Caraval

But how is it possible? You're so young. "I don't age as long as I'm one of Legend's performers," Julian explained. "But I was feeling ready to grow up when I decided to leave." "So then why did you stay and play this time?" Julian looked at Scarlett almost nervously, as if she were the one who now had the power to break his heart. "I stayed because I started to care about you. Legend doesn't always play fair, and I wanted to try to help you. But I knew if we grew close, and you found out the truth, it would hurt you. So at first I tried to give you excuses to hate me. But then it became harder to push you away: it pained me every time I lied to you. This game brings out the most selfish parts of many people, but it had the opposite effect on you. Watching you restored my belief that Caraval could be what I believe it used to be-and that my brother could be good once again."

Julian nodded, but didn't elaborate. The glowing leaves of the willow tree rustled as he quietly went on, “Legend sent me a letter, asking me to play one last gamne. He claimed he was trying to redeem himself. And I wanted to believe him." Julian took a deep breath before continuing. "I was only supposed to bring you and Tella to the isle, but every time I tried to walk away from you, I couldn't do it. You were different than I expected. Most people only worry about their own pleasure during Caraval. But you cared so much about your sister; it reminded me of the way I had always felt about my own brother " Julian's caramel eyes met Scarlett's as he finished. And suddenly a thought struck her. "Legend is your brother?" she asked.

"Before each game, the performers are bound by magic that prevents them from confessing certain truthslike admitting they are really actors." Tella went on, "They're given guidelines to follow, but their actions are not all on, predetermined. I think you already know this, but during Caraval there's always a bit of real mixed in with everything. There is some free will involved. So, I can't tell you what was real for Julian. And I probably shouldn't tell you that his role was supposed to end shortly after he got you to the isle." Tella paused meaningfully.

"So this really had nothing to do with Nana Anna?" Tella nodded. "They did have a romance. It's true that it didn't end well because she chose another man, but Legend never vowed to destroy all the females in her line. After Nana went to the Conquered Isles to marry Grandfather, a rumor started that she'd fled there to hide because Legend wanted revenge, but that's not entirely true either. I'm fairly certain lots of women have warmed his bed since then.

Personally, I think clever is a more appropriate word." Scarlett spun around. A girl with a devil's smile and a cherub's curls. Tella? Is that really you?" "Oh please, I'd think you could come up with something better than that." Tella's curls bounced as she glided farther into the room. “And please don't Cry." "But I saw you die," Scarlett sputtered. "I know, and trust me when I say, plummeting to the ground is not a good way to go." Tella grinned again, but her death, no matter how short-lived or how -put me through that?" Scarlett stammered. "How could you "I think I'l leave you two alone." Caspar edged toward the door with a fake, still felt too real too soon-for her to joke about. "How could you- pretend to kill yourself while I watched?"

The words my role replayed in Scarlett's thoughts. "You're not really Legend, are you?" A faint smile. "Does that mean yes or no?" Scarlett was in no mood for riddles. "My name is Caspar." "That's still not an answer," Scarlett said. But even as she glared at him, puzzle pieces were clicking together inside her head, creating a complete picture of something she'd been unable to see until that moment. Around her neck, the pocket watch felt hot as she recalled the way Julian's confession had cut off, as if he'd been physically unable to speak the words. The same thing had happened to him on the carousel, right before Scarlett had jumped. "As a performer, magic prevents you from saying certain things," Scarlett guessed aloud. She remembered something else then, words from a dream she'd been told she would not forget. They say Legend wears a different face every game.

But I've learned you did atualy feel something when that woman, threw kerself from your balcory aftee you rejected her during Caraval a few years ago. I heard you were so npset, that was the real reason you stopped thaveling. Helping my sister an me wont Completely make wp förF whatever happencd then, bat it miglt help a lizele. I aso tlink it would creAte a very interesting game, and I know kow you like to play.

Scarlett now hated that crest more than the color purple, but she distinctly knew that box, with its wretched emblem, had not been there before. Slowly Scarlett raised the lid. A slip of paper. Carefully, she unfolded the note. It was dated almost a year ago.

Scarlett looked up to find Jovan. The candles and lanterns had almost turned to smoke, so Scarlett could barely see her, but she recognized the light lilt of her voice. "The game's about to officially end. Soon the morning bells will toll, and people will start packing up. I thought you might want to collect your sister's things." Scarlett craned her neck toward Tella's rimless balconyno, Legend's rimless balcony. "Whatever is up there, I don't want it." "Oh, but you may want these items," said Jo.

But Tella was not only her sister, she was Scarlett's best friend, the one person in the world she should have loved more than anything or anyone else, the person she was responsible to take care of. Scarlett turned to Legend, her decision made. “I won. You owe me a wish." Legend snorted, as if amused. I'm afraid my answer to that is no." "What do you mean, no?" Legend responded dryly, "From your tone, I think you know exactly what I mean." But I won the game," Scarlett argued. "I solved your confusing clues. I found my sister. You owe me a wish."

I know your secrets, Father. I was always too afraid before, but now that you can't use Tella to control me, I have no reason to stay quiet. I know you think you can get away with murder, but I don't imagine your guards will stay loyal much longer when I tell everyone you murdered one of their own sons. I will tell the entire isle how you killed Felipe, drowned him with your own hands, just to frighten me into obeying you. How well do you think you'll sleep once Felipe's father learns about that? AndI know other secrets too, ones that will put an end to everything you've built." Scarlett had never been so bold in all her life. Her heart and her soul and even her memories managed to hurt. Everything ached. She felt hollow and heavy all at once. It pained her to breathe and it took effort to speak. But she was still alive. She was still breathing and speaking and feeling. Most of what she felt was agony, but she also didn't feel afraid of anything. And for the first time, her father looked afraid of her.

Your father thought he could kill me," Legend said. The governor mistakenly believed Dante was the master of Caraval, and took his life instead." Scarlett looked at her father aghast. "You murdered Dante?" Even the count, who now stood at a distance, looked unsettled by this. Governor Dragna's breathing turned heavy. "I was just trying to protect you!"

"Oh, Scar," Tella said. Tears streamed down her pink cheeks. "I love you, too. And I wish I was strong like you. Strong enough to hope it could be better, but I can't do this anymore." Tella's hazel eyes met Scarlett's, as sad as fresh-cut wood. Then she closed them, as if Tella couldn't bear to look at her. I meant it when I said I'd rather die at the edge of the world than live a miserable life on Trisda. I'm so sorTy." With trembling fingers, Tella blew her sister a kiss. Don't Tella stepped off the edge of the balcony. No!" Scarlett wailed, watching as her sister plummeted into the night. With no wings to fly her down, she fell to her death.

A hidden door in the back opened, and Legend's maniacal smile returned as Scarlett's father, along with Count Nicolas d'Arcy, walked through. The governor strode forward purposefully, head high, shoulders straight, as if he were an honored guest. The count appeared interested in only one person- Scarlet. "Tella!" Scarlett's panic escalated. For the first time there was a flicker of fear in Tella's face as well. "What are T invited them." Legend waved an arm magnanimously toward Scarlett, who "All tied up and ready to go, as promised," said Legend. they doing here?" continued struggling against the rope, while the two men stepped closer. "Daniel, what are you doing?" Tella whispered. You really should have listened to your sister."

Tella's eyes darted from Legend, in all his pristine glory, to Scarlett, with her knotted hair and tear-stained cheeks. "I'm sory," Tella said. "I don't want you to get hurt." "No!" Scarlett thrashed again, ripping the sleeve of her dress and spilling beads on the floor, as Legend took her from her sister. Hands as strong as iron manacles twisted her wrists behind her back, while Tella disappeared behind her dressing curtain. "See how willing she is to do whatever I suggest?" Legend purred into her ear. "Please," Scarlett begged, "leave her alone. I'll do whatever you say if you let her go. You want me to jump off the balcony, I will. Just don't hurt her!"

"T'd like you to meet my sister, Scarlett." Tella beamed again, so brightly, she didn't notice the way Scarlett had involuntarily taken a step back, or how the young man at her side ran his tongue over his lips when Tella wasn't looking. "Donatella, step away from him," Scarlett said. “His nane is not Daniel."

Tella's mouth formed a soft downward curve. "I know no one loves me more than you do, Scar, I'd be desolate without you. Please, don't leave me now. And do not ask me to leave Daniel." Tella's lips shifted into a deeper frown. “Don't make me choose between the two loves of my life." Two loves. Scarlett's heart ached at her sister's choice of words. Suddenly she was on the steps again, watching Julian's head fall before his breathing stopped. She needed to find a way to bring him back, but she also had to get her sister safely out of this tower

"I know, because unlike you, I actually know my fiancé." "Did you say fiancé? Tella nodded proudly. "You're not serious," Scarlett said. "When did he ask you to marry him?" "Why aren't you happy for me?" Tella's expression fell, like a doll Scarlett had dropped.

"After tonight I don't think Father's hands will be a problem anymore, at least not for us." Tella's eyes twinkled with the same dangerous glint as her smile. I haven't been up here alone this whole time. I've met someone. He knows all about our father and he's promised to take care of us. Both of us." Tella beamed,

"Scar?" A petite figure sat up in the bed. Honey-blond curls bounced around a face that might have been angelic, if it wasn't for her devil's grin. "Oh, my love!" Tella squealed, jumping out of the bed and capturing Scarlett in an embrace before she made it halfway across the room. When she hugged Scarlett with her fierce arms, it made Scarlett believe happy endings were possible. Her sister was alive. She felt like softness and sunlight and seeds for growing dreams. Now Scarlett just needed to bring back Julian.

The edge of Legend's eye ticked as he snapped the watch shut and addressed Julian. "1 don't remember this being part of any plans. Care to explain?" "I think it's rather self-explanatory," Julian answered. He turned back to Scarlett with the look she'd been searching for, his brown eyes full of all sorts of unspoken promises. He'd wanted to tell her the truth, but it seemed as if he physically couldn't. Some spell or enchantment wouldn't allow him to say the words, But he was still her Julian. Scarlett could feel the pieces of her battered heart daring to move back together. And it might have been a beautiful moment, if Legend had not chosen that same instant to pull out a knife and stab Julian in the chest.

"I don't remember seeing this on you before." Legend cocked his head toward Julian. "A recent gift?" Julian denied nothing as Legend popped the makeshift necklace open. Tick. Tick. Tick. The watch's second hand wound its way up to the twelve, and a voice started pouring from the locket. It was barely above a whisper, but Scarlet clearly recognized the timbre as Julian's. "I'm sorry, Crimson. I wish I could say what I'm sorry for, but the words" He cut off for several tense clicks as the second hand continued its lap around the numbers. Then, as if it wounded him, Julian's voice ground out, It wasn't just a game for me. I hope you can forgive me."

"It seems to me your fiancé is meant for decorative purposes only, but he was right about one thing," Legend said. "I don't do anyone favors. It would make no sense to go to all that trouble to put an end to your engagement only to let you leave the isle with someone else. Which is why I've had Julian working with me for the entire game."

Just then, heavy footfalls sounded on the sandstone steps behind him. A moment later, Julian appeared, perfectly dry, and aside from the wound Scarlett's father had inflicted, entirely unhamed. "We were just talking about you," Legend said. "Would you like to tell her, or should 1?" Legend's eyes glittered, and this time there was no madness in them at all. He was the perfect picture of a gentleman in a top hat and tails, fully sane and dreadfully victorious. Water dripped from Scarlett's hair down the back of her neck, turning hot where it touched her skin. She couldn't believe Legend had kept his word, but more than that, she didn't like the sound of what he'd just said, or the possessive way he was looking at Julian.