The Magic Carnival Box Set: Books 1-3

by Trudi Jaye

  Maddy.

  Garth looked down at her achingly familiar face. They were still connected, but it was now a two-way bond. He’d never experienced anything like it. He was used to being the interloper, the listener, the peeping Tom. Now she was inside his head; he was so close to her he could feel every breath coming in and out of her body, every pumping millilitre of her blood.

  He felt the Gift slip away, and his eyes returned to their usual color, even as Maddy watched. Her eyes were filled with wonder, but her gaze was steady on his face, her expression quiet.

  He smiled down at her, lifting a hand to her hair. “I love you,” he said.

  “Garth!” He jumped and turned to see Simon running into the backstage area. Garth and Maddy drew him into a tight hug.

  “I’m sorry, Garth. I’m so sorry,” said Simon. “I didn’t know.”

  Garth’s heart thumped in his chest. “It’s not your fault, Simon.”

  Milton entered the room next, holding up Hugo on one side with the help of one of the stage crew on the other. The blood from Milton’s wound had dried, and he seemed to be moving easily as he half dragged Hugo to the seats. “We need to get him some help. I don’t know if he’s going to make it.”

  Maddy moved over to kneel beside Hugo. She lifted up his shirt and examined the wound. “It’s pretty bad. He needs a hospital.”

  Simon paled but took a deep breath and shook his head. “I can fix it. I’ll use blood magic.”

  Milton put a hand on Simon’s shoulder. “No, boy, that’s not the way to do it. You need to use your blessing magic.”

  “I don’t know how…” Simon trailed off. For a moment, his expression turned blank, and then he blinked. “It just talked to me. The Carnival told me to give it a try.”

  “The Carnival? It talked to you?” Garth blinked in surprise.

  Simon nodded, the awe still on his face.

  Garth grinned. “Then you’re definitely part of my family. Now do as the Carnival says.”

  Simon took a breath and put one hand on his father’s side where the wound had appeared. He closed his eyes and concentrated. Nothing happened at first, but then slowly, the wound started to close. The blood dried up, and Hugo’s breathing became measured.

  “Good lad,” said Milton, clapping a hand on Simon’s back. “Looks like I owe you an apology. I was wrong about the Carnival throwing you out. It wasn’t why I was brought back.”

  Simon just nodded, his eyes large, not quite trusting Milton’s words.

  “What are we going to do with him?” asked Blago, nodding at the still unconscious Hugo. “He’ll just keep coming back at us. We can’t always be on high alert.”

  Milton shook his head. “Don’t worry. What he did, stealing the Giftmaster bond, using curse magic through it… He’s connected himself to the Carnival now, and that’s pretty much a one-way ticket to Carnival justice. That’s why the Carnival brought me back. It knew I could save Garth.”

  “You used curse magic?” said Blago, his expression appalled.

  Milton nodded. “I tried to at least—Abba stopped me before I could do it. I was desperate and not thinking straight. After that, the Carnival began cutting off my memory.”

  “Why didn’t it just throw you out?” Garth asked.

  “I didn’t actually do the curse magic. And I like to think the Carnival knew how much I was hurting and showed a little bit of compassion,” said Milton softly. “It tried to fix the hurt the only way it knew how—by helping me forget. I’d say the chances are high that Hugo will wake up with a bit of a headache and not much of a recollection of who he is and how he got here.”

  “Do you think he’ll go back to how he used to be?” Simon’s voice was hopeful.

  Garth looked down at him. “I’m sorry, Simon, I don’t think so.”

  Simon stared at his father’s unconscious body. “He tried to stab me up there. He was going to kill me to get more power to win against you. I don’t think I can forgive him for that.”

  Maddy put her arms around his shoulders, and he began to shake, big gasping sobs coming out of his small frame. “It’s okay, Simon,” she soothed, even though it really wasn’t. The poor kid had been through more than anyone should have to deal with in a lifetime, let alone before the age of thirteen.

  At that moment, someone else burst through the entranceway. Pale faced and bruised, Missy limped into the room. Behind her, Henry carried Lucietta. Her body was limp, blood staining her clothes and dripping from her body.

  “What happened to my sister?” Blago’s harsh words split the sudden silence.

  Missy turned to Blago and visibly paled. “She came at me with her knife. I couldn’t control it. I… I stabbed her.” She sat down heavily on one of the chairs and put her face into her hands.

  Maddy raced to Lucietta, where Henry had carefully placed her on the ground. She felt for a pulse at her neck, once, twice, then slowly pulled her hand back. “There’s no pulse,” she said softly.

  CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO

  “Get her out of here,” roared Blago. “She killed my sister.”

  Garth eyed Blago’s distressed expression and decided retreat was the best option for now. He and Maddy helped Missy up, assisting her walk out into the dark night, away from Blago’s wrath. They had to step carefully on the slippery surface, the only light the sliver of moon over their heads.

  “It wasn’t your fault,” said Maddy, her arm around Missy’s waist, keeping her moving forward. “Lucietta wasn’t thinking straight.”

  Missy dragged in a deep breath. “I never said it was my fault. She had it coming. I just wish it wasn’t me that had to do it.”

  Garth watched Missy closely, trying to figure out what to say to her. She never reacted well to compassion; it was too much like pity in her book. “Did she get you with the knife?” he asked quietly.

  Missy shook her head. “Just some really good kicks and punches when we were fighting. If Maddy hadn’t come along with the foam when she did…” She let her words trail off. She glanced at Maddy. “Thanks.”

  Maddy smiled and nodded. “No worries.”

  They turned the corner of the tent and almost barrelled into Jack, his arm in a bandage, a gash and a bruise forming on his face. “What happened? Is everyone okay?”

  There was silence, and then Garth leaped in. “We’re all fine. Hugo was knocked out. Lucietta… didn’t make it.”

  Jack’s eyes widened, and then he breathed out. “Have you seen my dad?”

  Garth nodded toward the backstage. “Back there. He’s pretty upset.”

  Jack nodded. He put one hand into his pocket and pulled out his keys, throwing them to Garth. “The Jeep’s over there. Get these two home and tucked up in bed. I’ll see to everything here.” Jack rushed off to deal with the fallout.

  They all watched him go silently, and then Missy spoke. “Why didn’t you tell him I killed her?”

  “It’s not important who did it. She was trying to harm the Carnival. That’s all that matters,” said Garth.

  “She was his aunt. He’s going to hate me.” Missy’s words were so soft Garth almost didn’t catch them.

  ***

  Maddy snuggled deeper into the blanket that was pulled tightly around her. It didn’t feel like she’d ever get warm again, even now that she knew she was safe. A mug of hot chocolate sat on the table next to her, and she gazed out over the ice from the warmth of Garth’s covered veranda. In the distance, the Carnival’s big top looked small in the midday winter sunlight. No hint of the drama from the night before showed on the outside.

  “You feel any better?” asked Garth from behind her.

  She turned and smiled as he edged his way through the doorway with a food tray. “I’m fine. Just tired.”

  He set down the tray laden with freshly made sandwiches piled on three plates.

  “Simon’s just coming. He was up visiting Alathea.”

  “The doctor said everything was okay?”

  Garth nodded. “J
ust redid his cast and put some bandages over the cuts. Suggested counseling.”

  Maddy paused in sipping her drink. “That’s probably a good idea.” She set the mug down again and reached for Garth’s hand.

  “Milton’s still okay. He hasn’t started forgetting anything yet.” Garth’s voice was soft, and Maddy squeezed his fingers, knowing how hard it was for him.

  “Maybe he won’t go back under?” She hardly dared to suggest it, but the idea had been playing at the back of her mind since they’d woken up this morning to the sound of Milton’s whistling in the kitchen.

  “I don’t know. Hugo’s gone. They took him while you were sleeping.”

  Maddy nodded.

  The rest home had been happy to take Hugo short term, given his catatonic state. The police were waiting to see whether he recovered before they decided how to proceed with his charges.

  “How was Simon?”

  “It was rough, but Hugo broke all ties when he tried to kill him. I don’t think he can ever make up for that.”

  A loud banging from inside the house heralded the entrance of Simon, back on his crutches, into the room. “Hey, guys. Milton said you were out here. Oh, yum, lunch.” Simon grabbed a sandwich off the plate and took a huge bite.

  “Did you talk to Rilla and Jack?” Garth asked.

  Simon nodded. “They said when my dad took your power, he drew not only himself, but me into the Carnival as well. I’m officially a bonded member.”

  He grinned, but Maddy saw the recent hurt clearly in his eyes. She reached out with her other hand and took hold of Simon’s. “We’re both new members, Si. We can work it out together.”

  “Rilla said it was only because of the Carnival bond he formed that they survived the explosion. The Carnival warned her and Jack just in time to get out. Otherwise, his plan would have worked.”

  Maddy nodded. They’d learned from Rilla what had happened after they’d left. He’d been the cause of his own downfall. Not that it hadn’t been without injuries; Jack had been closest to the explosion and had fractured his wrist and been bruised and bumped.

  Both Ringmasters were spitting mad at Hugo, but luckily everyone had been able to convince them that Simon had nothing to do with his father’s actions.

  “What’s this? A meeting of the Giftmaster clan?” Milton’s jovial voice made them all turn to the door. He stood big and strong, his grin as cheeky as it must have been all those years ago when he was in his prime. It made Maddy want to cry all over again when she remembered that he might deteriorate back into the shell of a man he’d been when they first met. But if he could ignore it, then so could she.

  “I’m not part of the clan,” said Simon softly.

  “Sure you are, son. Your dad made sure of that when he linked himself to the Carnival. You’re a Giftmaster now, through and through.”

  Garth put one hand on Simon’s head. “You can even live with us.”

  “You and Milton?” Simon looked at Milton with caution in his eyes.

  Garth shook his head, chuckling. “No. Me and Maddy.”

  Simon looked from Garth to Maddy and back again. He nodded solemnly. “I’d like that,” he said.

  Maddy looked over at Garth and her heart expanded. He tightened his grip on her hand, and she leaned her head on his shoulder.

  “I love you, too,” she whispered.

  THE END

  Tilly’s Secret

  The Magic Carnival Series, Book Three

  CHAPTER ONE

  “I don’t think I can do it,” whispered Tilly into the phone. A pulse of pain went through her body, and she rolled her shoulders, trying to ignore it.

  “There’s no choice, Tilly. You have to do it. They’re threatening your sister.” Her mother’s voice was calm, emotionless. Goose bumps rose up along Tilly’s arms, despite the warmth of her winter jacket. Her mother was smart and knew the right buttons to push, even if she didn’t feel emotion the same way everyone else did.

  “They’re my friends,” she tried again. Another pulse of pain, stronger this time.

  “And I’m your mother. Kitten is your sister.” This time there was a touch of impatience in her mother’s voice. “You don’t even have to do anything but watch them and find out what’s happening.” She paused. “Veronica is being very lenient, considering.”

  Her mother liked the façade of pretending she was convincing Tilly to help, but Tilly knew the consequences—both for herself and for Kitten—if she didn’t agree. She clenched her hand around the phone, wishing she could just say no. That she could tell her mother to do her own damn spying. At one time, she would have done just that.

  But not anymore.

  Tilly shivered and stood from the park bench in Madison’s town square. She kicked a stone and it bounced into the memorial bronze statue of the town’s founder, Alexander Madison III. Despite the silly knitted winter hat someone had put on his head, he looked sternly down at her like he knew she was planning something bad.

  He was right. She’d already made the decision, already traveled the thousands of miles from Las Vegas up to Madison, the town where the Carnival Compound was located. And in her heart of hearts, she admitted it wasn’t just because her mother and her mother’s buddy Veronica were making her come back here to spy on the Carnival.

  She wanted to see it again, to feel the pulse of Carnival magic in her veins. She wanted to be around the people she’d loved when she was growing up and to feel the warmth of the connection to the Carnival itself.

  Tilly clamped down on her wistful memories. Holding her rebellious thoughts to herself was an old habit; she was fairly certain Veronica Snow, the big boss of the circus in L.A., where her mother lived, couldn’t sense what she was thinking all the way in Madison.

  But she did it just the same.

  Veronica was a powerful curse talent who used her persuasive personality to fiercely control every member of her troupe. Some people—like Tilly—were naturally immune to the intrusive mind-bending, but Veronica didn’t need to control Tilly to read her surface thoughts. It was why Veronica was always one step ahead of everyone around her. Tilly’s mother Daphne thought Veronica was going to take over the world, and Tilly had to agree. The woman was a force to be reckoned with.

  The last time Tilly had run from the compound, Veronica had been the one to decide her punishment when they’d found her again. The physical pain she now felt every time she tried to oppose her mother’s suggestions or Veronica’s orders was just one part of the curse magic they’d used on her.

  She sighed into the phone. “I’ll text you when I know something more.”

  “Thank you, darling. You won’t regret it.” The line went dead and the pain slicing through Tilly’s body disappeared.

  Her heart racing, Tilly dialed another number.

  He answered on the first ring. “Garth here.”

  “Hey, Garth, it’s Tilly.” Garth had been one of her best friends when they were kids, and she’d helped him out a couple times recently. She was relying on him welcoming her into the Carnival.

  “Tilly! Hey, great to hear from you.” He waited for a response, and when none came, he asked, “Is everything okay?”

  Aside from the fact that I’m working for the very people who’ve been trying to destroy the Carnival for the last five years?

  “Uh, no. I… uh… Why do you ask?” Tilly’s already racing heart leaped into her throat. He knew.

  “You don’t normally ring me. And last time we spoke…”

  Tilly took a deep breath. That had been a massive gamble on her part. Maybe living in Vegas had gotten to her more than she’d realized. The phone number she’d given Garth when he’d been trying to locate Frankie had been one she shouldn’t have known. It gave away certain things about her, about what she knew. She’d been picking sides when she really didn’t have a choice to make. But the mind-numbing pain she’d experienced afterward had been worth it.

  “Everything’s fine. But do you remember what yo
u said about me coming to visit?” She held her breath for a moment. This was it, the moment of truth.

  “Of course I do.” Garth’s voice was warm and gentle, and Tilly let herself pretend for a tiny sliver of time that this was real and she was just asking a favor from an old friend.

  She let out her breath. “I’m here. In Madison.”

  “You’re here? What happened?”

  “I…” Tilly struggled to think of a line that would work. “I got fired from my job.”

  “You know you’re always welcome here, Tilly. I have a full house at the moment, but we’ll find somewhere for you to stay.”

  Tilly cleared her throat. “I came on the bus. I was hoping someone could pick me up?”

  Garth paused. “I can’t get into town right now—I’m heading off to a meeting of the Nine—but I’ll see who’s around and get someone to pick you up. Give me five minutes and I’ll call you back.” She could hear in his voice that Garth was smiling.

  If only he knew.

  “That would be great. Thanks, Garth.” Tilly’s hand shook as she held her phone. She kicked a lump of melting snow near the statue.

  The first step was done. She was in.

  CHAPTER TWO

  Ten minutes later, Tilly was reluctantly walking toward the only catering and function venue in Madison: a fancy old Victorian-era house that had been remodeled to suit corporate events and weddings, with its intricately restored high-ceilinged rooms and the beautifully maintained gardens.

  Her backpack was heavy, it was cold, and she would have killed for a hot drink. Added to that, Garth had arranged for her to catch a ride with the one person from the Carnival she’d been dreading seeing again.

  When she finally arrived, it was so cold her eyebrows and lashes were frozen over. She headed around the back of the massive house, where the delivery trucks were backed up. Straightaway, she saw the brightly colored red-and-white Carnival van that was used for deliveries.