Page 42 of Circus From Hell

“Sssstay away from me,” I demand, backflipping and releasing the silk to land on bare feet.

“Just admit you’re a horny freak like the rest of us. You think you’re so special, huh?”

I don’t know where he got that idea from. Probably because that’s exactly what Kreo thinks.

“Sssso jealous.” I walk towards him, and I feel the thread in my thigh pulling. It’s not far from needing new stitches, but I ignore it, closing in on Spiral’s defiant face. “Get over it, Sssspiral.”

“He won’t care about you forever. That pet in the cage? That’s his latest fixation. He’ll start parading it around on a leash, and you’ll be forgotten.”

Kreo wouldn’t forget me. Spiral wants to try and hurt me, but I can’t feel hurt.

“You’d know all about that. You’re hissss forgotten toy,” I seethe, up in his face, and he glares right back.

I turn and leave. The show will be starting soon; I need to get changed and fix my leg before then. He can deal with Moxie’s wrath on his own. I might just eat her if she tries to unleash it on me.

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

KARMA

Four Years Ago

“You’re not being stealthy enough, Karma.”

The bells in my hair jingle loudly as I crawl across the ground in the centre of the show tent. Kreo is letting me out hunting on my own soon, but he isn’t confident that I won’t be caught yet. He’s been bringing me human meat after the show, but it’s not enough for me anymore.

“If I can hear the bells, then so can everyone else, including your target. You don’t want to get caught eating someone, you understand?” He reaches down and puts his hand to my cheek. “I’m trying to keep you safe. Okay?”

I nod. Kreo looks after me.

“Try again. And remember to be lighter on your feet.”

The soles of my feet are quiet against the ground as I move forward with my hands spread in front of me, and Kreo steps back to watch. My bells rattle faintly once, and when I stand and turn to face Kreo, he’s smiling. “Much better, child. Well done.”

“Am I ready?”

He blows out a breath, looking around the tent like he’s decided. “I think you are. But you need to be aware of your surroundings. At all times. I can’t protect you if you get caught, Karma.” I nod, only slightly so my bells don’t jingle. “You can go out after the show tonight, but you need to be back before the hour, or I’ll be sending Spiral to find you.”

He doesn’t realise that’s a threat. He thinks Spiral would be helping him, but that clown would be looking for me to torment.

As if hearing his name summoned him, Spiral walks into the show ring when Kreo leaves. He has an open bottle of whisky in his hand, and my sense of smell means I can already smell it on his mouth. Sometimes I get overwhelmed with how much I can smell or hear, especially when Spiral is around. He’s loud, rude, and drunk.

“What are you doing in here, dead girl?” He stops in front of me, sidestepping when I try to walk away to block me from leaving.

“What do you want?”

“Your head on a stick would be pretty neat, wouldn’t ya say?”

I growl and reveal my pointed teeth. “Go away.”

“No. I don’t think I will. And I asked you a question. What are you doing in here?”

“None of your busssinessss.”

He cringes, like my tongue offends him. “What happens in my circus is my business.”

“It isss not yoursss.” I take another step, and he does the same, not letting me pass. He’s not scared of me like the others are. He knows that Kreo has trained me thoroughly to not attack or eat the performers. That doesn’t mean I don’t want to. If I could kill and eat Spiral—as well as Moxie, who also really hates me, and Baxter, who’s annoyingly arrogant—then I’d do so in a heartbeat. “Let me go.”

“You’re stronger than me, aren’t you? Why don’t you take me down?”