by Dani Rei
THE HALLS ARE EMPTY AND QUIET as Blake approaches the stairs. The sun is still too low to send direct light into the hall, but the mansion is well illuminated, nonetheless. The doors are all closed, and the air is so still, similar to when Blake arrived for his interview. They don’t wake up as early as he anticipated. It makes sense, considering their tour had just finished, but for some reason, he expected a more strict schedule from such an incredible troupe.
Would exploring be okay? It’s not like they gave him anything else to do. He takes a quick glance at his jeans and T-shirt to make sure he looks presentable; in case he bumps into someone. He freezes a few steps down when a voice echoes from downstairs.
“I thought you loved me.”
“I never said it like that,” responds a familiar voice. “You should know what I mean by now.”
Blake crouches down to peek between the stairs and the second floor and sees a blond man in black pants and a lavender button-up standing face to face with a cross-armed Inez. His black vest has lavender embroidery on the front, and his short, golden hair is combed back. His blue eyes are pleading with her. Blake catches his breath. That guy is the Prince of Illusion; he’s played the lead in every show!
The Prince huffs, and his face goes firm. “You know, I didn’t have a choice in this either. This is my father’s circus. I was forced to be here too.”
Blake holds his place, trembling but ready to charge in if he needs to. But should he? He doesn’t want Inez to think he’d eavesdrop on purpose, but what should he do if it escalates? She might kill him if she knew he was listening.
“I’m done talking about this,” says Inez. “I have somewhere else to be.”
She hurries off, ignoring his pleas for her not to leave. The front door of the mansion closes, and he runs his fingers through his hair. Blake stands and takes a few slow steps down the stairs.
“Hey, man,” he says. “Everything alright?”
“Hey.” The Prince smiles. “You’re the new guy. I’m Allistair, nice to meet you.”
He extends his hand, and Blake shakes it before he gestures between Allistair and the door. “So uh...you and Inez...?”
“Oh that,” Allistair says, forcing a chuckle. “Yeah, I really had myself fooled. I always thought her turning me down was just a result of how guarded she is, but I guess it’s not so simple.”
“Are you okay?”
“I will be, thanks for asking. Anyway, Victor wants to see you in his office. Your application process isn’t over yet.”
“YOU HAVE TO TAKE A TEST,” says Victor from his desk chair. “Have a performance ready for us by this Friday. If you do well, we’ll keep you. If not, your contract will be terminated.”
“What? Why are you springing this on me now? Why couldn’t I audition before I moved in?”
“It was a last-minute decision.” Rex shrugs from his spot next to Victor. “My children are quite daunted that an outsider has joined, and as an adult, no less. I like you, and I’ve seen your talent. They, however, need convincing.”
“Why don’t I just do it tonight, then?”
“That won’t do,” says Rex, waving the idea off like a fly. “Anyone can juggle. You must create a performance worthy of our stage. I’m sure Inez will help you since she’s already your mentor.”
“But Inez is—”
“She’s gone again, we know,” Victor grumbles. “We meant when she gets back.”
“That’s all. Off you go now.” Rex shoos Blake away with his hand.
Despite the racing of his heart, and his dream now hanging by a thread, Blake stands and heads for the door.
They’re not testing my skills; they’re testing my will. They’re going to put me through hell until I’ve earned their respect. He takes a deep breath, doing his best to calm his heart. This is exactly what he was expecting. The fool must always suffer before he can rise. Rex was warning him.
“One more thing,” Rex calls, and Blake stops. “I’d like you to ask Inez where she’s been going lately. You can tell me the next time we chat.”
Blake hesitates, but he won’t risk losing Rex’s favor, and he’s curious too. “Sure.”
IN THE BACKYARD AFTER LUNCH, Inez opens a drawstring bag and pulls out three short ropes, each holding a ball of thick, black fabric on one end and a small, bright green knob on the other. Other members of the circus are filling sets of aerial rigs behind him, while others are sitting on the lawn or wandering the yard. Inez holds up the flopping props in her hand.
“This is the closest I have to juggling clubs, but I’ve seen how they work, and it should be fine.”
“Wait, so no one else here juggles?”
“A lot of us can juggle, I just use my props. Ian uses knives, Vladik uses kettlebells, and Maya uses hoops. We never really needed them.”
Blake shrugs with a tiny grin. “Call me basic, I guess.”
Inez chuckles as she holds up her prop. “These are called poi. I’ll show you some juggling patterns with these, and you can try it with your clubs. We’ll see what you know, what you learn and what you can teach me.”
Blake nods as Inez tosses the bag toward a nearby tree.
“Thanks again for helping me prepare. I really appreciate it.”
Inez smiles before she juggles the poi in a basic cascade. The ropes that flop so easily are staying straight in the air as they rotate over their assigned arches. Blake’s energy pulses through his veins as he follows Inez’s lead, recreating the same pattern with his clubs. She switches up the pattern, and he follows without hesitation.
He changes the pattern for Inez to follow, and she does so without flinching. She narrows her eyes at him with a cocky grin, grabbing two poi with one hand and the third with the other. She turns a few times so that the poi create perfect circles around her body in a spellbinding display, similar to what he’d seen her do so many times on stage.
Blake follows her lead until two clubs fumble in his hand, and the last one lands with a clunk on his skull. “Ow!”
Inez breaks into laughter, holding her arms against her stomach. Despite the sharp pain pulsing through his skull, her laugh spreads to him and some performers in the distance.
“Maybe we should keep it simple,” says Inez as her laughter subsides.
“Let’s keep it juggling. I can’t learn the magic stuff that you do.”
“Fair,” Inez chuckles.
Practice continues with less fumbling, and Blake is excited that Inez seems to enjoy his company. His excitement grows when he finds a pattern she hasn’t seen yet. With a little direction, she nails the pattern in a few quick minutes.
Awhile later, they put down their props and sit by the tree for a drink. The water turns his throat to ice and chills him from the inside out.
The two sit in silence as Blake’s gaze wanders over the other performers, whose names he’s still learning. His eyes glue themselves to Axel, who bends and twists herself around a hanging loop. His gaze shifts to Maya, the Lost Empress from China, and Xavier, the Fallen Angel.
They’re practicing some sort of fight routine on a high wire with swords. On the ground, three other members are climbing each other to create striking poses.
Everywhere he looks, members of the circus are oozing talent. Even the ones who sit and chat seem to shine with a light of their own, despite not doing anything. How is that possible?
“Stage presence,” Inez’s voice pierces through Blake’s thoughts and turns his attention back to her. “Your test isn’t about talent, it’s about stage presence. Anyone can learn to do the things we do, but all of that is useless if you can’t hold the audience’s attention. Even breathing fire can be boring if you don’t put on a good show.”
“I see,” says Blake, taking a moment to process her words as he looks around again. “What can you teach me about it?”
“It isn’t something I can teach; it’s something you have to learn as you go, w
ith your own flair, to own the stage and demand attention. You need to lay the bait for the audience, lure them in, and capture their hearts. It isn’t always easy, but the applause from a truly mesmerized audience...”
Inez’s voice trails off as a smile creeps onto her face. She wraps her arms around her knees, pulling them into her chest as her eyes gaze into an unseen memory. “That kind of applause has a special sound.”
Blake smiles along with her as she blinks herself back to the present and clears her throat, returning her legs to their previous outstretched position. She turns her gaze to the other circus members around the yard, trying to pretend that moment didn’t happen. Somehow, this makes Blake more intrigued.
“Can I ask you something?” says Blake. Inez flicks up her brows in response. “Where have you been going lately?”
Inez’s gaze shoots to a fiery glare, and Blake shrinks in his spot.
“What do you mean by that? You’ve only been here one night, and in that time, I’ve gone out once.”
“Well, uh...you see—”
“Did Rex tell you to ask me that?” The King’s name leaves her mouth as if she were spitting out an awful taste.
Blake swallows hard, trembling as her glare burns into his skin. “Y-yeah...”
Inez growls as she shoots to her feet. “It’s none of your business! Or his! Don’t let yourself be that fucking King’s little spy!”
“That’s not what I meant by it! I swear!”
“Whatever.” Inez harrumphs and storms off back into the mansion. Blake holds out a hand to stop her but quickly retreats.
“Bro.” A dark hand lands on Blake’s shoulder. “I really thought you were going to burst into flame there for a second.”
Blake relaxes as Ronan sits at his side. “You and I both.”
“She’s got a hot temper.” Ronan chuckles. “But she’s a big softie once you get on her good side.”
“How do I do that? It feels like no matter what I say, I fuck it up.”
“Just respect her.” Ronan shrugs. “And don’t let Rex tell you what to say. He didn’t adopt her, Victor did, so Rex ignores her until he wants something. She makes her own rules, too. Doesn’t really answer to anyone.”
“Victor adopted her?”
“He’s her uncle. When she lost her parents, he took her in, and I guess Rex never liked her very much. The tension between them is palpable; it makes everyone uncomfortable. That’s why Rex doesn’t invite her to the meetings. She listens from a distance.”
“She hardly seems to like me. What makes Rex think I would have a better chance of finding things out?”
“I think he’s just trying out every option he has.” Ronan pauses and glances at the performers over his shoulder before he leans in closer, his voice lowering to a whisper. “Listen, Inez might not like you, but she doesn’t hate you. You’re only doing what you’re told so you can stay here. Rex, however...”
Blake furrows his brow as Ronan seems to choke, taking one more scan of the area for peering eyes or curious ears. As he turns his head, Blake notices a thin scar in front of his ear, leading to his cheekbone. Ronan turns back to him before Blake can see it more closely.
“I can’t say much right now, but Rex...isn’t as nice as he lets on.”
His voice trembles at the last few words, and it sends chills over Blake’s skin. “What do you mean?”
Ronan shakes his head. “Now’s not the time. Just promise you won’t tell Rex anything Inez trusts you with. He’ll take whatever you tell him and use it against her. If he asks about her, you keep your mouth shut, understood?”
Blake’s mouth is wide open, taking his own glance at the others before he turns his attention back to the grass. He forces his mouth closed and nods to establish his promise, and Ronan breathes a sigh of relief. He offers to switch the subject to juggling, but Blake is more interested to hear about Ronan’s work backstage. As the conversation clears his mind, the last few drops of anxiety linger, making him tremble. Inez’s glare continues to pop into his vision.
Eventually, Ronan waves him off to resume his own work. Blake sits alone, Inez’s words ringing in his mind. Stage presence.
How can he perform in a way that impresses other performers? What does Inez do that captivates him? It isn’t just the fire. Blake has seen numerous fire dancers and breathers at other circuses, carnivals, and celebrations. Inez does things the audience doesn’t expect. Everyone here does.
While they were practicing, Inez stopped juggling to dance around with the poi in perfect unison with her movements. It was captivating.
Everyone here knows Blake can juggle. He needs to find a way to surprise the audience. A thought crosses his mind, but he tries to brush it away. Inez would kill him if he mentioned it.
A fool gets nowhere by sitting comfortably.
Maybe he can try.
Chapter 6
“I
’d like Inez to teach me to use fire.”
“What?” Inez screams, making Blake and Victor cringe. Rex puts a finger to his chin, unfazed by the sudden rise in volume. Her reaction makes Blake grateful he chose to say this with Rex and Victor present.
“It’s just a thought,” he says. “But juggling won’t be enough. Mishkin and Inez have made it clear that at least a handful of the other members have seen me juggle before. It won’t be any different from what I’ve done countless times. Adding fire to the mix would throw in an element of surprise. And since I’d have to learn it quickly, it would be a demonstration of how fast I can learn.”
“But why fire?” Inez asks.
“It’s in the contract, rule number one: The fool gets nowhere by sitting comfortably. I don’t have the core strength to learn aerials that fast, nor am I sneaky enough to learn magic like Allistair does. Besides, the poi looks...kind of cool.”
Blake shifts in his seat, his cheeks turning a light pink. Inez crosses her arms as Victor shrugs, turning his gaze over to Rex.
“It’s your call, King. Using fire isn’t what you had in mind, but he is following the rules.”
Rex’s pensive stare doesn’t change for several slow-passing seconds. They’re glued to Blake, unblinking and icy enough to send a chill up his spine.
Finally, he lowers his hand and smiles at Blake. “I like this idea. You have my support. Inez, you will teach him to use fire safely. You have extra props to lend, I’m sure.”
“You can’t be serious,” Inez grumbles.
“I have nothing more to say on the matter, so I’ll be leaving. Best of luck to you both.”
Rex strolls out of the room with his head high, ignoring Inez’s burning glare as it follows him out. After he closes the door, Inez slams her hands onto Victor’s desk. “You know why Rex approved this! Tell him to fuck off and leave me alone!”
“I-I can’t do that,” says Victor, doing his best not to appear startled, but his frown and shuddering voice betray him. Without Rex at his side, his commanding demeanor has completely vanished. “He’s concerned about you! And I am too. You won’t even tell me what you’re doing!”
“I’m twenty-two! It’s none of your business! You and the damned King need to back off and stop pestering me! I’m fucking sick of you both!”
She pushes herself from Victor’s desk and rages past Blake, who sits in his seat with his eyes wide. The office door slams behind them, making him and Victor flinch. Blake peeks over his shoulder, surprised the glass didn’t shatter from her force.
“Sir,” Blake mutters after a moment of silence, “is there another motive for Rex going along with this?”
Victor lets out a heavy breath and takes his glasses off to rub the bridge of his nose. “Sort of. She’s been sneaking around to get out of the mansion, and if she’s here teaching you, Rex can keep a better eye on her. He thinks she and Allistair are having relationship troubles, which would be a problem, considering they’re expected to marry.”
Blake remembers when he overheard Inez and Allistair that first morn
ing. “Maybe it’s better if he doesn’t get involved? I don’t know the details, but I’m pretty sure that’s not his decision to make.”
“All decisions in this mansion are his to make. Everyone signed the contract, to live under his command at the mercy of the stage.”
“This is the twenty-first century. Aren’t arranged marriages illegal?”
“Forced marriages are illegal, but arranged ones are still common in wealthy families and those of status.”
“If Rex isn’t giving her a choice, that’s forced marriage.”
Victor slams his desk. “That’s enough! You have no idea how anything runs around here. Or what I have to do to keep her safe. She’s my niece, and I’ll do what I must to make sure she’s taken care of. Don’t get involved in what you don’t understand.”
Blake shifts in his seat, biting his lip. He takes in a breath through his nose and huffs out his remaining protests. Don’t lose Rex’s favor.
“So this thing with her and Allistair, is it really okay for you to tell me? It’s not like it’s any of my business.”
“It’s common knowledge; You would’ve found out eventually. Believe me, whatever happens in this mansion, everyone will hear about it before morning. It takes a special kind of sneaky to keep secrets in this place, and Inez has made it her duty to master that level of stealth. But she’s been here for years, and you’re still learning. So, as I said before, be mindful of what you say and do.”
Blake’s heart sinks as he remembers when she stormed off yesterday. She has no control. No privacy. Of course it pissed her off when he asked where she went. And with his request to use fire, he handed Rex a golden opportunity to add another restraint. Twice now, he’s played right into Rex’s hand. Inez probably hates him now, and he can’t blame her.
“In any case,” Victor continues, snapping Blake out of his frustration and trying to cool his own, “give Inez a few minutes to calm down, and she’ll be ready to work.”
Knowing a dismissal when he hears one, Blake trudges out of the office. As soon as the door is closed behind him, he hurries out to the yard, where Inez stands with fists balled at her side and a concerned Allistair in front of her. He approaches cautiously, so Inez knows he’s there, but so he doesn’t stir up more tension.
