Chapter Thirteen
Cricket knelt behind the stage, untangling a rope that Stormy had used during her performance. The carnival was open once more after being closed for the allotted time—however, Mistress Eliza had put Cricket back on stage duty after the necromancer was questioned by Bram. Zephyr was only performing because Bram hadn’t known he’d helped Cricket.
“I can stay back here if you wish. And perform with you instead of on stage,” Zephyr said, crouching beside her. His warm breath along her neck sent a shiver through her, knowing precisely what sort of performance he meant. But she couldn’t stop herself from leaning her head closer to him to inhale his woodsy scent.
“Now, that would only make me get in more trouble. So you will perform on that stage.”
“ Fine ,” he dragged out the single word. “I’ll miss you out there, though.”
“You’ll do wonderful as always.” She smiled, unknotting the last of the rope. “And besides, you’ll have Autumn.”
“I think you and I work better together. And you still owe me something.” He winked as he smirked.
“I’ll be ready to help you do something that could get us both thrown in prison cells—just tell me when,” she drawled, surprising herself at how flirtatious she sounded.
He put a fist to his mouth to conceal his deep laughter.
The back entrance opened, and Autumn sauntered up to them, wearing a sequined gold one-piece, exposing her long legs and elegant arms. Most of her hair was drawn atop her head, and a loose plait fell down her back. She was beautiful as ever, and envy crawled through Cricket that she wasn’t the one with Zephyr tonight. Performing . She shouldn’t care if she was the one on stage with him or not, but she did.
“Here’s the rope,” Cricket said as she handed it to Autumn.
“I’m surprised Mistress Eliza doesn’t have you performing with Zephyr. You two have been doing so well together,” Autumn mused.
“She’s not too happy with me at the moment,” Cricket grumbled. Mistress Eliza had made it clear to her that if she told anyone about digging up the grave, she could expect to clean up after the horses and the performers.
“And I assume you know why.” Autumn’s cat-like eyes slid to Zephyr.
“My lips are sealed.” He pinched his mouth together in a tight line.
“You’re no fun.”
Wilder, donning leather trousers and a billowing black cloak, his chest bare, joined them inside the tent. He backed Autumn into a pole and kissed her as though he’d returned from a lengthy journey to see his long-lost love. Cricket’s jaw fell, and she glanced at Zephyr, who was grinning.
“Good luck,” Wilder said before leaving, his expression becoming serious like usual.
Autumn straightened and lifted her chin as if nothing had happened. “We’re almost up.”
The two ice performers set their large hoops against the wall after finishing their act. Autumn inched closer to Zephyr, and they stepped out onto the stage.
Cricket watched their performance—Zephyr juggling, Autumn contorting in flexible positions as his vines lifted her high into the air. It was intriguing, but her chest still tightened with envy once more, wishing it was her in his arms.
Not wanting her emotions to show when their act ended, she went out the back entrance, the cool air making gooseflesh rise on her arms. There was nothing left for her to do backstage anyway, so she decided to go the longer route to her caravan, to pass the visitors as they played the games and ate the food.
Red curls sweeping around her face, Juniper stood in line beside Stormy to get a caramel apple. Cricket waved at her friend, but she was busy chatting with Stormy, which made her smile.
Cricket hurried past Mistress Eliza’s tent before the necromancer saw her. A blonde woman walked out with a dreamy smile, meaning her tarot card reading must’ve gone well. The next in line entered—a young man with a boyish face and his hair swept to the side.
As she neared the caravans, a female voice called her name, “Cricket!” She whirled around to find Anika, lifting the skirts of her light blue dress and racing toward her. Her cheeks were flushed as she stopped in front of Cricket, her chest heaving. “I’ve been trying to catch up with you, but every time someone blocked my way.”
“Why are you running out here in your condition?” Cricket hissed, remembering when Anika could barely get out of bed. “And where’s Bram? He’s letting you wander around alone?” Cricket searched for his tall form and spotted him near one of the games. He nodded toward them, then went into one of the tents.
“I told him if he stayed a leech at my side while I had a conversation with you, I would make him sleep on the chaise.” She laughed softly. “He’s going to meet me after the performances. As for my condition, I will run anywhere I please unless the nausea returns. I believe you’re the miracle cure that helped me feel better.”
“I’m so glad to hear that.” Cricket smiled and pointed to the caravan painted in different shades of purple, the roof a glossy black. “That’s my home. We can go inside and chat for a while. I know how you like the quiet, and it’s as quiet as we’ll get out here.”
“It looks positively cozy. I love it.” Anika beamed, clasping her hands together.
Cricket walked alongside her friend and led her into the caravan. Anika lowered herself onto the chair at the vanity while Cricket sat across from her on the bed.
“Why didn’t you perform with Zephyr? I was waiting to see you. Impatiently , I might add.” Anika lifted and inspected each trinket and makeup piece resting on the vanity.
“Did Bram not tell you?” Cricket reclined back on her hands. “I dug up one of the bodies to see if Mistress Eliza could bring her back. But that’s hush-hush between me and you, or the necromancer will put me out in the stables.”
“Oh, I already know. I was just seeing if you would tell me.” Anika waved a hand in the air.
“You— If you weren’t pregnant I’d throw a pillow at your face.”
“I would’ve caught it before it hit me,” she said matter of fact. Her expression grew serious. “How’s your curiosity?”
“Well, it’s still being quite the nuisance. No roses, only dahlias. On the bright side, I can master the first part of it now. I just need to achieve the second part.” Halfway there was better than nothing, at least.
Anika leaned forward, her gaze roaming across Cricket’s bare arms in anticipation. “Will you show me?”
“I shouldn’t have used the word master , but let me try.” Cricket drank in the air around her and held out her hands toward Anika. She kept her breath even as the curiosity within her brushed against her nerve endings, touching across her layers, then one by one, pulling back the blankets of her flesh at its will. Her skin grew lighter, fading until it was translucent and exposing the ivory bones beneath.
Anika gasped and clapped her hands, the sound echoing off the walls. “It’s brilliant. Beautiful.”
“You always did have a morbid curiosity that mirrored mine.” Cricket laughed, remembering every instance when they’d visited the carnival. How afterward, Anika would paint the curiosities on canvases while Cricket danced, pretending she held those abilities that could enhance her performance.
“I’ll paint yours and show you when I finish,” Anika said excitedly.
“Just not my face,” Cricket pointed out, hating having her face painted. She didn’t mind how she looked, but it was strange the way people saw others differently than how they saw themselves.
Anika blinked. “So does that mean I can include a head still, or do you want it replaced with something else? Perhaps a skull? Or a rose?”
“Surprise me.” Cricket laughed. “Is your mother back yet?”
“She just came home today, and she’s been worrying nonstop over my being sick even though I’m feeling better. Overprotective as usual.” She paused. “I don’t think I got to tell you, but she’s been living with us for the past three weeks. I’d always hoped to get her out of our withering house.” A horrified expression crossed Anika’s face, and she hurried on, “But that’s not why I married Bram. I would never do that just for money or a house .”
“You most certainly would rather live on the streets than marry someone for money. I know you, just as you know me.” Cricket smiled at a memory of them as children, holding their pinkies together and vowing to never marry unless it was for true love. And if they’d never met their true love, they promised one another to meet for tea and continue their passions while growing wrinkled and gray.
Anika grasped her skirts as she stood and plopped down beside Cricket on the bed, taking her hand in hers. “I’m glad you’re here, even if it’s only for a little while. But please come and visit more.”
Before returning to Nobel, Cricket had attempted to pretend as if Anika and Bram didn’t exist, but it was only a temporary trial that she knew would never last. Anika was more than a friend—she was family. “Once the baby arrives, I’ll visit. I promise.” She squeezed Anika’s hand, tears streaming down her friend’s face. “What is it? Did I say something wrong?”
“No,” Anika hurried on, straightening her spine. “Not at all. I’ve been holding in this guilt, knowing it’s my fault you died. You walked me home after such a lovely time at the carnival, and then…” she trailed off. “It’s as if I’ve taken over what could’ve been your life.”
Cricket should’ve discussed this with Anika when she’d seen her last, but her friend had been too exhausted and weak from her nausea spells. “You didn’t,” Cricket started. “It’s not your fault. I’ve thought about this plenty, and I was never engaged to Bram. Even if he had offered, I don’t think I would’ve agreed. Deep down, I wanted to get away from here, to be on the stage. Sometimes being in Nobel felt as though I were trapped in a cage. I only wanted to travel, to perform, then come back here and visit as I’m doing now.” She tilted Anika’s chin up so she could see the truth in her gaze. “You love Bram. He loves you. And his eyes never lit up when he saw me, the way they do with you. If a love is true, then it shouldn’t fade as much and as easily as it has for me. Yes, I was hurt at first, but then I took it as a blessing. Both of you believed I was dead, and I’m relieved you had one another, fell in love, because it opened my eyes.”
A tear trailed down Anika’s cheek, and she swiped it away. “I have a secret I must confess, Cricket.”
A sinking feeling swam through her stomach, wondering what other kind of secret she would have. “You can tell me.”
Anika took another breath and tangled her fingers in her skirts. “I knew Bram since we were children, and at first, I’d believed him full of himself and stuffy, but he wasn’t any of those things. I then always wished I’d had someone like him. Not Bram specifically at the time, but his qualities—someone who was kind and smart, a true gentleman toward women, and didn’t care about anyone’s station when it came to calling them a friend. After our first unplanned kiss, I felt so guilty because you were gone. I pushed him away for weeks, but I couldn’t stop thinking about him.”
Cricket bit her lip and smiled. “He is all those things and the right one for you .”
Anika circled her arms around Cricket and held her tight. “With these murders, I’m worried about you. If you wanted to stay with us, at least until the carnival leaves, we wouldn’t mind at all.”
She knew it would be pleasant to stay at the manor, but she wanted to remain here. Besides that, Anika’s mother was living with them, and she feared the woman would worry that she would put a wedge between her daughter and Bram. “Let’s take it day by day. But how about I have tea with you this week?”
“Perhaps we can make it through without me losing my stomach.” Anika smiled as she pulled back. “I suppose I’ll go. Bram is most likely confused by the performances.”
“A good reason why we always went with each other.” Cricket laughed softly.
Anika stood and looked in the mirror, wiping away a few lingering tears. She glanced over her shoulder with a mischievous expression after she opened the door, her grin widening. “Not only is Bram impatient and waiting for me, but there’s someone here to see you. Seems we have even more to discuss over tea.”
Cricket’s brows drew together, and she padded to the door. Zephyr lingered there, his hands in his pockets, while Anika walked away with Bram, still smiling over her shoulder at her.
“I wanted to give you something before I wash up,” Zephyr said, taking his hands from his pockets.
“What is it?” She peered at his empty palms and wrinkled her nose. “You came here to show me your hands ?”
“If you want to experience them closer, I’m also fine with that.” He grinned. “But I brought you my company.”
Cricket rolled her eyes and snorted. “Well, do come in and present me with the greatest gift I’ve ever been given.”
“I love the dramatics,” Zephyr purred and sauntered inside. He sank down on the floor in front of the bed. And when she sat beside him, he added, “I missed you performing with me tonight.”
“Did you really?” No matter who he performed with, it always looked as if he relished the act.
“Really.” His voice came out low, seductive.
Her heart fluttered, and she needed to talk about anything else. “Will you do something for me?” she finally asked as she studied the ceiling. “Will you tell me everything that happened in the past year while I was asleep? Even the little things that people believe no one cares about.”
Zephyr twirled a lock of her hair around his finger. “Listen closely, and let me tell you a tale,” he cooed, his voice full of intrigue. “We begin with the Sleeping Darling and all the magical and grotesque things she missed while unaware.”
Cricket didn’t interrupt as she listened to every single word that poured from his lips until her head grew heavy and her cheek rested against Zephyr’s shoulder. Though she wanted to remain listening to his melodic voice all night, she was unable to keep her eyes open any longer.