intimidate her.
For once, she wasn’t scared. She smiled up at him. “And I have seen into the void that sits at the heart of the tower. I have seen all of its history on this planet. I have seen all the damage it has done to humanity, and I promise you—it pales in comparison to even the most benign of countries or religions. No. It doesn’t do these things to ‘lull us into complacency.’ Why keep so many of us if that were true? It only needs the one. Why not rule the world? Why not eat people whole like I did to Duncan?”
Ringmaster didn’t reply. His hands clenched into fists.
“Because Harrow Faire, whether you like it or not, has more empathy than you do.” She looked to Amanda, and her heart broke. “Tell me you knew what he was doing…please.”
Turk sighed in frustration. “Very well. The secret is out. You’ve told them all the fate that awaits them. That I will see this place stricken from the face of the Earth. Do you intend to stop me?”
Cora tucked her hands into her pockets, and then immediately regretted it. They were either crunchy, sticky, or both. She made a blechk noise and pulled her hands quickly back out. Now she needed a napkin. “Y’know what? I did. I was planning on marching in here, ripping your head off, and draining what’s left of your putrid soul and using it to feed the Faire. But I won’t. Not yet.”
Turk furrowed his brow in confusion. “Why?”
“Because I won’t be a hypocrite or a coward. Because if I’m going to condemn you for not giving the Family a say in matters, then…I can’t turn around and do the same thing. They deserve a chance to choose.” She wiped her hand off on her pants. They were ruined anyway. She really needed a damn shower. “Here’s what’s going to happen. We’re going to put it to a vote. Everyone here gets the chance to say whether they think we should be allowed to exist—or if we should all die. If you win? You win. We starve, and we die. And I’ll be quiet about it, or you can put me back in the tower.” She paused thoughtfully. “After the Faire fixes the doors. Whatever. And if I win?” She grinned at Turk. The Ringmaster took a step back. Oh, that felt good. No wonder Simon was such a sadistic freak. That was intoxicating. “Well, we’ll discuss what happens to you then.”
“You want to vote now?” Turk arched a thick black eyebrow.
“No. I’m exhausted. I really, really need a fucking shower, and I think Simon’s eaten all of the sausage.”
“No,” Simon called through a full mouth. “I left you plenty!”
Cora chuckled tiredly. “I’m going to give everyone a week. They can ask me questions. Ask you questions. Decide for themselves. Think it over. Then we’ll meet in the big top, and we’ll vote. And we’ll end this once and for all.”
Turk looked at her down the length of his wide nose. “And what if I refuse?”
“Then I’ll tear you to pieces and drink you like a bottle of Gatorade, Ringmaster. And I’ll do the same to anyone who tries to stop me.” She felt her anger rise. With it, the darkness in her bubbled up to the surface. Something on her face must have changed. Simon had looked at her in horror the last time this happened, and now so did Ringmaster. It also felt fantastic. “You’re unarmed. Unprepared. And I’m fucking pissed.”
“I’d say ‘yes’ if I were you, fat man,” Simon called from the back of the tent. “She’s in a proper mood.”
Turk stammered and looked around the tent. There were just as many confused faces as angry ones. She wondered how many people would take her side. She wondered if they would win the vote.
She would know soon enough, she supposed. “I promise you this, Ringmaster. If I win, and if you lose the vote…I won’t string you up by your ankles or throw you into a pit. I won’t leave you in agony. I won’t torture you because I disagree with you. You know what kind of creature does that? A monster.”
She pushed past him at that, shoving the darkness back into the pit from where it came. It was like a muscle she was learning to flex. Like suddenly having grown wings or a tail, it was taking a bit of adjustment not to use it randomly. She walked to the