by Trudi Jaye
She touched the cold metal of the ride closest to her. Was it time to admit she was wrong after all? Time to say Jack could take over? She could probably help him, keep him on the right track, while he figured out the finer points of it all. Viktor was right. It was probably what was best for the Carnival.
Panic flared in her stomach, sharp and bright, leaving a bitter taste in her mouth. A flash of her father’s loud voice rumbled through her head, and for a moment, she thought she could feel the touch of his arm around her shoulders.
Her throat constricted.
“Rilla! Over here.” Jack gestured to her, raising his arm in a wave.
She raised her arm in return and walked toward them all, only just managing to pull a smile on her face. “What’s happening?”
“We’ve been drafted to help Viktor test the haunted ride.” Jack grinned at the expression on her face. “It shouldn’t take long.”
“I haven’t got a lot of time. Kara’s coming back later to work on the silks.” And the haunted ride wasn’t one of her favorites.
Rilla caught the glance Viktor flicked to his eldest son, and her heart twisted. She wasn’t used to having so much disapproval focused in her direction, especially over the Gift. It hurt. Her smile slipped.
“It’ll be fun,” said Jack, grabbing her hand. “Viktor, we’ll jump on and do a round, let you know what’s what.”
Viktor handed Jack a walkie-talkie. “Use this. I’ll ask you to confirm what’s happening at certain points. Just tell me what you see.” He nodded toward the start of the ride.
Rilla and Jack walked to the entrance, sitting down in one of the waiting black carriages, belting themselves into the small seats.
“Have you been on this ride before?” asked Jack.
“You’re kidding right?” She hesitated. “Although, to be honest, I haven’t been on it since I was kid.”
Jack smiled lopsidedly. “Sorry, I forgot. You grew up here. You know what we should be seeing?”
Rilla shrugged. “Not exactly, I guess,” she said. “It’s been a few years since I was on it, and they do keep it current, with the latest horror characters.”
“But some things are timeless.” Jack’s body jerked as the ride stuttered into operation. He raised a hand to Viktor, and then they were through the dark tunnel at the beginning of the ride.
Howling echoed around them just as Jack’s hand snaked back into Rilla’s. “Just in case I get scared,” he whispered.
Viktor’s voice crackled through on the radio. “She still screaming?”
“No,” replied Jack into his walkie-talkie.
“Good. Next stop, Dracula’s castle. Let me know how it goes,” Viktor crackled out.
Rilla curled up a bit closer into Jack. The ride was bumpy and mechanical, but the eerie atmosphere around them felt real.
“You’re not scared, are you? I thought you grew up on this?” Jack teased, his breath warm against her neck.
“You weren’t complaining about getting closer to me this morning.”
Jack’s soft laugh was followed by his hand leaving hers. She was about to protest when his arm snaked behind her shoulders and pulled her against him. His mouth moved over her neck, where his breath had been, causing goose bumps along her spine. She leaned into his caress, her hand reaching up to his chest.
Suddenly, the lights went out around them, the darkness broken only by two large red eyes to one side. Maniacal laughter surrounded them, and thunder split the air. Rilla jerked away from Jack’s lips to peer around.
“It’s okay. This is all part of the ride.” Jack’s voice held a smile.
“Should it have gone dark like that?”
A wolf howled in the distance. Rilla jumped.
“Did it freak you out?”
“Yes,” she whispered.
“Then I’m pretty certain it’s doing exactly what it’s supposed to.” His lips tickled against her ear and Rilla shivered in response. Jack rested his arm back across the seat.
Lightning flashed through the ride, and in the second of brightness, they saw a castle up ahead. Dracula’s laughter surrounded them again, and then the carriage pushed them through swinging doors to the next room.
“All okay so far?” asked Viktor on the walkie-talkie.
“Seems good to us,” replied Jack as he nibbled on Rilla’s ear.
The next room held a row of prison cells with half-dead prisoners lying with their hands extended through the bars. Moans filled the air, and filmy material fluttered over their heads in a non-existent breeze. A rat raced across the side of Rilla’s vision, and she squealed.
“Don’t worry, it’s more afraid of you,” said Jack with a laugh.
“I’ve never believed that saying.”
“It was also mechanical.”
“They’ve definitely upgraded this since I was here last. This is way scarier,” said Rilla.
“That will make Viktor happy.”
Rilla nodded, glancing at the decorations surrounding them. The ride was good, really scary, with just the right amount of humor. They passed through a cemetery. A ghost wavered in the air close to Rilla’s head, chains clinked, a gate squeaked, and a zombie erupted out of a grave near Jack. He jumped, pushing himself up against Rilla in an instinctive effort to get away.
Rilla laughed, pushing him back into his place. “I thought you were too cynical to be scared.”
“I wasn’t scared. Just surprised.” He made a face at her.
They entered the doors of an old house, the carriage rolling into a long hallway with paintings on either side, the wallpaper brown and stained. The paintings were of gore-covered ancestors, writhing in agony. A hollow scream sounded along the hallway, and the projection of a ghost leaped out of a painting and passed through them, heading up the hallway, running in terror. A cold breeze pressed itself across Rilla’s face, and she shuddered. They’d thought of every detail.
The radio crackled. “Where are you now?” asked Viktor.
“The hallway. Just had a freaky ghost pass through us.”
“Anything else?”
“Not yet—” Just as he spoke, a huge axe swung down from the ceiling in front of them, the rush of air whipping back Rilla’s hair. She squealed.
The axe rotated back into the ceiling. “Wait. Just had an axe.”
“Good, good. Keep going.”
“Where else would we go?” said Jack into the walkie-talkie.
Again, the carriage pushed through double swinging doors, coming out into another room, this time a dining hall. Piled high on silver serving platters on the table were skulls and bits of arms, hands, and feet, human and otherwise. Blood appeared to seep out of the open wounds.
A large butler whirred into place in front of them. “Sir? Madam? Would you like a bite…?” He smiled and two large vampire fangs emerged from under his plastic lips. He bowed away, the mechanism taking him back around to the next carriage behind them.
A mechanical dog growled in one corner, eating the remnants of a foot, its paws holding its prize in place.
“Viktor and his boys have always been good at the mechanical side of things,” whispered Rilla. “I think Henry’s been working on plastic, as well.”
Jack nodded. “I’ve never seen anything like it. This stuff is all so lifelike. It’s hard to believe it’s not real.”
They went through a black tunnel, and the carriage dropped unexpectedly. They both called out in surprise and grabbed at each other. Rilla’s heart was in her mouth as she tried frantically to adjust her vision to the darkened surroundings. She clutched at Jack and felt the reassuring touch of his hand in hers.
The carriage came to a controlled stop in front of a large stone door. The door swung open, and they rolled through. The room was cold and damp, a slight breeze ruffling Rilla’s hair. Grey stone made up the majority of the walls, except for one side, which was covered in skulls. The light dimmed in the room, and then little red pairs of eyes lit up around them. Rats ran in
front of their carriage, alongside it, and over their heads. A high-pitched squeaking echoed around the room. Rilla felt things walking across her feet, and she leaned down to wipe at them. Her breath came in ragged gasps, and she struggled to calm down.
“Easy, Rilla. It’s just a ride.” Jack’s voice was soothing in her ear, and he rubbed his hand along her arm.
“I’m fine. I just hate rats.”
The carriage continued on into the next room, another long hallway, but this time it appeared to be a servant’s passageway. Dark and narrow, this section was almost black. Up ahead, Rilla could see writing in glowing letters along the wall. She squinted, trying to make out the words. She was so focused on whatever was up ahead that when a mechanical body loomed out of an alcove beside her, an axe through its skull, she screamed.
“It weren’t me!” a voice screeched into the air.
Rilla found herself curled up in Jack’s arms, trying to calm her breathing. “It has definitely been too long since I was in here,” she said.
“What’s that up ahead?” The passage was widening out, easing toward the exit, but still dark. The glowing writing on the wall was now bigger.
Rilla squinted to read the words in the dark. Her breath stopped in her chest as the slogans became clear. In big, glowing letters, someone had written vicious threats directed at the Carnival and everyone in it.
“Is that part of the ride?” Rilla whispered—but she already knew the answer. She looked past the words and gasped.
Nailed to the wall alongside the glowing text were several dead animals: a couple of rabbits, a rat, and a snake. The rancid smell was enough to assure her that the blood dripping out of the carcasses was real. Some of the blood had been used to write more slogans across the wall that had only just become visible as they came closer.
Who had done this? How had they done this? She shook her head. It didn’t make sense.
As if he could tell what she was thinking, Jack spoke. “Viktor wouldn’t put that in here.”
Rilla stared woodenly at the demented words, some of them repeated over and over. One phrase stood out, and was repeated more than the others.
Die, bitch, die.
“Who would write this kind of thing here? Who would leave those animals?” Panic rose in her throat. This felt personal, like it was somehow aimed at her.
Jack pressed the button for the walkie-talkie. “Viktor, there’s something in the long passage after the rat chamber. You need to come have a look.”
“What is it?” he asked.
“More sabotage.” Jack’s voice was hard, his expression grim.
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
Rilla closed her eyes, leaning her head back on the padded metal bar behind her. The carriage carried on, oblivious to the shock they’d received. They trundled down a long, narrow tunnel, pushing out through a curtain into the exit area. Viktor and his son Yarus waited for them.
“What is it?”
“Threats painted on the walls.” Jack paused. “Dead animals.”
Viktor blinked. “Dead animals? What the hell?” He turned to the control panel in the wall behind him and flicked a switch. The mechanical sound stopped, and the ride came to a halt. “Show us where.” Viktor pointed with a small flashlight toward the tunnel they’d just exited.
Jack climbed out of the carriage, unfolding his long body with ease. He stopped to help Rilla out, and then they all traipsed back through the double doors and into the passageway, following behind the glow of Viktor’s light. The glowing words greeted them long before they could decipher what was written there.
Viktor stopped and stared, his eyes widening as he read the words written in glowing paint and blood. He banged his fist against the wall. “This shouldn’t happen. We’re part of the blessing. We have the Gift on our side.” He turned to Rilla. “You know this ain’t right, don’cha girl?”
Numbly, Rilla nodded. It felt like a violation, someone going into their ride and defacing it like this. How were they ever going to get it to end?
“It’s only a fluke that we’re in here,” said Viktor. “If we hadn’t done this test run on the spur of the moment, our punters would have gone on this ride and seen this.” Viktor waved his hand in agitation at the glowing words. “It’s the kind of thing that spreads like wildfire. This could have ruined us.”
Tears welled in Rilla’s eyes. Jack stood grimly beside her. “I’m trying to find out who’s doing this to us,” she said.
Viktor shook his head. “This is all I can take. You’ve done the last of it, girl. I’m goin’ to get that vote of the Nine, get us back on track. Jack has agreed to be acting Ringmaster until the ceremony. The Carnival is going to agree with the Nine on this one, Rilla. I know it.”
“What?” Rilla felt her blood chill as she glanced over at Jack.
Jack frowned at Viktor and turned to Rilla, putting one hand on her arm. “Viktor feels you’re not ready to be Ringmaster yet, Rilla. He thinks me taking over will solve the problems the Carnival has been having and give you a chance to recover from your father’s death. I just want to help.”
“By going behind my back?” She stepped away from the pressure of his hand. A hole appeared in her armor. She’d trusted him and he’d let her down—again. What the hell had she been thinking?
He’d told lies about her in an attempt to win the title of Ringmaster for his father, and now he’d been talking with Viktor about getting rid of her.
She’d given him her body, let her heart rule her head, and all the while he was plotting against her. A painful knot formed in her stomach. Dammit, she should have known better. She clenched her hand into a fist, feeling her nails bite painfully into her palm.
She’d ignored the little inner voice telling her not to get involved with her competition. And now she felt as if she’d been given one giant, painful slap across her exposed face.
Viktor she could forgive; he’d always been plain about his thoughts on the subject. But Jack had gone behind her back, and she was never going to get over that.
“Look, Rilla, you know it ain’t been runnin’ right. We got someone doing damage who wouldn’t even be able to get past the doors if we was at full strength. And now you’re hanging out with the Mark, teaching her ways to kill herself on the damn silks? We need to sort this out. Now.”
Running a hand through her hair, Rilla looked at Viktor in desperation. “I know it’s not perfect. And I understand when you say it’s my fault. But you can’t blame me for the sabotage. That’s going to happen, whoever is in charge.”
“We got to do something. Changing who’s in charge will get some different things happening around here. That’s all I know.” Viktor shrugged.
“I won’t give up my right to a Carnival decision,” she warned. It was the complete opposite of what she’d just been thinking only a short time before, but it was the last tiny scrap of dignity she could muster. Despite the fact she’d been about to throw in the towel, and even knowing the Carnival would probably do exactly what Viktor expected it to do and choose Jack, she needed to go through with the ceremony. It would be a solace for her wounded heart to be so close to the center of the Carnival.
Viktor sighed. “You know how it works, Rilla, so I won’t bother trying to talk you out of it. I’m sorry, girl. Sometimes, you gotta take the hard knocks. Once we get a vote of the Nine, Jack will be acting Ringmaster until the official deciding ceremony.”
Jack stepped closer to her again. “I’m sorry, Rilla. I’m only trying to do what’s best for you and the Carnival.” He tried to pull her into a hug, but she jerked away, pushing at him.
“You might have won this, Jack, but it doesn’t mean I forgive you. And I’m going to continue training with Kara. You can’t stop that.” She couldn’t prevent the shards of pain digging into her heart as she looked at Jack. He looked so sorry, but she knew it was just a façade. He’d deliberately lied and gone behind her back to get to this point—she had to remember that.
Jack n
odded. “I think that should continue. Along with the prosthetic leg that Viktor and his boys are making. We do everything we can to make this all come together.” Jack spoke softly, watching her carefully.
She glanced at Viktor. “Have your meeting of the Nine, then. But don’t expect me to come and watch as you take away my birthright.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
Even as she watched Kara on the silks high overhead, Rilla kept seeing flashes of glowing words scrawled along the haunted ride’s wall.
Die, bitch, die.
Was it really aimed at her? Could there be someone at the Carnival who wanted her dead? She shivered, curling her legs up into her body and wrapping her arms across her knees. She leaned her head back against the bleacher behind her and closed her eyes.
“Rilla, I just heard what happened. I’m so sorry!”
Rilla’s eyes jerked open again as a pair of arms enveloped her in a tight, sideways hug.
“Hey, Missy,” she said softly and leaned into the comfort her lifelong friend was offering. “Don’t be sorry. It’s not your fault.”
“I can’t believe they’re even thinking about it. Everything is falling apart around here.”
Rilla gave a short laugh. “That’s kind of the point, isn’t it?”
Missy shook her head. “Not what I meant.” She tightened her hug fractionally.
Rilla took a small breath. “I haven’t seen you properly since the funeral ceremony. I wanted to thank you for taking care of him up there. It meant a lot to me.”
“He was like a second father to me, Rilla. I wouldn’t do anything less.”
Missy clambered into the wooden bench seat next to her, crossing her legs in the easy way of someone who could contort her body into much more uncomfortable positions.
“Dad just left for the meeting.” She tipped her head to one side, her long dark hair falling over one shoulder. “Are you sure you want them to meet without you?” asked Missy with her usual bluntness.
Rilla sighed. “I don’t know the right thing to do anymore, Missy. It’s always been so clear in the past. I’m not used to this uncertainty.” She tried for a half-smile and failed. “All I know is that I don’t want to watch while they vote to take everything away from me.”