The Magic Carnival Box Set: Books 1-3

by Trudi Jaye

  “If you wish it, I can bring the boy back to life.”

  “Anything. I would do anything to bring Jimmy back,” whispered Constance.

  “You will all belong to me, until you have paid your debt.” The sea-goddess’s voice rose higher, and her eyes glowed red. “Every single man, woman and child. Is that clear?”

  Constance nodded, swallowing hard. Jimmy’s body felt cold and bony against her side.

  “There are rules you must obey. You cannot break them.”

  “What kind of rules?”

  “If you agree to my proposal, you must convince your group to stay together, Constance. Because if any try to leave before your debt is paid, you will all die the death you were meant to have here.”

  Constance shivered. “And how would we repay our debt?”

  “You will gather blessings for me. Provide Gifts to your fellow man, so that I may reap the reward.” The goddess smiled, her sharp teeth glinting.

  “How do we do that?” Constance frowned. “What kind of gifts?”

  What did that even mean?

  “I will tell you. But first there are other rules you must—”

  A large shape came surging through the water toward them and Constance screamed, thinking it was some new creature of the deep. But it was Sunrise, his face a mask of determination, and his eyes glued on Constance. He grabbed her around the waist and dragged her and Jimmy toward the surface.

  At first Constance fought him, desperate to ask more questions of the goddess, and to seal the pact. For Jimmy’s sake she needed to make the agreement. But his arms were like steel, and she had to keep hold of Jimmy with at least one hand.

  I accept the pact! I accept! She said the words inside her head, desperatedly trying to finish what had been started. She looked back to where the goddess had floated in the sea, but the light was dimmed, and the goddess and her attendants were gone.

  She pounded Sunrise’s arms, trying to make him look at her, to understand they needed to go back. But he ignored her and kept swimming steadfastly toward the surface.

  Eventually Constance stopped struggling against him.

  They burst out onto the surface of the water, and Constance took a gasping breath, not entirely convinced she wasn’t dead.

  Sunrise held her against his chest, keeping them both at the surface by floating on his back. She felt his slow heartbeat against her skin, and clutched Jimmy’s cold unmoving body to her chest.

  “She said…” Constance whispered. “She said she’d save him.”

  “Save who, Constance? Jimmy? No one can save him now,” Sunrise’s voice was bleak.

  “She said she could do it.” Tears leaked out. “But I didn’t make the pact in time.”

  When her breathing and her heartbeat calmed, she managed to look around. The storm was dimming, the clouds breaking up, and the rain easing back. In the distance she saw a shaft of sunlight as a new day started to break over the water.

  The light hit the side of Jimmy’s blue-tinged face. The goddess hadn’t saved him after all. Sunrise’s interuption had ruined everything. Or perhaps it had all just been a drowning-induced dream? She closed her eyes, trying not to let despair overwhelm her.

  Sunrise tightened his arms around her. “We’re alive,” he said, as if they weren’t floating in freezing sea water, far from shore. “That’s all that matters.”

  Constance opened her eyes. “She said she’d save him,” she whispered again.

  “Here,” said Sunrise, ignoring her words. He had let one arm go to grab something beside him in the water. “Hold onto this. It’ll help keep us afloat.” He pushed a broken section of boat toward Constance, his desolate gaze on Jimmy’s body.

  She nodded. Slinging one arm over the timber, she concentrated on keeping hold of Jimmy’s small body with the other. Sunrise had interrupted the sea godess’s blessing, but damned if she was going to let his body sink back into the sea. She tightened her arm on the small boy.

  “Hey,” Jimmy said, his small bony body suddenly squirming in her grip. “Watch it, Constance.”

  Constance recoiled in shock, letting go of Jimmy and their wooden raft at the same time. She slipped back under the water, gulping in sea water and struggling against the downward pull of the current. Strong hands grabbed her yet again, dragging her back up alongside Jimmy, who was now clutching the partial section of boat Sunrise had found.

  Spluttering out sea water, she clung to the timber. “You’re alive,” she whispered. She turned to Sunrise. “He’s alive.”

  “‘Course I am,” scoffed Jimmy. “I’m not scared of a stupid storm.” His eyes were dark and ominous, and reflected the dawn sky.

  Beside her, Sunrise was frozen in shock, his eyes wide. “What happened when you were under the water, Constance?” he asked quietly. “Who said they would save him?”

  Relief flooded her body. “I don’t know who she was. A sea-goddess,” said Constance. “She said she could save Jimmy. I just had to agree…” Was this really the work of the sea-goddess? Or just part of the power the sea goddess had said was gathered in this place? Whatever it was, she was thankful. Tears leaked out and were then whipped away by the wind.

  “What did you agree to?” Sunrise’s voice was soft.

  “Anything,” said Constance, a hint of defiance in her voice. “I said I would do anything she wanted me to, if she would save Jimmy.” Constance clasped the young boy in a tight hug, not wanting to look at Sunrise and see the censure she could hear in his voice. Jimmy was back, that was all that mattered. She felt rather than heard the echo of a satisfied laugh deep down below.

  A wave spashed over them, and Constance looked around, trying to find a landmark. The waves had diminished, and in the distance she saw a white shoreline. Her heart leaped, and she looked again. Yes, definitely a white sandy beach, and not the same one that had hidden a reef for the other survivors. “Over there,” she said breathlessly, pointing toward the shore.

  Sunrise nodded, despite the shadows in his eyes. “We just need to make it to the breakers. They’ll push us to shore after that,” he said moving between them, and starting to kick them all towards the shore.

  “We need to kick as well,” said Constance to Jimmy. “We do our share.” They were both shivering. If nothing else, the movement would keep them warm.

  Constance focused on the strip of white she could see in the distance, and tried to kick, but her heavy skirts made it almost impossible. After a moment’s hesitation, she reached one hand down to the clasp on the back of her skirt, and undid it. Turning and twisting her hips, she managed to slip it off, feeling the material glide down her legs and into the water. Her long cotton underwear couldn’t keep the cold from biting her skin, but at least she wouldn’t be dragged under by the sheer weight of her clothing.

  Constance kicked her legs, lighter now. Their movement toward the shore was slow and cumbersome, despite Sunrise’s assistance. It would take everything they had to make it to shore. She wouldn’t put it past the goddess to save Jimmy, only to drown them all as they tried to make it to shore.

  Constance’s breath came in uneven gasps as the cold water seeped into her body. They were getting closer, but lethargy was crawling into every part of her body. All she wanted to do was sleep. It was just too hard to fight any more.

  The cold of the sea started to seem like a comforting blanket. One of her hands slipped from their piece of wood, and she dipped into the water. The cold hugged her like a warm coat and she sighed out a long breath. Bubbles stroked her face, like the soothing hand of a mother.

  Strong hands came roughly around her body and dragged her back up onto their wooden lifesaver.

  “Don’t you dare give up on me, Constance. You keep kicking, or there will be trouble,” Sunrise growled in her ear.

  Constance let out a hiccupy sob. “I’m so tired, Sunny. I don’t think I can make it. Leave me here, take Jimmy to shore.”

  “We’re almost there. You can make it. You have to make
it. For me.” His breath was warm on her face. She stilled at his words, looking up into his eyes. They were dark and intense, the clear message in them sending warmth through her bones. Constance took another breath.

  She started kicking again. She didn’t know how long it would last, and feared it might not be long at all. But he’d asked her to do it, and she couldn’t let him down. Not without a fight.

  She focused all her thoughts into her body; to holding the float and to kicking her legs. One up, one down. As simple as that. The waves might fight against her, the cold might drag on her, but she could still kick and that was all that mattered.

  Kick. Goddess. Kick. You can’t let us die now. Kick. I’ll keep my promise. Kick. Now you keep yours. Kick. You owe us. Kick. You’re joined to us now. Kick.

  Constance knew she wasn’t making sense, but it didn’t matter. If she was going to go down, she was going to do everything she could think of to fight before she did.

  She was so focused, she didn’t realize when her feet hit sand. It seemed like another obstacle sent to try her and she cried out in anguish against the sea goddess.

  “Calm yourself, Constance. You’re safe. You made it.” Sunrise gasped in a breath beside her, and Jimmy collapsed onto the sand just ahead of her.

  “Wha’?” Constance croaked the word out through cracked lips.

  Sunrise dragged her up the beach, and out of the water, until she was lying on hard sand. The wind whipped around them, and rain threw itself at her body, but she was out of the water.

  Constance wanted to hug the earth to her and never leave this spot. The relief was like a river flowing through her body, making her limp.

  Sunrise kept his arms securely around her. She snuggled into his warmth, not sure if it was because she needed it for survival, or because she couldn’t imagine a life without this man.

  “I have to go back. I have to help them.” Sunrise whispered in her ear. A red glow marked the beginning of the sun’s path up over the water, and the storm had slowed to a mild spattering of rain.

  She looked up into his eyes then out to sea. People floated in the water, some close to shore, others further out. “What makes you think you can save them?” she whispered, her fear overwhelming her concern for the people still out there. “The sea-goddess is the one who can save them.”

  Sunrise pulled himself slowly away. “I have to try, Constance. I can’t just sit back and hope a goddess will save them.” He leaned back in and kissed her quick and hard on the lips. “Take care of them when they get to shore. I need you to be strong for them.”

  She nodded, tears in her eyes. She sniffed and wiped them away. When she looked up again he was already striding out into the sea, his long legs making fast work of the distance.

  Sitting up, Constance saw him reach the first person, the broad Scotsman who just shook his head and waved Sunrise towards Therese and her son who were clutching a barrel just behind him.

  She stood and continued to watch Sunrise, unable to stop worrying about his safety, even knowing his strength. She put one hand up to touch her silver locket, needing to feel the soothing metal in her hand. Her hand found nothing but skin, and for the first time, she realized it was gone. A hiccupy sob escaped. It must have been ripped off while she was in the water. It was the last of her possessions, the one thing that connected her back to her long-dead family. Her hand clenched at her side as she fought not to cry at this latest blow.

  They were alive. That was what mattered. She needed to be strong.

  Her eyes were caught by a movement to one side, and she saw a young child crawling out of the sea, one arm still clutching the buoyant piece of wood that had saved her life. Constance rushed over and helped Therese’s daughter out of the water, murmuring to her, rubbing warmth back into her body.

  “What should we do, Constance?” It was Jimmy, standing just behind her, his hands clasped tightly in front of him. He glanced out to sea where Sunrise was dragging survivors back to land, and then at Constance.

  Constance glanced up from Therese’s daughter to look at Jimmy. She inhaled sharply. In the clear early morning light, his face was plainly visible for the first time. Jimmy’s eyes were all black, the whites gone from the sides, just like the sea-goddess’s had been. He looked eerily similar to the goddess as he stood gazing at Constance with a somber expression, the morning light bathing his face in a silvery glow.

  She swallowed hard, trying to think. What did it mean? Constance shook her head to clear it. For now, they just had to focus on surviving. “We help the people once they’ve made it to shore,” she said. “I need you to run and find us wood to burn. It’ll be wet, but maybe we can start some sort of a fire. If you find anything we could use for shelter, you come and tell me.”

  Jimmy gave one sharp nod and raced off.

  Constance lifted the young girl and carried her up into the sand dunes, away from the worst of the waves and rain. The girl snuggled into Constance’s body and whimpered. Her eyes remained shut to the world around her.

  As she walked, Constance searched the area around her. She spotted two more bodies further north. “My child, I must help the others. You are safe now. I will come back with more people, and we will look after each other. I need you to keep a look out for me.”

  The girl clung to her for a moment longer, and then let Constance go. “Be strong for just a little longer. That’s all, just a little longer,” whispered Constance.

  She raced up the beach, to the first of the bodies. The tall thin man, unmoving except for a slight rise and fall in his chest. Constance knelt next to him, and rubbed his hands. “Come, sir, wake up. You cannot sleep yet. That’s a sure way to die of the cold.” She nudged him with her hand, and he opened his eyes.

  “We survived?” he said, sounding like he had sand in his throat.

  Constance nodded. “And I’ll not let you die now. Come, sit up for me.” She pulled him by the arm, and he came with her, slowly.

  He rubbed his face, and looked out to the sea. “I don’t believe we actually made it out of there.”

  “It does seem miraculous.” Constance pulled him to his feet, and helped him to stand, one arm draped over her shoulders. Slowly they stumbled back down the beach to where Constance had left the little girl on watch.

  Therese had arrived onto the beach with her son, and all three were clutching each other. Constance helped the man to sit down. “Therese. Can you help this gentleman?” she said to Therese. “Mr….?”

  “My name is Mr Patrick Finnegan.”

  “Good to meet you Mr Finnegan. Therese, please take care of Mr Finnegan.”

  Therese’s panicked eyes focused on the man now sitting next to her and she visibly calmed. Her thoughts found a focus, and she breathed easier.

  “Find wood for a fire, and see if any blankets made it to shore from the ship,’ suggested Constance.

  Therese nodded, and stood up. “We’ll see what we can find,” she said shakily.

  Constance strode off down the beach again, combing the dunes for other survivors, trying not to let her gaze turn towards the sea where Sunrise was still swimming. She was shivering, and she couldn’t imagine how cold he must now be, after all this time in the water.

  She wanted to shout and scream at him to come back in, to leave them to their fate. That he was more important to her than any three of these other people. But she knew he wouldn’t come in to her cries, and if she was honest, part of why she loved him was his unselfish focus on the people around him.

  Yes, she admitted it to herself. She loved him.

  He’s the best of all good men, sea-beast. You leave him be.

  The sky was lighter, and the rain had stopped when Constance saw another person collapsed on the beach. One of the brothers they had saved from the sunken ship. He was face down in the sand; the only reason she recognised him was the distinctive pale blue jacket he wore.

  Her steps quickened, and she knelt down beside him. Carefully rolling him over, her breath
sucked in at the pale color of his face. Was he dead? Somehow it seemed worse that he should die after they’d saved him once already. She put her ear to his chest, and felt a faint heartbeat.

  She let out her breath.

  Rolling him onto his side, she tried to make sure his tongue wasn’t blocking his throat. She rubbed his back, to warm him up. He couldn’t die. She wouldn’t let him die. The damn goddess had said none of them would die.

  After a few moments, he started to cough, and then threw up sea water into the sand.

  “That’s it. Get the water out of you. You need to breathe air, not water.”

  He coughed again, this time the sound rasping out of his throat in a painful rattle. His eyes opened, and his gaze locked on Constance’s face. He blinked slowly, his bloodshot eyes dry of moisture.

  “Can you stand?” asked Constance. “We should get back to everyone else.”

  He nodded, but didn’t speak, and then lifted himself onto his elbows. His face contorted in pain.

  Constance helped him sit up, and then pulled him to his feet. He was shorter than she was, his slight frame making it easier to half-carry him along the beach.

  When they arrived back to the others, she discovered a larger group, some sitting and shivering, and others moving around, trying to find wood to burn, or other useful objects. They hadn’t found sufficient to warm them, let alone keep them alive, despite the last of the storm dying out with the rising sun.

  Constance gazed up the beach, north of their position, and in the opposite direction to her previous searches. There was a large rocky barrier between the bay they had landed in, and whatever was northward. She thought of the well-stocked boats that had left the ship. They might have smashed over the black rocks, but some of the debris could have made it to the beach beyond. Maybe the rocky outcrop in the distance was hiding the kind of supplies that might just save them.

  A young face appeared over the dune behind her, his arms full of driftwood and other things to burn. Jimmy.

  “I’m going to look over there,” she said to him, pointing. “Tell Sunrise when he returns.”