was gone. The daze that hit her struck just as instantly. For so long, she’d danced with a mask, known only as the powerful showgirl who descended from the chandelier.
To pass strangers who remembered her from one night, one act, bewildered her.
She’d known she could do it, just not how it would feel. As if the world really were at her fingertips. Always there, waiting for her to reach.
Her exhaustion almost dissolved altogether in the thrilling rush. Kallia ventured on, light on her feet until the streets grew emptier, and the air more musical. Purple-striped circus tents came into view as she rounded a corner that brought her toward the Alastor Place. Nestled around the entrance of the foreboding palace, the bright campsite of the Conquering Circus was sprawled out. The tent openings flapped in the wind, exposing slivers of the whole company inside. Boisterous laughter, shrill banter, and the music of strummed strings and piano keys pounding out a melody that demanded and beckoned.
Kallia drew closer, eyes closed to savor the energy. Of all the things she missed most about Hellfire House, it was this. Music loud and lively enough to drown out all thought and transport her.
When she peeled back the tent flap and stepped in, the warm air hit her in a wave soaked sweet with gin and smoke. The wide connecting tents housed tables of all sizes, scattered and packed to the brim with card games and players on each side. Racks of costumes of all textures and colors had been pushed to corners where props of different shapes and shades stood: stacks of large metal rings studded with flowers and gems, narrow vats of water glowing with strands of seaweed and red coral, rough rope-hewn scratching posts as tall as men, and in the shape of them, too.
It was like stepping into a completely other world. One that paused, as if a storm had blown in. The musicians played on in the background, but all chairs turned in her direction. Card games stalled, and laughter hushed into curious whispers and glances.
“Look what the ice dragged in.”
Canary came up behind her, arms crossed with a simmering expression. “You have a lot of nerve coming here. Finally got bored enough to spare a visit and pay your thanks?”
The bite in her tone scraped hard. “I had my reasons for not coming sooner.”
“Too many adoring fans to attend to first?”
Kallia’s brow hardened. “I was ill,” she said, not sure why she was even admitting it. But she only had so much energy to spare, and she’d rather not waste it keeping a mask in place. Not in these tents. “You know that adrenaline you get during a performance, and the crash that hits you after? Stage magic doubles that weight. And the recovery is much longer. Being a magician yourself, surely you understand.”
Canary stilled, blinking rapidly. “It’s just … I thought you’d—”
“What, that I wouldn’t feel pain like everyone else?” Kallia chuckled. “That I’m somehow indestructible?”
“No, it’s … you’re different from those other magicians, that’s all. Even the ones I’ve seen on the road. Born, acquired,” she said, running a hand through the messy ends of her hair. “It wouldn’t have surprised me to see you coming out of that first show ready for another right after.”
“I absolutely would’ve if it had to be done.” Kallia cocked her hip. “Power might come naturally to some, but it’s still hard work to pull off the unimaginable.”
Canary absorbed the information with a chagrined tilt of her head, not uncommon from a bird listening to the song of another. “I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be.” Kallia inhaled deeply, taking a sweeping look around her. “I truly do apologize for not coming sooner, though. Looks like I’ve been missing quite a party.”
“We’ve been restless.” The circus performer’s shoulders fell. “Ever since that night.”
“How did Rayne take it?” The only thing Kallia had been truly worried about was causing any problems for the girls. Who knew what their contracts stipulated if they detracted.
“Oh, he loved it.” Bitterness cut her tone. “Went about like he’d been in on the act.”
That didn’t shock her in the least. “Glad to hear there was no trouble.”
“Trouble doesn’t scare us.” Canary gave a cheeky grin that bunched the scar across her face. “He hasn’t given us a shred of recognition since, though. So we’ve been occupying our time in other ways.”
Kallia didn’t quite catch her meaning, until she looked closer at the people sprawled around the game tables. Men and women,