High Flyer (The Magic Carnival Book 4)

by Trudi Jaye

  They weren’t going to get away with this. The entire Jolly Carnival was going to know what it was like to suffer.

  But first, Missy. The block she’d placed on her was fully capable of killing Missy right where she stood. But that would be too easy. Veronica was going to do whatever it took to ensure Missy died a horrible pain-filled death this night, the same as Marco.

  A sob hitched in her throat.

  Marco hadn’t been able to move; he’d had no way to run from the flames. He had to lie there as the fire burned his body alive. When they’d carried her unconscious body out of there, they’d sentenced her brother to the worst kind of death imaginable.

  And they would pay for it. They would pay dearly.

  The anger boiling inside sent a surge of power to her senses, and she pulsed more energy into Missy’s block. She felt the scream along her veins and smiled.

  CHAPTER FORTY-FOUR

  Zeph watched as Indigo’s light faded to almost nothing. The surge of energy that had blasted out from the red light had engulfed her and then pulled back. Indigo must have protected him, because he’d only felt a dim ache and none of the aftereffects Indigo seemed to be experiencing.

  Missy screamed behind him, and he knew Veronica had overcome Indigo’s attempts to destroy the block. They needed more help. He closed his eyes and imagined being back in the van.

  In his arms, Missy was shuddering, her face spasming with pain. Next to him, Indigo was slumped over, unconscious.

  “We need more help. She’s winning,” he gasped out.

  The van had stopped. They were in a parking lot outside a busy supermarket.

  “We know, Zeph. It’s okay. We’re going to sort this out.” Sam’s soothing voice was right behind him.

  “She’s too strong.”

  The side door of the van opened. Jack stood in the doorway. “She’s the Ringmaster, even if it’s all burning around her. We need another Ringmaster in there to fight her.”

  “No! It’s too dangerous.” Sam’s voice was calm but firm. “I’ll go in.”

  “I appreciate the offer, but it has to be me. I’m the Ringmaster.” Jack’s eyes blazed fiercely in the dim light.

  Zeph shook his head. “I don’t think you’re strong enough on your own. You’re a newbie, not a proper Ringmaster like my dad was. I think we need Sam as well. Maybe everyone.” He glanced around the van, looking to Sam and Christoph to back him up.

  The shocked faces and tense silence made it clear he’d gone too far.

  “Zeph, he’s plenty strong enough.” Christoph’s urgent voice came from the backseat. “I made bad decisions, weakened the Carnival. But Jack is the one getting things back on track. He has the power of everyone in the Jolly Knight Carnival behind him. He’s the only one who can save her.”

  Zeph shook his head. “Then why does he believe Missy killed Lucietta on purpose? Why did he let her renounce? That’s not what my dad would have done.” He was certain of that, if nothing else.

  Jack remained motionless as Zeph spoke, a tense statue at the door of the van. He twitched at the mention of Abba. “I let her go when I shouldn’t have,” he said softly. “I know that now. I might be new to this, but I’m strong. And Missy belongs with the Jolly Knight Carnival; she’s one of us. So let me save her.”

  Zeph glanced down at Missy, her whole body shaking as she lay against him. Jack was right. Now wasn’t the time to argue the point.

  He nodded once. “Fine. Do it.”

  And then they were back in the Carnival landscape, the fiery light over everything except the small cache of blue light surrounding Missy and Kitten.

  But this time, they had Jack. His light was brighter than Indigo’s and had a spectrum of colors. It hurt to look at him.

  Jack went straight to Indigo, enveloping her in his glow, the energy pulsing between them. Zeph followed, and as soon as Jack asked, he made his glow overlap with both Indigo and Jack. As they all merged together, the internal workings of the Ringmaster’s mind hit Zeph hard. He saw courage and intelligence, honor and integrity. He saw the love Jack felt for Rilla shining bright. And he saw love for Missy shining through as well, not just from Jack, but from all the Carnival people linked with them. It surrounded them like a blanket and made Zeph shiver with the raw emotion. He’d never felt anything like it in his life.

  Jack’s light began devouring pieces of the orange-red light, tentatively at first, and then moving faster and faster, and on to larger chunks. Beside him, Indigo’s light burned brighter again, and she began helping as well.

  Zeph watched what they were doing and then grasped a handful of the light, planning to help. He jumped back when it bit him, making pain pulse through his light-body.

  Through the light connection, Jack sent him an image of a smaller piece, and Zeph understood. He had taken too much. This time, more cautiously, he surrounded a smaller piece of light and pulled it toward him. It still gave off an unpleasant discordant buzz, but it was manageable. He pushed at it, making it smaller and smaller until it disappeared.

  Grasping the next piece, and the next, he kept going until he was so exhausted he didn’t think he could do any more. Looking around, he saw Indigo’s light was again dimmed to almost nothing. But Jack’s light was still strong, and he moved at speed across the last of Veronica’s block. Zeph followed, determined to keep up with him and ensure Missy was okay. Both men, working side by side, destroyed the last few sections of red light together.

  Missy’s block was gone.

  Zeph looked back at Missy. Her light was motionless and no moans of pain interrupted the landscape. Kitten’s light was still wrapped around her, softly comforting. Jack approached Missy and Kitten, surrounding them both with his multi-hued glow. A flash went off across the whole landscape, and then it dimmed to normal levels.

  Zeph blinked and was back in the van, Missy lying against his side.

  ***

  Missy opened her eyes and found herself in the van, driving along a highway, curled up in Zeph’s lap. For the first time in what seemed like forever, there were no shafts of pain digging across her skull or hunkered down in her stomach. She snuggled closer. It wasn’t the worst place she could be.

  Zeph’s hand stroked her hair, and she smiled. It felt good.

  “Thanks,” she murmured, opening her eyes and looking up at him.

  He smiled. “What are you thanking me for? Indigo and Jack did all the hard work,” he said.

  Missy shook her head. “Not about getting the block out. About standing up for me to Veronica.” It was good to feel like she had someone on her side again.

  While they were in the Carnival landscape, Jack had enveloped her and Kitten, letting them know they were both welcome at the Jolly Carnival. Missy had seen Jack’s guilt and remorse laid bare. He saw her feelings too and knew once and for all that she didn’t kill Lucietta on purpose or to get revenge. It felt good to finally have the truth sitting between her and her Ringmaster. It was a pity they hadn’t thought to do it months ago.

  Zeph leaned down to kiss her forehead. “Anytime, Missy,” he said.

  “Where are we going?” She tried to lift her head, but it was too much effort.

  “Back to the Carnival.”

  “What about Veronica?” Missy whispered.

  Zeph shrugged. “She doesn’t have a hold on us now. We’re free.”

  Missy considered that for a moment. “We don’t know where she is?” Her voice wobbled. The thought was terrifying.

  “No. But Jack believes she’s so weakened it’ll take a while for her to build up her strength again.”

  “What about Mom and Dad?”

  Zeph shrugged. “They’re coming with us to Madison; that much I know. I guess they’ll figure out what they’re going to do from there.”

  “But they can’t go back in, can they?” Missy knew the answer, but she had to ask anyway.

  Zeph’s eyes softened. “I don’t know. Maybe.”

  “But Mom… She did curse magic.
”

  Zeph glanced up, looking over at Jack in the front seat. “I guess we’ll find out when we get there.”

  “You’re coming too?” Missy’s heart leaped. She didn’t know what was going to happen now, but she did know she wanted Zeph with her.

  He nodded. “I’m coming too.”

  Missy smiled and closed her eyes, drifting off to sleep. As long as Zeph was going to be there when she woke up, things didn’t seem so bad.

  “I love you,” she whispered as she fell asleep.

  EPILOGUE

  “So you’re going to stay?” Rilla’s voice held both hope and skepticism. She was standing at the door to Missy’s house in the Compound.

  Zeph stood in the doorway, purposefully blocking the way in. He wasn’t ready to have his sister all the way back into his life. “Missy and I…” He knew he wanted to stay wherever Missy was, and for now, that was at the Carnival. Maybe he’d convince her to leave at some point. Maybe he wouldn’t. “We’re staying because Missy wants to be here. But I don’t know for how long.”

  “Missy will be reinstated as Showmaster.”

  Zeph shook his head. “I don’t know if she wants that or not. It’s up to her.” He shifted his position on the crutch that was supporting his leg.

  Rilla tried again. “The Nine talked about the show she and Alphonso put together for The Experiment. We’d like them to do it on the road when we leave next week,” said Rilla.

  Zeph blinked and had to curb the urge to step backward and slam the door shut. He didn’t know if he was ready to go on the road with the Carnival. He glanced behind him to the room where Missy was recuperating. She’d want to do it; he was sure.

  “I’ll let her know. She can think about it.”

  Rilla nodded slowly, disappointment on her face. “Okay. I’m just glad you’re going to be around for a while. Maybe we can hang out…?”

  Zeph looked away. “Maybe. I don’t know.”

  “I’d like to get to know you again,” she said softly. “I missed you.”

  There was a part of him that wanted to shove her words in her face. It was going to take him time to get over the lifetime of hurt stored in his chest. But he also wanted to give it a chance. He’d learned that not everything his mother had told him was entirely true. And maybe it would be good to have a sister again.

  For now, he simply nodded.

  “I’ll see you, then,” she said. “I’m glad Missy’s feeling better. I’ll come back tomorrow and talk to her about the show.”

  “Okay.” Zeph nodded and closed the door. He limped back down the hall to Missy’s bedroom, leaning on the crutch as he went.

  She was sitting up eating the breakfast he’d made for her.

  “What did Rilla say?” she asked between munching on her toast.

  “The police said Veronica hasn’t been seen since the fire. And aside from a bit of smoke inhalation and some bumps and bruises, plus a couple breaks, no one was hurt.”

  “Did they say anything about your bike?”

  Zeph winced. “They found it, but it was wrecked. Burns everywhere. Ralph is going to be pretty angry. I’ll have to buy him a new one.” He didn’t like to think what another bike was going to cost. He’d be working until he was ninety to pay it off.

  Missy put a hand over his in sympathy. “We’ll figure it out,” she said.

  “I hope you’re not thinking of a flaming ball act? ‘Cause I’m done with those.”

  She smiled. “That wasn’t a very well-planned act. In fact, I think Lorenzo was trying to get rid of you.”

  “You’re probably right,” said Zeph. He didn’t really remember it all that clearly, other than coming out of his trance in a burning metal ball. He had a feeling it was for the best.

  “Has she heard from Mom and Dad?”

  Zeph nodded. “They’re still in Madison. They want to see you again, but they’re both locked out. I guess the Carnival can tell your mother has done curse magic, under the influence or not.”

  “What are they going to do?” Missy asked, worry threading her voice.

  “My mom’s offered to let them stay at her house in L.A. She wants to stay here with Alphonso, give the traveling life another go.” He wasn’t sure how he felt about that either. It was a lot to take in, the idea that his mother had met a man. He was trying to be grown up about it, but it was hard. He shifted on the bed beside Missy.

  “And how is Alphonso settling in?” asked Missy with a grin.

  “Rilla’s looking after him and Mom at her house.”

  “I know that.” Missy made a face. “I want to know how they’re coping with everything.”

  Zeph shrugged. “Better than if they were still at The Experiment, I suppose.”

  “It’s going to be fine, you know.”

  “What is?”

  “Everything,” she said, smiling.

  He shook his head. “How can you be so sure?”

  Missy’s eyes became serious. “When I was lying on the floor in Veronica’s office and you were poised over me with that knife, I thought you were going to do it. And I wouldn’t have blamed you. She had you under her thrall; you didn’t know what you were doing. But you fought it. You broke through, and it was for me.” She gripped his hand tightly.

  “I didn’t know if I was going to be able to do it,” he admitted.

  “But you did. And it was amazing.” Missy lifted her other hand and cupped his cheek. “Thanks for staying,” she said.

  He put his hand over hers and kissed her palm. “There’s nowhere else I’d rather be.”

  THE END

  Thank you

  Thank you for reading High Flyer, I hope you enjoyed it!

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  Other books in the Magic Carnival series:

  Ringmaster

  The Gift

  Tilly’s Secret

  High Flyer

  Hidden Magic

  Hidden Magic Excerpt (Book Five)

  CHAPTER ONE

  Henry whistled through his teeth as he gazed up at the steel and glass monstrosity in front of him. It towered overhead, making him squint as he tried to see the top through the glare of Tampa’s midday sun. He glanced at the piece of paper again, just to make sure. Yep. It was the right place. He was going to have to put up with this for the next month.

  It’s just a month, Henry. And the money they’re going to pay for the contract will cover a third of what we owe on the last installment to the bank. We’re relying on you.

  Jack’s words still ringing in his ears, Henry sighed. He didn’t have much choice. He glanced back at his car, a pristine condition 1974 Dodge Charger SE parked across one and a half spaces, and considered leaving. When Rilla had said she would fly him down to Tampa from the Compound in Montana, he’d shaken his head and insisted on driving. It had taken him a few long days of driving, but he’d arrived in one piece, and was far calmer than if he had flown.

  He still thought this was a bad idea. He didn’t like spending long periods away from the Carnival and he didn’t like working on projects where he wasn’t the one in charge—or was related to the person in charge. Plus, ordinary people made him edgy.

  But Jack had been persistent and, despite his reluctance, the Carnival was depending on him.

  Heaving a big sigh, Henry took off his cowboy hat and strode into the building through the glass revolving doors. It made him tired just thinking about spending an entire month with ordinary folk. The way they thought, the way they talked—the way they judged based on how you looked, inste
ad of who you were on the inside. It all added up to a headache.

  The massive entrance area was stark and industrial, with concrete floors and steel beams visible overhead. Henry’s boots struck the polished floor, and the sound echoed through the high-ceiling entranceway. Glass featured heavily in the design, as did steel bolts and rivets.

  There was no signage to give any hint of what they did here, but the massive security guard standing next to the reception desk said it was something they wanted to protect. Henry nodded at the guard who had arms twice the size of Henry’s and a chin that looked like it could bulldoze mountains. The man didn’t even blink.

  When they’d told him about the contract, Jack had muttered something about smart-room robotics and nanotechnology, but both fields were so wide, Henry still had no clue what the project might be. Not that it mattered; he could generally turn his hand to whatever was needed. He’d been doing it since he was old enough to pick up a spanner and help his father fix the thrill rides and to invent whatever they needed to grant the wish of the Carnival’s Mark.

  He strode up to the starchy woman at the black marble reception desk who’d been eyeing him suspiciously ever since he’d come through the doors. Her perfect makeup was marred by the frown line in her forehead, and her dark brown hair seemed to be glued in place.

  “Can I help you?” she said.

  “I certainly hope so,” he replied, giving her his best toothy smile.

  She looked down her nose at him, her glasses perched precariously on the end. Apparently, she didn’t respond to good ole carnival charm. Henry tipped his head to one side. “You know, you need a contraption to keep those glasses properly on your nose. I could do that, if you gave me a bit of time with them.” He leaned in and squinted at the tiny screws on the side of the glasses.