The entire Big Top had changed. The black-and-white stripes had faded and turned a muted gray. The golden curtains that hung between the arena and backstage lay crumpled and frayed. Not a single speck of enchantment remained.
“But you’re going to help me raise it up once more.”
He pulled the hand sealing her mouth away and grabbed something from inside his coat. She screamed until her throat scratched. But who would hear her over the grinding metal swinging above their heads?
He raised the intricate hand mirror he always carried in front of her face.
Glistening eyes watched her from within the polished stone.
Stars above, I am so sick of seeing this fiend.
“Look into my eyes, Esmeralda,” Tezcán said.
“I’ll pass.” She slammed her heel into the ringmaster’s foot, then brought her elbow to his gut. He keeled over, and she took that moment of surprise to run.
But the ringmaster was upon her once more. He tackled her to the ground and then flung her around. He used his knees to pin her arms to the earth.
“This will not hurt, Esmeralda, darling,” he said.
He lowered the mirror toward her. She shut her eyes.
Ángel’s thumb and pointer finger peeled her eyelid back.
She screamed but her throat was raw, her voice muted over the world collapsing in around her.
“Yes,” Tezcán’s deep voice rumbled. “Yes, she will do. She is your equal. She will suffice.”
A loud and terrible crack sounded from overhead.
The final wires holding up the bale ring were snapping.
“Please,” she cried. “The tent’s going to fall down on our heads.”
“Give her to me now and I will save you, Ángel. I’ll devour the boy too; then we will raise the carnival up better than ever before.”
Ángel smirked. “As you wish.”
Chapter 56
Ignacio
Ignacio whirled around to face the Big Top.
A lone form limped out of the entrance.
Camila.
His heart sunk.
“Where’s Dovie?!” he yelled.
Camila shook her head. “She…she said she would be right behind me.”
Ignacio started for the Big Top, but his father snatched hisarm.
“Don’t. The entire arena is crumbling.”
“I’m not a coward like you,” Ignacio snarled. “I don’t let the people I love die.”
