by Sarah Noffke
“Why? What’s the big deal?”
“Finley, a curse at the very least will steal years off your life as the caster, but if you don’t do it the right way it also has the power to kill you.”
Chapter Sixty-Two
For a whole week the Vagabond Circus members did something they had rarely done. They kept their heads down and their mouths shut. There were whispered conversations in private. Zuma spent a lot of time in other people’s heads, relaying information. And she was rarely allowed to be alone, especially since too often Sebastian could be found in the shadows watching her, waiting for his turn. Finley could usually be found somewhere in the distance watching the girl he couldn’t have, but could protect. And when he wasn’t protecting her, he was by Knight’s side doing an impeccable job of acting in the ringmaster’s prescribed manner. Finley was the model son, doing everything his father asked, and usually anticipating his requests.
Knight had finally done it, he thought, and in a shorter amount of time than he believed it would take. He had full control over the circus. The people followed him blindly. Maybe some even would grow to admire him like Gwendolyn and Sebastian did. And the shows they put on for the people of Oxnard were the best yet. They were creepy and dark enough to make kids scream. To send grown women running from the big top. And it left everyone who exited the tent with haunted expressions and a dark door opened up in their minds. One where their repressed demons could finally surface. One that opened pits of deception in the world around these patrons.
And even though the employees of Vagabond Circus were compliant, that didn’t mean there wasn’t still abuse. Knight thrived on drama. Even if he couldn’t instigate fights amongst the crew he found ways to create pain. A performer who did everything on cue would still be tortured with an awful headache just to create a problem in their reliability and then they’d be really punished. Belittled. Yelled at. Pay docked. And still everyone sucked in shallow breaths and took the punishment with their eyes low. No one left, abandoning the circus to seek peace. Everyone stayed and pretended that they were Knight’s soldiers. But behind closed doors people were planning. Plotting. Taking on extra duties to cover for those who had to practice.
Fanny took care of the kids full time to give Jack and Sunshine unending hours for him to practice, not just walking but also drawing out his other skill. Nabhi and Haady covered for Oliver when he was missing, busy resting up. Zuma spent her spare hours working with Benjamin, going over his part until he rambled about it in his sleep. Titus worked behind the scenes doing a job he’d never been good at. He led. He quietly encouraged people the way Dave had. He counseled people. He sat straight behind his desk, his chin held up high, hands relaxed on his table top. He looked everyone in the eye and confidently expressed his faith in them. And Finley never slept. He dream traveled every single night, spending those hours studying his uncle’s notes. Memorizing them.
There was more than Finley thought possible to the craft of cursing. Not only was it incredibly dangerous, but it was likened to producing a planetary law. It was elemental magic. And the precision to pull from these elements had to be extremely accurate. If too much energy was pulled from one then it would overpower the others. The curse would crush the caster. Furthermore, the law had to work in accordance with the existing laws of the universe. If they defied a single universal law then the curse wouldn’t work. It would fail and as it did it would drain the power from the caster until he was no more. Literally only ashes.
The universe is energy, and mistakes to the fabric of the universe zap the commanding power in an effort to preserve the system. If someone tries to mess with a universal law then they are gunned down at once by the all-powerful universe. Dave’s notes spanned forty years. That’s how long it took the man to understand and master curses. And he had only cast one curse and it was the one that protected Vagabond Circus from Knight for all those years. Finley had less than a fortnight to do something it took the greatest man he ever knew to do in forty years. However, the acrobat never showed this doubt when Titus checked on his progress. Everyone was relying on him. Ian often caught Finley’s eye during meals and the look he gave him was clear. He was counting on Finley. Everyone was. If he failed then not only would they continue in their circus of doom, but they would be so severely punished most would not survive the wrath of Knight. Maybe only Finley. But he wouldn’t want to live after his failure and his punishment.
Chapter Sixty-Three
The Vagabond Circus caravanned to Thousand Oaks after a week of shows in Oxnard. Although the show frightened most, every performance was still sold out. The press continued to encourage those with strong hearts to patronize the circus. Winter was making promises to surrender to spring, and Los Angeles was gearing up to greet the circus with open arms and large wallets.
“We won’t make it to Los Angeles,” Titus said, tapping his ballpoint pen on a piece of paper, making several useless dots. The pen had been a gift from his best friend. On the silver pen were words Dave said to Titus constantly: “Do what you think you can’t.”
Titus stared at those words which lay vertically on the upright pen.
“So what are you saying?” Fanny asked from her place on the other side of the desk, her hands clasped in front of her, her eyes on the dots as they multiplied on the paper.
“I’m saying we need to proceed with the plan now,” Titus said, not like he dreaded the idea but rather with unstoppable conviction.
“What? Titus, we aren’t ready,” Fanny said, and then she brought her blue eyes up to his.
“We will be ready.”
“There’s so many risks though. I’m not sure that rushing things is wise. People’s lives are at stake here,” Fanny said in a rushed whisper, always afraid someone could be listening.
“All our lives are at stake, Fanny,” Titus said.
“Exactly.”
Titus stood from the desk. He walked around it and leaned on the surface, sitting on it slightly, much closer to Fanny. “Look, this is Dave’s circus. These people have done extraordinary things. They have done them because they are incredible, but that’s only part of the reason. You know what makes this circus what it is?”
Fanny nodded, looking almost nervous. “Belief. It was Dave’s belief in others that encouraged their true genius.”
“Yes,” Titus said. “And I’m not proud to say he was able to maintain that belief with me constantly barking doubts at him. I’m not proud to say I’ve been a coward not wanting to stake my livelihood and life on faith. But I am proud to say I’m ready to do that now.”
“You believe we can do this?” Fanny said.
“I know we can. I see it so clearly in my mind that the end result is tangible.”
“You sound like Dave,” Fanny said.
Titus laughed coldly. “Oh, minus the belly and shorter stature, I always wished I was that man.”
Fanny smiled at him. “I don’t think you should want such things. I like you for who you were, and even more so for who you’ve become,” she said and placed her hand on Titus’s, which lay beside him on the table.
Titus looked down at the embrace and didn’t pull away like he would have done before. He simply smiled back at her.
“Titus, it takes a good man to admit when he’s been wrong, but it takes a great man to become the person who would no longer make such mistakes,” she said and then patted his hand as she rose. At her full height she didn’t have to look up much to gaze into Titus’s eyes. There was a pause. A silent exchange. And then the healer turned and strolled for the door, her long skirt swishing back and forth. At the door to the miniature big top office she paused. “I’ll go prepare.”
“Thank you. And Fanny?” Titus said, a question in his voice.
And when the woman looked at him he was flashing her a half smile, a discerning look on his face. “Yes, Titus?”
“I can’t help but get the feeling that you’re still hiding something, like that major secret about Finle
y that you kept from me for all these years.”
She smiled back at him, no remorse on her face. “Yes, about that. I really hope you know I was trying to protect you by keeping that secret. Just like me, you wouldn’t have been able to reveal it, and I didn’t want you to have the burden on you.”
“I appreciate that you had altruistic reasons,” he said, his eyes lighting up, but only slightly, as they fell to the ground.
“And you’re right, Titus,” Fanny said. “I’m keeping two secrets from you.”
He jerked his gaze up at that admission. “Are you planning on sharing soon or do I have to wait another twenty years?”
She touched her hand to her chest. “Warms my heart to think of us still acquainted in another twenty years.”
“Me too,” he said, nodding.
“And yes, I’ll tell you sooner rather than later. But the timing for revealing these secrets has to be perfect.”
“Okay, I trust you,” Titus said, and it was a pure statement.
“As I do you,” Fanny said and offered him one last smile before leaving.
Chapter Sixty-Four
“I can’t do this,” Jack said, blowing out a frustrated breath. “What am I missing?” He looked straight at Sunshine, who sat on the couch next to him.
“Usually I hate the word ‘can’t’ but in this circumstance I kind of think it’s the right one. I don’t think you can do this,” she said.
Jack dropped the hand he had outstretched. “Wow…thanks for your vote of confidence.”
“Do you want me to help you or inflate your ego so you waste both our time and screw up this whole thing? I mean, an entire twenty-year venture that brings joy to thousands is resting on you, so your call.” Sunshine said this whole thing in an unaffected voice.
“Vagabond Circus isn’t resting on my shoulders,” Jack said, a bitter edge to his voice.
“It’s resting on all of our shoulders. One of us flops and this whole thing fails. This is our most important performance ever.” And again the girl’s tone betrayed her words. It was bored and matter-of-fact.
“Well, I don’t think I’m electrokinetic. Is it possible Dave was wrong?” For days the couple had been practicing, trying to help Jack draw out the skill the dead ringmaster once said he thought lay dormant in him.
“Of course it isn’t possible that Dave was wrong,” Sunshine said, sounding insulted by the idea. “But I think it is probable that things have changed. You’re still healing and that takes energy and what do you think electricity is?”
Jack rolled his eyes and shook his head at the girl. “I know what electricity is. It’s a type of energy. You know you don’t have to talk to me like I’m an idiot?”
“No, I definitely don’t have to, but it sure makes this whole thing more fun.”
Despite his frustration Jack found himself smiling at the girl.
“Don’t look at me like that,” she said.
Jack complied by sticking his tongue out and mock grimacing at Sunshine.
“Much better,” she said and then she almost smiled but stopped herself.
“So if I can’t use my electrokinesis then how am I going to complete my part of the plan?”
“Hmmm…” Sunshine said, lifting her eyes to the ceiling as she thought. “Maybe consider a more hands-on approach.”
“Uhh, what?” Jack said.
“You know? Instead of using boring old electricity, which could fail if things don’t go right, revert to just doing the job with your bare hands.”
Jack’s face went white as he gulped. “I’m not sure I can do that, Sunshine.”
“I’m not saying it will be easy, but Jack, she is the reason that you fell. She’s the reason that you were paralyzed.”
Jack stared off and released a nod with little conviction. “I’ll think about it.”
“I, for one, don’t think I’ll have any problem with my job,” she said and then rubbed her hands together, a look in her eye like she was imagining a decadent feast.
“Sunshine, your taste for vengeance kind of scares me.”
The girl slid her sinister eyes on Jack. “Oh, does it? Well, then stay on my good side,” she said and stood, taking the position in front of Jack and extending her hands to him.
He laid both his in hers, leaned forward, and pressed his weight into his feet. Most people just moved, but Jack had to think about each movement. It wasn’t automatic yet, which was the other barrier to his success with the circus retaliation plan. Twice he tried to push up to a standing position and twice he failed, but on the third attempt Sunshine leaned back, pulling him up with some of her weight. When he stood properly he pulled his hands from her.
“Thanks,” he said, only inches from the girl. “And I intend to stay on your good side.” Feeling steady, he pressed a piece of her curtain of black hair back behind one ear. The movement made him sway on his unsteady feet, but Sunshine, sensing this, pressed her hands onto Jack’s hips.
She wasn’t smiling as she looked at him, but if he had her empathesis then he’d know she was happy in that moment. Jack’s hand moved until it was just under her chin, barely touching her, but she felt his heat. And when Jack leaned down close to her upturned face she felt his breath. His lips almost grazed hers when at their back someone coughed loudly. Jack smiled and lifted his head to look over Sunshine’s shoulder at the entrance to his trailer, which he’d moved back into permanently.
“So, I guess the wedding is off?” Zuma said, leaning in the doorway.
Sunshine turned with a cat’s expression on her face. As she did she grabbed Jack’s hand and wrapped it around her shoulder to keep him steady on his feet and also for the simple fact that she wanted to be near him, close.
“Yeah, about that,” Jack said, a laugh in his voice. “I’ve been meaning to tell you, I don’t think it’s going to work between us.”
“Well, I’m simply devastated,” Zuma said dryly, strolling into the room. She plucked an apple from the gift basket a fan had sent to Jack with well wishes. Zuma took a colossal bite from the shiny red apple with her big mouth, then as she chewed she said, “Seriously heartbroken.”
“You’ll mend,” Jack said, leaning a bit more weight on Sunshine than he’d like, but not wanting to sit again. Standing felt good.
Zuma took another bite and with the apple between her fingers she pointed to the pair. “So this happened? Congrats.”
“You teach a boy to walk again and he becomes infatuated with you, what can I say?” Sunshine said.
“Hmm,” Zuma said. “I’ll remember that.”
“You don’t need to go find a paralyzed victim though, Z,” Sunshine said.
The acrobat paused. It was the friendly tone in Sunshine’s voice that struck her oddly. “Yeah, why is that?”
Sunshine tossed her long hair over her shoulder as she shook her head. “Oh, you know why.”
“Did you come over here on your own?” Jack suddenly asked, his eyes changing with worry.
“It’s two trailers down,” Zuma said, rolling her eyes. “I’m tired of being caged and supervised.”
“You know it’s for your own good. You aren’t safe by yourself,” Jack said.
“I’m fine, Jack. I was coming to check in on you and your progress with the plan,” Zuma said, chucking the half-eaten apple in the trash.
“Well, we need to make a change, but I’m hopeful,” he said, looking down at Sunshine.
She looked up at him briefly before directing a sincere gaze back at Zuma. “Great circus retaliation plan, Z. It’s pretty impressive that you came up with all this.”
“Thanks. Titus and I hammered it out together,” Zuma said.
“And if we pull it off…” Sunshine said, trailing off with a hopeful expression.
“Then we will be free. We can save Dave’s circus,” Zuma said, completing the thought.
“Exactly,” Sunshine said. “Thanks for that, Z. For working so hard to save us all. You actually have somewhere to
go and you stayed instead.” Zuma’s home was ten minutes away. She could have been in the safety of her mansion and had the comfort of her loving family. But she remained at Vagabond Circus, enduring the dangers.
“You know that I’m as willing to leave this circus as you are, Sunny,” Zuma said.
The empath nodded, a look of pure respect on her face. “I know.”
Chapter Sixty-Five
A hopefulness Zuma hadn’t felt since before Dave died dared to enter her chest. It was a result of so many things: Oliver’s freedom, Titus’s confidence, Jack’s happiness, and now Sunshine’s friendliness. No, things were not all right at Vagabond Circus, but they felt like they had a potential to be…one day.
Zuma turned down the narrow row that separated the performers’ trailers from sleeper row. Now she had to find out if Ian’s vision had shifted. Was the one where the curse was broken and she experienced happiness a future reality? That was also the reality where Jack and Titus and so many others had the best possible futures. It was the one Dave died to protect.
Jack had tried to stop Zuma from leaving his trailer alone, but she’d been unkind and sprinted out the door, knowing he couldn’t chase after her. Besides, she hadn’t seen Sebastian all day and guessed he was busy doing some errand or other for Knight. And Zuma needed to get things done. Everyone at Vagabond Circus was following her coordinated plans and that meant she had to ensure everything was perfect. She had to talk to Ian one last time before everything fell into place. Zuma knew that she couldn’t pull the trigger on the plan unless the future spoke the right message. Something clunked in the bottom of Zuma’s stomach. What if the future wasn’t right yet? What would she do then? Feeling suddenly panicked by the thought Zuma sped up, and just then her combat sense caught the movement.
