The Magic Carnival Box Set: Books 1-3

by Trudi Jaye

  She tossed her sparkling cane up in the air. It twisted and turned high into the apex of the tent. When it was almost out of the light, it suddenly sprouted wings and turned into three pure white doves.

  The audience gasped as one.

  The birds swooped down over Rilla’s head then up again. The light followed to a point high above, where they landed delicately to roost on a mirrored rod-shaped perch.

  Next to the doves’ perch, sitting on the edge of a small platform, was Kara.

  Like Rilla, she wore pure white, but in keeping with the glittering theme of the evening, her entire suit was covered in sparkling silver sequins that caught the light and reflected it back a thousand fold. The notes of Beethoven’s “Symphony Number Nine” launched from the violinists in the corner of the tent.

  Kara held one arm high over her head then leaped from her platform. Again, the audience gasped. One woman even screamed. Matt rose to his feet, his hands clenched into fists.

  Jack pulled him back down by his arm. “It’s all part of the show,” he said, even as it became obvious that Kara was in fact swinging through the air on a white silken ribbon tied to her waist. Her single leg pointed out and her back was curved so far backward her head hung below the rest of her body. At the apex of the swing, she pulled her body upright and put her foot into a loop in the ribbon. She untied the knot in the ribbon around her waist, and then suddenly she was falling again.

  And again, the audience gasped. Even though he’d seen it before, Jack felt his heart thumping faster in his chest. He thought he could see Kara smiling as her flexed foot neatly stopped her fall, helped out by her hand firmly grasping the ribbon below. It was a startling and effective movement.

  The double play on the secret fears of the audience turned them to putty in her hands. As Kara pulled her body into an upside-down split then pulled herself upright to side-on splits, audience members were already thunderously clapping, some giving her a standing ovation before she’d even started.

  As she twisted and turned her way through the routine, Kara’s face was alight with pleasure. The missing half of her leg didn’t faze her. In fact, it added to the performance. Barb had helped her solve the potential problems of the performance, using innovative new movements that made the show so unique and memorable Jack wondered if they’d ever be able to replicate it with anyone else.

  As she slowly worked her glittering body through the routine of beautiful movements, Matt relaxed back into his seat. He even managed to take a breath or two.

  Throughout the performance, Kara had been manipulating the silk ribbon into lowering her bit by bit closer to the ground, swinging, turning, and flexing through her routine. She was now halfway to the ground, although still significantly high above.

  She started swinging herself on the ribbon, back and forth. Like hawks, every eye in the tent watched her unblinkingly. Her lithe body swung gracefully and then suddenly she leaped into the air, this time away from the silk ribbon.

  As she flew, her momentum keeping her straight, her whole body seemed to change. One moment, the crowd was looking at a beautiful woman, the next a group of doves flying in formation.

  The silk ribbon fell into a limp pile on the ground in the center of the ring.

  Matt leaped to his feet and was halfway to the ring before Jack could stop him. Even then, in his weakened state, he barely managed to hold the deputy. “It’s all part of the act, Matt. Calm down!”

  They both looked up and as one, the line of doves flew up to the tip of the tent, followed closely by the lights, and then over the heads of the audience. They circled back around to the massive center circle, and there was Rilla waiting for them with a giant silver cage, taller than she was. The doves flew into the cage and landed on the large perch inside.

  Rilla shut the door behind them and threw a silver cloth over the whole cage. She turned the covered birdcage around once, twice, and then pulled the cloth off in a single, dramatic movement.

  The cage seemed to disintegrate, and all that was left standing on the small circular platform was Kara, this time with angel wings made of pure white feathers on her back, her arms spread wide.

  The audience went crazy.

  Not one person remained sitting as the entire place roared to its feet, stomping and clapping. Kara, smiling and crying at the same time, waved her hands and threw kisses at the audience.

  Rilla moved to stand beside her on the platform. “Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, throw yourselves into another round of applause for the amazing, the beautiful, the incomparable Kara, our very own angel.” As Rilla spoke, Kara rose into the air again, this time helped by a steel rope attached to her back. She flew up out of the light and was gone.

  Almost reluctantly, the audience returned their gaze to the ground, where Rilla waited patiently for them. She smiled so seductively that Jack felt his insides clench. He didn’t want her looking like that at anyone else but him. Onstage, like this, she shone like a diamond. Jack found her irresistible in everyday life, but in the ring, she became something different, a creature from myth or legend, an unfathomable being from an otherworld he couldn’t decipher or find.

  “Out of such performances, legends are born,” she said, before turning toward where Jack and Matt sat. “I’m going to have to ask Deputy Fordham to make his way outside the tent. We don’t allow our audience members to interfere with our performances.” She batted a mock stern look at the twitching deputy.

  He didn’t smile back.

  “Ah, the good deputy has lost some of his usual humor. No surprise when you’ve been so dazzled by wonder.” Rilla strode around the ring, her arms outstretched. “How could you possibly raise a smile?” She leaped up to stand on the raised barrier around the ring and gave a small tip of her head. “We have an answer to that here at the Jolly Carnival. We send in the clowns!” Rilla waved her hand, and a throng of clowns came out from every crevice in the tent.

  From under the bleachers, through the exits, down the poles, and in one case, up from under the ground, an excess of clowns seemed to overrun the area. They were every conceivable color, shape, and pattern. The only consistency was they were bright and vibrant in their choice of clothing and makeup.

  They rolled and tumbled as they moved around the ring. Three clowns turned standing somersaults around the middle, and as they passed Rilla, she joined with them, creating a glittering turning ball, until she disappeared to one side and left the clowns to their act.

  How the hell was Jack ever supposed to match that?

  CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX

  Rilla bowed to the thunderous applause of a full house that had loved every minute of the show. Her heart felt tight in her chest, pumping the adrenaline through her blood. Standing at the center of the main ring, she felt exhilarated. She could take on the world.

  She smiled at Kara, who was glittering next to her for the final applause, and then around at the audience only just visible through the multitude of lights in front of them.

  She beamed.

  She’d forgotten how good it felt to lead the circus through a successful show. In fact, had it ever felt this good? She’d always been the replacement, the substitute for her father before. She’d never questioned her father’s brilliance or his right to the limelight. She still didn’t. But now that he was gone, she had to learn to be her own person, light up her own stage. Tonight, it felt like she’d managed to do that properly for the first time.

  She waved a hand over her head then signaled for them to leave. The applause was still going strong, but her father had firmly instilled the mantra, “Leave ‘em wanting more,” into her head.

  The lights dropped and the other performers ran off stage, leaving her standing on her own. A narrow beam of light pierced the darkness around her, and she bowed again to the continuing applause. “Thank you and goodnight,” she said. The hidden safety harness pulled her sharply backward into the darkness and the trapdoor holding the trained doves opened under the light below,
making it seem like the same pure white doves they’d used in Kara’s performance had replaced her.

  Again, the audience gasped. Then their applause became even more thunderous.

  Quickly undoing her safety harness as she was lowered to the ground, Rilla made a fast exit through the darkened stage door, emerging in the backstage area.

  It was over. The season was done.

  ***

  Jack held his breath, still not wanting to believe it was all over. He’d been captured from beginning to end, despite knowing the insides of most of the show. Tonight had surpassed anything he’d seen previously. Rilla had shone like a star, and the performances had been magical. Kara’s beautiful routine had started a night filled with highlights.

  He stood with the rest of the audience, clapping his hands together as hard as he could, bursting with pride that he was a part of something so unique.

  He stood and carefully made his way to the side exit just past their seats, avoiding the majority of the chattering crowds as they exited into the Carnival night behind them.

  Jack walked toward the huge double truck that served as backstage on show nights. He climbed the stairs, trying to see where Rilla had disappeared. Matt was standing over by Kara, his arm around her waist as she chatted excitedly to him.

  “Jack! There you are.” His father walked up and clapped him on the back. “They’re all saying how the success of the show is down to you taking over as Ringmaster and how the Carnival energy is already starting to flow stronger. It’s a cinch for tonight.”

  Jack frowned. “What?”

  “Tonight. At the Ringmaster ceremony. You’ll stop being the acting Ringmaster and start being the real Ringmaster, son.”

  “But it’s not down to me. Rilla—”

  “Makes a pretty Ringmaster in that fancy suit of hers, but she don’t have what it takes to run the show,” Blago interrupted.

  A surge of anger forced its way from Jack’s chest. “She knows what she’s doing, Dad,” he said fiercely. “Far better than I ever will.”

  Blago held his hands in the air and backed off with a grin on his face. “Got a bee in your bonnet, son?”

  Jack scowled at his father, shook his head, and then walked off to find Rilla. She was talking to Viktor, a radiant smile on her face. She was still wearing her Ringmaster outfit. Without the lights, it didn’t glitter quite so much, but it didn’t matter. Even in the dim light of the post-show, she glowed.

  At that moment, she looked up and saw him. Concern briefly clouded her face and then she smiled.

  Jack’s heart faltered then restarted at twice the speed. “You were amazing,” he said.

  Her smile widened. “You’re going to have to do that soon,” she replied. “Once we’ve finished your training.”

  He shook his head. “I could never be as good as you were tonight.”

  Viktor cleared his throat. “As much as I hate to interrupt, we got a ceremony to prepare for.”

  Jack blinked. “Already? So fast?”

  “The punters’ll clear out soon. Once we’re empty of the ordinary folk, we begin.”

  “Where do we go?” Jack’s stomach clenched.

  “The Carousel.”

  “And what happens?”

  “We haven’t had a ceremony in almost forty years. Not since Abacus, and his was uncontested, so it weren’t too exciting. The Carnival does what it needs to do, and we all follow along.” Viktor rubbed his hands together. “I have a feeling this time, it’s going to be pretty good.” He glanced between Rilla and Jack, a smile lurking in one corner of his mouth.

  Jack swallowed hard. He’d long since realized his interference in Rilla’s rightful place as Ringmaster had been a stupid idea. All she’d needed was some time to come into her own, and he’d jumped the gun. She was calm and confidant standing next to Viktor, the thundering applause of her Ringmaster performance still ringing in their ears.

  Rilla rolled her eyes at Viktor. “One minute you’re overthrowing me, and now you’re chortling because you think we’re going to battle it out like cage fighters for the position. Well, I’m not doing it. I refuse. I will be there, and the Carnival can choose me or not. I don’t mind. Because whatever it decides is what is best for us all, and that’s what really matters.” She smiled then walked away, leaving Jack and Viktor standing silently, watching her go.

  “She’s right. It’s not going to be a cage fight,” said Jack.

  “I never really thought it would be, son. I was just trying to get the pair of you worked up.” Viktor barked out an amused laugh.

  “You have an odd sense of humor, Viktor.”

  Viktor nodded. “I get that a lot.”

  “What about the Gift? How do we know when it’s over?”

  They both turned toward Kara and Matt. Rilla had walked over to them where they stood by the door, and Kara gave her a big hug, her eyes closed tight over Rilla’s shoulder.

  “If you want to watch it firsthand, go talk to Kara and Rilla right now,” said Viktor softly. “It’s going to happen any moment.”

  Seeing that Viktor was serious, Jack turned toward the door, catching a flash of blue-green scales as the dragon climbed the outside of the truck beside the door. He did as he was told, unwilling to miss seeing the Gift being fulfilled.

  Kara was talking excitedly, like she was a teenager at her first big party. He could understand her excitement. She had been unforgettable. “Congratulations, Kara. You were amazing,” he said with a smile.

  Kara smiled back and gave him a big hug. “Thanks, Jack. It’s been the most incredible experience. I don’t know how I can ever thank everyone enough. If Rilla hadn’t asked me to help her, instead of getting me arrested for trying to shoot her, I don’t know what would have happened.”

  “You’ve helped us, too,” said Rilla. “Don’t ever forget that. Those crowds in there tonight were here to see you.”

  Tears appeared in Kara’s eyes, although she smiled through them. “I didn’t know there were so many people in town who were interested in helping me out.” She glanced at Matt. “And I didn’t know there was someone close to me who wanted to be even closer.”

  “Now you do.” Rilla gave her another hug.

  “How is it possible for a person’s life to change so completely in such a short time?” said Kara. “I feel like I have a life now, like I have something to live for. I’m a whole person again, for the first time in years.”

  And just like that, Jack felt another wave of energy shock its way through the Carnival. It lifted the hairs on his arms and made him forget to breathe. He glanced at Rilla, but all her attention was focused on Kara. A glow emanated from inside Kara’s body and a low hum reverberated in the air around them. Overhead, from the roof of the truck, a keening roar that could only be the dragon sent shivers down his spine. It seemed to be accepting the Gift as complete and saying farewell to its Mark. Wings beat in the air overhead, and then the dragon was gone.

  Jack felt a final pulse of energy, and then everything returned to normal. Except now, there was a wealth of magic buzzing around them. Jack’s pulse skipped a beat, thinking of his new absorbing skill. Would he still be able to control it now the Carnival was regaining its power? He took a breath.

  They would find a way to make it work. They had to.

  ***

  The slow turning of the Carousel’s wheels echoed in the still night. There was a large crowd gathered in every conceivable corner around the small blue Carousel. They sat on top of the rides, thronged the strip out front, and small children sat on the shoulders of anyone bigger than they were.

  Everyone was there, but there was no sound. Not a breath or a cough or a snigger.

  Rilla stood uncertainly at the entrance to the ride. Her father had talked vaguely about his Ringmaster ceremony, but so far, this wasn’t anything like his version. She was pretty sure he’d never mentioned the Carousel starting up on its own while the lever was still firmly set to off. She glanced at Viktor to see
if he had some part in this, but he looked just as mystified as everyone else. Beside him, Missy shrugged and gestured for her to move forward.

  Jack rubbed the back of his neck. “What do we do?” he whispered, glancing around at the people watching.

  The silence was the most disturbing aspect of the ceremony so far. She didn’t think she’d ever heard a crowd of Carnival folk this quiet. It was unnatural.

  Rilla shrugged. “I have no idea.” She slid a smile over to him, trying to reassure him. She wasn’t nervous; she’d been telling the truth when she said she just wanted what was best for the Carnival. She’d realized it during her performance. She had been letting her pride get in the way of her decision-making. It didn’t matter if she was the Ringmaster. She’d still be part of the Carnival; she’d still be with her family, whether or not she had the role. That was what was most important. That… and Jack. “We’ll figure it out.”

  As she spoke, the Carousel slid to a soundless stop. Directly in front of them was a wide space between the brightly painted rides. “Was that there before?” asked Jack.

  Shaking her head, Rilla stepped forward. “No. But I think it’s an invitation to get on.”

  Jack grabbed her hand. “Right, then. Off we go.”

  They stepped onto the middle platform. As soon as they were on board, a tinkling piano tune started up, and the Carousel began rolling again.

  As they watched, the Carousel creatures began moving around them, slowly morphing into different shapes, stretching and engorging in the dim light.

  Holding her breath, Rilla watched as a silken mermaid lost her sparkle and became a tall, willowy woman wearing an old-fashioned, high-necked dress. The whale to her left expanded and chortled until it was in the shape of a large man with a twinkle in his eye. His top hat was in one hand, his cane in the other.

  Around them, others were emerging from the plastic shell of the marine animal rides. Rilla saw a woman who had Viktor’s same autocratic nose and another man who had the full black eyes of a Giftmaster. She almost gasped when she saw a tall, arrogant man emerge from the shadows, a perfect match for Hugo Blue, minus the blue hair. There had been some truth to Hugo’s claims after all.