by Candra Kylar
“They changed her”, he said with a stab of pain in his voice.
Even his voice was taken back by what our friend had become. The garden gnome statue of her body had been so bright and cheerful. Dimples herself was a ball of energy that made people smile wherever she went. This version of her was something alien to me. The paint was stripped away from her dress and only her features had been kept. Dark reds in various shades were smeared along her eyes and across her lips, like blood from the maw of a predator. Her arms were covered in purple and green feathers that dragged along the ground as she walked. As she dragged herself. Her features were stoic and her eyes lifeless. Was she under some kind of spell? I squinted to see the small tracking stone which had been attacked at the brim of her hat, right where it met her forehead, danced around with swirls of red paint. Voldini had fashioned her to look like an illegal relic summoned up from a Council vault.
Her hands erupted in giant winds that gushed through the crowd. Some screamed and recoiled while others basked in it. Two kinds of spectators were held together by the same desire for forbidden knowledge just out of their reach. Dimples represented something evil that could be witnessed from a time that had passed. Flames burst out from her feet and covered the ground as she hopped from one space to another, face expressionless, tiny fingers preparing for something bigger. I wasn’t left hanging for long. Arcane fireworks exploded above us and turned into agonizing shapes that would haunt nightmares. All of it was malefic in appearance and disturbing by intention. Voldini had choreographed this. None of this represented the garden gnome I knew so well.
Braeden turned his head away and steadied his jaw. He wasn’t an emotional guy but I could see that it was a struggle not to be upset. He had known Dimples longer than I did and this would hit him harder. The furniture in her small cottage had been crafted by him as a way to vent his frustration. She had reached out to a miserable mender, a werewolf others feared, and befriended him. He must have been frustrated that he couldn’t just jump into the ring and save her with his own powers. His bandage must be more restless than mine. Neither of us had patient wolves inside and our instincts dug at our reason. A small snicker from the front threatened to unleash the wolf I held back. I would claw that laugh off of his mouth. People would understand what it was like to truly be afraid.
Dimples, costumed so darkly with the contrast of those feathers to lighten the effect of her magic visually, was unresponsive to the crowd. It was as if she didn’t see them circled around her. I tried to wave to get her attention but she didn’t notice. Braeden growled openly with a glint of yellow in his eyes. He was going to shift as soon as the performance was over and, thankfully, that would help us. He could scout around like some wild wolf on the outside while I delved deeper into the residential tent. Think of the plan, I reminded myself, focus on getting Dimples out of here without bombarding her with questions. I couldn’t understand why she didn’t resist a bully like Voldini, why she let herself be this kind of spectacle. The Dimples I knew was powerful and defiant.
“My origins were a mystery to me until I came upon this circus”, she said in a neutral voice, “and now I understand just how dangerous I can be. Just what a monster I am. Go home and be lucky that this was your only encounter with me. The elements will continue to scream in my grasp and my own will is all that keeps them from unleashing upon you.”
I couldn’t believe the words coming out of her mouth. Dimples was known to threaten those she didn’t like, mainly Cecilia and always with a sharp wit, but this was different. Her words had extra weight. I covered my ears because I didn’t want to hear the rest, like a child who didn’t want to be lectured by a disappointed parent. Like I had used to do when my father cornered me. Braeden sent more healing energy into me and my heartbeat gave me mercy. I was able breathe without it jumping out of my chest. Dimples was alive and we had confirmed her location. This was progress. Then why didn’t I feel more confident in my plan?
She vanished in a puff of smoke and the crowd screamed. She could be anywhere, watching them, unleashing the full torrent of her powers. Some would go home and have nightmares about the so-called Sinister Statue and the Elder Fae magic emerging tonight. It was already among them without their knowing. I had seen enough evidence to know that a world of practitioners had been working with the illegal magic out of the public eye. Cecilia still carried the scars of that particular possession. Derek Holdrin and Erica had died because of it. Even the ink that was so coveted by vampires had its origin in the Elder Fae. Everything it touched was cursed in some way. I thought of Elizar and the blood he carried that tied him to that fate. No, I couldn’t believe that he was cursed. It was as implausible as Dimples being a malicious danger. The seams just didn’t come together.
“Now’s our time for the second part of the plan”, Braeden helped me up, “and your mother is nowhere in sight. Think she’s off trying to bat her lashes at Voldini?”
“It’s better than outright killing him which is what you had on your mind earlier.”
“Don’t fool anyone with that high horse of yours”, he guided me through the crowd, “you wanted to shift and kill him, too. An alpha can sense the emotions of his pack.”
“I thought I was only a visiting guest of yours. Care to slip outside and turn over? You have a great nose and I want you to sniff out Voldini’s office location”, I kept my voice low so no one could pick up on our conversation.
“On it”, he acknowledged.
We separated there and I snaked my way around the confusing layout of the spectator stands. I knew the opening of the residential tent would be all too obvious but there was no other place to slip in. I could only hope that Elizar had been able to keep his end of the deal and was distracting the circus owner with promises of an investment. The Bottom Run Mill and Haze were making quite a name for themselves in the surrounding area. There was no way that Voldini could have missed learning about ambitious Elizar Andros. Warlocks would have a bond, harnessing that masculine energy, and Elizar was a warlock unmatched. His powers alone would make him a target of interest to the gold-hungry Voldini. I chanced a look up at the balcony and saw the outlines of several men speaking. Investors would all sit together and have a contest on who was the most successful. Luckily, Elizar was a very competitive man.
I took in a deep breath and dipped underneath the heavy curtain that separated the three rings from where the performers lived. No one had paid me much attention and security was surprisingly lax. When there were spells to keep the acts from escaping and enough magic to level the area, there wasn’t much need for muscle. Each of the performers could clearly handle themselves. I took note of the fading light that had filtered through the tent from old fashioned lamps on the ceiling. There was no warm solace for those that made their living being gawked at. It was an open area with only small places being blocked off. It shouldn’t be a problem to locate Dimples. I had pulled out my wand when a presence made itself known beside me. A voice I recognized.
“You shouldn’t be here. Whatever will we do with you?”
Six
I turned quickly and met a pair of hurricane eyes owned by the mysterious Seer Rynna. She was taller now that we both stood on even ground, her features more firm, nothing about her relaxed or at ease. Without her holographic magic transporting me into another world, I could see how very human she was. The only think that remained striking were her eyes. They were a light blue and had a rim around them in a pure gold that was enigmatic. We had lore of angelic beings coming from the spirit world to guide weary travelers to safety, white wings and auras of pure light, and I could see the storm of that otherworldly touch in her eyes. It was amazing to be this close to her. If I smiled, she didn’t deign to offer one in return. Her features remained fixed in place and she was unamused by my presence.
“Vander doesn’t like thieves and has a hefty punishment for them”, she drew in a deep breath, “but I know you’re here for your friend. I saw it in a dream last nigh
t.”
“So you understand why I have to save her.”
Rynna exhaled, “And you must understand why I can’t help you. No one here can.”
“That isn’t the answer I was hoping for”, I looked away from her glowing gaze, “but you must already know that, too. You see everything apparently.”
“Not everything”, she whispered, “I could never be that lucky.”
There was a lot left unsaid in her voice. A sadness tinged on the end of her words and I could tell that she had kept some secrets to herself out of safety. Iverli might have embraced magic since the Elder Fae fell, but it didn’t like anyone who deviated from the accepted norms. With her shifting eyes ringed in gold, Rynna and her psychic talents would be either used for their own greed to gain power or be criminalized. I didn’t need her to explain why she wouldn’t openly turn her back on the circus owner. Then again, she helped Tip escape and try for a better life. I couldn’t believe that the same option wouldn’t be offered to her. Someone with her sight could easily escape anyone who caught onto her.
As much as I wanted to know about her, I knew that I couldn’t waste time. Elizar could be a master of distractions but Vander would catch on eventually. A man didn’t amass that much wealth without being observant. It was likely that Rynna would rat me out the second I left with Dimples so retaliation was also on the table. I just hoped that the retaliation would come on my own turf, in the small town of Crestwood with my friends beside me, so I could really do some damage. I needed an advantage that I didn’t have in this macabre playground. I nonchalantly scanned the inner residential tent to see if I could find a clue to where Dimples was. I could talk my way out of something but that didn’t land me my friend.
“She won’t come with you”, Rynna caught onto my thoughts.
“You sound pretty confident about a person you’ve only know for less than a week”, I huffed.
Rynna caught my gaze again, “I can see beyond simple social engagements. How fascinating that you referred to her as a person.”
“Do you have an argument against that?” I shot back.
She countered, “Not in the slightest. It gives me confirmation of your sincerity and kindness that I was unsure of up until now. I had presumed this was just your way of making a quick buck and doing your job. Investigator, right?”
“Psychic dreams and research? You really have your hand in a lot of pots”, I smiled, insincere though it was, “and it’s ridiculous to call Dimples anything but a person. She’s living, has her own thoughts and loud vocal opinions. She has feelings and attachments. Everything about her makes her a person.”
“Yet you didn’t always feel that way.”
“I’m not here to be mentally probed by you”, I said tersely.
“You’re here for a lost cause”, she sighed, “and your friends are wasting their time helping you. Dimples won’t come. She can’t.”
“Then I’ll ask her myself and see what her answer is. Sorry if I don’t just take the word of a witch I’ve just met”, I brushed off.
Rynna looked surprised, “You think I’m a witch? How narrow your world view must be.”
All of this talking had me nervous. She was stalling for time, I was sure of it, and the movement of curtains to my left told me that I was right. My instincts as an investigator taught me when I was in too deep. Hopefully, Braeden would catch on and come circling back. He had a nose for when one of his pack members, unofficial as my status would be, landed themselves in trouble. I swallowed the panic welling up inside of me and tried not to flinch as the werewolf with the dual-identity stepped forward. Of course she would go with the muscle that she had some kind of power over. He flexed his muscles casually as if to issue a non verbal threat. I got the message loud and clear.
“Stand down, Max, she won’t hurt me”, Rynna said quickly.
The werewolf became uncomfortable and mumbled something under his breath. I could only guess that he was having a dialogue with the other distinct being inside of him. One wanted to follow the command of the stunning sorceress Seer while the other was adverse from playing a follower. Rynna didn’t relax her posture and turned her gaze toward the werewolf. I couldn’t blame him for having his loyalty here. This was possibly the only family that he knew and I was an intruder. I relaxed my own stance a bit and tried to give off a non-threatening vibe. If his inner wolf could be appeased, if just one identity would see me in a safer light, then this wouldn’t turn ugly.
“Tell your brother to stand down”, Rynna ordered, “she is only here to see her friend. The Elder Fae demon.”
“Dimples is not a demon!”, I cried out.
Rynna clocked me with her gaze, “I can see into worlds you could only read about. You may know history by what you were taught but I can walk through it. Some of it may be smudged but I’m smart enough to gather the surrounding clues. She’s a demon.”
“Then clearly you don’t know the same person that I do.”
“It seems that I know her genesis”, Rynna went on, “and that her new vessel has been a discomfort for her. Tell me, while you are galavanting about the world, do you ever think about her limitations? What you can experience that she can’t?”
“No, I…”
“I didn’t think so”, she interrupted, “because those that live with no impairments naturally miss the struggle of others. Call it a fringe benefit which I’m sure you’ve had many of. Dimples isn’t like you. She isn’t like me, she isn’t like Max over there. She’s distinctly her own.”
My cheeks flushed crimson, “I know that!”
“Then you should know that she’s different in a very dangerous way. Her vessel’s limitations are intentional, I surmise, because she could destroy everything in her path if left unbridled. It’s a way of imprisoning herself.”
I choked around the words, “You think Dimples is capable of that cruelty?”
“It’s in her nature”, Rynna answered, “and we are never more than our nature. You know a version of Dimples that has so much locked away. When I delved into her own origins and saw it with my eyes, I knew that I had to tell her. She had a right to the truth. I don’t regret gifting her that revelation.”
“Let me speak to her. Face to face”, I requested.
Rynna remained firm, “I can’t do that. Dimples has her fate entwined with the circus. With us. She’ll die with it.”
“You may have a clear vision of the past…”
“Clearer than you could ever dream of. It taught me enough about the future to make a comfortable prediction. Dimples Honeybell will never be free of Vander Voldini. Her story has an ending and it’s not with you”, Rynna declared.
Werewolf be damned, I wanted to attack the Seer where she stood for saying that. How could she make these enormous leaps about Dimples based solely on her past? I wasn’t buying that she was some dark demonic force. As much as Amaris wasn’t a help in my life, she would have easily caught on that Dimples belonged to the darker side of the spirit world. It was hard to get anything like that past a necromancer with that degree of shrewdness. I wished my sister was here with me because I knew she wouldn’t be shaking in her core. I knew she wouldn’t let emotion get the best of her like it was getting the best of me now. I whispered Ian’s name under my breath hoping, somewhere, that he would hear me. Hoping that he would appear and let the Seer really have it with good verbal dress down.
Rynna could sense my emotions building and it brought her satisfaction. Some prime investigator I was! She could easily handle me without any magic by just hitting the right strings on my heart with enough force. The werewolf moved back and he sniffed the air, catching scent of Braeden no doubt. I at least could believe that Braeden would handle his own in a fight. I had seen him do that first-hand. I steadied myself and felt my muscles clench. Dimples would die with this circus. I would fail her. Rynna would see any action I would take before I actually did it. There was no way around it without her approval.
“I’m not entirel
y unsympathetic to your cause”, she said simply, “so don’t think that I’m doing this to hurt you. Or her. Dimples is no danger to us here and she isn’t being abused. Not like Tippler was.”
“He’s safe and well now”, I said thickly.
“If you have enough alcohol, he’ll be your friend for life”, Rynna clapped her hands together, “so it seems we have a trade off. You now have my best friend and I have yours.”
“Mine was kidnapped.”
“Vander is ruthless when he wants something. He kidnapped me when I was a child”, she confided, “and I didn’t realize that until I was older. I had always assumed I came willingly because of my parents. Of course they would have paid him to take me...but that’s not a story for your ears. I’m afraid you’ll have to leave. Vander has started to notice something is amiss.”
“If you really want to get rid of me, then why don’t you scream for him?”
Rynna widened her eyes, making the gold more pronounced with bits of blue floating inside, “Because I would never subject someone to his wrath. I’ve seen what he does to his enemies and you’ll be lucky not to get caught. Use the back entrance. Before you ask, he keeps Dimples in his personal office. There’s no way you’ll be able to find her without access.”
“You could give me access…”
“I could but I won’t”, she summarized, “he’d punish me in ways that you couldn’t imagine. Some of us have no other place to go. Your friend is now part of that.”
