“I’m sorry that we haven’t had much time to practice together,” I apologize. “I’ve just been so busy with pack duties, and I’m usually swamped this time of the year. For obvious reasons.”
Rissa smiles thoughtfully. “It’s fine, Brooks. I understand.”
Returning Rissa’s smile, I stand up and offer my hand. “Now, for the main event. You ready?”
Rissa sucks in a breath as she reluctantly takes my hand. “I’m not ready, but I’m willing to give this a shot.”
“I thought you’d say that,” I smile proudly as I lead her out of the tent and toward the rides.
“I can’t promise that I’m gonna enjoy it,” Rissa grimaces when we near the Ferris wheel. I pull the gate open and lead her toward the first cabin, its shell painted with pastel shades of the rainbow and a canopy shaped like a cloud above.
“You can at least try, Riss,” I say with a wink as I turn and grab her waist. She gasps, but soon realizes that I’m helping her into the cabin when I lift her off her feet.
Once she’s inside, I climb in behind her, securing the latch on the little safety gate.
“How are we gonna move?” Rissa asks when I sit down beside her, and she points to the controls. “The switch is over there.”
“I was hoping you’d help with that,” I say with a sly smirk, and Rissa frowns for a moment before she catches on.
“You want me to use my magic?!” she gasps.
“Yeah.”
Rissa shakes her head fervently. “I could blow this whole place up. And what if a demon comes?”
Clicking my tongue as I shake my head, I press my hands on her shoulders and lean toward her ear as we both stare at the controls.
“I believe in you, Rissa. I know you can control your powers if you want to. Besides, I had border patrol sweep the area before we came out here. It’s safe.”
Rissa gulps, but slowly nods as she takes my encouragement, opening her palm to harness her magic there. Her breaths are slow and calculated as she draws up enough power to ignite a flicker of emerald light in her palm, then turns her hand to face the controls.
The light emits from her palm and sends a small bolt of energy at the lever, kicking the Ferris wheel into gear. When it jostles as it starts moving, I press a protective arm in front of Rissa’s chest until the ride moves more steadily.
“See! You did it!” I cheer her on, and she smiles shyly. The brightly lit amusement park illuminates her face, making her appear as soft and innocent as ever.
“This is actually fun!” Rissa squeals, turning her attention to the panoramic view of Girdwood as we crawl to the highest peak of the Ferris wheel. “Wow…it’s beautiful from up here…”
“I know,” I agree in a whisper without taking my eyes off Rissa.
Just as she’s turning around slowly, she’ll realize that I wasn’t talking about the view of the village, the lights of the Ferris wheel flicker before the cart abruptly squeaks to a stop.
My arm goes in front of Rissa’s chest to protect her from the jostling force, the lights cutting off when the electricity goes out.
“Brooks…?” Rissa whimpers in fear when we’re covered in darkness.
I hold my breath when I feel an icy coldness slither down my spine, my arms erupting in goosebumps as I look up to see that the navy sky has turned dark and ominous.
“The demon dog is coming,” I whisper as I turn to Rissa, grabbing her by the shoulders and glancing at our surroundings. We’re stuck at the highest point of the Ferris wheel, suspended in the air while the cart only sways with the gentle wind. “I guess now’s the time to tell me… ‘I told you so’,” I grimace as I stare into her eyes with urgent apology.”
“Brooks! Now’s not the time!” she wails. “We need to get out of here!”
Somehow, the demon has gotten smarter, and it knocked out the power in the main square. But what’s worse is that it seems to be coming for Rissa in an isolated area where it’s just the two of us.
We must have caught its attention when she used her power to turn on the Ferris wheel.
Fuck!
I curse myself for not thinking about that.
