Circus of the Dead: Book 2 Read online

  It’s not much better. Those are the kind of eyes that say, “Come to my bed. Now.”

  I lick my lips. “I need help.”

  He waves me in. “Of course. I need some help as well.”

  “Sure.” Maybe he’ll just make an even trade, whatever he wants with what I need. It’s wishful thinking, but I can sure try. Though, what he needs help with is probably something sinister.

  All his furniture has been pushed to the side, and soft music plays in the background. “What’s this?” I ask, now genuinely curious.

  “I spent quite a bit of time learning how to dance in my youth. I like to practice a couple of times a week. My current partner is angry with me, and I thought perhaps you would oblige and dance with me for a bit.”

  “What kind of dancing?” I ask. This seems like a trap. And who is his partner, and why is she angry?

  “All kinds of ballroom. Tango is my favorite, but that’s the most difficult.”

  “I don’t have a clue how to dance like that.” At least this isn’t sexual in nature.

  “You’re graceful, and you’ve danced before. You’ll pick it up easily.”

  Oh, my word. I let out a breath. I do not want to touch him. “Will you help me after that?”

  “Sure.”

  “You don’t even know what I need.”

  “We’ll figure it out.”

  “Samuel…” I know better than to fall for this, but he’s looking at me with those eyes that are too innocent and sweet for him.

  He holds out a hand. “We’ll start with a basic waltz. That is the easiest. Perhaps we’ll move onto something more complicated next time.”

  I don’t tell him there won’t be a next time. I want to ask about the library, but I’m afraid if I start negotiating now, things could go south pretty fast. I suppose I can dance first.

  I slide my hand into his and try not to think about the way it makes my stomach flutter. I should in no way be attracted to him. He is a horrible person.

  He holds me away from him very stiffly and teaches me the foot movements. “And then, you just follow me.”

  It’s actually quite easy, and he leads well. Obviously, he’s been doing this for a while.

  Once we get into a rhythm, he smiles at me. “Now, tell me. What do you need help with?”

  I’m not sure if I should just spit it out or beat around the bush. I look up into those intense eyes and spill my guts. “I’m looking for a book to help me with some magic. I’ve been told you have the best library on the island.”

  His eyes sparkle as he gazes down at me. “And what spell are you looking for?”

  I drop my eyes. “That’s personal.”

  He sighs like an exasperated mother. “I’m not going to just let you loose in my library.”

  “Please.” It comes out all pathetic sounding. My throat tightens up. I need him to help me.

  He lets out a laugh and tugs me closer. “Oh, come on, love. You can’t just say that. The last spell you put together tried to kill me.”

  “True. But this has nothing to do with killing you. I don’t want to be a dark witch. I thought I made that clear. And I don’t want to risk the lives of the islanders.”

  “And yet darkness flows through you. I can feel it. You know, I could teach you how to embrace that if you’d let me.”

  “But then, I might kill you,” I tease, trying to lighten the mood.

  He brings his lips to my ear, and my lightheartedness vanishes. “But you won’t. Not if you really embrace it. If you do, you’ll fall right into my arms.”

  I jerk my face away from him but still stay in his embrace, spinning around the room. “No. I don’t want to be dark.”

  “Then, my library will be useless for you.”

  I reach out and put my hand over his. “Surely you have more than just dark magic books in there.”

  “Of course I do. But I have no incentive to let you look.”

  I grit my teeth. There it is. “I agreed to dance with you. It’s only fair that you help me out.”

  He laughs. “Dancing with me is hardly a chore. No, to go into my library, I will require more.”

  I roll my eyes. “Everything is a deal with you, isn’t it?”

  A grin splits his face. “You are beginning to understand. Now, let me think.”

  He goes quiet, and the music changes a little. It becomes slower, more romantic, and we slow our steps, and he pulls me a little closer.

  “Ah, yes, I know.”

  I hold my breath, scared of what he’s going to ask. “Name your price.”

  He tugs me close again and whispers in my ear. “Every night I lay awake for hours, remembering that kiss we shared. It was the highlight of my life.”

  He’s being dramatic. He has to be. It was a freaking kiss, not a life-changing moment.

  “I thought you just wanted to be my friend.”

  “Friends don’t ask favors of one another without explanations.”

  I’m not going to win this argument. I’ve kissed him before, and I can do it again.

  “If I give you a kiss, you’ll let me have free rein in your library. You’re not allowed to come in with me, and I’m allowed to take any books with me that I think I need.”

  He clucks. “Demanding, aren’t you. But I’m willing to deal. You’ll get one hour, and you can take three books.”

  I chew on my bottom lip. It’s better than nothing. “You’re not allowed to ask which books.”

  “It better be one hell of a kiss.”

  “It will be,” I promise. This is different than the last time. Now I know what Samuel is capable of, and I don’t want to kiss him. At all. But I can do this. I have to.

  “Fine. One hour, and I will not ask which books you took.”

  I snort. Never before in my life did I think I’d be willing to kiss men to get what I wanted. Though, in my defense, I’m doing it to save lives.

  But still.

  We stop spinning in circles, and he pulls me close. He strokes my cheek and looks deep into my eyes. I have to make this feel real. I can’t be detached, or he won’t give me what I want. He holds all the cards. Technically, he doesn’t have to follow through. Though, he probably will, because otherwise, I’ll never deal with him again.

  I have to make this feel right.

  I slide my arms up on his shoulders and rest my fingers on the back of his neck. I close my eyes and draw my face toward his. I realize with a jolt that I’d much rather be kissing Benny. That’s the only way to make this feel real to me. Our lips meet, and I push into the kiss.

  The smell of whiskey fills my nostrils, and for a second, I really think it’s Benny. I tease Samuel’s lips with my tongue, and he lets me in. I hold him tight. The kiss is full of longing and desperation.

  After what seems like only a second but yet ages, I pull away slowly and open my eyes. Samuel stands there with a serious expression. My chest is filled with disappointment. Benny was all around me. His smell, his touch, his taste. But it isn’t him. It’s Samuel.

  “The library, please,” I manage to get out. I can’t let my disappointment drive me.

  Sadness crosses Samuel’s face. I don’t give a damn.

  “Of course.”

  He grasps my hand and pulls me through the house to a room I’ve never seen before. He takes a key from around his neck and shoves it in the door. The lock clicks, and he opens the door and lets me in.

  “One hour,” he reminds me.

  I give him a snarky grin even though it feels off. “Oh, come on. A kiss like that was worth two for sure.”

  “Nice try. One hour. I’ll be back to get you.”

  It was worth a shot.

  The door latches behind me, and fear creeps into my stomach. I hate being trapped anywhere. But I can’t let it distract me. I need to find a book that will tell me how to strip Samuel of his power.

  I flick on a light. The walls are lined with shelves, and piles of books are all over the floor and on tables. Gee
sh. Maybe I should’ve told him what I was looking for. One hour. I have one hour, and that won’t be enough.

  I start with the shelves. Maybe the gods are smiling down at me and will guide me to the right book.

  Most of the books don’t have titles on the spines, and they are written in that strange voodoo mixed with English, and so I can’t read them. This is going to take forever. I can catch a word or two, but it’s not enough to really know what it’s about.

  I check the clock. Forty-five minutes have passed, and I’m still no closer to finding anything. Samuel will probably give me another hour if I kiss him again, but it will take hours or even days to find what I’m looking for.

  No. I can’t do that.

  With just five minutes to go, I fling myself into a chair. My elbow hits the table next to me, and a door pops open under the table. I jump out of the chair and crouch down. A handful of books sit in the tiny space. I pull one out and open it up.

  The Art of Trapping Souls

  That is the closest I’ll get. If it tells me how to trap them, then maybe it will tell me how to let them go as well. That will take away some of his power. The door handle jiggles. There are a half a dozen books in there. I grab two more, shut the secret door, and race to the other side of the room. I don’t want Samuel knowing I found his secret compartment.

  He opens the door, and I hold the books in my arms so that he can’t identify them.

  “Did you find what you were looking for?” he asks.

  I shrug, acting like I really don’t care. “I don’t know. I found a couple, so we’ll see.”

  “Well, come on back anytime you want. One kiss for an hour.”

  I pat his chest. “In your dreams, buddy.” I will do it if I need to, but I don’t want him knowing that. I slide past him and prance down the stairs. I’m out the door before he can respond.

  Chapter Twenty-One

  I sit on my porch, attempting to read, and Elias walks up my dock smelling like sweaty feet.

  “What you readin’?” He eyes my book.

  “Wouldn’t you like to know?” I keep my eyes on the page and hope he’ll take that as a sign to go away. The sun reflects off the water like a disco ball, and I have to force myself not to squint.

  “You dancin’ tonight?”

  I look up at him. He’s dressed almost normal in a purple t-shirt and jeans. “Why would I dance?” I press my lips together and drop my eyes.

  “Cause it’s the full moon.”

  Crap. I can’t believe I lost track of the days. The island is getting to me. I gather up my books and go inside. Never before have I been so unaware of the time. I guess that's what happens when I know I can no longer escape.

  I’m scared for the full moon because Juliette will be here as a ghost. Will she hate me? Maybe she won’t know it was my fault. Oh, who am I kidding? It was totally my fault, and she will see right through me. She knows what I was trying to do with Samuel.

  A handful of birds try to follow me inside, including a swan, and I shoo them all out except Raptor.

  I attempt to read the books, but I don’t get very far since the language isn’t quite English. It doesn’t make sense.

  Mid-afternoon, I give up and start getting ready. I blare bad eighties music from an iPod. Juliette will be here. She doesn’t know it’s my fault. Or maybe she does. She’s a ghost and can see things. If she does know, she’ll spill the beans, and all this friendshipping with Samuel will be pointless.

  Ugh.

  I can’t think straight. Not only that, but I’m not sure where things stand with Benny. Do I like him or not? Well, of course I like him, but things are complicated, and I don’t know how to handle it.

  I miss the days when things were easy. Back on the waves with Maddie or, even better, back to elementary school where the worst thing we had to worry about was whether my hands were going to sweat when I skated with the cute boy down at the skating rink.

  I wait on my porch and snack on red licorice. I’ve missed Benny, and even though I can sometimes feel his presence, it’s so not the same. I’m a little bitter actually that he can see me but I can’t see him. My feelings are all mixed up. I shouldn’t miss him like I do.

  Juliette will be as alive and feisty as she was before, but only for twelve hours. Then she will be gone. I have to face her and tell her I love her and hope that she doesn’t hate me.

  A flash of red appears, and arms are flung around me.

  “Oh my gosh, girl, I have been wanting to do that for two weeks.” Juliette pulls away, all smiles. Immediate relief rushes through me.

  “Now tell me everything I’ve missed since I’ve been gone.” She flings herself into one of my chairs, and I slowly sink down again.

  “How can you not be upset?” I ask, baffled.

  “It’s not all that different, really. More fun, actually, because we can leave the island. Which I did a lot of. I need you to tell me all the gossip.” If she left a lot, she must’ve missed the part where this is all my fault.

  I swallow. “Um. There’s not much to tell.”

  “Well, you’ve never been good for gossip. I’ll have to hunt down Mama later. She’ll tell me all the stuff that’s happened that you probably didn’t even notice.”

  I laugh. “True.”

  She stares out at my birds for a few moments. Then, she stands up, all business. She grabs my hand and pulls me off my porch. “We need to go kick some vampire ass.”

  I hesitate. I don’t want to go anywhere until I’ve seen Benny. I don’t want him to have to search for me, and he’ll think I’m here.

  “What are you waiting for? Come on.”

  I missed her so much, and I want to go with her. But I want to see Benny, too.

  “Um. I was kind of hoping that Benny would be here.”

  She giggles and rolls her eyes. “Benny told me to tell you he’d catch up with us later. He knew I was dying to hang with you, and he said he had business to take care of. Just so you know, you better have a kissing story for me in the morning. You won’t be able to see me, but I’ll be sitting right on your couch when you get up, and I’ll be waiting for your story.”

  My chest swells with gratitude. She’s still the same old Juliette. I loop my arm through hers and give her my best grin.

  “So, where are we going?”

  “To see Victor and his crazy ass girlfriend. I can’t believe Veronica killed me. Victor led me on like he loved me, and then he let her kill me. Can you believe it?”

  Juliette drags me down the docks and out to the circus. It’s already crowded with people and a surprising number of kids. At least it’s the full moon, and I don’t have to worry about them dying. Bright lights flash from all the tents, but Juliette has eyes for only one.

  She stalks up to the vampire tent and flings open the flap. Victor stands on stage, resplendent with a bright black cloak, his fangs curling over his bottom lip. His girlfriend perches on a stool, looking sweet and innocent.

  The show has already started, and heads turn to look at us, but it doesn’t faze Juliette. She marches past them all. I hang back.

  Victor’s eyes widen as she approaches the stage. Veronica sits there, smirking at Juliette.

  Without a word, Juliette hauls off and slaps Victor across the face. I have to admit I didn’t see that one coming. I thought she’d head straight for his killer girlfriend.

  Veronica jumps up. “What the hell did you do that for?”

  Juliette spins on her. “If he’d been a man, he would have stopped you from killing me.”

  Veronica gets right into Juliette’s face. “Victor told me to kill you. He was tired of you, and I gladly obliged.”

  Juliette goes red. “You’re lying.”

  “She’s not.” Victor stands.

  The crowd gasps, and one kid drops his popcorn. Juliette turns to Victor, and I think she’s going to punch him. But instead, she purrs and strokes his face. “Oh, come on. You liked me better than her. Admit it.”

>   The desire in his eyes is clear, and Veronica sees it, too. She grips Juliette’s shoulder and pulls her away, but Juliette shrugs her off.

  “You have no idea what he wants.” Juliette reaches out for Victor, and Veronica slaps her hand away.

  Juliette pushes Veronica, and she screeches and nearly falls off the stage. Veronica pounces and grabs Juliette’s hair. Victor seems utterly unsure of what to do with himself. The crowd shouts and whistles, and a few people rise to their feet.

  A hand slides across my back, and I jump.

  “You want to get out of here?” Benny whispers in my ear.

  I throw my arms around him and hold him tight. How I missed him. I extract myself from him.

  He jerks his head to the tent flap. “Let’s go.”

  He walks out in front of me, and I’m a little disappointed. I thought he’d try to hold my hand or something. He buys me a soda, and we head down the path toward the houseboat docks, at least a foot or so between us. Usually he stands a lot closer than that.

  We wander among the trees. There is a beauty here that’s different than California. When I first got here, I thought it was ugly and overgrown. But now, I see the infinite shades of green, the birds that are everywhere, and the stars that hang closer. If it weren’t for the dead people, it’d be downright gorgeous.

  I can barely take my eyes off him, but he doesn’t seem to notice. We get to my boat, and I sit in the swing. He chooses a chair across from me.

  “What business did you have to take care of?” I ask.

  He looks down at his shoes. “Doesn’t matter. But I’ve been worried about you.”

  My shoulders tense up, and I rub my forehead. “Yeah, I’ve been worried about me, too.”

  “You need to stop taking all the responsibility of the island on your shoulders.”

  “But nobody else will do anything. Someone has to.”

  Benny leans forward, his face serious. “People were dying before you came along. Samuel has always been Samuel. You won’t change that.”

  “But that was before I showed up. Samuel will do anything to have me, so I have to do something about him.”

  “You are not responsible for someone else’s poor actions.” His expression hardens.