The Immortal Circus: Final Act (Cirque des Immortels) Read Online Free Page A

around to make sure no one's watching, but the troupe is already settling into work mode—the performers begin their morning warm-ups and practice, the concessionaires check inventory, and the tent crew…well, they do whatever a group of angry Shifters do when they aren't striking or setting up the tent. Mostly, drink. When it's obvious the coast is clear, she opens the door and gestures me inside.
    A few months ago, Kingston enchanted Melody's bunk to keep it safe from prying ears. The magic never wore off—it's the only place in this company where it's safe to talk about anything important.
    “What's going on?” she asks the moment the door is shut behind her. “I thought we agreed we should keep our distance.”
    I nod and go over to her bed. Her bunk is the same size as mine, but she's definitely lived in it longer. The walls are painted hunter green, and there are stacks of books piled on the makeshift shelves, along with a few dozen candles and a photo of her and Sara. Every time I see that photo, I want to apologize. In it, she and her girlfriend are smiling by the beach, frozen in a moment of romantic bliss. She says she keeps it as a reminder of Mab's treachery, a reason to fight back. I see it as a reminder of the monster wearing my skin.
    “I know we shouldn't be seen together,” I say. I sit down on her unmade mattress and she settles down next to me. Aside from the folding chair beside her tiny desk, it's the only piece of furniture in this cramped space. “But something's wrong. Lilith spoke to me today.”
    “Oh.” She pauses. “What cheery news did our little poltergeist impart?”
    “I don't know. A lot of the same. Oberon is marching, that sort of thing. But she said something about the end coming in three.” I glance at her. “What do you think she means?”
    Mel shrugs. “Who knows with her? She might just be talking out of her ass. Not literally, of course, though I wouldn't put it past her.”
    I don't laugh, and I don't say anything. Her momentary attempt at humor vanishes.
    “I don't know,” she continues. “But it's never good, is it? Mab's readying for war, Oberon's readying for war, and we're the prize waiting in the middle. Granted, in this case, the prize also has a demon waiting to break free and tear both teams apart.” She sighs and flops back on her bed. “Nothing like waiting to die, eh?”
    “That's the thing. I'm not going to just sit around and wait for one of them to claim us.”
    “We're already claimed, love. This is still Mab's show.”
    “You know what I mean.”
    She nods.
    “When we were leaving Summer,” I say slowly, “you mentioned that you were readying the troupe for war. Do you think…do you think they'd still fight? If the Courts attacked, would they fight back?”
    “Maybe,” she considers. “They're pretty pissed—I don't think they'd rally under any flag but their own, to be honest. But I also don't think they'd just bend over and take it.” She glances at me. “Are you thinking of raising an army?”
    The vision burns in the back of my mind: the tent in flames, the whole troupe rent apart and burning in the fields.
    “If they'll fight,” I say.
    “One problem: We're sworn to Mab, remember? Even if the troupe did rally under your flag, it's a contractual impossibility to rebel against her. No matter what, we're still her bitch.”
    “Contracts can change,” I offer.
    “Not without the book.”
    I growl and lie back on the bed.
    “I just feel like we should be doing something, you know? I'm tired of waiting around for someone to try and kill us.”
    She chuckles. “Look on the bright side: if Lilith's telling the truth, we don't have too long to wait.”
    “You're horrible,” I say.
    “And that's why you love me.”
* * *
    My pulse was still racing when Mel parked the car in the lot outside the new pitch. She let it idle and looked over at me, her expression concerned.
    “Are you going to tell me what's going on?” she asked.
    I