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Tobias doesn’t show any emotions, as his glacier eyes look down at me. “I tried to warn you. But it doesn’t matter … once you’re inside the Big Top, the rules are the rules.”

Kenan snorts.

Tobias turns his head towards him. “Sure, laugh at my expense. But let’s not pretend the little knife she holds isn’t yours.”

Kenan shrugs before looking down to pluck it from my hand like I didn’t have a death grip on it. “I’ll take that back now. It’s not going to do you any good anyways.”

“Why?” I look between the both of them, feeling something inside of me stirring. While I wouldn’t say they make me feel safe … I do feel better than when I was alone. Which I guess truly isn’t saying much, considering the circumstances. “Why did you even warn me if the rules couldn’t be changed?” I stare at Tobias.

Looking back, I should have run to the exit as soon as I left his tent.

“Because,” his eyes flick to Kenan briefly before back at me, “you remind me of someone else who came searching ... but ended up staying too long.”

The girl from the Big Top ticket booth walks in our direction from the shadows. Her hair still teased into the side buns, bright pink in the darkness. Her face still bears the pink and white harlequin-style makeup. She walks towards us with brisk, decisive steps as she looks between Kenan and Tobais first. “You two are going to be in trouble ...” she basically sing-songs the words before her eyes flick to mine, “and you need to come with me.”

Kenan scowls at her, but she simply smiles at him. “That’s not how you looked at me last week.” She winks and returns her attention back to me. “The Ringmaster is expecting you.”

I glance up at Kenan as he shrugs. “Looks like you’ve been summoned.”

“And he probably isn’t happy you aren’t still on Kenan’s little wheel,” Tobias says, removing his white gloves, and stuffing them into his jacket pocket.

“I didn’t have her on the wheel, thank you very much,” he smirks. “You would know that if you came to watch my shows, instead of hiding until the last night.”

Tobias rolls his eyes, ignoring Kenan’s comment. “I’ll go see if I can salvage anything first.” His attention turns to the pink- haired girl. “Meet you there, Rosie.” He disappears just as easily as he appeared, and I stand confused.

Rosie turns to me before I can think anything more of it, grabbing my wrist with more force than necessary. She places a black ribbon around the faint marks I’m just realizing are there from Kenan’s act. “Wear it, or stay lost. Personally, I don’t care.” She steps back, turning to walk away as I thumb the ribbon.

“Come on, Kitten,” Kenan starts walking into the darkness, “I’ll take you to the Ring Master.”

Chapter 9

A large crowd parts as we near the Big Top, a hush falling like a curtain over everyone. I recognize some of the faces from the show, and some that I witnessed when I first arrived. The girl who contorted herself, the man with the handlebar mustache, who smiles at me now with a wicked gleam. Lanterns line the path and the air seems to crackle around me.

I catch the eye of a girl with teal and purple hair, her brown skin glistening in gold glitter. Her dark honey eyes are lined with the same teal as her hair. She wears an orange leather outfit complete with a beautiful corset and short shorts. I only wish I could pull off something like that. I focus on her as I walk towards the entrance because she’s the only one who’s not looking at me like I’m a meal about to be served. The edge of her lip rises and then falls, and beneath it all, her eyes shine with kindness.

Kenan grips my arm, steady and almost gentle. Almost. I try to calm my nerves as we enter through the thick curtains once again. We stop at the edge of the stage, where fog seems to roll as an orange light casts from beneath the floor.

Tobias stands waiting just to our left. His expression is unreadable, but when his eyes meet mine, he walks towards me. “Nice ribbon.”

I touch my wrist, feeling the velvet softly against my skin. “What happens now?” I ask.

He looks away. “That depends on you.”

Kenan stiffens at my side. “She doesn’t have to do this.” He sounds as if fight and fire burns beneath his calm facade.

Tobias laughs lowly, but there is not a trace of humor in it. “You know just as I do, none of us can fight what’s about to happen. At least she gets a choice.”

“We could ...” Kenan says, voice tight. “I don’t know ... hide her in your tent of fuckery?” He runs a hand down his thigh and grabs his knife, twisting it in his fingers.

Tobias shakes his head. “She’s already bound,” he gestures to the stamp on my wrist opposite the ribbon.

I bring my hand to the stamp, trying hard to rub it away. It doesn’t smudge, so I rub harder.

Tobias puts his hand under my chin, forcing me to look up into his blue eyes that shine against the diamonds painted on his face. “You won’t be alone in there,” he says. “I’ll be with you.” Tobias grabs the arm still trying to smudge the stamp and puts it in the crook of his elbow.

Kenan’s jaw tenses but he doesn’t speak. Instead, he offers his arm, and I take it without question. I need the anchors. Smoke and mirrors. Right?

Arm in Arm, together, they lead me to the center of the stage, where The Ringmaster waits. The light changes to something colder – a light blue.