The Codex

Chapter 4

The next morning, Murphy came over so we could head back over to the circus to question Flex and possibly some of the other carnies.

I told her about everything that had happened including Evil Bob and Titania.

"Wow," said Murphy. "Summer and winter are involved now."

"Yeah." I said. "I had Molly researching the connection between the nobles but now it's pretty clear. Also, now we have to worry about the fallen again as well as some random vampire. I think Thomas is safe because he is not dead. He was born that way. It would have to be someone from the black court."

"What are you going to do next?" Murphy asked. "I don't need you to come with me to the circus if you need to make other contacts elsewhere."

"No Murph. I think there is a lot more that the circus people aren't telling us. We should both go."

We hopped in Murph's car and headed back to the circus. It looked similar to how it had looked before, but there were twice as many people clamoring to get in. The place was mobbed. People waving their hands in the air, many other people standing in the ticket line.

Through the din of people, I noticed that no one was paying attention to the side of the tent, around which we knew were the trailers of the performers.

I gestured for Murphy to follow me. Nobody even noticed us slipping around to the back.

I saw some of the performers huddling around their trailers so I pulled Murphy behind a tall haystack with me and I listened. It's not magic per se. It is something I learned long ago in my training as a wizard. How to listen. Stilling your mind and being able to pick out a certain voice among thousands.

It took me a few minutes but I was finally able to hear some of the carnies chattering to one another.

"I can't believe it." One of them said. "We are sold out and people are clamoring in the door. Who could have guessed that it would work so well."

"And so little effort," another one said. "We barely had to lift a finger."

"We are all going to be rich beyond our wildest dreams! A few shows like this and we never have to perform again. We can all retire!"

I peeked over the haystack and saw Dahlia, Banda, and Gert. Madson, and the Great Ronstons were nowhere to be seen. I presumed that they were warming up for the sold out show.

"Maybe we should gather some more just to be safe. Who knows how long this stuff lasts?"

"A few more and... No," said Banda, seemingly the smartest of the bunch.

"Don't You think this big group of numerous people will draw some undue attention?"

"We should keep the specimens but not use them until the next town.

That way, we don't draw suspicion. Besides, he will want to conserve all the energy he can for the big one. If we draw too much attention then we may have to get more ingredients."

"But Darling," Dahlia obviously. "It takes so much time and energy. And they are so icky," she said with a gesture of dismissal with her hand. "I don't want to have to deal with them any longer then we have to."

Murphy and I made our way back to the front of the tent.

I had no interest in staying there any longer than I needed to.

"Let's go back to my place, Murph." I want another look at that book. Maybe there is something we missed. Also, Marci was trying to get in contact with Elaine to help me battle these things.