Page 50 of Circus From Hell

She snaps her head to look at me, eyes thinning. “I’m not a monssster. And no, I don’t get nervous.”

“Must be nice,” I huff. “Don’t you have to get off? Your owner will be looking for you.”

“Spiral is not my owner. Kreo isss.”

“That doesn’t bother you? Being owned?”

She blinks. “Why would it?”

I guess her life really is that simple.

“Some people want freedom.”

“I didn’t.” She looks to the bedroom door again. “Until I met you two.”

“Me included?”

“I like your muscles. You look fun to chase.”

I laugh under my breath, and her stitched lips pull up in a big smile.

“I don’t want that clown at my door when he comes looking for you.”

“You don’t like clowns.” She says it as a statement, and I raise one eyebrow again in question. “Your heartbeat sssped up when Spiral walked in.”

“And you didn’t attack me or try to eat me?”

“Arlo wanted me to prove self-control. I did it. I’m not going back to the circus until Arlo is okay. I can eat Spiral if he comesss looking for me.”

I guess I appreciate that. Not the eating clowns part but being kept company. Usually, I like the silence and the darkness, but Karma can hear Arlo’s heartbeat from here. If it were to change, she would be quicker to act than me. And I should probably start to admit to myself that her company isn’t that bad. She’s not so scary now that I know she feels emotions like the rest of us, even if not as potently.

After a long bout of silence, I sit up and turn to face her. “What are you?”

She does that thing again. Blinking. Staring off into space. It’s like she has to retreat deep into her mind to find an answer; most of us would be able to feign an expression of some kind. She doesn’t. She goes blank.

“I’m a creation of Kreo’s.”

“But what does that mean?”

She blinks again. “I was made with electricity.”

“So you don’t bleed? Breathe? Have a heartbeat?” She shakes her head. “You’re powered by electricity?” She nods.

I’m secretly in awe. I never thought something like that was possible yet alone sustainable.

“What about the hunting and eating people? What’s that about?”

Karma shrugs. “I don’t think Kreo knowsss.”

That must suck. To not understand your own existence.

I fear I judged Karma too early. Arlo saw through her quicker because he has a heart of gold. I saw teeth and death and blood. If she needs human flesh, am I any better for eating animal meat? Sure, her methods are more violent and disturbing, but if that’s all she knows, how is she supposed to change that? Would she want to change it?

“You liked watching me with Arlo. I could sssmell it.”

There’s no point denying it. “I’ve wanted Arlo for a long time. I’ll admit that I do feel jealous and protective over him, but yes, I like watching you two.”

“But you don’t like me on my own like Arlo and Soren do?” Her head tilts aside, the rattle of the bells in her hair echoing around the room.