Chapter Five
“What in hell was that about?” Victoria followed Lace toward her room.
“Who is she?” Lucille frowned. They took a turn into the performer’s hallway.
Instead of answering, Lace stormed down the long corridor. Her body shook with rage and red filled her vision. If she didn’t find an ounce of calm, she was sure fire would explode from her. Even the Paradox was in a frenzy as it vibrated in her pocket.
Her mind replayed the night’s show. She envisioned herself reaching out, grasping the auburn-haired woman, and then throwing her from the stage. It was a shame she hadn’t.
Killian had walked away and promptly disappeared when the woman vanished into the crowd. Lace’s heart raced as she took off after him. She searched the whole show, looking in every corner of the tent and even missed her cue to perform her act. She hadn’t cared. What she needed was answers, but it was apparent she would have to wait to get them.
One of the unicyclists waved at Lace from his doorway, but she couldn’t even see him. Her mind was completely gone in that moment, ravaged from anger. Finding her door, she threw it open, stepped inside, and slammed it shut so hard it rattled against the doorframe. She paced, reaching one end of the room, jerking around and storming toward the other, thinking of the way the woman spoke so casually, so alluringly to Killian. In front of everyone.
“Lace,” Victoria soothed. “It’s okay.”
“Is it though?” Her face flushed. If she weren’t careful, her anger would turn to tears. And if it did, she might never stop crying. “Killian allowed a stranger onto the stage with him. He allowed her to touch him.”
“I know,” Victoria said softly. “But it might not be what you think.”
“Did you see the way he looked at her?”
Victoria and Lucille stood quietly next to each other, their heads slightly down. It seemed neither wanted to admit they too had seen the look that passed Killian’s eyes while the woman toyed with him on stage. She said she wanted to impress him, and he had done nothing to stop her from doing just that. The pressing urge to scream to the heavens suffocated her as her addled mind continued to spiral.
“What do you want us to do?” Lucille asked. “We will help in any way we can.”
Lace shook her head. There was little they could do. Especially not before Killian decided to come back, and she could confront him. She closed her eyes and clenched her teeth. He hadn’t even waited until the next day to find the woman. He’d stormed off into the night to find her. To be by her side.
She couldn’t let go of the feeling that underneath his hypnotic gaze, there had been something else. A look of unease and maybe even trepidation. Was it possible she had overreacted and gotten it all wrong? But if that was the case, why had Killian left? If he had nothing to hide, he would have stayed and explained what was happening.
For the last two months, he had kept close to her side and always made her feel wanted and loved. He’d provided everything she needed and even the things she wanted with no hesitation. The deep unwavering love he held toward her was real. It had to be.
Which meant she was wrong.
Something else was going on, and she needed to figure out what. She took a deep breath and let the tears that threatened to escape dry up instead. They were useless. Instead of succumbing to devastation, she was going on a mission to find the truth.
“I know where we need to go.” Lace let her anger transform into strength.
Victoria nodded. “Lead the way, and we will follow.”
The cobbled streets were quiet at this time of night. Most of the city had gone home after the show as the festivities were closed until the next afternoon. They hurried quickly, weaving around the buildings until Lace came to the one she wanted. It was locked up tight, but she produced a long brass key from her pocket and let them inside.
The girls huddled together as they entered Pandemonium’s only marketplace. It was the place she’d gone with Killian when they were in search of something magical. She had received the Paradox here. A few lights flicked on at their arrival, set off by their motion, though Lace was sure it was chaos driven.
They looked around in wonder as they made their way through the stalls. Walking into the marketplace was like walking into another world. During the daytime, there would be merchants of every kind selling jewelry, potions, and whatever they thought might intrigue their customers. But during the night, a whole new sensation took over. One of hidden secrets, and well-spoken lies. Whatever lurked within the shadowed corners acted as a hungry beast and Lace wasn’t prepared to become its next meal.
Lace caught sight of the Love Potion sign. She smiled to herself remembering the older merchant trying to push a love tea into her hands to give to Killian. Adamantly refusing, she remarked that she wasn’t sure she wanted him falling for her. Looking back to those tender memories and letting them catch up to where she and Killian were now made her heart soar. She thought of his heated hands against her bare skin, his gentle kisses against her velvet lips. After everything they’d endured together, it made her that much more determined to push forward and find the answers she sought.
Toward the back, Lace knew there was a storefront that sat as vacant as it had since her time with Pandemonium months ago. The magic shop was where Killian had taken her when they searched for an item to use during the competition. Kara’s mother, Elizabeth, had been kind enough, until Killian refused to trade an item to the older woman for the linking rings. Lace had questioned what it was, but Elizabeth hadn’t given her a straightforward answer.
Though it saddened her to walk away without the knowledge, she was grateful Elizabeth shared a glimpse into Killian’s rough and tragic childhood with her. Lace’s heart still broke for the boy who would have died without her intervention.
They only had to walk a bit further before Lace found what she sought. She stopped in front of the small tent that was pushed further back and hidden within the stalls. It looked abandoned. Broken wood beams and loose threads were all that made up the small structure, but appearances didn’t mean anything in Pandemonium.
Taking a step forward, Lace moved toward the dilapidated entrance of the tent. She wasn’t exactly sure what to do, so she simply stood and waited. Lucille and Victoria came up behind her looking confused. Before they could ask questions, the flap to the tent rose.
Lace had passed by the structure many times over the last few months, but she’d never actually gone inside. As run down as the exterior was, she was delighted to see the warmth and comfort that made up the inside.
It was much larger than it appeared outside with wooden flooring and dark blue walls. A large lavish rug dominated the area with overstuffed chairs surrounding a simple table in the middle. Several paintings were hung around the room, giving it an intimate feel.
“Why are we here?” Victoria asked.
“I thought I would pay a friend a visit,” Lace replied as a small figure appeared.
The girl who’d presented the Paradox to Lace stood in the doorway to a small kitchen. She was no more than ten years old, and her short brown hair still curled around her chin as it had when Lace first met her. She gripped the edges of the floral cotton dress she was wearing, unsure of why she had guests. “Lace?”