Charmed: The Gypsy Enchantment

by Carla Jablonski

  “Ivan told my sister about Gypsy folklore,” Piper explained. She wanted to give Olga the impression that she didn’t believe in the Romany ruby. “And my sister told us. I’ve told Jenny she shouldn’t believe such nonsense.”

  “You did not!” Jenny protested.

  “Who is your sister?” Olga asked. “Is she with the carnival?”

  “Oh, no,” Piper said. “Prue’s a photographer, and she’s here doing a story about the carnival. We just tagged along.”

  That reminded her that she should see if Phoebe had come up with anything. “In fact, we should get going. Phoebe will probably be looking for us.”

  “I thought you said her name was Prue,” Olga asked, puzzled.

  “That’s my other sister,” Piper explained.

  “There are three of them,” Jenny said. “I’ll bet that’s lucky, isn’t it?”

  Something about Olga’s smile looked false to Piper. Of course, that could be because she was still disturbed that Ivan had revealed some Gypsy secrets to outsiders.

  “Three is always lucky,” Olga said to Jenny. Then she locked eyes with Piper. “But why don’t you heed my warnings? Have I not told you there is danger here? Stay away from Ivan. He has a dark sign upon him and will bring only harm to those near him.”

  CHAPTER

  9

  Jenny turned saucer-size eyes on Piper. “We have to warn Prue!” she exclaimed. She turned back to Olga. “Piper’s sister has a big crush on Ivan,” she explained.

  Piper was pretty certain Prue wouldn’t want her personal life broadcast at the circus. “Prue can take care of herself,” Piper assured Jenny.

  Then a thought occurred to her. What if Ivan strangled her because she was trying to save Prue from him? Were any of them safe at the circus?

  She decided to question Olga. She wasn’t sure if Olga was truly magical or simply a good actress and con artist. But she might have information about Ivan. And if she really was a shuvani—Gypsy witch—then her powers might be just the thing they needed to vanquish Ivan. On the other hand, Olga seemed to be afraid of the handsome violinist. She might not want to get involved. Then Piper would have blown her cover for nothing.

  She at least had to pump Olga for info. Only how could she do that with Jenny there?

  Before Piper could figure out what to do, a trio of giggling teenage girls burst in. “We want our fortunes told,” a tall redhead demanded.

  “I don’t,” a spiky-haired girl declared. “I want to hear yours.”

  “Olga will take care of you all,” the fortune-teller said. “First we must clear the room and the energy fields.”

  I can take a hint, Piper thought. That’s our cue to leave.

  “Thanks for everything,” Piper said.

  “But we didn’t get the love knots,” Jenny complained.

  “I don’t think we need any of those,” Piper said.

  “Are we going to warn Prue about Ivan?” Jenny asked.

  “I—I don’t think that’s really necessary,” Piper replied. “I think Olga has a vivid imagination.” She didn’t want Jenny asking too many questions about occult goings-on. The subject hit too close to home.

  “So what are we going to do now?” Jenny asked.

  “Find Phoebe and go to the performance in the tent,” Piper said.

  They wandered the midway looking for Phoebe. Piper hoped Phoebe was having better luck getting information than she’d had.

  Jenny had perked up, Piper was pleased to notice. She must have given up on the idea that the carnival was for babies. Without having to prove that she was a sophisticated lady to her uncle Dan, Jenny could relax into being the fun-loving twelve-year-old she actually was. Jenny played every single game along the midway, and then they ate almost every junk food snack that was offered for sale. Jenny was oblivious to the sense of danger lurking just on the outskirts. All the time, though, Piper couldn’t shake the creepy feeling that they were being watched. Were Piper’s fears real or imagined? Hard to say, but in her experience she had learned to trust her demon radar.

  “Missy!” someone called. Piper turned around and came face-to-face with Raphael. Luckily he was minus his snake. His bad breath and sweaty body odor hadn’t disappeared, however.

  “I was trying to place you and your young friend,” Raphael said, gesturing to Jenny, who was at a nearby booth. She was shooting a stream of water into a fish bowl, trying to win a prize. “Then I remembered! You were with my dear Phoebe yesterday.”

  Could Raphael have been the person following us? Piper wondered. That would be a relief, since she had a feeling his only interest in the Halliwells was limited to her younger sister. His intentions toward her may not be exactly angelic, but they certainly wouldn’t qualify as demonic.

  “That’s right,” Piper replied. “She’s my sister.”

  “I should have known. Good looks run in families.” He flashed a grin at her.

  Doesn’t the circus have a dental plan? Piper wondered, trying not to stare at his gold tooth. He could sure use it.

  Jenny finished her game and joined Piper and Raphael. “Look what I won!” She held up a stuffed purple fish.

  “Good for you!” Piper said.

  “I was just saying to your friend here,” Raphael told Jenny, “that I’ve been looking for that lovely Phoebe, but she seems to have given me the slip.”

  Piper bit her lip. I’m not surprised, she thought.

  “We were looking for her, too,” Jenny said. “We haven’t seen her anywhere.”

  “We’ll tell her you’re looking for her,” Piper added. “Right now, though, we have to be somewhere.” She didn’t want Raphael to try to tag along.

  “Good luck,” Jenny called. She and Piper hurried away from Raphael along the midway.

  Jenny started giggling. “He’s pretty gross, isn’t he? But he seems nice.”

  “But definitely not Phoebe’s type,” Piper said.

  “Definitely not,” Jenny agreed. “I wonder whose type he would be?”

  Piper shook her head. “I’m not sure.” She grinned. “His snake, Isabella, seems very fond of him.”

  Phoebe darted out from between a lemonade stand and a guess-your-weight booth. “There you are,” she said. She gave a quick glance around. “Ralphie-boy isn’t here, is he?”

  “No, we left him back by the fish fight booth,” Piper reported.

  “Good. Uh, Jenny, would you mind getting me some caramel popcorn? I have a total craving. I saw a stand a few booths back.”

  “Sure! Can I have some, too?”

  “Of course, my treat,” Phoebe said. She handed Jenny some bills and pointed out the booth. It had a long line in front of it.

  “Be back in a minute. Want any, Piper?” she asked.

  Piper patted her stomach. “One more bite of junk food and I think my teeth will crack and my stomach will explode.”

  “Okay.” Jenny dashed to the booth and stood in line.

  “I’ll make this quick,” Phoebe said, her voice low. “I don’t want Jenny to overhear.”

  “You found out something?”

  “Not exactly. But I think I know how to get some information. I have a plan. Meet me at Ivan’s trailer at exactly seven forty-five. Only make sure no one notices you.”

  “What do I do with Jenny?” Piper asked. “She’s my responsibility.”

  Phoebe’s brow crinkled. “I don’t know. Think of something.”

  Piper noticed Phoebe’s eyes focus on something just beyond her. Her face registered dismay. “Uh-oh,” Phoebe said. “Raphael sighting at ten o’clock. Gotta go. Now, don’t forget. Lose Jenny. And be there!”

  Piper watched Phoebe race away. She dashed up to Jenny, who had finally made it to the front of the line. Piper watched as Jenny purchased the caramel popcorn and handed one box to Phoebe. Then Phoebe took off at a quick clip.

  “Was that Phoebe?” Raphael asked as he jogged up to Piper. “Ah, well. Just my luck. You’d think Ivan’s curse had rubbed off
on me. I’m having no luck with women.”

  “Is Ivan’s curse about women?” Piper asked.

  “What?” Raphael asked, confused. “Oh, no, no. He’s just been having a run of bad luck. Although I believe he’s unlucky in love right now. Make that, his lady friend is the one who is unlucky.”

  Before Piper could ask anything else, Jenny returned. She offered the caramel popcorn to Piper and Raphael, who both turned it down.

  “So should we head for the tent?” Jenny asked.

  Piper checked her watch. “Sure. We’re early, but there’s always a clown show before it begins.”

  They walked to the tent. The whole time Piper wondered how she could slip away from Jenny and what Phoebe’s plan might be.

  Phoebe checked her watch again. It was 7:40:12—which made it twelve seconds later than the last time she’d checked her watch.

  Phoebe hoped that Ivan really was as habitual as his fellow performers had claimed. While Phoebe was dodging Raphael, she had managed to ask the performers living in the trailers near Ivan a few questions. What each of them told her was that Ivan left for the first of the evening performances at precisely 7:50. Not a minute sooner, not a minute later. You could set a clock by him, Giorgio the acrobat had told her. His trailer was right next door, so he should know.

  Phoebe peered out of her hiding place in the bushes beside Ivan’s trailer. Is this a mistake? she wondered. Maybe I shouldn’t be bringing Piper into his clutches. Could I actually be making the vision come true?

  Not possible, Phoebe reminded herself. Ivan will be off to the tent, safely onstage. If worse comes to worst, Piper can freeze him. And if he doesn’t freeze, well, that would put Piper in danger, but it certainly would be proof that he isn’t human.

  Stay calm, Phoebe ordered herself. It’s not going to play that way. He’ll be out of the trailer and occupied at the tent. It will work out fine.

  She spotted a figure sneaking toward her along the bushes: Piper. Phoebe popped up and waved her over. Piper crawled into the bushes beside her.

  “Did you have trouble getting away from Jenny?” Phoebe whispered.

  Piper shook her head. “The clowns were doing shtick and I told her I had to find a bathroom. I made her vow to stay put—which I knew wouldn’t be a problem since she was deeply mesmerized by the performance.”

  “That’s good. And she should be perfectly fine surrounded by the audience. It’s not as if she’s walking around by herself.”

  “I hope.” Piper frowned. “I’m not very comfortable with this. How long will your plan take?”

  Phoebe shook her head. “Don’t know. How long do you think you can stay gone before Jenny comes looking for you?”

  “Well, I don’t know if anything would tear her away—particularly once Ivan starts performing. Besides, I told her I was going to search for a real bathroom instead of those port-o-potties. She agrees that they’re gross, so it seemed a legit excuse.”

  Phoebe nodded. “Good one.”

  “So are you going to tell me the plan or are you going to make me guess?”

  “Here goes.” Phoebe explained about Ivan’s obsessive punctuality. “The moment Ivan steps out of the trailer you freeze time just long enough for me to sneak inside. Once I’m in, unfreeze him. He’ll lock the door and go on his merry way.”

  “And what will this accomplish?” Piper asked. “Prue already searched the trailer and came up empty.”

  “I’m really hoping that by handling Ivan’s belongings I can have a vision,” Phoebe explained. “A more helpful one. Or at least get a better idea of what is going on with him.”

  “Makes sense,” Piper said.

  “Okay, but you have to promise to keep out of Ivan’s sight,” Phoebe ordered. “I don’t want you to risk making my vision come true.”

  “Deal,” Piper agreed.

  Phoebe was surprised that her sister didn’t object to the breaking-and-entering portion of this plan. Usually Piper was strict about not using their magic in ways that might be frowned upon from a legal perspective. Then again, it was Piper being strangled in the vision. That future was something her sister would really like to cancel out. Phoebe figured Piper was as eager as she—no, make that more eager—to get to the bottom of this little supernatural mystery.

  “There he is,” Phoebe whispered. She glanced at her watch. The time was 7:45:00 exactly.

  Piper gestured at Ivan, freezing him midstep.

  “Well, at least we know he’s human,” Piper commented.

  “You didn’t leave me much room to slip by him,” Phoebe complained.

  “Good thing you’re so fit and trim,” Piper replied. “Go. Get. I need to get back to Jenny.”

  “Okie-dokie. But stay hidden.”

  “Of course. Now, scoot.”

  Phoebe crossed her fingers. “Send me visions luck,” she said.

  Piper crossed her fingers, then said, “Go. Before he unfreezes all on his own.”

  Phoebe clambered out of the bushes and raced toward Ivan’s trailer. “Keep your paws off Piper,” she snarled at the frozen man. She squeezed past him. “Hmm. Really glad I didn’t have that second helping of fries at lunch,” she commented. Then she waved at Piper and stepped into the trailer. Peering through a window, she watched Ivan suddenly come back to life.

  She ducked below the window so she wouldn’t risk being seen. Just in case he glanced back, Phoebe stepped into the tiny bathroom and behind the shower curtain. She didn’t want him to see a shadow or movement of any kind.

  She counted to one hundred before reaching for the shower curtain. She froze.

  She heard the extremely recognizable sound of a key being turned in the lock!

  CHAPTER

  10

  Phoebe froze in the shower. Luckily, she was able to squeeze behind the shower curtain completely.

  Please don’t come into the bathroom, she thought. Was there some kind of don’t-come-in-here spell? She decided not to risk trying to create one. If it didn’t work, even a whispered chant would probably grab Ivan’s attention and lead him straight to her.

  Phoebe frantically tried to come up with possible excuses if Ivan came in, but since she couldn’t think of a single one, she just crossed her fingers for luck and hoped for the best.

  She listened intently. She could hear that he was coming closer . . . closer . . .

  Oh, no! He’d walked right into the bathroom! She could hear the medicine cabinet swing open. She shut her eyes. I can’t catch a break tonight! Uh-oh. If I hope he doesn’t decide to shower, that’s probably exactly what he’ll do. Things just seem to be going against me.

  Phoebe tried to breathe as silently as she could. She dared not ruffle the shower curtain with any stray movement or even the slightest current of air. She knew the medicine cabinet reflected her hiding place. Ivan would be sure to notice.

  She could hear Ivan brushing his teeth. No wonder he has such pearly whites—he probably flosses, too! Why did he have to have such good dental hygiene? Finally, he rinsed and spit. Even a guy as handsome as Ivan couldn’t make spitting sound like anything but spitting, Phoebe observed. Then, to Phoebe’s great relief, Ivan left the trailer one more time.

  I really hope he’s done for a while. This was something of a departure from his ordinary schedule, she realized. Maybe the bad luck mojo is rattling his nerves and throwing off his routine.

  Once she felt sure Ivan wouldn’t be back, Phoebe climbed out of the shower. She picked up his toothbrush since that had been the most recent object her subject had touched.

  Nothing.

  Phoebe stepped out of the bathroom and glanced around. What would be the most likely object to trigger a vision? She was still working on calling up the visions by her own will. She ran her fingers through scarves dangling from a clothing hook. She even lay on Ivan’s bed, spreading her arms wide. She knelt on the bed and held the pillow on her lap.

  Nothing.

  Now Phoebe began to pace. She wasn’t sure ho
w long she should risk being in Ivan’s trailer. What if someone noticed her moving around inside? Luckily Ivan had left a few lights on so she wasn’t stumbling around in the dark. But her silhouette might be visible from outside. She needed to hurry.

  Photographs—nothing. Books—nothing. Shoes—nothing. Nothing nothing nothing!

  This is so frustrating! Phoebe snatched up a hairbrush from the dresser and smacked it against her hands.

  She was immediately engulfed in flames.

  The heat was unbearable. Red-and-golden flames licked all around her, singeing her flesh. She could practically smell her hair burning. In horror, she threw up her hands and crumpled to the floor. The hairbrush clattered a few feet away.

  These branches sure are scratchy, Piper thought. She sat in the bushes, staring at Ivan’s trailer, wondering what Phoebe might find.

  It seemed pretty unlikely that Prue would have a crush on a demon. That seems to be more my territory, Piper thought ruefully. I’m the one with the lousy track record.

  Not that her track record was much better with nondemons. The whole Dan and Leo situation wasn’t her most shining hour. She had truly done the best she could to spare everyone’s feelings, and of course everyone had suffered—at least a little bit, anyway.

  Even Jenny was affected by our breakup, Piper thought. I hadn’t added that into the equation of disappointment. Well, there was nothing she could do about that. Pleasing twelve-year-olds isn’t exactly a reason to have a relationship.

  Piper shifted restlessly. She didn’t like leaving Jenny alone for very long. The girl was her responsibility, and there might be a demon running around. She knew Jenny wouldn’t budge from her seat—she’d be too riveted by the show. She should be perfectly safe sitting in the audience. Still . . .

  But Piper also couldn’t leave Phoebe without a lookout. Of course, they had neglected to come up with any kind of signal to let Phoebe know if anyone was coming. Well, Piper would have to freeze them, dash in and grab Phoebe, and then book it out of there.