, letting her body relax, and then crawled to the edge, flipping down. Her body ached and her legs were a bit shaky being on the ground again after hours of flying through the air.
She saw Zeph standing next to one of the rings. “Hey, Zeph,” she called.
His eyes shone down at her, his mouth spread wide in a happy grin. “Hey, Missy. Isn’t this great?” His face was one big blur of contentment. “I’m going to start training as a Ringmaster today.”
Her heart sank. “I thought you didn’t want to do that?”
Zeph shrugged. “I went back and talked to Veronica again and realized I should do it. It’s a big opportunity for me.”
“How’s your leg?”
He looked down at it, confusion on his face for a moment. “My leg? What about it?”
“A day ago, it was so sore you couldn’t ride the motorbike properly.”
“Oh, right. Veronica sorted that out for me. I’m fine now.” He jiggled his leg up and down, and to give him credit, it seemed fine.
Had Veronica actually done something to fix it? Or had she just messed with his head to make him think it was fine? Missy didn’t know.
He leaned over and gave her a big hug. “This is great, huh? Who’d have thought when we first met that we’d be in a circus together?”
“Yeah. This is amazing.” Missy looked up at his goofy face and wondered what it would take to bring him out of this magic. She glanced away. She was beginning to hate him like this.
“Hey.” Zeph’s voice was soft.
Missy glanced back up at him.
He placed his palms on either side of her face, gently and carefully. “This is going to be fine, Missy. We’re going to be fine. Don’t worry so much.” He leaned in and kissed her softly on the forehead.
Missy closed her eyes, wishing she could just let go and accept the platitude he offered. It would be so nice. She felt so lonely.
But Zeph was completely bugged out. And his mother was just as loopy.
There was no one else to tell. Missy tried not to give in to the sob working its way up her chest, but it was hard. She swallowed it back down with a determination she didn’t know she possessed.
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
Missy stepped outside the practice arena with some vague notion of going back to Zeph’s mother’s house to rest. Their bags were still there. She had to remind herself they’d not even been in the village overnight yet. The sun was just setting over the horizon. Her stomach rumbled, and she was having trouble keeping her eyes open.
“Missy!” a soft voice called out.
Missy turned and saw Veronica and Lorenzo walking toward her. Lorenzo looked pale and had a bandage on his arm.
“I watched part of your performance. It was a good start,” said Veronica.
“Thank you.” Missy bit her tongue to keep from saying anything more.
“You have spoken to your father?”
Missy nodded. She didn’t want to give him away.
“I know he isn’t under my magic.” Veronica raised her eyebrows at Missy’s start of surprise. “But it does not matter. I know he will do what I say because he wishes to stay here. He lets your mother cut him every time she performs. That is all I require of him.”
Missy couldn’t say anything. She just watched Veronica’s calm expression with growing dread in the pit of her stomach.
“I wonder what it will take to ensure your cooperation?” Veronica asked in a musing voice. “What will you do to save your parents?”
“Don’t you dare hurt them.” The words were out of Missy’s mouth before she could think better of it.
Veronica smiled. She turned to Lorenzo. “See, I told you. She still cares for them despite what her father did to the Carnival,” she said, as if discussing an argument over the weather. She turned back to Mi
ssy. “But you have to understand I am quite ruthless. I have had to be to create this place. I will do more than simply hurt your parents if you do not do what I say. If you want your performance in The Experiment to go down in history—which is a definite possibility with a partner like Alphonso—then you will do exactly as I say. Understood?”
Missy stayed mulishly silent.
“Understood?” urged Veronica again, her voice hard.
“Yes.” Missy bit out the word.
“You know how we work? What is expected?” Veronica’s eyes glittered.
“What do you mean?” Missy wanted her to spell it out.
“I mean we expect you to use curse magic to ensure your performance is of the highest level.”
“You want me to hurt someone? Who?” Missy couldn’t even begin to imagine how she might be able to do what they wanted.
“For maximum effect, it will be the person you love the most. Your mother seems the best candidate. Your love for your father is a little tarnished.” Veronica smiled.
“I won’t do it.”
“Your choice is simple. You will cut your mother and use the curse magic to create the performance of a lifetime. Or don’t and your mother dies. I might even make her do it herself.”
Missy clenched her fists, staring hard at Veronica. “You would never dare.”
“Let’s be clear. I do not bluff, Missy. Your parents are only valuable to me as pawns to ensure your cooperation.”
Missy glanced around desperately, wishing there was a way out of this situation. Why had she thought it was a good idea to jump on the bike with Zeph? Or even that she wanted to perform in The Experiment?
“You do not have a choice as far as I can see.”
Missy bit her lip and simply stared at Veronica.
“I will take your silence as an answer. Lorenzo will take you to your lodging. You will stay in the Big House with a few of the other performers. I have asked them to keep an eye on you for me. Please don’t try anything stupid, because any attempt to leave here will be construed as breaking our agreement, and your mother will die.”