“I won’t have to,” Mae Ling began. “Think of the one person you know who has the most knowledge of animals and can maybe share their insights on the monsters you’ve already faced—helping you fill in the gaps on the leviathan and the simurgh.”
Sophia bolted upright and wondered how this notion hadn’t occurred to her already. “Of course! You’re a genius. How did I not consider this before?”
Mae Ling smiled at Willow before flashing the look at Sophia. “Sometimes the most obvious resources escape us because we’re too busy trying to escape death. It takes a familiar voice to remind us of what we instinctively knew on our own.”
Chapter Eighty-Six
Sophia offered to help clean up and check the grounds of Happily Ever After College, but Mae Ling and Willow refused. They urged her to leave at once, stating that what she had to do was more important than anything else. That filled Sophia with a ton of pressure, but she reminded herself that this was a regular old Thursday at this point.
“Save the world and figure out who is trying to destroy it behind the mask,” Sophia said to herself as she stepped through the portal to a world she had enjoyed many times and hadn’t seen in a short while.
The noises that echoed from Bermuda Lauren’s big top at the magical circus gave Sophia a short pause. She didn’t want to enter the tent and get mauled by Venice the winged lion, or whatever creature was currently on exhibit. The giantess had taken on the recent mission to educate the public about various magical creatures to erase misconceptions and create an appreciation for the animals.
“Master Lauren is expecting you, Miss,” a squeaky voice said at Sophia’s back.
She jerked around to find a small imp looking up at her, his arms full of a couple of heads of green leaf lettuce that looked recently harvested. Fresh dirt flaked off the bottoms.
Sophia recognized the creature with oversized ears, teeth, and hands as Bermuda’s assistant at the circus—Goat. She’d always considered imps to be pranksters who couldn’t be trusted, but Bermuda had informed her that they were very loyal servants and worked well with magical creatures. This was exactly the reason that Bermuda should be in charge of reeducating the public since Sophia had been raised learning about magic and had her share of misconceptions to rewrite.
“Hi, Goat.” Sophia smiled at the creature. “You say that she’s expecting me? I didn’t know that I was coming here until a few minutes ago.”
That was pretty much status quo at this point though, Sophia thought. She was late for appointments with Papa Creola that she didn’t know she had, and Bermuda expected her when she didn’t think she’d see her anytime soon.
“Yes, she said you would have quite a few things to discuss with her,” Goat informed her. “I’ll show you into the tent, then get you two some refreshments.”
Sophia shook her head, her stomach still full of ice cream sundae. “Thank you, but that won’t be necessary. I just ate.”
“Then I’ll fetch madam some tea if that’s okay,” he politely replied.
“Thanks, Goat,” Sophia replied. “That’s very nice of you.”
“What’s nice is that you remember my name when most simply scowl at me.” He strode past her with the lettuce bobbing in his arms and entered the big top.
Sophia had to peel the vinyl flap back further to get through but immediately halted to take in all the strange sights around her. She thought that she’d be prepared for the bizarre and magical creatures that would grace Bermuda Lauren’s tent, but it never failed to surprise her. And on that particular day, there was something uniquely perplexing buzzing around at the back of the tent that immediately stole Sophia’s attention and gave her a weird urge she couldn’t describe or explain.
Chapter Eighty-Seven
Without her permission, Sophia’s feet brought her forward toward a collection of hovering lights at the back of the tent. She felt an irresistible urge to follow them. It was impossible to counter it although she was aware of other strange creatures in the big top staring at her.
A large arm reached out from seemingly nowhere and blocked Sophia, stopping her in her tracks.
“Blink rapidly and shake your head, then look away,” Bermuda ordered in an authoritative voice.
Sophia felt like someone had splashed her with cold water as if trying to wake her from slumber. She did as instructed, and when she pulled her eyes off the buzzing golden lights at the back of the tent, the urge to go in their direction immediately evaporated.
Strangely, Sophia couldn’t describe what she’d seen. Whatever they were, the creatures appeared as lights—similar to lightning bugs. However, there was something much more mysterious and alluring about them.
“What are they?” Sophia continued to blink as she looked up at the giantess.
“They are known by many names, depending on the culture,” Bermuda began. “You might have heard them referred to as aleya, boi-tata, La Candileja, luz mala, or brujas.”
“I haven’t heard any of those names,” Sophia admitted, careful to keep her eyes trained on the giantess although she could see a few creatures moving around the tent in her peripheral vision.
“No, those aren’t the ones I thought you’d be familiar with. You most likely know them as will-o’-wisps.”
Sophia thought for a moment. She knew the term, but couldn’t connect it with anything. “What are they, and why do I feel such a strong draw to them?”
“Not to them,” Bermuda corrected. “Your draw is to follow them, and it will dissipate as soon as I reveal their secret.”
“Which is?” Sophia was suddenly fiercely curious.
“Will-o’-wisps have been found in forests and dark moors for ages,” Bermuda explained. “Their job is simple and also completely mischievous. Their only aim is to get weary travelers to follow them, abandon their routes, and inevitably get lost.”
“Oh, that’s deceitful,” Sophia exclaimed in surprise. “Why do you have them here?”
“Well, because like I did for you, I want to tarnish their ability to make mortals and others stray from their path. Go ahead and try looking at them now.”
Sophia did as directed. To her relief, she didn’t feel the urge to follow the hovering bits of light. “That’s remarkable.”
“Yes,” Bermuda stated matter-of-factly. “Like many magical creatures, when their secrets are revealed, they lose some of their power.”
Liv had once told Sophia that Plato’s magic worked similarly. If others besides her saw him use his magic, then it would diminish it.
“Why is making others lost their only mission?” Sophia continued to study the lights buzzing in the far dark corner of the tent.
“They’re cursed,” Bermuda explained. “There’s nothing to be done about it. So I keep them comfortable, and they agree to be in the show to educate the public. It’s mutually beneficial.”
Sophia squinted at the tiny orbs of light and tried to make out what they were exactly, but she couldn’t. “Are they bugs or fairies or what? I can’t tell.”