Page 30 of Her Cruel Dahlias
“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?”