mystic caravan mystery 02 - freaky lies (12 page)

I reached out with my mind, refusing to close my eyes for fear the figure would pick that moment to attack. It was hard to separate my growing terror from the angry mind emanations of my friend, and when I tried to zero in on his feelings I came up with nothing but … dread. Whatever found its way into the cornfield was not human. I wasn’t sure of much, but I was sure of that.

“Well, okay,” I said, offering a shaky laugh. “You have a good night.” I took a large step to my left, keeping the figure in front of me and to the right. If I could create a large enough circle I would be able to make a break toward the dreamcatcher. I might not make it all the way to safety, but the dreamcatcher would alert and help would come if my silent companion crossed the line.

I was relieved when the figure remained still, although I could feel its eyes on me as I took another step. The only thing between me and the carnival camp was corn stalks, and I loathed the idea of stepping into them because they’d put me at a disadvantage if I had to run. I was in danger of tripping, but the alternative was worse.

“Enjoy your walk in the cornstalks,” I said, taking another step. This time the figure shifted in my direction. I had a choice, and I didn’t take more than a split second to make it. I broke into a run, bolting into the stalks and heading straight for the dreamcatcher line. I didn’t risk a glance over my shoulder; the sound of heavy footsteps and rattling stalks told me the figure was giving chase.

I increased my pace, lashing out with my mind in an attempt to disorient my foe. It was probably a wasted effort, but I didn’t have many options. Whether real or imagined, I felt something grasp at the ends of my free-flowing hair as it streamed behind me. I wasn’t much of an athlete, despite being in good shape, but I pushed myself to the brink and crossed the dreamcatcher before I stumbled over my own feet and careened toward the ground.

The dreamcatcher alerted, the magical net lighting up as my stalker followed. He raised his head to stare at the lights, giving me the opportunity to focus on his features. I couldn’t be sure, but I swear there was nothing there – including a nose. Holy … what the heck is going on?

As if on cue, the wind picked up and the sky opened up to allow a deluge of rain. Naida! The water sprite could control the weather, and she’d been known to whip up a tornado or two when the mood struck. Interrupting her beauty sleep was definitely a tornado-worthy event.

My assailant took an involuntary step back as a bolt of lightning streaked across the sky. He glanced at me, seemingly conflicted about continuing the fight or fleeing. Self-preservation won out, and when I heard voices approaching from the fairgrounds I knew I was safe.

The creature – and now I was certain it wasn’t human – made a guttural sound before disappearing into the cornstalks. I rolled to a sitting position, rubbing my sore knee as the voices grew closer. Nellie was the first to reach my side.

“What happened?”

He was dressed in a pink nightgown and sleeping hat and black combat boots, and carried an ax to complete the ensemble. It was surreal, yet somehow comforting. “There was something in the corn.”

“What were you doing in the corn?” Kade, still dressed in only his boxer shorts, appeared at my side. His forehead creased with concern as he dropped to his knees and ran his hand over my sore leg. “Are you okay?”

“I tripped,” I replied. “I’m fine.”

“What were you doing out here?” Luke asked, his hair sleep mussed. He was shirtless, too, and I couldn’t help but smirk when I saw him puffing out his chest as he compared his muscles to Kade’s.

“That’s a really good question,” Kade said. “I thought you were asleep with me.”

“I … couldn’t sleep,” I said, holding my hands palms up. “I decided to take a walk. I couldn’t get the body out of my head, so I wanted to take a look at the area where we found it. It’s not as though we can wander around out there during the day.”

“So you left the safety of the dreamcatcher?” Kade looked as if he was working overtime to keep himself from shaking me. “What were you thinking?”

I was thinking that the guilt about lying to him was going to eat me whole. I couldn’t tell him that, though. “I only wanted to look around. I wasn’t thinking.”

“It’s okay,” Luke said, grabbing me under my arms and helping me to a standing position. “She’s clearly in one piece and safe. There’s no need to yell at her.”

Even though I’d interrupted his beauty sleep he still had my back. That’s why he’s the best friend I’ll ever have.

“That’s not the point,” Kade snapped, brushing off the seat of my track pants. “She could’ve been hurt. She was hurt.”

“It’s just a bruise,” I said. “I’m sorry. I won’t do it again.”

“What was it?” Nellie asked, his eyes busily scanning the cornfield. “Could you tell what it was?”

“I only know it wasn’t human,” I answered. “I tried scanning it and felt … nothing. It was dark inside of its head. Plus – I know this is going to sound weird – but I got a better look at it when the dreamcatcher went off. It didn’t appear to have a face.”

Kade furrowed his brow. “It didn’t have a face? What does that mean?”

I shrugged. “I have no idea.”

Kade ran his tongue over his teeth and tugged a frustrated hand through his hair as he scanned the cornfield, pulling up short when his gaze reached the far side of the grounds. “The scarecrow is gone.”

“What?”

Kade pointed. “That scarecrow we saw earlier. It’s gone.”

I followed his finger with my eyes and frowned. He was right. “I … huh.”

“Do you think the scarecrow came alive and went after you?” Nellie asked, intrigued. “Because, if it did, that would be really … .”

“Horrible,” Kade finished, slipping his arm around my waist.

“I was going to say cool,” Nellie said. “I would love to hunt a wicked scarecrow.”

“No one is asking you,” Kade muttered, locking gazes with me. “I told you it was evil.”

“We don’t know it was the scarecrow,” I cautioned. “It could’ve been something else.”

“You’re right,” Kade conceded. “I’m sure there’s some other explanation for the scarecrow being gone … and you thinking the thing chasing you didn’t have a face. I’m sure I’m barking up the wrong tree.”

“I … crud.”

“Yeah, I was right,” Kade said. “Again.”

I would never live this down. First he was right about the clown being guilty and now he looked to have pegged the scarecrow as evil. I was really off my game.

“Speaking of barking, I was having a really nice dream about chasing a stick,” Luke said, waggling his eyebrows for comic effect to alleviate the tension. “How about we talk about the scarecrow tomorrow so I can get back to it?”

“That sounds like a good idea.” I cast a hopeful look in Kade’s direction. “You’re not angry, are you?”

Kade sighed. “No, but you’re massaging me in the morning. I’m not rewarding you for bad behavior.”

I could live with that. Well, maybe. “We’ll negotiate over breakfast.”

11

Eleven

I
woke to find my head resting on Kade’s chest, his arms wrapped around me. We were in the same position when we fell asleep. I took the opportunity to study his handsome face, the angles of his strong jaw causing my heart to flutter as the early morning light filtered through the blinds and cast a warm glow over his features. He really was breathtaking … and I was lying to him.

I’ve never been one for feeling guilt. I mean, when I do something wrong I apologize (most of the time) and try to make amends. Even when I was a teenager stealing from others I rationalized my actions because I would starve otherwise. The guilt I felt now, though, was excruciating.

“I can feel you staring at me,” Kade murmured, his eyes still closed. “I take it your busy mind is already at work this morning.”

“How did you know I was awake?”

“I have no idea,” Kade admitted. “You’re extremely warm and cuddly in the morning, though, so I want five more minutes of … this … before we have to start our busy day.”

“I can live with that.” I pressed my cheek against his chest again. “You’re really hot in the morning. You know that, right? It should be against the law to be as hot as you in the morning. I wake up with my hair standing on end and I’m paler than usual. You wake up looking as if you could walk down a runway.”

Kade chuckled, his chest rumbling. “I see you’re full of compliments this morning,” he said. “Is that because you’re trying to head off an argument?”

“Why would we argue?”

Kade finally wrenched his eyes open. Instead of the flirty expression I’d grown to love I found legitimate anger reflected back in my direction. “You snuck out of bed and almost got yourself killed.”

“Oh, that.”

“Oh, that,” Kade mimicked, making a face as he cupped the back of my head and tilted it up so I had no choice but to meet his accusatory gaze. “Why?”

I wanted to look somewhere else – anywhere else, really – but he didn’t give me that option. “I couldn’t sleep.”

“Why?” Kade pressed, refusing to give in. “Why were you so restless last night? You usually sleep like the dead.”

That was an interesting way to phrase it. “I don’t know,” I said. “I just … couldn’t sleep. My mind was really busy and I wanted to clear it. I couldn’t toss and turn without waking you – and that was the last thing I wanted to do because you’re adorable when you sleep – so I took a walk.” That wasn’t a total lie.

“I can understand that,” Kade said, exhaling heavily and releasing his grip on the back of my head. “Seeing that body the way we did was jarring. That doesn’t mean you can put yourself in danger, though.”

So many things about that statement bugged me that I didn’t know where to start. “I’ve seen dead bodies before,” I said finally. “I’ve seen worse things than that … believe it or not.”

“I have, too,” Kade said, not missing a beat. “I saw some truly horrible things when I was overseas. Still, something about this body bothers you. I saw it on your face when we found it.

“Now, I’ll admit I’m new to the magic game and I’m not sure what to think about all of this, but I am sure you’re convinced this has something to do with us,” he continued. “It might help to talk it through.”

“See, that’s just it,” I explained. “I’m not sure it has anything to do with us. The timing makes me suspect all is not right in our world. If it doesn’t have anything to do with us, I have a feeling we’re going to be drawn into it anyway. If it does have something to do with us … well … I have a feeling it’s only the beginning.”

“What do you mean?”

I shrugged, the realities of the day setting in as our cozy morning time ticked away in the small trailer. “I don’t know. I know this is hard to believe, but I have this inner … um … danger alarm. I don’t know how to describe it.”

“You’re magic. I get that. What is your inner danger alarm telling you?”

“That something bad is going to happen.”

Instead of hopping out of bed and attacking the day with gusto as I expected, Kade tightened his arm around my back and kissed my forehead. “We’ll figure it out,” he said. “We’re going to do it together, though. There will be no more running off on your own in the middle of the night. If you can’t sleep, wake me so I can go for a midnight stroll with you.”

Something about his words grated. “Because you’re big and strong, and I’m a weak female?”

Kade barked out a coarse laugh and snuggled closer. “No, because I would cry if something happened to you. I know you’re capable of taking care of yourself. I’ve seen you do it. That doesn’t mean I want you to take unnecessary risks.”

Well, crap. How was I supposed to work myself into a snit when he says sweet things like that? “Ugh. You make it impossible to be angry.”

“That’s good,” Kade said, resting his cheek against my forehead. “We still have three minutes of bliss before work calls. Close your trap and enjoy it.”

“Oh, well, I was wrong,” I muttered. “I can be angry about that. Close my trap?”

I could feel Kade’s lips tip up into a smile against my skin. “Shh. You’re ruining the morning ambiance.”

His sweet nature apparently comes and goes.

“OKAY,
we have a lot going on today,” I announced, pointing toward two workers as they shuffled in the direction of my tent. “I need that set up first thing so I can get working on the internal setup. I have to do readings tonight for the soft opening.”

Sonny, the older of the two workers, mock saluted. “Yes, ma’am!”

He’d been with the circus since Max took me in, and I was used to his attitude. That didn’t mean I liked it. “There will be no food breaks until my tent is done,” I warned, extending a finger. “Don’t push me today. I’m crabby.”

“I can’t see why,” Luke said, appearing at my elbow. He was shirtless and sweaty, which meant he was helping with the manual labor and taking the opportunity to show off his impressive physique at the same time. He loved to multitask. I could never call his work ethic into question. His vanity was another story. “You got to wake up with your love muffin while I … alas … woke up alone.”

I hate it when he feels sorry for himself. “We’ll focus on finding you a friend tonight.” I patted his arm, frowning when I realized just how sweaty he really was. “Have you been rolling in someone else’s sweat? You smell like a gym locker.”

“And thank you for that,” Luke said, rolling his eyes. “Unlike you, I’ve been working all morning. Not all of us can get away with sleeping in – and I stress the word ‘sleeping’ because I know nothing else is going on yet. Someone had to do the heavy lifting … and I mean that literally.”

“I’m sorry,” I said, instantly contrite. “We didn’t sleep in, though. We took an extra five minutes to … talk … about the serious nature of our situation.”

Luke made his disgusted face. “You always phrase things in weird ways to distract me,” he argued. “That’s not going to work this time. I know exactly what you’re doing.”

We’d see about that. “It was a very heavy discussion. Much like me, Kade is worried about what the body discovery could mean for us. We could be in danger.”

“That was smooth,” Luke said, pinching my elbow to let me know he wasn’t going to let me play games. “That was very smooth, in fact. I’m not falling for it, though. You spent the morning cuddling with your boy toy while I worked like a dog.”