Chapter 7: Paradise surprise
Odry woke up to a pair of wolf-like eyes looking at her. She smiled; it’s just how she and Mateo first met. Her eyes widened the very next moment. Images of the Casino, Mateo and the bullet ran through her head like a twisted kaleidoscope. Linden. What happened?! It couldn’t have happened.
It was all a dream! I was sleeping, so it must’ve been just a nightmare.
Odry sighed relieved. Just a dream.
Why is Matty here?
The look in Mateo’s eyes was indescribable. A mix of remorse and hopelessness.
“It was a nightmare,” Odry said with a smile, “what are you doing here, Matty? Where’s Linden?”
Mateo flinched and shut his eyes, as if taken a blow to the face.
“Kid… kiddo… Linden’s…”
“Where is he, Matty?”
“It wasn’t a nightmare,” Bastille’s voice rumbled low as thunder, from the corner of the hospital ward. He was sitting on the floor.
“Kiddo, I wish it was me, not him. I wish you would’ve let me take that bullet!” Mateo said eagerly, holding her hand.
“No, it was a dream. Just a dream. Where is he? Has he gone to bring us coffee?”
“Odry, my son is dead. Linden is dead,” Bastille half-yelled.
“No, no, why are you saying this? No, no…” Odry shook her head like a mad woman.
“Kiddo… please…” Mateo whispered.
“No… I killed him. It was me…”
“You didn’t mean it, kiddo! It was my fault! If I hadn’t cussed at Clarissa! I knew Cassio is a psycho with a gun!”
Odry wasn’t listening. She tried to get out of bed frantically.
“Where is Linden? I have to get to him! I will give him energy and he’ll live again! Yes!”
“Odry, he died on the spot, and he has been dead for hours! You had a nervous breakdown. The medics gave you a sedative shot. Settle, please! He’s dead. It cannot be changed,” Bastille said sternly.
“No, noo, noooo….”
Odry had another tantrum, yelling, kicking her feet. Chairs flew up, and the table tipped over, moved by her uncontrollable powers. The lights in the whole hospital flickered. Mateo held her down, so she wouldn’t hurt herself. Bastille called the nurse. Odry was given another shot of the sedative drugs, and she fell into the dark abyss again.
So it was for the next couple of days. The doctors suggested Bastille to move her to a specialized Clinique.
“Absolutely not!” he objected.
Odry calmed down, but instead of tantrums, a numbness overtook her. She let Bastille feed her. She let nurses change her clothes. Strangely, she would distance herself from Mateo and ask him to leave every time he came. And he came every day, to sit behind her door and quietly cry along with her.
Bastille wouldn’t let the troupe fly to them. He made sure Odry didn’t get overstimulated. Peace and quiet, he said patiently. Bastille stayed with her nearly all the time and the nurses were convinced he was Odry’s father. It appeared he found comfort in taking care of Odry, while nothing could comfort Odry herself. Bastille secretly slipped extra money for the nurses to always keep an eye on Odry. He had a strong suspicion she wouldn’t hesitate to join Linden…
Even if she did plan to do it, she never got the chance. The three of them flew back to Boston, where the troupe had returned from France to the rented house, whilst Mateo’s sister travelled secretly in a truck, driven by armed men. Bastille paid good money. He used the chance while Tiberius was busy busting Cassio out of prison and saving his Casino. Somebody had kindly informed police about the drugs in the building, which they, of course, found.
The troupe embraced Odry as soon as she stepped into the house. It was a warm group hug, with Winnie’s giant hands squeezing them tight.
“Oh Honey,” Daffy grabbed Odry’s pale, lifeless hands and wouldn’t let her stay alone not even for a minute. A glimmer of a smile graced Odry’s face, but her smile would soon fade - Bastille informed them of the upcoming funeral. Odry felt sick to her stomach from the thought alone.
She noticed the troupe watching her carefully. Although Odry did want to end her life, she didn’t have the strength to do anything. She spent most of her time lying in bed, clutching Linden’s shirt, because his scent still lingered on it. Daffy sat by her most of the days. Odry refused to be near Mateo.
“Oh Hon, why do you push him away? Matty just wants to help,” said Daffy after Odry slammed her door in Mat’s face.
“It’s because…” Odry said in a weary voice, “… though I moved the bullet, he provoked Cassio in the first place. If he hadn’t cussed at Clarissa...”
“But… you can’t really know that Hon,” Daffy objected embracing Odry’s shoulders, “that psycho might have shot anyway.”
Odry shook her head. She blamed herself and she blamed Mateo. She didn’t want to think. Blaming was easier.
***
“You were right,” said Odry, her voice trembling.
She and Bastille stood near the fresh grave. The muddy earth was covered in white roses.
The troupe and the other funeral guests had already gone. It was a cold and rainy day. Bastille held an umbrella above Odry’s head.
“Linden was right, and I was wrong. The price I paid to save the circus was too high.”
The rain humming and tapping on their black umbrella filled the silent minutes they spent thinking to themselves.
“Now I understand how you felt when Odette died. I know…” she took a deep breath, “I would give anything for him to live. To come back to me. I don’t care how. I wish he would possess somebody… I’d wait for twenty years, I’d do anything to have him back,” Odry crumbled to the muddy ground crying.
Bastille had stood beside her through all the course of the funeral. He made sure it was a very brief ceremony. When Odry broke down crying at the sight of Linden’s corpse in the open coffin, he made the staff close it.
“How did you… how did you not lose your mind?!” Odry sobbed.
“Come,” he helped her up and embraced her, “I survived because I had things to live for,” Bastille said patiently, “it was my baby boy and the circus I had to take care of.”
“The circus… yes… it’s all I have left,” Odry said quietly.
“You have a lot more than that. Something I wish I had back then - friends and family to support me. We are family now and the troupe…”
“… are also family,” Odry replied, “but… the circus is dying. We don’t have a program. We’re not rehearsing.” For the first time in all these dark days Odry’s voice regained its strength.
Bastille smiled at her warmly.
“I have an idea. Don’t worry, everything is taken care of.”
***
“I don’t know how you do it, Mat! You’re my hero!” Said Danny. The long flight from US to Madeira Island began with the hellish howls of Danny’s and Rouge’s twins. The babies wouldn’t settle, until Mateo took them into his strong embrace. He had a surprisingly calming effect on the baby twins.
“I can’t help it! Animals and kids love me!” Mateo laughed, and made a funny face for the little ones, smiling at him.
Odry remembered her little pet monster Sol. Mateo always took care of it, while Odry neglected the poor thing. Bastille had arranged the creature to stay in a private zoo until the troupe returns from Madeira. Yes, he suggested a vacation on the island, as every year. Though much later than usual, everybody was up for it. Odry didn’t care where to lay and stare into nothingness.
“Oh, Hon! You should go out. At least lay in the sunlight,” Daffy spent most of her time with Odry in the shady room of their usual rented house on Madeira Island. The ocean glistened somewhere below like a turquoise gem, but Odry couldn’t find the strength to go out. The first few days of their vacation had passed. Daffy managed to convince Odry to lay near the pool for an hour each day, and that was it. Bastille was busy in his office, working on the new show.
Odry tried to practise, she used her powers to lift some objects, but weariness overtook her soon enough. It appeared her grief had taken over her whole body; she felt incredibly tired, powerless. Thinking or talking made her sick.
“Come, Hon! The others are going to the ocean. Let’s go for a gentle walk, just there and back again, okay?” Daffy smiled sweetly, Odry gave a heavy sigh and nodded. She dragged her feet behind everybody.
The ocean was magnificent, and the fresh breeze took away Odry’s queasiness. She observed Danny, Mat and Rouge walking side by side, talking about stuff like diapers, baby poo and other baby-business.
Who would have thought - Danny and Mat have become big buddies when a bit more than a year ago they couldn’t stand each other’s guts. Everything can change in the blink of an eye…
Odry couldn’t cry anymore.
“Daffy, I want to go back.”
“Okay, Hon! Let’s go back.”
The weeks of their vacation passed with Odry barely present. Day before leaving, Bastille called the troupe into his office.
“You must be kidding me…”’Odry said, when Bastille handed her and everybody a copy of the script. It said “Cabaret Sauvage”.
“You’ re stealing Tiberius’ show?!”
“Stealing?” said Bastille, “first of all - there was nothing much to steal. Secondly - the choreography belongs to Mateo, and thirdly - the show was so shitty, anything I do with it would only improve it. He stole something far more precious from me, and I could take his son’s life for it easily, but I’m not doing it. I think old Tibbey is convinced that’s what I plan to do. He’ll lay low and protect his precious offspring. Meanwhile, I’ll take his show from underneath his nose.” Bastille’s smile was more than devious. He began to discuss the details of the show with the troupe. Bastille kept his word - he treated the troupe as equals, he addressed them using their real names. Odry remembered her last moments at the Casino. The bullet, Mateo and Linden’s beautiful eyes full of pain. She couldn’t sit there, she had to get out. On top of that she felt her stomach turn.
“I need air!” Odry shrieked and ran out. Once out of the house, Odry threw up beneath the blooming trees. It was all too much. She ran down to the ocean.
The breeze helped her regain her strength. The vast turquoise ocean welcomed her into its warm embrace. Odry stepped into the water and wouldn’t stop. Why would she? What was there to stop her?! Linden was dead and Bastille would turn the Circus show into an act of vengeance. A wave clashed over Odry’s head and pulled her under. Not long now. Only a couple of moments separated her from Linden.
Suddenly a pair of strong arms grabbed her and pulled her close to a masculine body. Odry remembered the feeling. Mateo held her, as they resurfaced. He pulled Odry to the shore, while she coughed and gagged salty water. Somebody on the shore had already called the paramedics and their car rolled onto the beach by the time Mateo carried Odry out of the water. They were taken to the hospital for a thorough check-up. Bastille arrived shortly. Odry laid in apathy with Mateo holding her hand and Bastille sat on the floor of the hospital ward. They were back to square one.
Odry laid in silence, overtaken by her usual numbness, when the doctor came in. He explained that her vitals were good, but she’d have to spend the night in the hospital, just to make sure…
“… the pregnancy isn’t in danger,” said the Portuguese doctor in broken English.
“What… what pregnancy?!” Mateo stuttered. Odry was too shocked to ask.
“Oh? You did not know, no? Yes, congratulations, you are going to be Mãe e Papai in seven months!” The doctor shook Mateo’s hand.
“And you? The happy Grandpa, no?” The Doctor smiled heartily and shook Bastille’s hand as well.
“Those are good news! The best news in weeks!” Bastille exclaimed, “Linden, you stubborn boy, I knew you wouldn’t leave without one last reckless mischief!” Bastille laughed.
I was beginning to wonder, and when Odry threw up, I was sure. I'm looking forward to meeting the baby telekinetic energy vampire. 😊