And Lara wanted to do it again, needed to do it again so badly that she immediately leapt off and spiraled to the other side, but then she slowed and hovered and began doing graceful spins, like water ballet in the air. A powerful feeling overtook her. Nothing in her life had ever felt as perfect as performing magic like this. Fuck a correction. Her magic didn’t need to be hidden or contained. As it flowed, she felt herself becoming stronger. This power had always been inside her, but she’d never been encouraged to use it, so like an undeveloped muscle it had withered—she had withered. Until now.

Then Cecile dove off the swing like she was diving into a pool and flew like a bird down to the ground, where she landed softly.

“Now you try it,” she said, calling up to Lara.

Lara hesitated, but Cecile held out her hand. “I won’t let anything happen to you, but you need to learn how to do this.” Cecile smiled but her voice was firm. “Come.”

What the hell, thought Lara. So she dove off the platform, thinking no as she fell. No, she would not fall. Lara dropped more like a leaf than like the purposeful dive Cecile had demonstrated. She landed a little two-footed, but Althacazur was very happy.

Still, it was Cecile whose approval Lara wanted most. The woman walked over and embraced her. “You were wonderful. I wasn’t as good my first time.” Lara’s legs were shaking, but she could feel the magic flowing through her like a current. She spun to face Althacazur. He had been right. This had been her destiny. There was a smile forming on his lips. He had lured her here with the promise of answers. Now she had them—Todd, Cecile, and what she really was.

Then, with a sweep of his hand, the performers were gone.

Althacazur sighed. “Can we discuss a little business now? I need Esmé here where she belongs. Lucifer is growing impatient.”

“But I don’t understand. You’re the daemon of really cool shit. Why can’t you bring your own daughter back into the circus? Why do you need anyone’s help?”

“Because he can’t.” It was Cecile who spoke; Althacazur looked shocked. “He’s never admitted it, but by seducing our mother and having us, he’d already caught the ire of the other daemons. It is forbidden, but he was the favorite, so Lucifer let it pass. But when he sent Esmé to the White Forest, it was Lucifer who found her and sent her back.” She pointed her comments to Althacazur. “After she returned, your behavior toward her changed. It’s my guess that you can’t touch her now, can you?”