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“Liza’s right,” I added. “Tricking you into joining a traveling troupe was a terrible thing for them to do.”
Anishaa lifted a shoulder and tore off chunks of her biscuit. “They brought me here and life has been good with the Moonlight Carnival. I have money, food, friends. It turned out to be all right.”
“Mephistopheles was the one who did that to you?” I asked, trying very hard to not have my china rattle as my hands shook. “He tricked you from your home and family?”
“He—” Anishaa briefly dropped her gaze to her lap before continuing. “He hires people in countries he visits to seek out talent. Anyone who’s been through a… difficult time… he invites into the carnival and trains. The choice is ultimately ours to make, but he makes the deal hard to pass on.”
“So is everyone in the carnival from a different country?”
“Mostly. Jian is from China. Sebastián, Spain. Andreas is from Bavaria, Cassie is French, though she speaks in an English accent. And I’m from India.”
“You mentioned he seeks those who’ve had a difficult time; what exactly do you mean?” I asked, though Liza gave me a look that said I was an idiot for prying.
“We all have reasons to leave our lives behind.” She inhaled deeply. “Now, would you like to know how I swallow flames? That’s what everyone wants, though most don’t really want the magic or illusion destroyed.”
I studied her for another moment, knowing the inquiry into her past and the carnival was now over. I didn’t quite know what to make of Mephistopheles. He didn’t necessarily save anyone, but I couldn’t quite say he’d harmed or tricked them, either. Though maybe they didn’t see it that way, perhaps resentment started as a small cut and became infected over time. Perhaps someone wanted the Moonlight Carnival to be destroyed as revenge for taking them from their homes.
“Well?” Anishaa asked. “Would you like to know?”
“Please,” I said, shaking thoughts of potential motives away. “How do you swallow the flames and not get burnt?”
She pushed herself up, gracefully trekking across the floor as if it were the stage. I wondered if the performers ever dropped their acts, or if their entire existence was given over to their craft.
“Observe this taper.” Anishaa removed a candlestick from its holder on my nightstand, lit the end, then turned it nearly upside down. Wax beaded, slipping toward the floor. “Where does the flame go when I hold it this way?”
Understanding dawned. “Away from the bottom, or,” I added, “if it were during one of your performances, the flame would be reaching away from your mouth.”
“See?” Anishaa smiled warmly. “You’re a natural.” She cupped her palm around the candle, snuffing the flame out, and set it back in its holder. “Same principle is applied when I ‘swallow the fire.’ All I’m doing is removing the heat from my face, then carefully exhaling as I put the torch in my mouth. Most living things need oxygen to breathe, even fire. Deny it of that? And it dies like anything would.” She folded herself back on the floor where Liza and I remained seated. “The real trick is using the laws of physics. Like that scientist… Newton? Mephistopheles taught me all about him. He was right, it helped hone my performances.”
Her voice changed a bit while speaking of the ringmaster, admiration tinged with a bit of longing. I wondered if there was a person aboard this ship who hadn’t fallen under his spell. Well, besides Thomas.
“Does Mephistopheles help all the performers?” I asked, eyes fixed on my teacup. I imagined he charmed young men and women in each city or town they’d passed through. If she’d harbored feelings for him that he didn’t return, perhaps it might prove to be motive. That mixed with resentment would be a powerful reason. “He seems as smart as he is handsome.”
Liza shot me an incredulous look, but pressed her lips together. Apparently, I was in for a good scolding once we were alone. Despite what everyone in London thought of Thomas and his odd behavior, Liza liked him very much, and my interest in the ringmaster was not right in her romantic book, no matter what my reasons were.
“Mephistopheles is…” Anishaa seemed to formulate her answer carefully. “He’s very gifted at what he does. Many benefit from the lessons he chooses to give. We’re all very grateful to him.”
I sat back, fiddling with the buttons on the side of my gloves. “Did he give such lessons to Cassie?”
Liza suddenly found her tea infinitely intriguing, and Anishaa seemed at a loss for words.
“Would you like to see him as no one aside from his performers do?” Anishaa finally asked. I hoped she didn’t mean naked as the day he’d come into this world. I nodded slowly. “Meet me on the second-class promenade in one hour. Then you’ll understand why we’d all do anything for him.”
Plague doctor
TWENTY-FIVE
GEARS AND GADGETS
AUDREY ROSE’S CABIN
RMS ETRURIA
6 JANUARY 1889
“Would you care to explain what that was about, Cousin?”
Liza’s cheeks were splotchy pink, a great indication of how upset she was. Any moment steam might shoot from her ears. I swallowed nervous laughter, knowing she wouldn’t appreciate being told she was her mother’s daughter in this moment.
