by Trudi Jaye
“It involves a sacrifice, preferably with blood from a close relative. To help Garth here, I just need a small sacrifice, and he will feel better in no time. Do you want to help Garth get better, Simon?”
Simon nodded, glancing at Garth. “What do I have to do?”
A small slice of satisfaction rode along Hugo’s veins. “Hold out your arm, son.” He pulled out the knife he carried everywhere with him. The carved ivory handle glowed with an internal magic that made his heart skip a beat. Then it was racing, thumping an excited tattoo that echoed his fever to get his old power back.
Without it, he felt empty, dead inside. It hurt.
Simon held out his arm, newly free from the cast. It shook, the hairs on the small arm trembling. Goose pimples rose, and Hugo grabbed his arm before the boy could pull it back and change his mind. He sliced once, then twice, then a third time. Hugo took a deep breath as the magic came rushing in, filling every crevice with the slick and shiny feel of blood energy. Simon was powerful, and his blood felt like pure gold. It was almost more than Hugo’s starved body could handle, and he reminded himself that he was going to have to build up to the illusion two days from now.
He and Simon were going to have to practice.
Hugo glanced down and saw blood gushing down Simon’s arm, dripping over the edges. The boy had his bottom lip gripped tight between his teeth. Tears glistened in his eyes as he looked up at his father.
“It’s the only way, boy. It is the source of our power. Through our pain, we become stronger.” His voice was gruff but stern. He heard echoes in his head, his father saying the same thing to him time and time again.
He put one hand in his pocket and pulled out a white handkerchief. He handed it to Simon before turning to Garth. He could use a small part of the power surge on maintaining Garth and keep the rest for himself.
***
“Viktor’s found someone who might have a lead.” Rilla’s voice was triumphant.
“Someone we use?” Frankie asked.
Rilla nodded. “He checked with some of our suppliers and came up lucky. Someone ordered two large flameproof containers built and put in storage. Then the customer rang in the last couple of days and asked for them to be delivered. It matches our profile. They delivered them to a warehouse in Greenville, two towns over.”
Maddy’s eyes flicked open. “We have a location?” She’d been dozing in a chair in the corner of the large office, refusing to go home and give them a break from her hounding.
“We have a town. It’s not in the warehouse they originally delivered to. Greg already had the local sheriff’s office check it out. But we know why we couldn’t find him. He isn’t here in Madison.” Rilla smiled, glad to have a lead.
“So they know about the license plate?” Maddy asked.
“They found the piece of paper in the car, just like us,” replied Rilla, standing up and beginning to pace, her quick brain obviously thinking over their options.
“So do we wait for the police or do we head over there ourselves?” Maddy just wanted to run out the door and start searching, no matter that it was worse than a needle in a haystack.
“We send out anyone who isn’t currently preparing for the show to have a look around in Greenville. Everyone stays in regular mobile phone contact, and if someone doesn’t answer, we know something’s wrong.”
***
Garth opened his eyes cautiously. His head still felt like it was twice the size it should be, but the room wasn’t spinning anymore, and he didn’t think he was going to pass out again. It was dark all around him, so probably night.
“You’re awake.” The small voice came from the darkness across the room.
“Yeah…” Garth cleared his sandpaper dry throat and tried again. “Yes.” He paused to swallow again. “Are you okay, Simon?”
“You knew. You knew what he was the whole time and you didn’t tell me.” Simon’s voice was high, wavering. He was obviously struggling for control.
Garth didn’t bother asking what Simon was talking about. “Your brain had blocked it out for a reason, Simon. You needed time to heal, and I thought we could wait. Maddy said we needed to let you get better before talking to you about it.”
“He cut me. He was the one who hurt me. I was in the hospital because of him.” His voice was barely above a whisper but still full of the sting of betrayal.
“Yes.”
The silence was broken only by Simon’s soft crying in the corner of the room.
Garth wanted to get up and go to him, but he couldn’t make his body move. Everything was sore. He tried to push himself up to sitting, but his arm was too weak, and with a groan, he lay back down again.
“He’s planning something big. He’s going to use you in one of his acts, and I don’t think he wants you alive in the end.”
Garth wasn’t surprised. He’d experienced firsthand the anger Hugo felt for everyone at the Carnival. He was here, representing them all. “Do you remember everything now, Simon?”
“Yes. When he cut me to help you, it all came back.”
Garth jerked his head in Simon’s direction. “He cut you again?”
“It was to help you. I had to let him do it.”
“Listen to me, Simon. Even if it’s to help me, don’t let him cut you. I don’t want to heal because of your pain.” Garth wanted to get up and shake Simon, to try and get him to agree to what he was saying.
“Okay.” Simon paused. “He told me you did it.”
Garth felt a sting of hurt but pushed it down. Of course Simon had believed his dad. “He’s your father, Simon, and you’d forgotten what he’d done. I understand. Just don’t let him cut you again.”
Simon frowned. “But it worked. You look better.”
“There are other ways to heal. The Carnival has those powers as well. See how fast you were healing from your broken bones because you were at the Compound?”
Simon paused and took a hiccupy breath. “Yeah, I guess.”
“What happened a year ago, Simon? Why did you forget from that day?” The silence went on for so long Garth wondered if Simon would answer him.
“I heard Dad and Lucietta having a fight,” he said eventually. “She said she would leave if he didn’t take her on as a full partner and write her into his will as the owner of his illusions if he died. She said he’d never find the Carnival without her—but I didn’t understand that bit back then. At first, he said he would never do it. He wanted me to have them.” Simon swallowed. “They fought, and he said some nasty things to her. But in the end, he agreed. He wanted to destroy the Carnival so bad that he was prepared to give her everything. He was so angry. I’d never seen him like that before.”
“So she became a partner in the show?”
Simon nodded. “Yes. But the show had been going downhill for a while, since just after Lucietta showed up. She did something to my dad. He stopped caring about the illusions and the show. He started watching me. I could see—” Simon stopped and swallowed again. “He was hungry for something, and he thought I could give it to him. And now I know what it was.” Simon’s voice was full of pain.
Garth clenched his hand. “Did he ever hurt you, aside from that night in the storm?” His anger rose to the surface just at the thought of it.
“Just once.” Simon swallowed. “It was later that night, and he was still angry. I tried to ask him about it, and he hit me across the face. I think he got power from doing it.”
Garth pushed his fingernails into the soft skin on his palm. He would make Hugo pay.
Simon wiped his nose and glanced at Garth. “He was really sorry about it afterward. He told me about my grandfather, how awful he was. He tries to hide it, but he has scars all over his body, so I knew his father beat him. But I didn’t realize why.”
“Why didn’t he start hurting you earlier?”
There was a long silence, and then Simon sniffed. “I think… I think he killed my grandfather. I think he got so much power that it last
ed for a very long time. He didn’t need to hurt me because he had enough. But then it started running out. That’s why he agreed to Lucietta’s demands last year and that’s why he was going a little bit crazy. He wasn’t thinking straight because his power was almost gone.”
Garth listened with growing fear. “Simon, listen to me. You have to get out of here. You have to leave. Go back to the Carnival. They’ll take care of you there. Maddy will help you. Just leave, get away from Hugo.”
“I can’t,” whispered Simon. “Everyone at the Carnival will know I helped my dad take you. They won’t let me back there.”
“Just tell Maddy what happened. She’ll help you. You don’t have to go with the Carnival. Just stay with Maddy.”
“Maddy will hate me for what I’ve done to you.” Simon sniffed loudly around his tears. “I’m sorry, Garth. He told me lies, and I didn’t remember. I only remembered my dad from before.”
“It’s okay, Simon. He’s your dad. You wanted to believe in him. I’m the same with my dad. It’s hard when they let you down.”
“He said the power was our family inheritance. That it was more powerful than anything at the Carnival. He’ll win.” Hopelessness clouded his voice.
“He didn’t win last time, Simon. He’s one man against all of us. And there are other forms of power out there. Hugo only believes his curse magic is the most powerful. It’s not always true.”
Simon sniffed again. “He’s not as bad as he seems,” he whispered. “Before, when I was younger, he was really cool. We did everything together. Maybe if I help him, give him little bits of power, it’ll go back to the way things were.” His voice said everything about how desperate he was.
Garth’s heart plunged in his chest, and he took a deep breath, wishing he thought that might happen. “Until you know for sure, you need to get away from him. You’re his power source, and if he can’t get you to agree, it’s likely he’ll take it by force, like last time. You have to get away from here, Simon.” Garth spoke urgently, trying to make Simon understand.
“He’s my dad. I have to talk to him about it. Convince him he doesn’t need to use the curse magic to do his illusions.”
Garth said nothing. He had a terrible feeling that the only thing that would come out of that conversation was Hugo locking Simon up.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
Maddy stood in the Compound village, watching as people rushed around her. She’d been bunking down in a spare room at Rilla’s house, her every thought on the frustrating search for Hugo and Garth, and she’d forgotten about the Winter Spectacular. She hadn’t expected to find this controlled madness this morning.
The past two days had been terrifying and frustrating. They’d searched every motel, hotel, and two-bit accommodation in Greenville, sure they were about to find Garth at every stop, only to find no trace anywhere. They’d had to give up when it got dark two nights in a row, despite her urging. As every hour passed, she felt more and more desperate, and the reminder that the big show was on tonight didn’t help.
She’d tossed and turned all night and had climbed out of bed early. As soon as possible, she’d showered and dressed, determined not to waste time she could be using to save Garth.
There had to be something they could do.
And now, despite her early start, it seemed that everyone else was up even earlier. The main road was clogged with people, trucks and cars going up the old gravel road to the big tent, which was set up over the other side of the lake, beside the main entrance to the Compound. For the lighter materials and foot traffic, circus crew were trekking back and forth across the frozen water.
Maddy didn’t quite understand the logistics of it all, but it was fascinating to watch as people worked together on something that looked so chaotic but flowed so effortlessly, and it momentarily distracted her.
But soon enough, she remembered the reason behind all this activity, and her urgent desire to get out and look for Garth resurfaced. Based on what they’d learned about Hugo, he was all about the grand gesture, the big moment. It had felt right to all of them that the grand gesture was going to be during their Winter Spectacular. Her hands clenched at her sides as the various possibilities ran through her head. Whatever happened, she wouldn’t let this monster harm Garth. They would find him before tonight.
She had intended to find Rilla or Missy, but it was clear they were both busy with the show. She’d seen Rilla talking to person after person, checking fabrics, looking through lists, and answering questions. Missy was in the practice arena, high up on the trapeze.
She couldn’t wait. If Garth was going to be found alive, she was going to have to do it herself. She pulled out her phone, texted Rilla that she was going to look around on her own, and went to find her motorbike.
As she cruised along the highway toward Greenville, Maddy went through where they’d already looked in her head. They’d focused on the accommodation, but there had been zero luck in that avenue. Perhaps it was time to turn the idea on its head. Hugo would know they might come looking for him, so he would avoid the obvious. Where else could he stay?
Maddy drove around the industrial area of Greenville. A large warehouse made sense as a place to do a big illusion involving the huge containers Hugo had ordered. She rode slowly along the wide roads, checking out each place, stopping if a warehouse seemed empty or abandoned.
She had already spent a couple of hours this way when her phone vibrated in her jacket pocket. She pulled over and answered, anxious for information from the others.
“Hey, Rilla. Any news?”
“Maddy, what are you doing? You shouldn’t be there on your own.”
“Everyone was busy. We need to find Garth.” Maddy struggled to hold down the sob that was burning up her throat.
“Hugo’s dangerous. What were you planning to do if you found him?”
“I wouldn’t do anything on my own. I’d wait for someone to help.” Maddy knew her voice was shaking, but she couldn’t help it. Garth needed her. She could feel it.
Rilla sighed, her frustration and worry evident. “Go to a coffee shop and wait for us. Viktor and I are coming right now. The others will meet us in a while.”
“Do you have any more clues about where he might be?” Maddy bit one of her already ragged fingernails as she waited for the answer.
Rilla paused, as if reviewing her response. She sighed. “No, nothing. But we’ll be there soon. Text me the name of the cafe.”
“Okay. Just hurry, Rilla. He needs us to find him fast.” Maddy didn’t know how she knew it, but she did. The urgency was swirling around her like a storm that wouldn’t quit, crashing through her body as if she were part of some powerful wave she couldn’t control, pushing her onto a path that would change her forever.
Maddy shut off the phone and looked around. She took a shuddering breath and forced herself to calm down. Rilla was right; she should take a break.
The only place visible was a small diner that looked rough but was busy, so it couldn’t be that bad. She shrugged and parked right outside.
She forced her shivering body to relax and looked around, sitting down at a table near the front window. “Coffee, please. And what’s the address here?” she asked the waitress when she came over.
Maddy diligently texted the address to Rilla before settling in to wait. It had been the right decision to take a break. Her brain was going a thousand miles a minute and she’d stopped thinking logically about half an hour ago. Sitting here, looking out the dirty window, meant she could plan her next move.
Glancing around the small diner, she noticed the waitress going from table to table, chatting with the regulars and filling coffee cups. She was an older woman with blue eye shadow and dyed-brown hair that had a hint of grey. She went to the next table and nodded at the man in the booth, then started giving him directions, waving her hand left and right to indicate the turns. She’d probably lived here her whole life and knew the town like the back of her hand. Waitresses often
did.
Maddy blinked and then tapped her palm onto her forehead.
She called the woman over, indicating she needed a refill. “Do you know of any warehouses or big buildings that are empty at the moment? I’m looking for…” Maddy thought desperately for a reason. “For space to do my art installation. It’s pretty big.”
The waitress nodded as if she understood the problems of doing large pieces of artwork and looked out the window, over Maddy’s head. “There’s a warehouse on Broadside. That’s been empty a while. Then there’s that old barn on Mayor Masterson’s property. Hasn’t had much in there but fresh air for a while. Oh, I know. What about a closed-down shopping mall? There’s one at the outskirts of town that’d be perfect. They had a huge water main break, and the damage was more than they could repair without a whole heap of dollars going into it. Just closed it all down. Pity, really. Had some good dress shops.” She shrugged. “You could do something about the demise of capitalism.”
Maddy raised her eyebrows in surprise.
“I did a year of college, majoring in art history, before dropping out,” she said with a shrug. “Anything else I can do for you?”
Maddy shook her head. “No thanks, you’ve been very helpful.” She looked at her watch. The others were due to arrive any minute. She could wait a little longer before going to check it out. After all, Rilla was right. Hugo Blue sounded like he was more than she could handle on her own.
She was just starting to get impatient when her phone rang again.
“Hey, Maddy. Jack’s just had a call from the hospital. Blago’s woken up, and we think he might be able to tell us where Hugo is based.”
Relief washed over Maddy. “That’s good news. So he’s remembering everything?”
“We’re not sure. Jack wants to go in person to talk him through what happened.”
“That could take forever.” Maddy’s heart started beating just a little faster. They didn’t have time for this.
“I think it’ll be worth it. We’ll have an exact destination rather than just searching blankly,” said Rilla persuasively.