Page 68 of Stagehand

“Alright, Lila, we have a plan. I’m going to put Viggy’s harness and saddle on, and you’re going to run up his back and sit in it. Then, when your grandpas get here with the Galaxy Circus promo car, they are going to lead the way back to the circus with you two following behind. Just a calm, fun day of promotional activities.” Xavier runs his eyes over my body, making sure I am okay before pulling me into a quick hug. “Okay?”

“Ah, yeah, sure, I guess. Why didn’t you bring Fiona with you?” I ask out of the side of my mouth as Viggy’s harness and basket appear on his back.

“Because the bitch is nowhere to be found, and neither is her brother. We’re not even sure how Viggy got down here. He was supposed to be back in his habitat on the mothership.”

“I’m just thankful Htaed wasn’t transported too. That would have been carnage.” I shudder at the thought ofJurassic Parkbecoming a real thing.

“You’re not wrong,” he replies, and there’s a toot of a horn as the little clown van from the show and another bigger one with the Galaxy Circus logo on the side rolls up next to us.

“Okay, that’s your cue. He’s really easy. You just use the reins to steer him like a horse. Also, they have his favorite treats in the car and Eric is in charge of dropping them if he won’t follow along calmly,” Xavier informs me, guiding me to go around and climb up Viggy’s back. With my stomach in my throat and my heart beating out of my chest, I do as he wants.

“Good, Viggy. Stay, Viggy,” I say as I pull myself up onto his tail, his skin cold and dry underneath my hands. I use his ridges to climb up his back and sit in the saddle before grabbing the reins.

The now rather large crowd roars with applause and cheers, and I just smile and wave, smile and wave, before turning Viggy back in the direction he came. I breathe a sigh of relief when I squeeze my legs and he starts to walk calmly in the direction of the pod, following the clown and promo car.

Once back at the circus, we relocate Viggy to his habitat, and I collapse in exhaustion in my grandpas’ office. Caspian is there to meet us, and he grabs me and does the same scan of my body Xavier did.

“Fuck, are you alright? Thank God you were there.” He hugs me tight, leads me to a sofa, and helps me sit down next to the warlock before taking a seat himself, squishing me between them, which is perfect for now.

“Did anyone find our idiot niece and nephew?” William asks Cas, running a frustrated hand over his hair. It’s grown slightly in the past two weeks and looks like it’s ready for another buzz cut.

“Yes. They both claim they have no idea how it happened. They also have an alibi. They claim to have been visiting with Nambra and Lexus in their quarters since they have been confined to them. When I spoke to the transport operator, he was just as confused. The log shows the transport happened, but he doesn’t remember doing it. I’d like both Link and Xavier to check him over,” John informs us. He stayed behind when William and Eric rushed to help. I’m afraid it’s all been too much for him recently. With his depressed mood and all the trouble with the performers, he’s not the polished, well-kept man I met two weeks ago.

“Good thinking, but I would be the only one who could remove his memory like that. None of the other warlocks on this ship could do it now that Elyan has been stripped of her powers, and even if she had them, I don’t think she could. The other four just don’t have the juice. And yes, they are confined, but I thought they were aware they couldn’t have visitors either,” Xavier grumbles before putting an arm behind me and playing with my hair.

“Well, there has to be something somewhere. I’m going to go to the security room on the ship to see if anything shows up on the cameras,” Eric says, standing up, but before he can go anywhere, the door to the room flies open, and Link rushes inside.

“Oh, you’re here,” he exclaims, staring at me with wide, panicked eyes. “Thank God.”

“Yup, and all in one piece,” I reassure him. “Viggy was the perfect gentleman.”

He looks confused. “What about Viggy? You know what? Never mind. Someone got into my clinic and released Saxon from sedation. He’s looking for you, Lila.”

Link doesn’t get a chance to step farther into the room before he’s shoved to the side, and in the doorway appears a feral-looking Saxon. His eyes are blood-red, and his fangs are out for the world to see. There is not one ounce of humanity in him, and I can feel my heart start to beat faster as fear finally kicks in.

He looks around the room, and when his eyes lock with mine, I’m paralyzed physically and mentally. The hunter has finally caught his prey.

“Mine!” he growls as he lunges for me.

The end