Adapt Or Be Crushed (The Exceptional S. Beaufont Book 9)

by Sarah Noffke

  The noises that echoed from Bermuda Lauren’s big top at the magical circus gave Sophia a short pause. She didn’t want to enter the tent and get mauled by Venice the winged lion, or whatever creature was currently on exhibit. The giantess had taken on the recent mission to educate the public about various magical creatures to erase misconceptions and create an appreciation for the animals.

  “Master Lauren is expecting you, Miss,” a squeaky voice said at Sophia’s back.

  She jerked around to find a small imp looking up at her, his arms full of a couple of heads of green leaf lettuce that looked recently harvested. Fresh dirt flaked off the bottoms.

  Sophia recognized the creature with oversized ears, teeth, and hands as Bermuda’s assistant at the circus—Goat. She’d always considered imps to be pranksters who couldn’t be trusted, but Bermuda had informed her that they were very loyal servants and worked well with magical creatures. This was exactly the reason that Bermuda should be in charge of reeducating the public since Sophia had been raised learning about magic and had her share of misconceptions to rewrite.

  “Hi, Goat.” Sophia smiled at the creature. “You say that she’s expecting me? I didn’t know that I was coming here until a few minutes ago.”

  That was pretty much status quo at this point though, Sophia thought. She was late for appointments with Papa Creola that she didn’t know she had, and Bermuda expected her when she didn’t think she’d see her anytime soon.

  “Yes, she said you would have quite a few things to discuss with her,” Goat informed her. “I’ll show you into the tent, then get you two some refreshments.”

  Sophia shook her head, her stomach still full of ice cream sundae. “Thank you, but that won’t be necessary. I just ate.”

  “Then I’ll fetch madam some tea if that’s okay,” he politely replied.

  “Thanks, Goat,” Sophia replied. “That’s very nice of you.”

  “What’s nice is that you remember my name when most simply scowl at me.” He strode past her with the lettuce bobbing in his arms and entered the big top.

  Sophia had to peel the vinyl flap back further to get through but immediately halted to take in all the strange sights around her. She thought that she’d be prepared for the bizarre and magical creatures that would grace Bermuda Lauren’s tent, but it never failed to surprise her. And on that particular day, there was something uniquely perplexing buzzing around at the back of the tent that immediately stole Sophia’s attention and gave her a weird urge she couldn’t describe or explain.

  Chapter Eighty-Seven

  Without her permission, Sophia’s feet brought her forward toward a collection of hovering lights at the back of the tent. She felt an irresistible urge to follow them. It was impossible to counter it although she was aware of other strange creatures in the big top staring at her.

  A large arm reached out from seemingly nowhere and blocked Sophia, stopping her in her tracks.

  “Blink rapidly and shake your head, then look away,” Bermuda ordered in an authoritative voice.

  Sophia felt like someone had splashed her with cold water as if trying to wake her from slumber. She did as instructed, and when she pulled her eyes off the buzzing golden lights at the back of the tent, the urge to go in their direction immediately evaporated.

  Strangely, Sophia couldn’t describe what she’d seen. Whatever they were, the creatures appeared as lights—similar to lightning bugs. However, there was something much more mysterious and alluring about them.

  “What are they?” Sophia continued to blink as she looked up at the giantess.

  “They are known by many names, depending on the culture,” Bermuda began. “You might have heard them referred to as aleya, boi-tata, La Candileja, luz mala, or brujas.”

  “I haven’t heard any of those names,” Sophia admitted, careful to keep her eyes trained on the giantess although she could see a few creatures moving around the tent in her peripheral vision.

  “No, those aren’t the ones I thought you’d be familiar with. You most likely know them as will-o’-wisps.”

  Sophia thought for a moment. She knew the term, but couldn’t connect it with anything. “What are they, and why do I feel such a strong draw to them?”

  “Not to them,” Bermuda corrected. “Your draw is to follow them, and it will dissipate as soon as I reveal their secret.”

  “Which is?” Sophia was suddenly fiercely curious.

  “Will-o’-wisps have been found in forests and dark moors for ages,” Bermuda explained. “Their job is simple and also completely mischievous. Their only aim is to get weary travelers to follow them, abandon their routes, and inevitably get lost.”

  “Oh, that’s deceitful,” Sophia exclaimed in surprise. “Why do you have them here?”

  “Well, because like I did for you, I want to tarnish their ability to make mortals and others stray from their path. Go ahead and try looking at them now.”

  Sophia did as directed. To her relief, she didn’t feel the urge to follow the hovering bits of light. “That’s remarkable.”

  “Yes,” Bermuda stated matter-of-factly. “Like many magical creatures, when their secrets are revealed, they lose some of their power.”

  Liv had once told Sophia that Plato’s magic worked similarly. If others besides her saw him use his magic, then it would diminish it.

  “Why is making others lost their only mission?” Sophia continued to study the lights buzzing in the far dark corner of the tent.

  “They’re cursed,” Bermuda explained. “There’s nothing to be done about it. So I keep them comfortable, and they agree to be in the show to educate the public. It’s mutually beneficial.”

  Sophia squinted at the tiny orbs of light and tried to make out what they were exactly, but she couldn’t. “Are they bugs or fairies or what? I can’t tell.”

  “They’re energy, like the rest of us,” Bermuda answered. “They take on the form of light, but to be honest, I’ve never seen a form behind it either.”

  “How bizarre.” Sophia shook her head, worried that they’d put her under a spell again, but thankfully they didn’t. Then her eyes slid to a black goat sitting a few yards from the will-o’-wisp. She was surprised to find such a normal animal in the circus tent. As soon as she thought that, the goat did the most unexpected thing and nearly made Sophia yelp in surprise.

  Chapter Eighty-Eight

  When NO10JO morphed from his cyborg dog form into an object, it was always surprising. When Ainsley shapeshifted, it was usually very jarring. But watching the black goat spring up into the form of a large black stallion was beyond astonishing.

  “Whoa, what’s wrong with that goat?” Sophia’s eyes were wide as she watched the beautiful horse whinny and scrape its hoof over the ground, kicking up dirt.

  “Manx isn’t a goat at all,” Bermuda stated.

  “No, I see that he’s a horse now.”

  “He’s neither a horse nor a goat,” Bermuda imparted.

  “Right,” Sophia drew out the word with uncertainty.

  “He’s a púca,” Bermuda explained.

  For a moment, Sophia thought that the giantess had let out a modest sneeze, but then she recognized the term. “Those are the magical creatures that shift from goat to horse to cat to dog and hares, right?”

  “And also raven,” Bermuda added.

  Goat, the imp, had strode over to where the stallion stood and held up the heads of green leaf lettuce.

  “Go ahead and shift, Manx,” Bermuda encouraged the púca.

  The creature looked over his shoulder at Bermuda and shook his head with a defiant expression in his black eyes. He stretched out his neck and tried to nibble on the leaves of lettuce. Goat yanked them away.

  “Manx,” Bermuda chided with a warning in her voice. “What did I say? We’re not feeding you in horse form. That will cost more food than is necessary. Remember that it’s about being smart and choosing the best form for what you’ve got to do.”

  The stallion
tossed his tail in the air and whinnied again. However, Manx appeared to have capitulated. He shrank, this time taking on the form of a shiny black hare.

  Goat dutifully laid the heads of green leaf lettuce in front of the hare and Manx began nibbling, his pointy ears high in the air.

  “Wow, what a brilliant creature,” Sophia remarked.

  “He’s a total pain in the ass, and he knows it,” Bermuda said loud enough for the púca to hear. She sighed. “But that’s what his type is known for. They are very mischievous and prone to pranks.”

  “Seems like that’s the theme of your current menagerie,” Sophia observed.

  “Well, I don’t know. I think Piper is quite nice.” Bermuda held out her hand to a small set of trees nestled among some bushes. At least, that’s what Sophia had thought it was, but after Bermuda’s words, the tree moved. Sophia watched as a woman’s head untucked from the branches. Her face and hair were green and matched the leaves draped like a garland around her neck, arms, waist, and lower half. Her skin was like a human’s but also held a wood-grain design, and her bottom portion appeared to be a trunk connected to the bushes beside her.

  “Oh, my.” Sophia’s surprise deepened. “She’s beautiful.”

  Bermuda nodded proudly.

  “Why thank you,” the woman said. She looked like a human, and also very much like a tree.

  “Indeed,” Bermuda stated. “Piper is a nymph, and has left the sanctuary of her home to help me to educate the masses this month.”

  The nymph bowed her head. “It is my pleasure.”

  Bermuda turned her attention to Sophia. “Piper is a forest nymph, as you have no doubt discerned on your own. There are also freshwater, sea, and mountain nymphs. I daresay you’ve probably seen all of them dozens of times and not realized it.”

  Trying not to stare but finding it hard to pull her eyes away from Piper, Sophia nodded. “I can see how they would blend into their surroundings.”

  “They are their surroundings,” Bermuda stated, then turned her attention away. “Well, it looks like we’re set up for refreshments.”

  Sophia spun to find that Goat had disappeared after feeding Manx and quietly set up a table with a full tea service by the entrance. It was elegantly done up with a silk tablecloth and real china. On a three-tiered platter were sandwiches, pastries, and cookies. Sophia wished that she was hungry, but the ice cream sundae had done its job.

  “This looks fantastic,” Sophia said when she saw Goat by the entrance flap. “Thank you.”

  He nodded before disappearing outside.

  “It does.” Bermuda pulled off her flower-adorned straw hat and ruffled her curly hair. “And over tea, I will tell you how I made a grave error that nearly cost the Dragon Elite their lives.”

  Chapter Eighty-Nine

  Sophia didn’t move from her spot as Bermuda, surprisingly gracefully, pulled out the sturdy chair that looked too small for her and perched on the seat’s edge. Of all the things Sophia expected Bermuda Laurens to say, an admittance that she made a mistake that almost wiped out the Dragon Elite wasn’t one of them.

  “Is this about the exploding sheep?” Sophia asked, still standing in place.

  Bermuda shook her head. “No, but we’ll get to that as well. I heard a rumor about your little problem in Scotland.”

  “More of a big problem if you ask the grumpy dragons,” Sophia pointed out.

  The giantess nodded while daintily taking a pastry and putting it on her plate. “They do prefer sheep, and I think it offers them the best results based on their physical makeup and dietary needs.”

  “What error did you make?” Sophia watched as Bermuda poured steaming hot tea into both of their cups.

  “Nevin Gooseman outsmarted the educator in me. At least, that’s who I assume is behind this.”

  Sophia nodded. “I’ve recently come to that conclusion too. He appears not to have died as I hoped.”

  “Wishing death on your enemies is never acceptable,” Bermuda said with a pursed expression. “We should wish reformation on them. Rehabilitation of ways and flawed thinking. But never death.”

  “Is that what you did to the magicians who murdered your husband and threatened you and Rory if you exposed the House of Seven?” Sophia asked boldly. She knew it was a risk and was prepared for the giant’s wrath, but Bermuda’s statement wasn’t fair. No, death wasn’t the first option when facing enemies, but sometimes it was the only one. Sophia had seen that all too often when battling someone who wouldn’t back down from their evil ways.

  To her surprise, a spark of amusement flickered in Bermuda’s eyes. “Touché, Sophia Beaufont. And no, I wanted the Sinclairs to pay for what they did to our family and my clan of giants. I believe that what they got was appropriate because there was no reasoning with them. But I think that for the most part, we shouldn’t stoop to the level of our enemies or one day we’ll look in the mirror and find we’ve become the very thing we intended to stop.”

  “I don’t disagree,” Sophia admitted. “It’s a slippery slope for sure. Fighting for peace has always seemed counterintuitive to me.”

  Bermuda smiled knowingly at this. “That’s why I appreciate your strategic approach. You don’t resort to fighting first thing, but it is sometimes unavoidable.”

  “Unfortunately,” Sophia admitted.

  “I was referring to the leviathan and the simurgh, which I learned made a recent appearance in the Mediterranean Sea, and the Dragon Elite had to fight.”

  Sophia laughed at this. “Made an appearance sounds like they showed up fashionably late for a party and left before the appetizers got cold.”

  “I suppose it does.” Bermuda sipped her tea with her pinky high in the air.

  “They wanted to eat us as appetizers.” Sophia laughed.

  “I’m certain that they did.” Bermuda set down her cup and let out a weighty breath. “Now sit before your tea gets cold. It’s hard enough for me to admit that I’m the cause of this, and it would be easier if you were sitting.”

  Sophia wanted to point out that standing, she still wasn’t as tall as the giantess sitting, but she figured it was best not to since she’d never seen it be hard for Bermuda to say anything. The woman spoke her mind and said things flatly—albeit usually with an edge of rudeness.

  She dutifully sat but didn’t go for the tea right away. Instead, she gave Bermuda a careful expression that said, “Go on then.”

  “You see,” the giantess began, “I believe, from what I’ve been able to deduce, that Nevin Gooseman pretended to be a college student and contacted me about a research paper he was doing on magical creatures. I supplied him with information on the leviathan, the simurgh, and many other animals during that conversation. I thought at the time that his knowledge was pointed and the questions about the creatures’ locations were maybe a little too specific, but I always want to educate, and in this case it was my downfall.”

  Sophia sipped her tea now and shook her head. “So he used you to find the animals? That’s smart.”

  “Deceptive is what it is, but yes, that man shouldn’t be underestimated,” Bermuda related.

  Sophia nodded. “And now I believe he’s behind our sheep problem.”

  This didn’t seem to surprise Bermuda. “I do apologize that I unknowingly aided him in finding magical and powerful creatures that you all had to stop. I think he must have done something to enhance the animals because, from the news reports I saw of your battle, they weren’t acting in typical ways.”

  “So he put an angry spell on them, did he?” Sophia asked.

  “It appears so.” Bermuda took a sandwich and nibbled on it. “And my admission isn’t the end of it.”

  Sophia set her teacup down. “What else?”

  “Well, as I said, Nevin asked about many magical creatures when he contacted me,” Bermuda explained. “Which makes me think that the leviathan and the simurgh were only the beginning, and he might have something worse that he plans to take the Dragon Elite
down with.”

  Chapter Ninety

  It was hard for Sophia to imagine anything worse than a giant sea monster with huge tentacles and a horrible temper. Or something more dangerous than a massive bird with a bad attitude and a taste for blood. However, the look on Bermuda’s face told Sophia this was serious.

  “What other magical creatures did Nevin Gooseman ask about?” Sophia asked.

  “He asked about quite a few,” Bermuda answered. “I can give you a full list, but I don’t think it will help.”

  “I would disagree,” Sophia argued. “Knowing what we could face is beneficial. I’ve already been told that the riders and the dragons will need special armor and weapons for an upcoming battle, but there’s been no information on the actual enemies.”

  “Armor will be important regardless,” Bermuda stated. “And I’m glad you’ll be prepared for whatever you encounter, but I can’t give you any real clues about what you’ll face.”

  “But all you have to do is tell me the creatures that Nevin asked about.”

  “And I intend to, but the one that I suspect Nevin is sending your way is not something that I’m aware of.” Bermuda paused to take another bite of food, then very properly wiped the corners of her mouth with her napkin. “You see, the reason I became suspicious before I saw the reports on the leviathan and the simurgh was because I realized a memory charm had been placed on me. I have an excellent memory, but when I tried to recall parts of the conversation with the college student afterward, it was quite murky.”

  “He put a memory enchantment on you?” Sophia asked. “Over the phone? That’s impressive.”

  “Scary is what it is,” Bermuda retorted. “And I think he did it retroactively because at one point, I do think I recalled all of the conversation, but much like a dream, the more time that went by and the longer I tried to think about it, the harder certain details were to remember.”

  “So you’re telling me that he blotted out the portion on the actual animal that he’s using to fight the Dragon Elite, aren’t you?”