With wobbling knees, she stumbled back, bumping against the ringmaster’s chest. He caught her and held her in place, his warmth bleeding into her shoulders and arms.
“Easy now, birdie, don’t be hasty,” he said. “You must perform or risk forfeiting your only hope of being my lead act.”
She whirled around. “To hell with the Running! The boy I love is in danger.”
Ángel’s eyes glinted with pleasure. “The lovebirds have finally found their way back to each other, I see.”
“Yes. And I need to find him before his father does.” She tried to move around Ángel, but he stepped into her path.
“What happens once you find him? You two leave my carnival behind and run from Comandante Olivera for the rest of your days?” His fingers took hold of her chin and tugged it up until she met his gaze. “You’re a star, Esmeralda. You aren’t meant to hide your light from the world.”
“I don’t care about being a star. Not anymore.” She had been so starved to feel loved, to feel admired. She thought the roar of the crowd would drown out feelings of loneliness. But it didn’t. The cracks in her broken heart could never be filled by empty admirations.
“And here I thought you were so much like me. I thought I could mold you into my glistening muse. I believed in you.” He released her and stepped back. “I remember the very first moment I saw you. My guards had caught you and Gabriel trying to sneak into the carnival. They threatened to throw you on your asses outside the gates, but you said you’d rather chew off your own arm than go to the front lines. You mentioned Comandante Olivera by name. You said you’d do anything to put that man in his place. To never feel small again.”
She hardly recalled that desperate day, but the reminder left a pit in her stomach, nonetheless.
“Where is that fierce firecracker now? You are willing toturn your back on your own greatness, on becoming someone people aspire to be, all because you are afraid. You’re willing to let the comandante make you cower even though I, the most magnanimous person in all of Costa Mayor, want you to be my muse. Do you not know how much that offends me? No. I am offendedforyou. You deserve more. I too have felt insignificant, you know? Like a nobody with no options in life. But look at me now. I have everything I ever wanted. And once you are my lead act, you will have it too. You’re my special star. My equal.”
She shook her head. “No. You…you’re lying. You don’t care about my potential. About any of us.”
His mouth fell open. “How can you say that?”
“Where are the previous main acts? Where did they retire to? What about the people who competed in the Running? Why are they missing?”
“My darling, I don’t know what you’re talking about. They aren’t missing. They’ve simply changed their names. They live in secret luxury, love. You can hardly expect them to flaunt their riches when we are at war.”
That was a convenient explanation. Plus, there was that thing in the mirror to think of. And the gloves. All the accidents in this year’s competition.
The march of showstoppers was coming to an end. The circus song faded out and the drums rumbled in full.
“That’s my cue,” Ángel said. “If you insist on throwing your potential away, then all I can say is good luck with your escape.” He stepped toward the curtain, then halted. Over his shoulder he said, “I took you for the kind of person who would hold yourhead high and raise your finger to the man who had you so viciously thrown in a cell. Remember the wretched things he said to you the day Ignacio found out he’d been enlisted into the Blackbirds. Remember how he taunted your love.”
Esmeralda sucked in a breath. “How do you know aboutthat?”
The corner of Ángel’s mouth twitched. “I am the ringmaster, birdie. I knoweverything. Or at least, I used to. Because I thought you wanted to show him and everyone like him that you are better than them all.”
“I wanted him to rot in hell, but—”
The ringmaster spun to face her. “I can make your wish come true.” He cupped her cheeks with both hands. “I can make sure you get everything you’ve ever desired. Safety, respect, riches beyond your wildest dreams.”
Something inside her soured. She didn’t want anyone to give her those things. She wanted to earn them herself. And she wanted to do that with Ignacio and her friends by her side.
An explosion went off as a single miniature firework crackled in the air. The audience roared, knowing Ángel would soon appear.
“What do you say? Shall we make a deal here and now?” he asked.
She steadied herself and said, “No.”
His smile faded. “I have to admit, I had hoped you’d change your mind and make this easy. Oh well.” He shrugged a shoulder and then swiped his thumb over her lips.
Heat sizzled into her skin, sealing her mouth shut. She scrambled back but strong hands gripped her shoulders. Jade. She triedto scream and jerk herself free, but she couldn’t. “Hold her steady,” the ringmaster ordered. He fluttered his fingers, and Esmeralda’s gloves appeared. He forced them on. Sizzling pain lanced through her arms, and she shrieked into her sealed lips.
“You are a wonder, Esmeralda. And now the world gets to see it. Whether you like it or not.”
She thrashed and kicked out but Ángel’s smile didn’t waver. “Better not make too much of a fuss, love, or I might just let Keara snatch you up. Or worse, let the monster in the mirror make your friends disappear.” Her eyes widened. “Ah. You didn’t think I knew that you’ve seen him too.” He clicked his tongue. “Do you know what the creature in the mirror can do?”
She shook her head.
