“So, you were a teacher, huh?” Jane asked as Kitty brushed Joanne’s hair. Maya only knew it was Jane talking to her because they wore custom name necklaces. Otherwise, they were eerily identical, even for twins.
“Yeah. Middle school health,” Maya replied.
Jane yelped a laugh and covered her mouth. “Sorry. That sounds like a special kind of hell.”
“Sometimes. There’s worse,” Maya said pointedly.
“I remember middle school,” Joanne said. “I’m pretty sure there isn’t. Do you get to talk about STDs and condoms, or are you part of that abstinence-only crap that doesn’t work?”
“We’re the decorative buckle of the Bible Belt, yes, but our district subscribes to an all-of-the-above approach, at least for now,” Maya said. “Drives our diocese nuts. It’s one of the few things that unites us Catholics with the Baptists in our area. I occasionally get dirty looks at Mass when the debate flares up, but that’s about it. Really, it’s not all sex-ed. It’s nutrition and illnesses and mental well-being and standing up to peer pressure, too. There’s, like, one unit on the birds and the bees.”
“I’m pretty sure the only part people remember is the biological drawings of penises and vaginas and the fact it says ‘erection’ in a textbook,” Jane said.
“They’re teenagers. What else are they going to zero in on? Hopefully the rest of the information sinks in by virtue of their deep and abiding interest in sex. Right, Maya?” Joanne said.
“That’s the idea,” Maya replied, finally smiling a little. It was hard to remember the humor about her job when she’d recently been fired for being kidnapped.
But Jane had put a finger on what Maya usually said to irrationally concerned parents who thought she was teaching their children about fisting, anilingus and the joys of homosexual sex. It was natural for teenagers to hone in on the sex, but Maya had always found it interesting how much the adults did as well. Maya had had to try to untangle a host of unhealthy habits parents had taught their kids about eating and dealing with stress and relationships, but obviously, it had been learning about safer sex that was really going to hurt these kids. She hadn’t been able to roll her eyes far enough back in her head.
“So you’ve been around here a while, Maya,” Jane said, “but I haven’t seen you on stage or on the Row, and to be honest, it’s kind of making me nervous.”
“Making you nervous?” Maya said.
“Nervous for you,” Jane said.
“He says he’s still in the planning stages for a lovely assistant gig. The longer he plans, the more worried I get too,” Maya said.
“We had one of those for a while,” Joanne said, “back when Bell was doing more performances.”
“He joins in as the wind blows,” Kitty said. “Keeps his immortal self interested. But the last girl wasn’t hurt by her job. I wouldn’t worry too much, Maya.”
Maya kept the ‘Easy for you to say’ to herself. Kitty had her own problems.
“What did happen to the last lovely assistant?” Maya asked.
“That was near the beginning of my tenure,” Kitty said. “She wished out, and Bell let her go without a hitch, as far as I know. I don’t remember how long she’d been here. You can’t tell by how people look.”
“Why not?” Maya asked.
“We don’t age here,” Joanne said. “It’s like we don’t even live in the world. We’re just passing by—or passing through.”
“It’s nice not seeing myself get older,” Jane said, “because the world needs two someones this cute. But then you realize everyone on the outside is getting older. The longer you’re in, the further you are from the outside. I guess we’re okay with that, but I know Christina…” She cut off, lowering her eyes.
“Wait, Kitty, so you’re—?” Maya said.
“Forty-two,” Kitty said. “Not that it would make a difference, really. The hair hides most wrinkles.” She smiled. “I’m saving a fortune on hair dye for concealing grays, though.”
“Do you have anything waiting for you on the outside?” Maya asked.
“I stay in touch with my folks and some friends,” Kitty said. “I call. We’re on Facebook.”
“Yeah,” Joanne said, “Kitty gets to go online. The Ringmaster has the only computer, but for some reason that doesn’t freak Kitty out enough to go Luddite.”
Kitty’s mouth quirked in a grin, but her eyes seemed sad. She moved to work on Jane’s hair.
“Mind if I ask a personal question?” Jane asked Maya. “I mean, none of us but Kitty have gotten to talk to you much.”
“Sure. I’m not excessively unfriendly, just…”
“New,” Joanne finished for her. “Don’t worry. It took me five months or so to start talking with people. Being stuck in a demonic circus like this doesn’t exactly lend itself to a social life.”
“Are you sleeping with the boss?” Jane asked.
Kitty’s hairbrush slipped out of her hand, and Maya sputtered into her novelty tankard of ale.
“I’d sound shocked and mortified,” Joanne said, “but I knew she was dying to ask. I guess I could still be shocked and mortified that she actually did.”
“It’s just that Lennon’s not the most trustworthy demon that ever lived,” Jane said.
“Bell does kind of…hover, though, and the two of you have this tension going on. I can’t explain it. I just wanted to know.”
“That is so inappropriate to ask, though,” Joanne chimed in, “so if you don’t want to answer, you can just keep it a mystery for everyone. ‘Neither confirm nor deny’ and all that.”
“No, it’s—” Maya coughed and wiped her mouth. Then she took another swallow, because if ever there was time for ale… “I’m just deeply ashamed. And kind of afraid for my life.”
“Bell can’t threaten you to have sex with him,” Kitty said, troubled. “If he is, he’s bluffing. I can report it to the Ringmaster if you don’t feel comfortable doing it yourself.”
“No, no, Bell isn’t forcing me to do anything except, you know, be here,” Maya replied. “I’m just afraid Valorie’s going to slit my throat in my sleep. She doesn’t know, right? She doesn’t know for sure?”
“I haven’t told her,” Joanne said.
Kitty shook her head. “Neither have I.”
“That doesn’t mean she doesn’t know,” Jane said.
Kitty sat down on her cot and rested her chin in her hand. “Valorie’s no fool. She’s been with Bell for longer than I’ve been here. If I had to guess, it’s almost twenty years for her.”
“They’re practically married then. Oh God, I’m the other woman, aren’t I?” Maya said. “When did this happen?”
Joanne snickered. “I’m not laughing at you,” she said. “Just the way you said it. Sorry.”
“I don’t know what she was like before I came on,” Kitty continued. “I know she wasn’t voluntary originally, but about the time I came, she transitioned into one. She’s a nice girl, but she’s more devoted to Bell than Bell is to her. It’s not her fault. She’s forgetting what he is. And more importantly, what he isn’t. I don’t think anyone’s ever seen him out of his human form. He makes it easy to forget.”
“Yep, I’m the other woman,” Maya said, slumping in her chair and hiding her face. “I can’t believe this. I don’t even want to be with him. If he ignored me and had screaming sex with Valorie all the time, well, it would be inconvenient and annoying, but at least it wouldn’t be with me.”
Kitty stroked her shoulder softly. “I think what you mean is that you don’t want to want to be with him.”
Maya peeked through her fingers, flirting with anger and deciding on resignation instead. Lashing out at Kitty wasn’t going to make Maya feel better.
“I’m ninety-eight percent sure that Valorie isn’t going to try to murder you in your sleep,” Kitty said. “Bell had other conquests before her and a few during. Most of them are alive.”
“You’re not helping,” Maya said.
&n
bsp; “I think she means Bell wasn’t the one who…” Jane drifted off, and both Joanne and Jane tilted their heads the same way at the same time. “That doesn’t help either, does it?”
“There hasn’t been a lover’s spat in Arcanium for a long time, aside from Bale and Lady Sasha now and then, but they’re exceptional,” Kitty reassured Maya. “Everyone knows the rules. Those who aren’t afraid of Bell are afraid of the Ringmaster, and those not intimidated by the Ringmaster are intimidated by Bell. It’s a totalitarian but effective system. When it comes to Bell, Maya, try not to worry. If you pardon the blasphemy, he’s like God. He never gives you more than you can handle.”
“Of course, sometimes you don’t want to know how much you can handle,” Joanne muttered.
* * * *
Maya waited by the cages. During that evening’s performance, the lion, Jason, had poked his nose out between the bars, and Maya had obligingly scratched his head. She got the impression that Jason and Lily didn’t get much in the way of kindness, locked away as they always were. Maya didn’t care what sins they’d committed. Jason and Lily always seemed so pleased to be shown a little affection, even just an acknowledgement that they were lost souls, too.
She jumped out of the way as the Ringmaster approached with Lily. Jason withdrew to the back of the cage, the rumble of contentment becoming a growl, not threatening so much as threatened.
The Ringmaster glanced at Maya, but as animated as he was in the ring, he went completely blank when he stepped behind the curtain again. His black eyes stared into her, through her, plunging, ripping and peering into her soul.
See something you like? Maya thought, self-loathing coating her tongue like cinnamon. She thought she might choke on it.
Then he looked away, and the brimstone ash that had clouded her mind disappeared.
Maya didn’t care what Kitty said. That wasn’t jinn. The Ringmaster was a fucking demon.
The lion and tiger met at the small doors on the sides of their cages, doors with latches that could be worked with small human hands and a hole that could be traversed only by a small human being, certainly not the bulky animals they were during the day. They were always human in the morning, so Maya assumed they transformed sometime in the night in order to keep prying outsider eyes from possibly seeing naked humans in a cage meant for large felines.
They touched noses through the steel mesh doors.
“Have a good evening,” she whispered before giving them some time alone.
Bell lingered with Valorie after she’d exited the ring. There was no way he didn’t know that Valorie was feeling ignored, so Maya didn’t understand why he played this charade of cluelessness. Maybe it amused him—or maybe it didn’t seem important. After all, he had his contortionist and his new girl, and so far they were all living together without incident. What did he have to complain about?
She should have walked out of the big top right then in female solidarity and disgust. But she’d had so many opportunities to tell him no, not this time, not anymore, and she had taken advantage of none of those opportunities. Even when he was in the arms of another woman, Maya couldn’t help but look over at him as though he could feel her touch by the intensity of her gaze.
Bell and Valorie kissed unhurriedly in front of the rest of the cast like teenagers, simultaneously a declaration of ownership and an indifference to judgment.
As Lady Sasha and Lord Mikhail passed them—followed, as always, by a smitten Bale at Lady Sasha’s heels—Bell slipped his hand between Valorie’s legs, caressing her in full, firm, strong strokes that fluttered her eyelids and wrenched a moan from her lips as she clutched Bell’s shoulders and moved her hips in time.
He whispered something in her ear. Valorie kissed him soundly again, and Bell stroked her through a small, shuddering orgasm.
When Valorie headed out of the tent, she met Maya’s eyes with no trouble. So she had guessed Maya had been watching, had wanted her to watch. Maya hated Bell enough that jealousy wasn’t a word in their vocabulary, but the challenge and possessiveness in Valorie’s dark eyes was undeniable.
Eventually this triple tango was going to lead to a bloody lip. Maya wasn’t a dancer, and Valorie could salsa circles around her.
Crap, crap, crap.
The big top cleared out one by one—two by two when necessary—until the only movement came from the pacing big cats and Bell. At least that’s what Maya thought when Bell finally beckoned her closer to the red curtain.
Then two figures emerged from the shadows of the haphazardly stacked props.
Bell twirled one of her black curls out, chuckling the second he felt her freeze.
“What’s the hell’s going on?” Maya asked. “What new depravity have you drummed up in that devious little brain of yours?”
“I’m flattered,” Bell said.
“No, you’re not,” Maya said. “I’m pretty sure I just insulted you.”
“I know better than you what my devious little brain is capable of. I find your largely ignorant acknowledgement of it complimentary,” Bell replied.
“Ignorant?” Maya said. “I’ve been watching it at work the last few weeks.”
“I am tens of thousands of years old. You haven’t even begun to watch me work.”
Maya’s heart raced. It seemed to batter her ribs. “What are you thinking of?” she asked.
“Your eyes grow so large when you’re afraid,” Bell said, tracing her eyebrows. He lifted her chin and gave her a light kiss on her forehead. “How many times do I need to tell you that you have no reason to fear the darkness here? They cannot harm you.”
“They can’t hurt me,” Maya said.
“More than you wish,” Bell corrected. “I think you and I have found that pain has a place with pleasure. It’s a subtle distinction, my dear.”
“So is the distinction between ‘harm’ and ‘hurt’. They don’t have to physically hurt me to harm me,” Maya replied.
“True,” Bell said. “But all they want to do is enjoy you and allow you to enjoy them.”
“Is this a joke?” Maya asked. She looked up at the giant of a demon who towered above her even at a distance then down to the little man who barely reached halfway up her thigh—and Maya wasn’t tall by any means.
“I’d call that insulting,” Moss, the smaller of the two, said with feigned indignation. On the contrary, her reaction appeared to please him. His pointy smile widened.
“I’m not a cup of wine, Bell,” Maya said. “You don’t get to just pass me around for people to taste.”
“No, you’re not,” he agreed. He pressed his thumb against her full lower lip.
Maya stayed stubborn and close-mouthed at first, but as he continued to stare hungrily at where he touched her, she parted her lips and allowed him inside. She sucked lightly at the pad of his thumb and ran her teeth over it as he pulled out again.
“This isn’t like that,” he said.
“And I thought you said you didn’t intend to share,” Maya said.
“I meant that I had no intention to share then,” Bell replied. “This isn’t then. Now I want to watch you with them.”
“With them. Both of them. At the same time?” she asked incredulously. “Is that even physically possible?”
“I should think so,” Ciarán replied. It was the first time she’d ever heard him speak. He rumbled like a rolling groan of wind, his voice unbelievably low and round.
“Ciarán and Moss do everything together,” Bell said. “It’s necessary for them. They’re symbiotic. None of us quite know how how—even I—and they haven’t volunteered the information.”
“A man should have his secrets,” Moss said.
“Yeah, if there’s anything Arcanium needs, it’s more secrets,” Maya said.
Moss toyed with the leather part of her skirt.
“Hey,” she exclaimed, shifting out of his grip.
Moss raised his hands defensively, stepping back.
Maya turned back to Bell, g
rasping his shoulders, her lips near his ear.
“This is feeling distinctly like sharing a cup of wine, Bell,” she said.
“Would it assuage your concern if I told you that you would derive incomprehensible pleasure from it?” Bell asked. He toyed with her draped sleeves, drawing them down her forearms to tease the fabric into a gradual fold over her prominent curves. “Do it for me, Maya.”
He seemed to be trying to tell her something underneath the request.
“So…you mean it would please you,” Maya said slowly. Derrick’s wish whispered through her head as soon as she said it, and she understood.
Bell couldn’t lock her in with the demons according to his own principles. But he could open the door.
“Yes. It would,” Bell purred, kissing down her neck. He dragged his lips over her breast. When his lips met thin fabric, he didn’t let that deter him. He closed his mouth over the peak of her breast, dampening the shirt as he worried her nipple into a hard nub that was evident against the fabric when he raised his head again. “Watching your pleasure would please me greatly.”
It’s not always about you. Derrick saying it had only caused her to want to make everything about her just to spite him. That and hold up a mirror.
But Bell had made it clear to her that her pleasure was his. Somewhat perversely, she trusted him when he said she would enjoy it, because that was what he’d want from her. For her.
She looked between the two demons, still mostly wearing their human faces. But as they saw her warming to the idea, their eyes went black, and Ciarán’s alarming chompers pushed against his mouth.
As long as she was in this handbasket, there was no reason she couldn’t invite a few demons to join her. They were all heading the same direction anyway.
Maya couldn’t begin to imagine what it would be like to be taken by two men of such disparate size—while Bell was watching, no less—but trying to imagine it made her cheeks flush and her folds tingle with interest as wet heat trickled down her body and between her legs.
Her curiosity was going to kill her one day.
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