Hidden Magic (The Magic Carnival Book 5)

by Trudi Jaye

  She sighed against his lips. “Later,” she promised before kissing him again.

  ***

  The sound of a phone ringing shrilly in the background woke her from a deep sleep. Henry was breathing gently next to her and Fee glanced at her watch. They’d only been asleep for an hour. In the background, she heard Max answer the phone. He came into the bedroom.

  “It is your workmate Nolan. He says it is an emergency.”

  Fee sat up, climbed off the bed, grabbing her T-shirt and pants on the way to the telephone.

  “Hello?”

  “Fee. You have to get down here,” said Nolan, his usually calm voice cracking. “It’s carnage. The lab exploded. It’s Eugene. He’s hurt.”

  “Okay, calm down. What happened? How badly is Eugene hurt?”

  “I don’t know. The ambulance took him away. He was pretty badly burned. He was trying to save Violet.”

  “Save Violet?”

  “Everything’s gone, Fee. All our research. Violet. Everything’s all gone.”

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN

  Fee stood next to Henry, looking up at the Callaghan Technology building. A piece was blown out of the side about half way up. Their floor. Plumes of black smoke were still emerging from the affected area, and parts of the floors below and above it were crumbling, sending occasional lumps of concrete down. Lucas was pacing outside the entrance to the building. It was his life’s work inside. No wonder he was frantic. She would be too.

  The emergency services barrier was keeping everyone else well back. A faint hum on the edge of her senses made Fee shiver.

  “Were you guys actually in there when it happened?” she whispered to Nolan, standing on her other side. How had they made it out alive?

  He shook his head. “Eugene and I had gone with Lucas to the generator floor, and we were helping him check through the security system. That’s the only thing that saved us.” He paused to take in a ragged breath. “Eugene only got so badly hurt because he rushed back upstairs, and tried to get into the lab. He rushed at the flames.”

  Fee winced. The medics said he had first and second degree burns over most of his body, and that it would be a while before he was fully recovered.

  “And David?” asked Henry.

  “He came running as soon as he saw the explosion. We were supposed to be meeting him for coffee in the café across the road, but got sidetracked by the security breach.” Nolan wiped his hand across his face. “David and Lucas pulled Eugene out and carried him down the stairs. They were burned as well, just not as bad. David was really upset. He went in the ambulance with Eugene.”

  “Do they know who did it?” Another ripple of unease rolled over her body.

  Nolan shook his head. “The arson investigators are searching now.”

  As they watched, two men went up to Lucas and pulled him aside. One was an older man dressed in the dark blue of a fire official, and the other was a younger man in a suit.

  “That’s him. The fire marshal,” said Nolan. “I don’t know the other man.”

  “We need to hear what they’re saying,” said Henry. He grabbed Fee’s hand, and they rushed over.

  “...We believe it was a bomb, Mr. Callaghan. Set by someone who knew the system very well. Possibly a disgruntled employee. Do you have anyone who fits that description who we could talk to?” the man in the suit was saying. He was mid-thirties, with sharp eyes and trendy shoes.

  Fee’s mind went to one person. “Pelgrim,” she blurted before she could stop herself.

  Everyone turned to look at her.

  “And who is Pelgrim?” asked the man in the suit, pulling out a pen and notebook.

  “Your disgruntled employee. Lucas fired him a couple of days ago,” said Fee.

  “And you are…?” he asked, taking in Fee’s hastily donned jeans and T-shirt. He wrote something in his notebook.

  “They’re employees from the research lab,” said Lucas to him. He turned to Henry, Fee, and Nolan. “This is Agent Franklin of the FBI and Fire Marshal Driskell. They’re leading the investigation into the explosion.”

  Fire Marshal Driskell cleared his throat. “It’s mainly up to the FBI now we’ve determined it was a bomb. We’ll just be helping out if needed.”

  Agent Franklin narrowed his eyes at Fee. “What makes you think this…” He looked down at his notes. “This…Pelgrim would have planted the bomb?”

  “Surely, he wouldn’t have...?” said Nolan, rubbing his neck where it was erupting in a red heat rash.

  “Did you see his face last night?” said Fee. “He was livid. I’d never seen him like that.”

  Beside her, Henry nodded. “He’d be a suspect, that’s certain.”

  Lucas pushed one hand through his hair, making it all stand on end. “We’re all suspects, if it comes to that,” he said grimly, looking over at the fire investigator.

  The man shrugged and nodded. “In situations like this, it’s usually someone who knows the building well, and has a very personal reason for doing it. Agent Franklin and I will talk to all of you separately.”

  “What do we do in the meantime?” asked Nolan, uncertainty in his voice. They all looked at Lucas.

  He sighed. “I don’t know. Give me time to think about it. For the moment, go home, take a break for the rest of the day, and I’ll give you a call when I know more.”

  Fee’s heart dropped. This was it. He was going to close them down.

  “We can recreate Violet,” she said. “We were going to redo her skin anyway. This isn’t the end.”

  Lucas nodded absently. “Fee, I have to think about it. I’m not going to make any rash decisions, don’t worry.”

  Fee felt as if the ground had dropped out from under her, and she was tumbling down a giant hole. A tingle of magic stirred against her skin.

  “Come on, I’ll take you home,” Henry said, putting his arm over her shoulders and gently pulling her away. “Nolan, do you need a ride?”

  Nolan shook his head. “I have my car.” His whole body was slumped.

  “Will you be okay?” Fee asked him. “You can come back to my place with us,” she added, feeling strangely protective.

  Nolan shook his head. “I’ll go to the hospital and check in on Eugene and David.”

  Fee nodded. “Can you call and let me know how they’re doing?”

  “Of course.” Nolan gave them a small wave and turned in the other direction. His shoulders were hunched and he walked as if the world’s weight was on his shoulders.

  Fee knew how he felt. It wasn’t just about losing their jobs. They had been attacked, and it felt personal. It was pure luck no one had died.

  Her heart lurched. It was pure luck it hadn’t gone off last night while they were trapped inside. She glanced at Henry. His face was grim.

  “We could have been in there,” she whispered.

  “But we weren’t,” he returned immediately, indicating the thought had already occurred to him.

  The taste of bile rose in her throat. They could easily have decided to stay in the lab until the security breach had been figured out. Their lucky escape from whoever had set this bomb was full of what ifs, and if onlys. Her stomach churned with each new thought.

  If only she’d associated the power cut to a bomb.

  If only she’d insisted they all leave the lab.

  What if they’d stayed?

  What if Lucas hadn’t led the others out of the lab and down to the generator level?

  What if this was all her fault?

  Fee leaned over and threw up in the gutter. Henry was there immediately, holding her hair and rubbing her back. Like the proverbial lightbulb turning on inside her head, she realized what her magical senses had been trying to tell her since she arrived at the scene. It was like a punch to the gut. This really was her fault.

  “It’s going to be okay,” he said. “We’ll catch whoever did this.”

  “How? How are we going to do that?” said Fee, as she wiped her face with her sleeve.
She felt dizzy, and leaned into Henry, seeking comfort in his warmth.

  “It’s not up to us,” said Henry gently. “It’s up to the FBI agent back there. He’ll do his job, and find the person responsible.”

  Fee shook her head. “We have to do something,” she said feebly. “They won’t find anyone.”

  “What makes you so sure?” She could almost hear Henry’s frown in his voice.

  “Because there’s magic involved here. The kind that I haven’t felt in a long time. Witch Hunter magic.” Fee felt like there should have been a drum accompaniment to her announcement, or a theatrical music emphasis. As it was, all she got from Henry was silence. She glanced up at him, but he truly just looked blank.

  “What’s that?” he asked.

  “You’re from a Carnival full of magic users, and you’ve never heard of the Witch Hunters?” she said incredulously. She could feel the hysteria rising up through her body, begging to break free.

  “Let’s get you home, and you can tell me more.” Henry glanced around. “I don’t think this is the right place to be telling me your secrets. Wait here.”

  Henry raced over to Lucas, and spoke in low tones to him, gesturing over to Fee. Lucas looked in her direction, and nodded. His face was covered in black smudges, and his eyes looked like dark pools in his usually relaxed face.

  Tears welled in Fee’s eyes. This was all her fault.

  Henry ran back over. “Come on, let’s go,” he said, as he wrapped an arm around her shoulders and guided her back to his car. The ride to her apartment was a blur and as soon as she let herself into the apartment, she headed for her room. “I’m going to take a shower and get clean,” she said.

  “I’ll make coffee,” said Henry.

  As she stood in the shower under the hot spray, she tried to organize her thoughts. The only other time she’d experienced the wrath of the Witch Hunters had been when she’d left the commune. She’d told her parents she was leaving, and they’d tried to convince her to stay. She’d admitted she was different, that she needed to go out into the world and find her place. She’d shown them her first-ever creation, a little robotic creature called Junebug. Her father had leaped back, horrified to see a metal creature move around like it was real.

  “Get thee gone!” he’d yelled. “Tis the devil’s work! Martha, she has the devil inside her.”

  “No, no, Dad. It’s a simple robotic structure. Here, I can show you,” she’d tried to explain it to her father, but he’d stormed out of the house.

  Her mother had shook her head sadly. “We’d hoped it skipped past you, Wild Feather. It’s why we’re here, why we live like this. Your father can sense when others are using the devil’s magic. He knows how you created that thing. You must leave now. It’s his responsibility to do something about it, and I know he doesn’t want to. Go.”

  Her mother had gently shoved Fee toward the door. Fee had protested, sure her father would understand if she gave him enough time.

  She’d been wrong.

  ***

  Henry stood waiting in the kitchen, a mug of coffee steaming in his hands, mulling over what Fee had told him so far. Witch Hunters? It didn’t sound good. Worse than that, it sounded ominous. He hoped he hadn’t dumped the Carnival in a whole new mess of problems.

  They already had sufficient on their plate at the moment.

  His mobile phone beeped and Henry jumped. He glanced at the screen. It was his father.

  “Hey, Dad,” he said.

  “Hey, Henry.” Viktor paused.

  Henry’s intuition kicked up a gear. “What’s happened?” he said.

  “Missy’s in trouble. They’re sending a small group to try to rescue her and a few others...including Zeph Jolly,” his father said.

  “Zeph? What’s he doing there?” Rilla’s brother hadn’t been at the Carnival since they were kids.

  “Rilla’s mother was missing. She’s one of the people they’re trying to rescue.”

  “And the reason you didn’t call me earlier was...?” said Henry, annoyed. He was the best person to go on a rescue mission like that.

  “You’re busy. We can sometimes manage to handle things without you, you know.” Viktor’s voice was heavy with sarcasm.

  Henry took a breath. “So you haven’t heard how it’s all gone? Are they okay? Where did they go?”

  “They went to this place called The Experiment in L.A. Another carnival, but they use curse magic. Turns out it’s where Tilly is from.”

  “I’m coming home,” he said immediately.

  “No, Henry, you have to stay and finish that contract. It’s part of the last payment, and Rilla says we’re close enough that we won’t make it if you don’t stay. We can handle things back here. I just wanted to let you know what was happening, keep you informed. And hear your voice.” The last was said gruffly.

  “That might not be an option any more, Dad. There’s been some drama at my end as well.”

  “What’s happened?” asked Viktor sharply. “I knew I needed to call.”

  “The research lab was bombed this morning. All the research that I’m supposed to be working on was destroyed.”

  “Were you hurt?”

  “I’m fine. One of the researchers has some serious burns, but everyone else is okay.”

  “What are they going to do?”

  “I don’t know. It’s only just happened. I’m not sure if they’ll keep the project going or not.”

  “Let me know as soon as you know.”

  Henry smiled. “It’s good to hear from you Dad.” He paused, thinking. “Hey, Dad, have you ever heard of a group called the Witch Hunters?” If anyone was going to know about them, it was his father.

  “The name rings a vague bell. But I’d have to look them up. Doesn’t sound good.”

  “I don’t think it is. But can you check them out for me? It’s probably going to be important.”

  “Of course. You take care of yourself down there, son.”

  “I will. Call me when you know more about Missy and the others.”

  “Will do.”

  “Talk soon, Dad.”

  Henry pushed the button and stared off into space. He hated that he was here so far away from his family and unable to help. He was usually part of missions like this one; his ability to think on the spot and create gadgets usually was useful. He itched to get back home and help.

  Just at that moment, Fee emerged from her bedroom. She looked clean and fresh in denim shorts and a T-shirt, but her face was paler than usual, and she looked tense. It reminded him he was needed here too.

  “Feeling better?” he said. There was something different about her. She looked more vibrant, despite her obvious distress over the bombing.

  She nodded, but he could see she wasn’t. He went over and gave her a hug, wrapping her inside his arms. The usual electricity buzzed between them, but now it was somehow comforting. She snuggled into his chest and sighed.

  Henry let the feeling of rightness flow over him for a moment, before pulling away and looking down into her face. “Now tell me about these Witch Hunters.”

  Fee stiffened, but she nodded. “It’s hard for me to talk about it,” she said. “I’ve been hiding from it for so long.”

  “It sounds like it’s important. We need to figure out who did this to Lucas,” said Henry.

  “It’s an attack on all of us,” snapped Fee, her eyes flashing.

  Henry inhaled a surprised breath. “Your eyes. You have green eyes.” His first thought was Garth’s eyes and how they changed color when a Gift started.

  Fee blinked and then tried to hide her face. She groaned into his chest. “I went down to the building without my contacts. They all saw me,” she mumbled into his shirt.

  “You wear grey contacts to hide your real eye color?”

  Fee nodded against his chest.

  “So tell me, who are the Witch Hunters?” he said softly.

  “They’re a secret organization working to destroy any magic
they find.” She paused and lifted her head, staring up at him with wide green eyes the color of the sea on a stormy day. “My father is one of them. So is my mother.”

  It took a moment to comprehend what she was saying because he was so entranced by the emerald green of her eyes. Then Henry blinked as it filtered into his brain. No wonder she didn’t like talking about her past. “Wow. That is big.”

  Fee nodded. “They operate totally under the radar. Most people don’t even know they exist; they’re quite deadly.”

  “What makes you think it was them?”

  “There was a faint hum, something on the edge of my senses back there. I recognized it as the same magic my father used on me when I left. He was trying to kill me.”

  “I’m so sorry, Fee.”

  She shrugged one shoulder.

  “How do they find the magic users?” he asked.

  “That’s the irony. They have their own magic to see the magic in others. When I showed my parents my first creation, my father knew instantly what I was. I only just escaped with my life.”

  Henry tightened his arms around her again. Her own father? He didn’t know what to say, other than to offer comfort with his arms, his warmth.

  Fee sighed. “I was never that close to him, he was full of fire and brimstone as I was growing up. I guess he was expecting my magic to emerge at any moment. I think it must be in my family somewhere.”

  “So when was the last time you saw your parents?”

  “When I was seventeen. I’d been secretly planning to leave. I’d gotten a scholarship to MIT, and Geraldine, the neighbor who taught me all those years, helped me escape before my father could do more than gather his resources.”

  “What about your mother?”

  A look of pain passed over Fee’s face, and she closed her eyes. “My mother told me to run when father left to get his tools, but she stood by while he attacked me. She didn’t try to stop him.”

  “I’m sorry, Fee. That must have been awful.”

  Fee shrugged into his shoulder. “I don’t often dwell on it. She made her choice. I made mine.”

  “What choice did you have? When your father was trying to kill you?”