“You know what will happen to them.” Althacazur’s voice was calm. He pointed to the performers; gone was the jaunty ringleader. “I’ll just send them all back to Hell. They’ve served their purpose, babysitting Cecile and Esmé.” Lara saw his eyes weren’t amber at all—that had been an illusion. They were black, and she saw him in his true form—with a purple robe and the head of a ram—before he switched back to the handsome man with brown ringlets and eyes the color of dead grass. She’d recalled the online encyclopedia entry on him: Given his charm, he is often mistaken as a lighter demon, which is a grave mistake, for he is the most vain and unforgiving of all Hell’s generals.

Lara exhaled sharply and looked around the ring. The performers stared back at her like animals in a shelter.

“Ah hell, baby,” said Althacazur, cackling. “They can all just burn. It doesn’t matter to me. I’ll close the circus and send all of you back to Lucifer—you included, Cecile.” He spun toward Lara, his heels squeaking. “Then I’ll let you and Esmé duke it out. You’ll be dead in a day.” He turned dramatically. “More fodder for Lucifer.”

“Father.” It was Cecile, her voice sharp. “No! You can’t send them back. That would be cruel. You commuted their sentences, promising them that they could stay here for eternity. They all did as you asked.” She snorted. “Now it seems that you don’t want to be bothered with the burden of us all.” Her face fell. “I’m sorry, Lara. I didn’t realize he was bringing you here to trick you into taking over the circus.”

“You helped me bring her here,” said Althacazur. “Surely you knew.”

“You never said.” Cecile’s brows furrowed.

“And you, my dear, never asked.”

“Can I just speak for a moment?” Lara folded her hands in front of her, trying to compose herself. Beyond furious, she’d had it with this ridiculous world, this crazy story, and this nutty man. “I’ve listened to your story. I’ve watched the circus, which is lovely, by the way. I’ve gone on these fucked-up rides and eaten shit pops—a taste that I will never, ever get over. But to be clear, the only reason I came here is because you promised me that I’d find out what happened to my fiancé. And now I know the truth.” Lara’s voice broke and she paced. “He’s dead.” The word was like a razor, hard for her to utter.

Everyone watched her intently. Wiping mascara from her hands, she steeled herself and looked at Althacazur. “Now that I know what happened to him, I’d just like to go home.”