by Linsey Hall
We can help! The raccoon’s voice sounded from behind me.
I’d almost forgotten he was there.
“Sure.” It was obvious from my tone that I didn’t know what three small dumpster divers could do.
We were in the circus. This is our jam!
The circus? I’d take any help we could get, so I nodded. “Eloa, direct the boat toward shore and run alongside.”
“This better work!” Skepticism sounded in her voice.
Frankly, I couldn’t blame her. I was feeling a bit iffy myself.
The boat neared the shore, and I sprinted toward a large box near the railing, then jumped up and leapt off the box so I could grab onto one of the vines that hung low over the water. I sailed through the air and grabbed onto another vine, swinging like Tarzan. Maximus did the same, jumping much farther than I had.
I scrambled up the vine, my hands occasionally slipping on the surface. Every time they did, my stomach fell.
A quick glance at the snake showed that he’d almost entirely regained his senses. He was doing the rear-back-and-strike thing that seemed to be a snake’s signature move.
A branch hovered above the snake’s head, and three tiny figures caught my eye.
The raccoon, possum, and badger landed on the snake’s head. The creature hissed and thrashed, trying to throw them off. But they clung tight.
Quick! While he’s distracted! the raccoon shouted.
Holy fates, my life was weird.
I met Maximus’s gaze and he nodded. “I’ll get to the other side!”
He swung from vine to vine, determined to reach the other side of the snake so we could come at it from two different angles, hopefully trapping it against the shore with the vines.
I scrambled up onto a tree limb and gripped my vine tight. We’d have to time it just right.
The snake was still thrashing, but fortunately it wasn’t striking our boat. Maximus climbed onto a limb on the other side of the snake, about forty feet up the riverbank.
“Now!” I shouted, and leapt off the tree limb, clutching the vine tight. I hurtled through the air, the wind whipping at my hair. My vine carried me around the snake’s lower body, and Maximus passed by above me.
It’s working!
I didn’t spare the raccoon a glance as my vine caught on the snake and dragged him against the shore. I hurtled toward some bushes, suddenly realizing that I hadn’t planned my dismount.
Life comes at you fast sometimes, and I slammed into the bushes, losing my grip on my vine. I plowed through the leaves and landed in the spongy ground. A massive beetle stared at me.
“You’re the size of a house cat,” I muttered as my brains rattled around inside my head. I scrambled to my feet and grabbed my vine, then pulled it around a tree to tie it off. Hopefully it would trap the snake for at least a few minutes.
Finished, I sprinted back toward the shore. To my left, something thrashed through the foliage. The snake.
Hurry! He’s stunned, but not for long!
I looked up to see the Menacing Menagerie leaping across the tree branches as we raced back to the shore. The raccoon led the way, but the possum and badger were close behind. The light of battle gleamed in the badger’s eyes, while the possum just looked joyful.
I reached the shore. The bottom half of the snake’s body thrashed in the water, while the top half was temporarily pinned to the ground. The steamboat was already twenty feet down shore and didn’t look like it was turning around. Maximus was already halfway up a tree ahead of me.
“Get a vine and swing back!” he shouted.
I scaled a tree, moving faster than I ever had in my life, and grabbed a vine.
I leapt, swinging through the air and praying that I landed on the deck of the Kilbourne.
Of course I didn’t.
I got close, though, releasing the vine and landing in the river with a splash. Warm, dark water closed around me, and I kicked to the surface.
The first thing I heard when my head broke through made my blood chill.
“Piranha!”
My heart leapt into my throat, and I kicked forward, racing for the boat. I cut through the water so fast that I arrived seconds later, grabbing for the side as the current dragged at me. Maximus leaned over and lowered his hand. I stretched my arm up to him, and he grasped my hand, hauling me over the side railing.
I flopped onto the deck, panting.
The sound of Eloa’s laughter filtered toward me.
I looked up, blinking water out of my eyes. “There were no piranhas, were there?”
She wiped tears from her bright eyes as she looked at me. “Probably not, but you never know.”
I shot her the hairy eyeball, and she just laughed harder. “Well, you did fine with the snake.” Her eyes widened on something behind us. “Time to go.”
She darted toward the barrel of magical blue fuel rocks and grabbed three, then chucked them into the boiler. A plume of smoke burst from the boiler, and the boat shot forward.
I turned, looking toward the snake.
The creature was heaving itself back toward the river.
“Faster!” I shouted to Eloa.
“This is as fast as it goes!”
We cut through the water, racing away from the snake. The Menacing Menagerie came to sit beside me where I was still collapsed on the deck, panting.
The raccoon sat on his butt and held out his little hand. I’m Romeo.
I shook his tiny paw. “Good to meet you, Romeo. I’m Rowan.”
Romeo pointed at the possum. That’s Poppy. And the badger is Eloise.
They were the oddest trio I’d ever seen. The possum was small and gray, with a severely pointed nose and a red flower behind her ear. She gave me a suspicious look, while the badger growled, sharp teeth threatening.
“How come you can talk?”
I’m the leader of the Magical Menagerie.
“The what?”
We’re the Magical Menagerie, the most famous all-animal circus in Europe. He grinned, and I expected that it was supposed to be charming. It kind of was.
The possum hissed.
That was not charming.
The raccoon sighed. Fine, Poppy. We’re no longer the Magical Menagerie. We’re the Menacing Menagerie.
“Who do you menace?”
Rubbish bins, mostly.
“Really? Why’d you leave the circus to menace rubbish bins?”
As Poppy is trying to point out, the money corrupted us. We decided to quit to focus on the finer things in life. His little paw reached over to rub the top of the trash bin that sat lashed to the railing. The gesture was distinctly loving.
“Is trash a finer thing in life?”
He grinned toothily at me. The finest. Poppy thinks she loves trash most, but really, it’s me. Eloise is a peacekeeper, except when she’s really fighting.
“Well, thanks for the help. Seems like you’re good at menacing more than trash. That snake wouldn’t want to meet you again, I bet.”
He grinned, showing his little fangs.
I nodded at Poppy and Eloise in greeting, then dragged myself to my feet. Water dripped down my legs. Every inch of me was soaked, and it sucked.
“Hey, come here,” Eloa shouted.
I turned and scowled. “What now?”
“Fine, be grumpy.” Eloa held out her hand toward me, palm up. Her magic flared on the air, bringing with it the scent of bananas and rich earth. It was a weird combo.
When warm air blasted from her palm and dried my clothes in seconds, I decided I didn’t care how weird it was. “Thank you.”
I ran my hands through my hair, delighted to feel it totally dry.
“You’ve got some interesting sidekicks,” Maximus said.
I glanced back at the Menacing Menagerie, who were now sitting with Eloa’s monkey and sharing some ham sandwiches. Poppy looked a bit morose, as if she wished she’d pulled it out of some dumpster somewhere.
“Yeah, don’t know h
ow they chose me, but I’ll take them.” Actually, that wasn’t quite true. I did know. Both of my sisters had animal sidekicks as well. They’d gotten them when they’d begun the transition to Dragon God. Maybe I was transitioning?
I focused inward, trying to identify any new magic that might be lurking in my soul.
There was just the darkness, though.
I really hoped it was a fluke—some horrible curse from my time with the Rebel Gods. I didn’t want this darkness to be my gods-given powers. Because what would that make me?
Something evil, definitely.
I didn’t need, or want, any part of that crap.
“Help yourself to sandwiches,” Eloa said. “Ted can show you where the stuff is.”
My stomach grumbled at the word, and I grinned at her. “Thanks, Eloa. You rock.”
“You’re easily bought,” Eloa said.
“If there’s food, then yes.” I shot her one more big smile, then joined Ted.
The little monkey pointed out the cooler containing ham and the loaf of bread sitting on top. It was simple, but delicious. Maximus and I ate in silence, but I couldn’t help wondering about his past. I wanted to ask, but I was too busy stuffing my face. Fighting giant snakes worked up an appetite, apparently.
Due to the extra input of fuel, the boat made quick time down the river. The thing went so fast that I worried the paddlewheel would spin off. Finally, though, we slowed.
“Going to give the Kilbourne a break,” Eloa said. “Go at a more normal speed.”
As much as I wanted to make quick time, I didn’t want to lose the paddlewheel. And Eloa didn’t look like the kind of woman who took suggestions well.
She joined us for a sandwich as the boat drifted along. “Don’t worry, there’s autopilot at this speed.”
“On a boat this old?” Maximus asked.
“Magic.” She bit into her sandwich.
I wanted to ask more about the spell, but a ghostly wail cut off my words.
Eloa’s purple eyes widened, and she lowered her sandwich. “Merda.”
I jumped to my feet, my skin chilling at the sound.
Eloa paled, her dark skin turning to ash. “The Caipora.”
I spun in a circle, searching the dark jungle. Moonlight gleamed on the water and jungle, but I saw no threats. I could hear them, though, and it made my heart thunder.
“What are the Caipora?” Maximus conjured a sword.
“Spirits who haunt trespassers. We’re trespassers.” She hurried to a long, low trunk that was bolted to the deck and began to dig inside of it. She withdrew three simple iron swords, each coated with rust. The blades were so dull they couldn’t cut cheese. She tossed one at me, and I grabbed it, catching it by the blade and not receiving a single cut. “Use that to kill them.”
I inspected the blade, then looked up at her doubtfully. “You sure about that?”
“They’re ghosts, and those blades are enchanted. The Caipora are like Phantoms, but they can be killed.”
I shuddered. “Phantoms?”
I freaking hated Phantoms. The miserable beasts made you face your worst fears and nightmares, then fed off your energy.
“Phantoms.” Eloa nodded. “The Caipora will show you the most horrible things from your past, then when you are weak, they pounce. It takes them less than a minute to suck out all of your lifeforce. But they also carry weapons that will wound.”
We don’t have swords, so see you later. Romeo gave me an apologetic look, then disappeared, along with Poppy and Eloise.
I couldn’t say that I blamed them.
“Be alert.” Eloa returned to the pilothouse, her sword gripped in her hand.
I joined Maximus at the bow, and we stood back to back, inspecting the jungle. My skin crawled as the wailing of the Caipora grew louder.
They appeared seconds later, pale, ghostly forms with jet-black eyes and gaping mouths. Cold filled me to my bones, sending ice through my veins.
I couldn’t help the thoughts that rose in my mind. Memories of my capture, of my captivity.
In front of me, the Caipora drifted closer, floating over the river until they were nearly to us. Then they shifted, changing form. They pantomimed my past, and I saw myself, raising my hands and using terrible magic on behalf of the Rebel Gods. Threatening my sisters.
Horror rose in me, a black hole that threatened to devour my heart. Fear and misery flowed through me, bringing back all the memories of my captivity. I’d been forced to do terrible things. Horrible things.
The Caipora drifted in front of me, recreating my past and dredging up the worst of my memories. Things I’d forced away were surging to the surface.
My legs nearly buckled.
“Come at me!” I screamed, desperately wanting the Caipora to start the fight. This was torture. Their reenactment was a spike to the chest. I spun, trying to look away.
Instead, I caught sight of another scene.
The Caipora were acting out Maximus’s worst memory. It was in a gladiator ring, and rows of men were kneeling. An executioner stood with his axe, ready to behead over two dozen people. Maximus was among them.
I shuddered and turned away. Somehow, his was worse. I could only handle the pain of my own terrible past. No way I could also bear the pain of his.
Agony speared my mind as I tried to force away the horrible memories. But I couldn’t. They played in the jungle around me, acted out by ghosts. They played within my mind as well, bringing back the feelings of pain and despair and horror.
When I looked up to face my own miserable past, the Caipora broke apart. They rushed me, arms raised. I lunged for them, weakened by my grief and horror. How was it that it had such a physical effect?
I sucked in a ragged breath and raised my blade, swinging for the nearest Caipora. The beast was reaching out with ghostly white arms.
My rusty steel severed the limbs, and the creature shrieked, mouth gaping wide and dark. It wheeled away, but another replaced it, surging toward me. I sliced at its middle, taking it out, but the third carried a sword as well.
The ghost sliced its blade toward me, and I parried, blocking his steel with my own. The swords smashed together, the ghost’s blade becoming corporeal on contact with my own.
I drew my sword back and swung, slicing the neck of my opponent. But two rushed me next, one slashing out with a dagger that cut deep into my arm.
Pain flared and blood spurted. I jabbed my weapon toward the creature’s stomach, sinking my blade deep. It shrieked, an unearthly wail that surely made my ears bleed. I stumbled backward, swiping out with my sword.
Out of the corners of my eyes, I could see Maximus and Eloa fighting off their own ghosts.
One of the Caipora swung a blade at Maximus, slicing him right through the middle. But he didn’t even flinch. The blade didn’t hurt him at all—not like it had hurt me.
What the hell was he, if he couldn’t be injured?
I had no time to think of it. More Caipora were surging toward me, as if I were the weaker link.
Three of them charged, and I swiped out with my blade, taking out one after another. They kept coming though. More and more. They surrounded me, half a dozen closing in. I cut and stabbed, but no longer had the range of movement required.
The ghosts reached out with transparent arms, grabbing and tugging. Everywhere they touched burned. I screamed and thrashed, swinging my blade and kicking out. I hurt them, managing to drive off some. But others came, too, overwhelming me.
Panic rose in my chest, and my magic flared.
From deep inside, the darkness rose. I didn’t ask it to. I didn’t call on it. But it came anyway, surging to the surface. A protective instinct that I couldn’t deny.
It choked me, feeling foul inside my very soul. My eyes began to glow, brightening the faces of the ghosts who attacked. It felt like I was drawing from within as the magic filled up my body, filled up my soul.
Then it burst from me, exploding outward.
The
Caipora shrieked and lunged backward, hissing and whirling. Some of them disintegrated right on the spot, their ghostly forms turning to ash. The rest raced away, disappearing within seconds.
I stood, panting. The horror of the memories made me feel empty inside.
I’d never before remembered with such clarity. But I’d relived it here, and the memories made me shake.
I looked up and caught sight of Maximus and Eloa’s shocked gazes.
Shit.
Adrenaline pumped through my veins, driving off the thoughts of my terrible past.
They’d seen my dark magic. Maximus, for the second time.
7
Eloa turned away, muttering, “I’m not going to ask.”
I sucked in an unsteady breath. What happened in the jungle stayed in the jungle, apparently. At least with her. I could live with that. Maybe I could even move here, if everything hit the fan.
Yeah, that sounded terrible.
I avoided looking at Maximus and pulled a tiny vial of healing potion out of my leather belt. As I dotted it on the stinging wound on my shoulder, I could feel Maximus’s gaze on me.
Once the wound was tended to, I looked up at him.
“She might not ask, but I will,” he said. “What the hell is going on with you?”
“Nothing.” I felt stupid even saying it, since I’d been so obvious this time. I tried turning away anyway, hoping he’d get the picture.
He didn’t. Instead, he followed me to the bow and leaned on the railing.
I stared out at the water, my mind racing.
Okay, so maybe this had been a bad idea. Before, he’d seen me do something creepy and weird. It could have been a fluke.
Now, he’d seen me do it twice.
How was I supposed to damage control that?
“What’s going on, Rowan?”
I stayed silent, debating my options. Jumping overboard was the only one that appealed, and even that had the downside of piranhas. Maybe.
His brows lowered, and he frowned. “What’s going on?”
“I don’t know, exactly.” I searched his face, trying to see past the good looks to what was beneath. I couldn’t trust him, could I? He worked for the Order.