Still in Deadwater. This morning we drew the Father of Wands. I donāt know to whom itās referring and I can only surmise that it is someone weāll meet tonight when we go see the Circus in Black perform. Iām apprehensive about seeing the show. The performers we saw when we drove by yesterday were all very dark and there appeared to be tigers simply wandering around the camp. The locals love the show and most of the people I talked to today had seen it every night for the two years itās been here. I personally think thatās strange, but August admonished me to keep an open mind.
After breakfast we went to Loverās Peril, where August died. He fell to his knees and sobbed. I looked over the cliff, white water churned and leapt as it crashed into sharp jagged rocks far below. Poor August. Poor Evelyn. It really would have been an awful way to go.
āI miss my Evelyn. Will I never see her again?ā
āHow could I know that?ā
āPull a card. Right now!ā He leapt up from the dirt and appeared right in my face, his weird smile twitching at the corner of his mouth. His icy aura chilled me and I backed away to a nearby picnic table. I pulled the tarot deck from my bag and shuffled. August hovered over my shoulder. Finally I pulled a card, The World, reversed. I knew instantly what it meant, but I didnāt think August would like it. I considered lying, but he always knows when I am. Probably because our energies are so mixed at this point.
āAugust, I think this means you will see her again. Butā¦ā
āBut what? Iām blocking it somehow? I am the one making it impossible to find her? I knew it.ā He pounded the table.
āNo, August, I think this means that Evelyn isnāt in heaven. Evelyn is in hell.ā I winced, waiting for his explosion. He started to laugh, wild and hysterical. A flock of black-eyed juncos in a nearby tree took to flight, giggling back at him.
āMy sweet Evelyn is not in hell,ā he stopped mid chuckle to wipe his eyes and push his green hair out of his face. āOh, Universe, you are funny.ā
āWe need to learn more about Evelyn if youāre going to find her.ā
āFine. But how can I know more than I already do? I suppose she had a whole life left after I died. What if sheā¦ā He sank to the grass, eyes turned toward the ocean. āNo! I wonāt think of it!ā Suddenly cold fingers wrapped around my neck and August pulled me backward from the bench. I landed on the hard grass with a thud. My back and head exploded with pain.
āWhat the hell,ā I groaned, trying to take stock of the damage.
āIf only I could love you.ā He looked down into my eyes, his cold fingers brushing my cheek. Invisible pressure drove the air from lungs and I struggled to speak. āYou donāt look like her at all, but youāre not hideous.ā I tried to move but he held me. He flickered. And disappeared. I scrambled to my feet and ran to the car. August was already there.
āI scared you,ā he said, his voice deadpan.
āNo more,ā I huffed, still catching my breath. Beside me I could see August turned to the window.
āIām excited for the circus tonight.ā He bounced in his seat, his voice still deadpan, his form flowing and folding in on itself as he bounced. I started the car, what more could I do?