Chapter One
Reality for Lace felt like nothing more than a dream.
Colored lights, smoke, and mist swirled through the air creating a chaotic frenzy in the room. The tent’s raised ceiling soared in the air, reaching for a world that was not their own. Two tall towers stretched upward, and Lace watched as the aerial artists above her floated against the black backdrop. Plunging their world into inky darkness, the lights cut out before a single spotlight searched through the anxious crowd until it landed on one person. Killian Wilde.
He emerged from the shadows with a broad smile plastered on his face. His long black coat tails flowed down the back of his legs as he took a step forward into the light. His light. A light he was destined to command. A silver mask kept his identity hidden. He winked; his vivid blue eyes caught hers, causing her heart to thump loudly in her chest. Applause and thunderous screams coated the air around them. The vibrations from the crowd met her full force, and she found it hard to swallow past the manic atmosphere.
Though it felt as nothing but a dream, Lace was glad it hadn’t shifted into a nightmare.
Vivid memories of the past played in the fire erupting from Alice’s mouth. The flames danced wickedly across the space and held on a bit longer than usual, reaching for the expansive crowd.
She had seen the performers’ acts nightly for two months, but they never grew old. She was filled with wonder no matter how many times she heard the roar of the crowd. It always felt like it was her first.
Heads turned in the direction of Pandemonium’s Ringmaster; their bodies leaned forward, thirsty to drink in every word that would soon flow from his mouth. The fire from Alice’s poles fled, giving way to the man on stage. He faced the crowd giving them precisely what they were waiting for: the show of a lifetime.
“Ladies and gentlemen, I would like to welcome you to the show that ensures fear,” Killian said, his voice low and seductive. “I welcome you to the performance that brings about jubilation. I welcome you to the spectacle of chaos itself. Welcome to Pandemonium.”
The spotlight turned off and the silent room fell victim to the darkness. Lace’s breath hitched as the words swirled in her head. Caspian had once used those same words to welcome his audience only months ago.
Lace could still feel the wind that ripped across her face when the twister tore through this exact room. The terror that flowed through her veins was still as real as it had been when the stars from the waiting area rushed in after them, splintering the stage as they collided, trying and failing to reach Killian. The lunacy the false Master of Show had fallen into was something of terror for them all.
Time hadn’t healed the wounds of Caspian’s deception. Even now the treachery settled on her skin as if she had bathed in a poison she couldn’t escape. Lace looked around the pitch-dark backstage area, grasping at the curtain next to her, steadying herself. The darkness always took her back to those horrid moments.
The bated breaths of the audience reminded her of her own when she thought of the despair written on Caspian’s face the moment she made the choice not to follow him. Her bones ached as she recalled throwing herself onto him before he frantically threw the silver card holding the other half of chaos into his hat, making it vanish into the unknown. She blinked back tears remembering Caspian being filled with desperation, devastation, and love, before disappearing into hiding. She hated herself for allowing that dark pull to ripple through her.
Several performers pushed through the shadows behind her, ripping crates open. Lace watched them pull out objects, preparing for their acts, readying themselves to elevate Pandemonium to another beloved level. The show was everything to them even as they held a lack of trust for the Master of Show. It was strange seeing how the past affected the present so thoroughly.
Most hadn’t been aware of Killian’s false imprisonment. Most hadn’t known he wasn’t to blame. And even with everything revealed, it was hard for some of them to see him as anything other than the monster they’d been led to believe he was. Some still tensed when he was near, but they were all starting to come around. They were starting to realize it wasn’t fair to treat him as anything other than a victim of Caspian’s countless crimes.
The false Ringmaster’s dark gaze continued to haunt Lace as she searched the shadows around the stage. The ghost of his dangerous touch sent shivers down her spine. Lace closed her eyes, forcing the sensation away. When she opened them, all she could see were Killian’s bright blue ones in front of her. Looking at Pandemonium’s rightful Master of Show brought a smile to her face, chasing the monster hiding in the voids of her mind away. Seeing him so strong and confident in his role, Lace knew she’d made the right decision. She belonged by his side.
“Ms. Ashburn,” Killian said, a twinkle in his eye. “Are you ready for this?” He leaned in for a kiss. The soft brush of his lips on hers made Lace’s blood surge. He reached a hand around her waist, bringing her in close, their hearts beating as one. His top hat sat perfectly over his shaggy raven hair that she loved so much. His silver mask sparkled in the blue glow that now surrounded the stage.
Pandemonium’s original color was brought back into the show, not just with the mask, but in the tent as well and that simple gesture brought her so much joy. It reminded her that the muddled past was behind them and they could move on.
Silver stripes ran in tandem with black, racing toward the heavens, though Lace was disheartened to learn the fractured magic hadn’t been fixed by the transfer of chaos between Caspian and Killian. The tent still showed signs of fading, and the show continued to have mishaps. They made sure to keep the performances tame to ensure no one got hurt as they had during Caspian’s reign as Ringmaster. Lace traced the pole that led up to the trapeze bars and shuddered. Nothing major had broken under their watchful eye, but they weren’t willing to let their guard down. With the chaos still split in half, anything was possible.
Lights panned around the room, signaling the next act to take the stage. Lace took a deep breath just as she felt a nudge in her pocket. Looking down, she smiled at the silver ball peeking out from the top of it. She ran her fingers gently over the Paradox, knowing if her strange companion were by her side, she wouldn’t fail.
Pulling her mask over her eyes, Lace exhaled. The black skirt that flowed from the bottom of the golden corset kissed her mid-thigh and bounced against her fishnet stockings, which complimented her long, onyx curls. The strings of colorful gems that made up the tie of her mask came loose, and she reached up to wrap them around her head.
“I’m ready. But only if you act as my assistant.” She gave him her most dazzling smile. Killian chuckled in response.
“I think I can handle that.” He held his arm out for Lace, and she took it without hesitation. Together they walked out into the bright lights of Pandemonium.
Lace breathed in the excitement and promise of danger. It was a rush. She would never get enough of it. She let the audience’s cheers consume her as she took center stage and bowed with Killian presenting her to the crowd.
During her time in the competition, she had never felt the same level of excitement that she did now. Before, the show had almost destroyed her. Every night she had been presented with dangerous tasks, and every night they had nearly killed her and everyone around her. Though people had died—and most were not from the broken chaos of the show.