It did have the effect of making her clearheaded again, but she needed to leave this circus and get back to Audrey and Jason… Ben. It would take time to process what she now knew about Todd, but they would help her.

Following them back into the center ring, Lara saw it was now filled with the performers, standing at attention. Althacazur walked over to Cecile and pulled her chin up. “I agree, the grave mistake that I made was separating you two in the first place. You were perfect as you were. I failed to see that. When this is all over, you two will be reunited. I promise you.” Althacazur stroked her face. “I refused to intervene between you girls once, but I’m going to do so now. It needs to be by your hand, though, Cecile. I warned you once, this battle is between the two of you. I’ve helped you enough by bringing Lara here and making sure her magic is strong. She’s the perfect weapon.”

He walked around the arena, sweeping his hand like Vanna White. “So here you go. I built you a circus, Lara Barnes! Remember, when I came to visit you as a child, I told you that this circus was your destiny.” He put his arms out. “The care of these creatures falls to you now, my dear. You see, the circus requires a human patron. You are human enough, though powerful cambion blood—mine—flows through you. This magnificent legacy needs one who cares for it and keeps its connection to the outside world, perhaps one who can convince the tickets to come back out.” He shrugged. “I’d hoped that Sylvie would follow her mother and become the patron, but that was not to be. Then my hopes rested on dear Margot, then Audrey. But now with you, Lara, at the helm, I will finally be free of this place to go and be the daemon artist that I am intended to be.”

They were all staring at her—the performers, Althacazur, Margot, Cecile, Doro, and Tisdale. Lara looked around, confused, not realizing they were waiting for a reply. She stumbled a little, still woozy. “But I don’t want a circus.” What Lara needed was to think… and to mourn. This was absurd. All of it. As she spoke, though, the creatures all seemed to sink in front of her. The elephant, the winged lion, and Tisdale put their heads down. The music that was playing stopped abruptly.

Althacazur adjusted himself and Cecile started to speak, but he cut her off.

He walked toward her, Lara shrinking in his presence. Suddenly this felt like touring a time-share facility, and she now had to endure the sales pitch.