Chapter 5

Chapter Five

L ila

The morning light filters through the circus grounds, casting long shadows across the colorful tents. I'm walking toward the animal enclosures when I notice something that sends a chill down my spine—the lion cage door is swinging open. The massive lion, Zeus, is sitting at the edge of the woods a hundred yards away, as if watching the chaos created by his absence unfold. His amber eyes watch me lazily, but the sight is enough to set the whole camp on edge.

Jasper arrives, his expression dark with worry. He kneels by the cage, inspecting the latch. "This shouldn't have happened," he mutters, the clinking of the cage door echoing his frustration. He turns to the animal handlers, who are pale and anxious.

"We locked it last night, I swear," one of them stammers, his voice tinged with fear.

Jasper's eyes narrow, his voice cold and commanding. "Well, it's open now. Someone tampered with it."

I watch from a distance, my heart pounding. If someone's targeting the animals, it means the danger is escalating. The murmurs of fearful performers ripple through the camp, and the distant roars of Zeus add to the tension.

"Track him down–do whatever it takes but don't call the local police–we don't need a public scandal on top of everything else." Jasper growls.

The lead lion tamer, Sophia, nods and hauls a bag of fresh meat over her shoulder as she gestures for her assistants to follow her into the distant woods. "We'll catch him, Jasper. Zeus looks like a killer but he's really a kitten. I raised him since he was a cub, he'll come to me as soon as he hears my whistle and catches a whiff of his favorite snack."

Later that evening, the atmosphere in the big top is thick with anticipation. Gabriella, our high wire artist, steps onto the wire, her sequined costume sparkling under the spotlights. The audience watches with bated breath. Suddenly, there's a loud twang, and the wire snaps. Gabriella plummets into the safety net below, her scream piercing the air.

The audience gasps, panic spreading like wildfire. Jasper rushes to help Gabriella, who's shaken but miraculously unharmed. I climb up to inspect the wire, my hands trembling. There are clear signs of tampering—this wasn't an accident. How is someone managing this right under our noses? The thought is unnerving–with so many people around how are they getting away with this? I think then that whoever is responsible must be doing this under the cover of night while the rest of the circus sleeps.

Jasper's voice cuts through the chaos, issuing urgent commands to ensure Gabriella's safety. The performers gather, their faces etched with fear and uncertainty. The colorful tents now feel like a prison, the joy they once brought overshadowed by dread.

Dante stands in the center of the circle, trying to reassure everyone. "We'll get to the bottom of this. I promise you all, we'll find out who's behind these attacks."

His words ring hollow, though. I exchange a look with Jasper, knowing we need answers fast. The low murmur of worried voices fills the air, the rustling of costumes creating a tense backdrop.

"Someone's trying to destroy us," I whisper to Jasper, my voice barely audible over the din.

He nods, his jaw set in determination. As the performers disperse, I stay close to Jasper. His presence is a steadying force, but there's also a magnetic pull that's hard to ignore, intensified by the danger and adrenaline coursing through my system.

We head to the security tent, where Jasper continues his investigation. I stand by his side, offering my insights and support. Despite the rising tension, our playful banter occasionally slips through, a welcome distraction from the true gravity of our situation.

"Looks like you're stuck with me," I tease lightly, trying to lighten the mood.

Jasper glances at me, a faint smile tugging at his lips. "Could be worse." His eyes hang on mine. "To be honest, there's no one else I'd rather spend my time with."

My cheeks flame with his flirty looks as my admiration for Jasper grows—his intelligence, his strength, and the way he carries the weight of this responsibility with such grace and makes me feel so protected at the same time. Finally, we step outside, the cool night air a stark contrast to the tension inside. The circus tents are illuminated by the moonlight, casting an almost ethereal glow.

"We'll catch them," Jasper says, his voice filled with resolve, but it sounds like he's trying to convince himself as much as me.

I nod, my confidence in him unwavering. He's the most calm and competent man I've ever met. He's the kind of man that makes me want things I've never wanted before. I pride myself on being independent, attaching myself to no one, but with him…I want things like forever. As we stand there, side by side, I realize just how much I've come to rely on him.

The security tent is bathed in a warm, flickering glow from the lantern on the table. Jasper and I sit close together, our shoulders almost touching. The intimate proximity sends a thrill through me, one I'm not sure how to handle just yet. Our connection has deepened through the chaos, and tonight feels like a turning point.

"I've always been afraid of failure," I confess, my voice barely above a whisper. The admission feels raw, vulnerable. "Every time I'm up there, swinging on the trapeze, it's not just about the performance. It's about proving to myself that I can do it, that I'm not a failure."

Jasper's eyes soften, the shadows playing across his rugged features. "You're far from a failure, Lila. You're the bravest person I know. Everytime I watch you up there I'm in awe." He pauses, then adds, "I know you think I'm so calm and measured but I wasn't always this steady. My past… it's full of regrets and burdens."

I reach out, my fingers brushing his. "You can tell me anything, Jasper. There's no judgement between us."

He takes a deep breath, his gaze distant. "It's hard to live with what I saw when I was in the military. It feels like a past life I can't get away from. The weight of it, the responsibility… it never leaves."

The soft murmur of our voices fills the tent, mingling with the occasional creak of the canvas and the distant sounds of the circus winding down for the night. Our confessions hang between us, heavy and intimate.

"But you left–and our pasts make us who we are now. You can't regret where you've been because it brought you to right here, right now. With me," I say, squeezing his hand. "We all have our demons."

Jasper looks at me, something shifting in his eyes. "Lila," he breathes, leaning closer. Our faces inch nearer, the space between us charged with anticipation.

When his lips finally meet mine, it's slow, sensual, a dance of unspoken promises. The kiss deepens, our chemistry igniting like a spark to tinder. My hands tangle in his hair, his grip firm on my waist, pulling me closer. Time seems to stand still, the world narrowing to just the two of us.

We pull apart, breathless, the air thick with desire. Jasper's thumb brushes my cheek, his touch sending shivers down my spine. "You should…get some rest while I take the night shift and keep an eye on things around here," he murmurs, though his eyes tell me he's just as reluctant to stop as I am. With everything in me I want him to continue. My body aches with the need to feel him pressed to me again. Just the thought of his kiss on my skin sends my mind reeling, and then I think that maybe this is why he stopped–because we need to focus on the accidents before someone else gets hurt.

A while later, we stand in the darkened circus ring, facing the high wire. I insisted on taking the night shift with Jasper—we're in this together and I'm committed to seeing this through to the end.

"Are you sure you want to do this?" Jasper says, his voice steady. "I think it's a bad idea."

I nod, swallowing my fear. "I need to do this. Besides, you inspected it. It's fine, I'm sure."

My first steps are shaky, the wire creaking beneath me. Each movement is a battle against my instincts, but Jasper's presence below is a steadying force. "You've got this, Lila," he calls up, his words wrapping around me like a safety net. I can hear the nervous tension in his voice, but I refocus my thoughts on my next move. My steps grow more confident, the fear ebbing away with each forward movement. When I reach the other side, I feel a rush of triumph and relief. I descend, landing in front of Jasper, his proud smile lighting up the dim space.

"We make a good team," he says, pulling me into a brief, fierce hug.

Our hushed breathing grows ragged with the chemistry that thrums between us. We're not just fighting accidents; we're fighting a calculated attempt to destroy everything we love. And for the first time, I realize, I could love this man. Maybe I already do. And with love, all things are possible.