Broken People

by Ioana Visan

  “Then you and I have lots to talk about,” Anya said. “I’ll make a list with my demands.” Her eyes glinted, but she kept a straight face.

  “I’m afraid the circus’s finances can’t accommodate your needs. Trust me, I know. I used to be the accountant, too. But tell you what. I’ll be busy tonight with packing up the circus, but in the morning, after we take off, I’ll be in my car if you want to … discuss your acts.” He smirked. “Hey, if you’re convincing enough, we might get rid of the blasted butterfly act.”

  The grin that curled up the corners of Anya’s lips, probably at the thought that it was one of their games, turned quickly into a pout. “Don’t tease a poor girl, Nick. It’s not nice.”

  “I wasn’t joking about the butterfly act.” It was the first thing to get rid of on his list, whether she asked him to do it or not.

  “I wasn’t talking about the butterfly act.” Anya’s gaze held his, daring him to acknowledge the challenge.

  Still holding the cup, Nicholas’s arms slipped around her delicate waist, and he pulled her closer until only a thin layer of air separated them. “I know.”

  Her hands rested on his chest, making no attempt to push him away, and dark chocolate eyes peered up at him, waiting for his next move. Her lips parted as she inhaled.

  What the hell? He was doomed either way. He lowered his head and kissed her. Anya melted in his arms.

  Some kisses were worth waiting an eternity for, and this one had been due for too long. He marveled at the softness of her lips. Why hadn’t he tasted them before? He’d been such a fool.

  Her small sigh brought him back to reality, and he checked her eyes for signs of sadness. What was wrong? He caressed her soft cheek and pushed the brown locks behind her ear. She still wore the show earrings, which were shaped like orchid stems in full bloom, wrapped around her ears—a reminder of her former life. Those weren’t decorated with colored glass, but precious stones. Like him, Anya hadn’t been poor before joining the circus.

  “I wish I could give you all of those things, but you know my situation.” Being appointed manager didn’t instantly make him rich. Most of the time, magic barely paid enough to get him through the day.

  “Nick, it’s true that I want a lot of things, but I don’t need them. I live in a train car with a traveling circus. I’m used to little. But what I do need …” She snuggled in closer to his warmth.

  “You have that. You’ve had it for a long time. I wish I could give you my name to prove it, but I don’t have that anymore.” He’d left it behind when he left France.

  “I don’t need your name to be happy, Nick.” Her fingers fisted in the lapels of his jacket, and her smile warmed his insides.

  The door at the distant end of the corridor opened, and Jacko stood in the doorway. “Are you coming? They’re waiting for you.”

  “Who?” Nicholas asked, reluctant to let go of Anya.

  “Oh, I forgot!” She bounced on her toes, agitated. “Serioja’s ribs are shattered, and Rake and Spinner want you to hold his organs in place while they replace the ribs with temporary ones. It’s supposed to be less invasive or something …”

  “So you didn’t come just to bring me the coffee.” Nicholas handed her back the empty cup, already walking along the corridor towards Jacko. One of his crew members was injured and needed his help.

  “Just go and see what you can do.” Anya waved him off with a smile. “I’ll bring you a sandwich later on.”

  “Thank you. Jacko, go into town and get Armstrong. Big Dino wants to see him.”

  The clown saluted and moved out of the way.

  52

  The bag closed with a snap. Dale’s hands lingered on top of it as he took in his surroundings. The halogen lamp in a corner left the rest of the attic in near darkness—as dark as his life. There was no light at the end of the tunnel anymore. Not here. He should have fled. Instead of wasting time packing his things, he should have taken the first ride out of town before anyone came after him. He’d made a lot of people unhappy tonight.

  First, there was the mayor for breaking into his precious vault and trying to steal the power source. Then Aurore for torturing her and failing to get her what she wanted, even if what she wanted wasn’t there. He bet Renard wasn’t happy, either, as his relationship with the townspeople had been severely damaged. Was he even paid for his work? Dale didn’t know. He’d let Aurore handle the money part. He owed a great debt to her. And then there was Cole. The forger had been paid in advance, but losing the use of his limbs and ending up connected to a machine hadn’t been part of the deal.

  So, what next? Could anything still be salvaged from this fiasco? Dale doubted it. It had been a desperate attempt from the start, and he’d reached a dead end. He couldn’t take the power source by himself. He’d probably need an army now. And the European United Nation Council fooled itself into thinking the situation wasn’t desperate enough and refused to give the order. His hands were tied.

  Dale stepped over to the window and looked into the deserted street below. No shadows, no lights in the windows, nothing. Everyone slept at that late hour. Only one light remained on at the end of the street, in Aurore’s office. He didn’t reach for the binoculars to take a closer look. He imagined her crying and throwing things around, and that was one sight he’d rather not see. Because, even if indirectly, he was responsible for her pain. And underneath the prosthetics and the cool façade, the Golden Lady was human, too. He’d seen it; he’d even felt it. But that fleeting moment had gone, and she hadn’t thrown him one glance when the guards escorted him out of the Hrad. He should be glad she hadn’t sent her goons after him. Well, there was still time for that …

  Someone knocked on the door, and Dale stepped away from the window with a grim face. That was fast. When Rosie knocked, it sounded like a light scratch. It wasn’t her, so which one of them was out there?

  He unlocked the door with one hand while with the other reached for the gun behind his back.

  Jacko stood in the corridor. Alone. “Big Dino wants to see you,” the clown said, blinking his kohl-rimmed eyes in the dim light. “Can you hurry? I don’t want anyone to steal my bike.”

  53

  Despite being the middle of the night, the arc lights made the fairground as bright as day while the crew dismantled the giant circus tent and the side attractions. Dale followed Jacko to the big wheel that Rake and Spinner were turning into small, easy to maneuver pieces. Dark glares followed their advancement. By now, everyone knew who he was and, more than likely, blamed him for the hasty departure.

  Dale kept his back straight and his eyes ahead, not about to start a conflict.

  “I brought him,” Jacko said.

  Renard appeared from behind a pile of boxes and waved a hand. “Come with me.”

  Dale complied, and they headed in the direction of the train.

  Once they distanced themselves from the agitated crowd, Renard said, “You didn’t ask about your friend.”

  “You would have told me if something had happened to him,” Dale said.

  “Fair enough. He had crazy luck with that landing.” Renard shook his head. His walk was steady, but restrained. He hadn’t had an easy night, either.

  “And your people?” Dale asked.

  “Not so lucky, but there’s still hope they’ll all make it.” Renard paused as if unwilling to go into more details, then added, “They better. Otherwise, holding their heart and lungs in your bare hands is so not worthwhile.”

  That had to be a metaphorical description, but even so, it would only increase the debt. Dale eyed the bare ground and train in front of them. Once inside, getting out might be problematic.

  Renard placed his hand on the panel on the side of the purple car, and the door slid open. “After you.”

  Dale climbed up and stopped in the brightly lit corridor. Renard waited for the door to close before walking ahead. The second door to the left opened into a room with two more doors, and Renard reached for
the one on the right.

  More bright lights and a giant bed built to hold the mountain of a man lying on it greeted him. This had to be Big Dino. Compared to his size, Cielo looked like a child sitting by his side with her bandaged leg propped up.

  “You caused quite a stir tonight, Mr. Armstrong,” the creature on the bed said in a throaty voice. Despite his green complexion, he was clearly human.

  “That wasn’t my intention,” Dale said and took a couple of steps closer.

  Renard crossed the room to lean against the wall on the opposite side of the bed and folded his arms.

  “I heard you want the power source,” Big Dino said. Since it wasn’t a question, Dale settled for a nod. “Cielo also told me why. While I commend your initiative, you obviously can’t have it.” Wrinkles covered Big Dino’s forehead. “But this causes me a big problem. If you could get so close, there are no guarantees they won’t send more people after it.”

  Not impossible, but it wasn’t going to happen too soon, either. Those who made this kind of decision had rarely seen any combat, so there was no rush. The front line was still stuck behind the Ural Mountains.

  “I’m an old man, Mr. Armstrong. Oh, I’ll probably live past a hundred and outlive most of you here but, chances are, Aurore will live longer than that. She’s my legacy. She’s the best thing I ever created, and I’ll do everything I can to protect her.” Big Dino licked his lips. “So, I’m willing to offer you a deal. You make sure that power source stays where it is now, and anyone interested is informed it’s no good. In exchange, I’ll give you a newer, stronger, better source.”

  Based on Renard’s shoulder twitch and Cielo’s small sigh, it looked like not everyone agreed with the terms.

  “Why would you do that?” Dale asked. There had to be a trick.

  “I already told you why,” Big Dino patiently said. “When I gave the first one away, I didn’t know exactly what it was and how it worked. Now I do, and I’ve got a new one. It’s powering the circus right now. You can see it if you want. And, the best part is, it can power not only one plane, but a whole fleet. Wouldn’t you like that?”

  He would, but he found it hard to believe Big Dino, or anyone else, would give up such a treasure. “Does Aurore know?”

  “It’s not her call,” Big Dino said. “This is a deal between you and me.”

  There had to be a catch, he just didn’t see it. But the promise of a source was better than no source at all. “Fine. I’ll take your offer. Where’s the source? How fast can you give it to me?” He checked the time. He’d be running behind schedule soon.

  “Not so fast,” Big Dino said. “We’ll take the source to Paris. You stay here and make sure Aurore and her source are safe.”

  “I’m not a bodyguard.”

  “No, you’re something better. Ternchiev ran a background check on you and was impressed with what he found. He said you’re on sick leave until the new implants take hold, so you don’t have to hurry back and report to duty. Bratislava is not a bad place to spend your vacation.”

  No, but sitting around and doing nothing was not a solution, either. “And he agreed to this? Me guarding his niece?”

  “He likes to keep his enemies close.” A thin smile twisted Big Dino’s lips.

  “Why should I believe you? Why should I trust you’ll do as you say?”

  “First, because you have no choice. And second … let’s see. Aurore and her source aren’t going anywhere, so they will be in your care at all times. I have no interest in you taking that source, and this forces me to put a lot of trust in you, too. I will take the source to Paris like I said. This is a big train. It’s not easy to hide. It’s not like I can take it off the tracks, so you can track us down if I don’t stick to my end of the deal. I imagine you won’t be kind if I don’t, and I do intend to live past one hundred.” Big Dino tilted his head. “Does this sound fair to you?”

  Dale had to admit it did. “How will you get through the winter without the source? I keep hearing how bad this season was for you.”

  “It was. It was one of the worst seasons in the circus history. That’s why we’ll ask for a small compensation, enough to get us through the winter, before relinquishing our claim on the source. Nicholas will negotiate that. And then, next summer, we’ll go back east in the hope of finding another one, now that we know what to look for. For the right price, we might even disclose the location.”

  Of course, everything came with a price.

  “You will have to make your decision tonight,” Big Dino said. “The circus is leaving in the morning regardless, but it’s up to you if we’re heading northwest or southwest. We usually spend the winter in Italy or Spain, maybe even the southern coast of the Mediterranean Sea.”

  “Is everyone on board with this plan?” Dale asked.

  The two silent witnesses to this conversation exchanged a glance.

  Cielo shifted in her chair. “War is good for business, but not our kind of business. People can barely afford to pay for tickets anymore.”

  “Even with the Nightingale’s help,” Renard said, unfolding his arms. “And the prosthetic business is also lacking for the same reason.”

  “And if everyone’s prosthetics are breaking, how can we still be the freaks?” Cielo asked.

  “Well said, my dear.” Big Dino’s laugh shook the bed. “So, do we have a deal?”

  Dale hesitated. He didn’t like it, but like Big Dino had said, it was not up to him. “What will happen to Cole?”

  “He can leave if he wants, but I suggest he stays with us, free of charge, until he finishes his recovery.”

  Big Dino held out his hand, and Dale shook it, the big man’s skin dry and rough against his.

  While Renard walked him out, he realized they hadn’t agreed on a time period.

  54

  As if knowing it was a day of celebration, the sun was out when the train prepared to leave in the morning. A small crowd had gathered outside the train station, filling the platform and waving their hands and colorful handkerchiefs.

  The town’s tradition to wave goodbye to the circus came less as a surprise than having Aurore attending it. She stood on the platform with a wide circle around her and a smile frozen on her lips. Her fingers clutched her purse, but other than that, nothing gave away the discomfort caused by the proximity of the second source.

  Dale admired her resolve. Her face was serene, without any shadow of anguish, and she wasn’t wearing any gloves or high boots for once. Her prosthetics were put ostentatiously on display, and she didn’t seem to care. She wasn’t hiding anymore.

  The siren announced the train’s departure, and the cheers became louder.

  As if upon command, several heads popped out in the cars’ windows. Spinner stood with Robot Girl in the factory. Her robo-suit fired two rockets that exploded into fireworks above the train station. In the next car, Riella threw confetti over Rake’s shoulder. The small pieces of shiny paper ignited and burned, leaving behind a scent of heated sugar. Cielo waved from another window. A shadow with multiple arms moved in the background. Nicholas and Anya were alone in a separate car with dancers and contortionists on one side, gymnasts and aerialists on the other.

  Aurore nodded at Nicholas, waved discreetly at Rake, and smiled at Spinner, who stumbled backward as if freaked out by her smile.

  “You’re bad,” Dale said quietly.

  She shrugged, smirking. “It works every time.”

  The wheels spun slowly at first, then faster as the train gained speed. The crowd ran towards the end of the platform, trying to keep up with it. Rosie was among them.

  Aurore stayed put but raised her arm and waved. Her golden skin glinted in the sun.

  “May I ask a personal question?” Dale leaned in, although there was no one left around to overhear them.

  Aurore turned her head to look at him, curiosity and a hint of a challenge gleaming in her eyes. The wind brushed a golden lock on her forehead, and she pushed it away. “Yes?”


  “Why didn’t you grow them back? The technology has been available for several years, and you certainly can afford it.”

  “You can’t regrow limbs separated from the body,” Aurore said. “And it takes months for the process to naturally complete. If I had done it one limb at a time, it would have taken years. I can’t put my life on hold for that long. I won’t. This is me.” She did a small twirl in front of him. “What you see is what you get.”

  Only it wasn’t so simple. There were several layers forming that appearance. Dale couldn’t help admiring her flawless silhouette and graceful limbs, even if they weren’t made of flesh and bone.

  Something must have reflected in his eyes because it was Aurore’s turn to lean in, a smile dancing on her lips. “May I ask you something?”

  “Sure.”

  She took his arm, and they started towards the train station. “Why did you stay?”

  Dale contemplated the answer. He’d wanted to successfully complete his mission, save those people, stop the war, all that. But that wasn’t all. He’d also wanted to protect Aurore and prove to Ternchiev that he wasn’t just a thief. And now, he was stuck in a town that, until yesterday, he couldn’t wait to leave, in the company of a woman with a will as strong as his, and he didn’t mind. It could have been much worse.

  “I’m not sure,” he said.

  “Uh-huh.” She smiled knowingly and whispered, “I’m so going to enjoy torturing you.”

  “Oh, I know.” And, once again, he didn’t mind.

  To prove it, Dale covered the golden hand that held onto his arm with his free hand. When Aurore arched an eyebrow, he answered with a smile of his own and glanced at the empty horizon.