Chapter 55 Esmeralda
Esmeralda
The wires that held the right side of the bale ring up snapped all at once. The catwalk, which was attached to it, plummeted at one end of the tent. Mirrors tumbled to the ground. With each explosion of glass, the tent groaned and shuddered.
But there were other things happening to the Big Top as well.
The golden railings within the bleachers began to rust. The vibrant colors painted on the clown buggies dulled and the wood splintered.
Everything was aging. No. Everything was showing its true age.
Without the ringmaster’s payment to Tezcán, without the enchantments, what was left of the carnival was falling apart.
Good, Esmeralda thought. This place was built on the lives of the young. It didn’t deserve to continue.
A mirror fell not ten feet away from her. She grabbed Camila by the shoulders and shook her so hard her teeth clicked like tiny tap dancers.
“Wake up!” Esmeralda yelled. “We’ve got to go!”
Slowly, Camila’s eyes peeled apart. The wrinkles that had formed around them were starting to fill in. Her hair was slowly turning black. Esmeralda barked a joyful, shocked laugh.
“What’s happening?” Camila groaned.
“You’re changing back!” Esmeralda yelled. “Oh, and the tent is collapsing!”
Camila smiled. “Gabriel’s rigging worked.”
Another blast rocked the poles. “I’d certainly say so.”
She eased Camila up. Together, they wobbled toward the exit.
Something cracked overhead. The largest of the mirrors plummeted toward them. She shoved Camila forward and leapt out of the way as a beam tumbled after it.
Esmeralda fell to her knees and shielded her face and neck from the fallen shards. When the dust settled, she whipped around to find Camila on the other side of the beam, unharmed.
Camila struggled to her feet. Her body still wasn’t as strong as it was meant to be.
“Go! Now!” Esmeralda yelled over the beam. “I will be right behind you!”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes. I’ll catch up!”
She had to hurry. A few more snaps and the bale ring would fall completely.
Just as Camila disappeared into the tunnel, an arm snaked around Esmeralda’s neck. A hand clamped over her mouth, sealing in her scream.
She tried to free herself from ángel’s grasp, but there was no use—he was far too strong.
“Look what you did to my beautiful carnival,” the ringmaster hissed into her ear.
The entire Big Top had changed. The black-and-white stripes had faded and turned a muted gray. The golden curtains that hung between the arena and backstage lay crumpled and frayed. Not a single speck of enchantment remained.
“But you’re going to help me raise it up once more.”
He pulled the hand sealing her mouth away and grabbed something from inside his coat. She screamed until her throat scratched. But who would hear her over the grinding metal swinging above their heads?
He raised the intricate hand mirror he always carried in front of her face.
Glistening eyes watched her from within the polished stone.
Stars above, I am so sick of seeing this fiend.
“Look into my eyes, Esmeralda,” Tezcán said.
“I’ll pass.” She slammed her heel into the ringmaster’s foot, then brought her elbow to his gut. He keeled over, and she took that moment of surprise to run.
But the ringmaster was upon her once more. He tackled her to the ground and then flung her around. He used his knees to pin her arms to the earth.
“This will not hurt, Esmeralda, darling,” he said.
He lowered the mirror toward her. She shut her eyes.
ángel’s thumb and pointer finger peeled her eyelid back.
She screamed but her throat was raw, her voice muted over the world collapsing in around her.
“Yes,” Tezcán’s deep voice rumbled. “Yes, she will do. She is your equal. She will suffice.”
A loud and terrible crack sounded from overhead.
The final wires holding up the bale ring were snapping.
“Please,” she cried. “The tent’s going to fall down on our heads.”
“Give her to me now and I will save you, ángel. I’ll devour the boy too; then we will raise the carnival up better than ever before.”
ángel smirked. “As you wish.”