Esmeralda’s hoop suddenly dipped as if the rope holding it had given out. When it stopped falling, the motion combined with the weight of her wings caused her to lose her grip. Her arms flailed wildly as she tried to catch the hoop. Her elbow hooked around the bottom tip of the ring before she fell to her death.
The crowd gasped.
One of her slippers fell off as her legs swung in the air. Grunting, she lifted her other hand up and took hold of the ring.
The hoop dipped again.
Her gloves began to sear her flesh. She screamed into her sealed lips but held on tight.
“The rope is going to snap!” a woman yelled.
Esmeralda’s eyes widened with horror. The rope holding her a hundred feet above the sawdust floor had begun to fray.
The world slowed. She watched the strands of cord snap like bowstrings, one by one.
Her wings grew even heavier as if invisible hands had risen from the Land of the Dead and were trying to pull her down. This was it. She would die here, splattered onto the dirt for all to see. And she’d never get to say goodbye to the boy she loved.
Chapter 42
Ignacio
Ignacio hopped over the ring curb and dashed straight for the ladder leading up to the trapeze platform.
Beyond the stunned crowd, beyond the spotlights flashing and the ringmaster dancing toward the center ring, he only saw her. He only saw her holding on for dear life.
How terrified she must be. How utterly petrified. Still, his Dovie was fighting. Sweat glistened on her skin as she gripped the hoop with all her might.
Ignacio didn’t spare an ounce of his energy calling out to her. His entire focus remained on climbing faster and faster.
He made it to the trapeze platform and grabbed the first swinging bar he could find. He yanked it from the hooks and gave it a tug to make certain it was secure. His gaze flicked up to the mirrors. He glared at the shadow lurking behind the cold stone before turning his focus onto the girl he loved.
“Dovie!”
Her eyes snapped to meet his. She let out a muffled sob. His heart nearly broke when he saw the sparkling flakes swiped over her lips.
“I’m coming!” he roared.
He jumped into the air. But his rope swung much lower than he imagined. He couldn’t grab hold of her.
Dammit.
He swung to the platform on the other side.
“You’re going to have to let go of the hoop when I tell you to!” he yelled.
She shook her head vehemently.
“I’ll catch you. I promise, Dovie. I will always be here to catch you. Trust me.”
The gloves she wore sparkled like the sea caught in moonlight. She groaned in agony. Her hold slipped, and she dangled by one arm.
He jumped, and right before he was beneath her, he shouted, “Now!”
She closed her eyes and let go.
His body slammed into hers. The weight of her surprised him. Those miserable wings must have been fifty pounds.Gods, she truly was a fighter.
Esmeralda’s arms and legs wrapped tight against his torso as they swung high above the crowd. She clung to him like a frightened child.
