Circus of the Dead: Book 2

by Kimberly Loth

  I spread out a sheet where I have already drawn the circle to trap someone. As soon as the sun dips behind the horizon, I light the candles and step inside. Today, I’m trapping myself.

  The sounds of the circus float through the trees. I will be the ghosts’ new master, and I will not allow anyone to die tonight. The prospect thrills me.

  “Callie, what are you doing?”

  I spin. Benny stands just on the other side of the circle. I let out a breath of relief. At least it’s not Samuel.

  “I’m stopping Samuel.”

  “How?” His face is full of concern, but I don’t have time for him right now.

  “Doesn’t matter.”

  He walks around the outside of the circle. “Will I still be around when you are finished?”

  “Yes.” I kneel down and make sure all of the ingredients are spread out around me.

  “Callie, talk to me.”

  I nearly stop at the tone of his voice. I’ve never heard Benny beg before.

  “After I’m done. This shouldn’t take very long.”

  I conjure fire in my palms and place it in the middle of the circle. I set the shrunken head in the flames. An acrid smell fills the air.

  Benny gasps and takes a couple of steps back. “I’ve seen a lot of spells, but nothing quite like that.”

  I ignore him. A change floats through the air as the head turns to ash. Benny cringes. “What are you doing?”

  If Benny can’t figure out what I’m doing, Samuel won’t see this coming. He’s had it coming for so long. He has no idea I can best him.

  “You’ll see.”

  Footsteps fly in the forest. Someone is coming.

  Something definitely changed, and Samuel can probably tell. I pick up the voodoo doll I created. Samuel crashes through the trees just as I place the doll in the flames.

  “No!” he cries.

  He crosses the barrier into the circle and tackles me. I hang tight to him, knowing all I have to do is keep him occupied long enough for the voodoo doll to burn up.

  He wrenches himself out of my arms and reaches for the doll. I jump on his back and claw at his face. He grabs at my hands, and I fall back. He lunges for the doll, but I scramble back up and shove him hard. He stumbles out of the circle, and I can’t follow him.

  The flames lick at the doll’s body, and Samuel doubles over in pain. I wasn’t aware of what would happen when I lit the doll on fire, but I should’ve seen this coming.

  “Callie, what are you doing to him?” Benny asks, his eyes wide.

  I finally feel safe enough to utter out loud what I'm doing.

  “I’m taking his place.”

  Samuel cries out in pain. The doll is fully in flames now, and in less than a minute, it will be ash. Samuel writhes on the ground. I can’t watch. I don’t want to kill him, but that might be an unintended consequence.

  I find Benny’s face instead. There is real fear there.

  I drop my gaze back to the flames. The doll is nearly gone. The flames go out, and deep purple smoke curls up. I bring my face down and inhale. It smells awful like rotten eggs and death. My eyes water, but I let the smoke enter my mouth and nose.

  The smoke dies off, the candles on my circle snuff out, and suddenly, I feel one hundred fifteen souls connected to me.

  Chapter Thirty-Five

  I did it.

  I can’t believe I did it. I managed to take those souls from Samuel. I can feel them tied to me, and I’m now in charge of the island. I have become the Obeah woman.

  I’m thrilled and terrified at the same time.

  Benny stands off to the side, his eyes wide and his mouth hanging open. But I’m not interested in Benny at the moment. For the first time since I’ve known them both, I'm more interested in what Samuel has to say.

  I approach the man who made my life a living hell the last few months. I will not rule as he did. I will make sure people live instead of die.

  Samuel’s breath is shallow, and his skin has gone slightly green. He’s aged thirty years in less than a minute, and if I didn’t know better, I’d say he is dying.

  I don’t understand. No one is supposed to die. Not even Samuel. I don’t want the darkness death brings, and I made sure the spell was not one that killed anyone.

  I crouch close to him. “I’m going to get Ruth.”

  He grips my sweaty hand. It’s cold and dry. “Don’t bother. My life is over.”

  “No. I don’t want your death on my conscience.”

  His voice is strained and raspy. “Too late. I’m over a hundred-fifty years old. The ghosts were the only thing keeping me alive. I got their years.”

  Holy flip. I didn’t know that. Now I have those years. He cannot survive, and I’m practically immortal.

  I squeeze his hand. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean for you to die.”

  He gives me a smile. “Thank you,” he breathes.

  I swallow hard. He shouldn’t be thanking me for taking away his power and killing him. After all he’s done. This makes no sense. “For what?”

  He chuckles and struggles to pull himself into a sitting position. I help him. His face is ragged, and his skin is freezing. “For freeing me.”

  “You wanted to be free?” Something is not right here.

  “Oh, yes, for a very long time. Now I can tell you my secret since I am no longer bound. I had no control over my actions. I was a puppet. But I am a puppet no more.”

  A sickening feeling settles in my stomach. Everyone led me to believe that Samuel was in control of the entire island, but he’s making it seem like he isn’t.

  He collapses in my arms, and I cradle his head. “Samuel, I don’t get it.”

  “I know you don’t. I’m not sure how much time I have left, but you have to understand what you have. I created this island and the death circus. I sought power and control. It was fun at first. I wanted to be the most powerful Obeah man ever, and I was. I managed to tie one hundred seventeen souls to me.

  “But then, someone came to the island and stole my power but left me tied to those one hundred seventeen souls.”

  “Samuel, you need to help me out here. Who took that power from you?”

  His face goes ashen, and his lips move, but I can’t hear the words. I drop my face close to his mouth. I have to know who did this to him. Samuel’s eyes roll back in his head, and his voice comes out in a whisper.

  “Congratulations, Callie. You’re the puppet now.”

  THE END

  Dear Reader,

  I had all the questions when I finished this book and I bet you do too.

  What on earth did Samuel mean by the puppet thing?

  How will Callie handle being in charge of the island?

  When on earth will Benny finally kiss her? Spoiler alert—you’ll find out soon.

  If you’re ready to find out what happens next, download here: www.kimberlyloth.com/CircusOfTheDead3

  Book three is probably my favorite one in the series. I do hope you enjoy it.

  I do have one favor to ask. If you loved the book (or even if you didn’t) please leave a review. I know I make a lot of my decisions on what to buy based on reviews, so help me out here, please.

  Also, I hope you all know how much I love y’all. Without you, I wouldn’t be able to have this career.

  XOXO

  Kim

  P.S. Stay in touch!

  Want to discuss my books with other like-minded people? Join my FB group! https://www.facebook.com/groups/KimsBookDragons

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  Want More from Kimberly Loth?

  Kimberly Loth has published several series. Read on for sneak peaks from e
ach one.

  The Dragon Kings: Obsidian

  The Thorn Chronicles: Midnight Angel

  Stella and Sol: God of the Sun

  Sons of the Sand: The Smoking Lamp

  Omega Mu Alpha Brothers: Snowfall and Secrets

  “May I see your tattoo?” Sid asked, startling Aspen.

  “My what?”

  “Your tattoo, the one on your ankle.”

  “Oh, sure.” Until tonight, she’d been super careful about keeping the tat covered. Sid was the first person to see it, and she wanted to show it off a bit.

  He slid onto the floor and pulled her foot into his lap.

  Shivers ran up her spine. He slowly traced the words with his finger and whispered under his breath.

  Aspen’s first instinct was to pull her foot away, but she enjoyed it as much as it tortured her. She bit her lip and waited for him let go. Instead, he adjusted so that he could see her, but he continued to hold her foot in his lap.

  “When did you get this?” he asked.

  “Um, about a month ago. It’s not really a tattoo.”

  He raised his eyebrows.

  “It’s gonna sound crazy, but it’s a dragon marking. It appeared when I touched that black dragon.”

  He let go of her foot, moved onto the couch, and pressed the play button on the remote.

  About halfway through the movie, her eyes refused to stay open. After fighting with them for fifteen minutes, she gave in, allowed them to close, and settled her head into a soft warm pillow.

  Ella shook her awake. “Aspen,” she whispered. “We need to go.”

  “No,” Aspen said and closed her eyes.

  Ella shook Aspen again. “Come on, we’ve got to leave. You can’t stay here.”

  “Yes, she can,” Aspen’s pillow said.

  “I was trying not to wake you up, Sid,” Ella said. “I’m sorry.”

  “No worries.” He brushed hair out of Aspen’s face.

  Aspen shot up, embarrassed. She stumbled around the couch looking for her boots. Ella handed them to her.

  “Here ya go.”

  “Thanks,” Aspen mumbled.

  Aspen fumed. His lap was not where her head should have been.

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  I cleared my throat. Dwayne smiled a wide toothy smile and my father glowered like I’d done something wrong. Which, of course I had, but it would be worth the punishment if I got the answers I needed.

  “Could someone please explain?” There. I asked the question. So out of character for me and yet satisfying in a strange way, like the way I felt when a teacher praised me for a good job. I bit my bottom lip and tasted butterscotch, which was weird because the cake we had, contained nothing of the sort. While I knew asking questions was not an act of disobedience, I also recognized the power in the asking. As if I was taking control, even if that control was small. I took a sip of my water. Father hesitated for a moment and then frowned. He looked up and saw my mother standing in the kitchen, her eyes boring into his. He didn’t look away from her when he answered me.

  “You’ll be marrying Dwayne.”

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  The prince entered and sauntered up the path to the thrones. He didn’t seem awed or nervous of my guards. A little too cocky for my taste.

  He wore white billowy shirts that opened at the neck with a necklace that rested on the hollow of their neckline. It was a simple necklace, with no jewels.

  Just before he reached the stairs to the thrones, he stopped and bowed. The prince rose from his bow and looked at my father.

  “I am High Prince Leo, the fifth son of High King Ajax of Stella. I have come to see if it would be possible to join our kingdoms.”

  His voice was rich and lilting. He had a devastating smile, rich caramel skin, and dark piercing eyes.

  Father glared down at him. That was a bold statement for a prince in foreign territory. “How exactly would we join our kingdoms?”

  His eyes met mine. “Through marriage of course. I have no kingdom of my own. Marriage would create a partnership that I think we have both longed for.”

  I always knew I would have to marry a prince.

  Never had I imagined a barbarian prince would seek my hand.

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  I wrapped a towel around my hair and stomped out to my closet. A light breeze blew across my back. That was odd. I spun around and froze.

  Standing in front of me was the most gorgeous man I’d ever seen. And I’d seen a lot. The man in front of me was exotic. His shaggy black hair fell into his dark eyes with lashes even Nora would envy. A five o’clock shadow covered his jaw. He looked like a rock god.

  My mouth dropped open. Then I remembered I was standing there in nothing but a bra and underwear. I ripped the towel off my head and attempted to cover myself.

  “I’m not wearing any clothes,” I said stupidly.

  He grinned, showing adorable dimples. Then he tugged at the hem of his linen shirt and pulled it over his head, holding it out for me.

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  A knock sounded at my door, and I rushed to put a robe on as I stepped out of the shower. I was running late for dinner and didn’t have time for visitors. My hair dripped down my back, and I shivered when I opened the door.

  Lukas stood there looking scrumptious in jeans and a dark green button down shirt that set off his eyes. If I kept staring, I would officially be late for dinner. I had a hard time asking Lukas to leave. Ever.

  “Hey, Tess, I’m your ride.” He grinned as his gaze swept from my wet hair down to my bare feet.

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  Acknowledgments

  So, I wrote all four books of Circus of the Dead at the same time, so the acknowledgments will be the same for all the books.

  Oh man, this year has been killer and there are so many people to thank for supporting me through it. Because I pretty much wrote the Circus of the Dead this year, I can’t really separate my personal life with the writing of these books.

  First thanks go to Xandi. You’ve been a rock this year. I’m so proud of you and your strength. I know we moved to Idaho to support you but really it was you who carried me. Thanks for being the joy. Love you.

  Will, thank you for not freaking out when I let everything slide. I mean, I know I had a good reason, but still. You’ve stood by me through it all. Thank you.

  Virginia, oh man girl, if I didn’t consider you a sister before this, I certainly do now. Thank you for carrying my pain for me when I couldn’t carry it myself. Love you.

  Mom and Matt, I called and you came without hesitation. Thank you. Love you and your continual belief in me and my talents.

  Tiffany, thank you so much for your early reads and support. I value your opinion so much. Love you.

  Richard, thanks for being an awesome sport. I hope you know how much we love having you as part of our family.

  Amy and family, some tragedies pull families apart and others pull them closer together. We love you. Thank you for everything this year. Love you.

  Nathan, oh man kid, where did you come from? Thanks for coming in and loving us and letting us love you.

  YA Vets, thank you for everything. Seriously.

  Mastermind group, you know who you are. You are my people. Thank you for having my back. Love you.

  Four figs (Wait. I think it’s five now), I know I’ve been quiet this year, but I want you all to know how much I value your support and love.

  Kelley and Suzi, you are the best editors ever. Just saying. Thank you.

  Alerim a
nd Jessica, thanks for the gorgeous artwork and typography. You both are uber talented.

  A.J., we had some good brainstorm sessions together on this book before you passed. Love and miss you terribly. Fly high kiddo.

  Superfans, your unending support means the world. Thanks for waiting patiently for my next series. A special thank-you to all my loyal early readers: Sharon Abrams, Heather Pilgrim, Jennifer McIntosh , Alie Morgan, Laurie Murray, Kelly Lambert Greer, Brandie Gillian, Sara Groenheide, Darcy Whitaker, Ashley Martinez, Veronica McIntyre, Brianna Snowball, Andrea McKay, Denise Austin, Jai Henson , Patti Hays, Erin Holmes, Shannon Williamson,, Shannon Childress , Debbie Alvarado , Heather Price , Andrea Hubler, Dawn Foster, Tera Comer, Brandi Williams, Allie Arana, Leslee Lusk, Gina Johnson, Kristen Rummerfield, Ola Adamska, Hanife Ormerod, Agustina Zanelli, Anne Loshuk, Dora Zeno, Ksandra Wakeman, Stephanie Pittser, Sophie Koufes , Samantha murphy, Ruqayyah Hashmi, Cortnee Hancock, Linda Lutchka , Ainsley Jaymes , Arceli Firage , Ryleigh Jayne , Isis Ray, Kaylee Truax, Caroline Jenkins, Debra Pierce, Catherine Trieu , Tara Wertz, Shelby White, Chris Radentz, Mary Cline, Michelle Scotello, Beverly Laude, Bev Christensen, Zoë Gregory.

  Finally, Readers, thank you for waiting patiently for me to get this finished. I hope you enjoy it.

  As always, I would not be where I am without the grace of God and his never ending influence in my life.

  To show my gratitude for him and all that he does for me, I would like to end this with publicly declaring my faith. Here is my testimony:

  I believe I am daughter of God. He created this amazing universe in which we live and he wants nothing more than for me to be like him. As a parent, he knew I would struggle on this earth. He knew I would fall, but he also knew I would dust myself off and stand back up. Thousands of years ago he sent his firstborn son, Jesus Christ, to earth to die and more importantly, live again, so that I can also live again after I die and be redeemed. His words are written down in the Bible and The Book of Mormon, Another Testament of Jesus Christ. He speaks today through modern day prophets and apostles. He also speaks to all of us through the Holy Ghost. I know that I will be with my family for eternity.