The Life and Death Parade by Eliza Wass

Author:Eliza Wass
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Disney Book Group
Published: 2018-06-25T16:00:00+00:00

ELEVEN

I waited ages for Roan to return, clutching the hair in my fist. I held it to my nose. I recognized the patchouli scent of Nikki’s shampoo. Roan didn’t come back. So I went looking for him, tucking the woven bag in the pocket of my army coat.

I found him in the aviary with Holiday. He had a bird on his wrist, pecking seeds from his open palm. Holiday watched, mystified. He looked up when he saw me, but he moved so smoothly that the bird didn’t flinch.

“I need to speak to you,” I said. “Alone.”

Holiday bounced forward, sensing he was in trouble. “Macklin tried to kiss him, but then Macklin ran away again.”

My jaw dropped. Gooseflesh ran up and down my shoulders. “Now.”

The bird fluttered its wings manically but stayed on his wrist until he flicked it off. “Sure.” He ruffled Holiday’s hair. “I’ll be right back.”

“Can’t I come?” she said.

He bent down and passed the seeds to her. “When I get back I want to see them eating from your hand.” He held a finger up between her eyes. “Remember, you have to stay perfectly still. Don’t even breathe.” She nodded, half-gasping, and stretched her arm up high.

I led Roan through the glass doors, out of the aviary, and into the automaton room. He strode around the room, observing the glass-eyed miniature faces with disdain. He swiveled to face me. “Has anyone ever told you that you live in a horror movie?”

“Are you auditioning for the villain?”

“What did I do? All I’ve done is help you, all of you.”

“Did Macklin really try to kiss you?”

“I can’t control other people.”

“No? Then what’s this for?” I pulled the bag from my pocket.

His eyes widened and contracted, like lenses adjusting, focusing on me. It was the first time I had ever seen him taken by surprise. “And I’m the villain? What about my right to privacy?”

“What is it? Some sort of curse?” Nikki had said he was cursed; what if he was right?

“What if it was? You wouldn’t believe it anyway.” He reached for it, but I held it out away from him.

“You knew Nikki,” I said.

“I met him at a party.”

I shook the bag. “Why have you made this?”

“He asked me to.” He sat down in a chair, tossed his hair out of his eyes. “I made it for him. I was going to give it to you.”

“Why?”

“It’s a love spell.” He drew his finger along the antique armrest. “I assumed it was for you.”

“Oh, really?”

He took the bag from me and pulled the items out one by one. “Rose quartz and aquamarine and spearmint leaves. A wedding ring.” He set them on a side table. “If you’d ever listened to your mother, you would know all of this. It means love. Google it.”

“Why didn’t you tell me you’d met him?”

“Because of this.” He blew air from his lips. “Because of exactly what’s happening now. I was waiting for you to trust me.” He stood smoothly so he was inches from me.

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