The Professor gave a snort. “Well … you could say just eliminated our chief opposition!”
And, just like that, my Mummy form had a companion of her own. He was closer than my friend, not a lover but more like a familiar equal to me. He couldn't speak but we could communicate telepathically, using feelings and images. He was fantastically strong, the only one able to best X in physical combat.
And he brought the crowds in like never before.
Chapter Twenty One
Professor Abbacus's Immortality Machine started me thinking. If it could restore someone like Goril-Ho-Tep, what could it do to other creatures? Could it overcome the effects of my curse? Could it lock me into one of my forms forever?
In each of my bodies, I had different opinions of immortality. I certainly didn't want to live forever as the Invisible Woman. As the Werewolf I was indifferent to the thought, but dreaded the time when Felina would eventually die - she aged at a normal human rate. As the Spider Queen I was more egotistical and desired a longer life, but only so I could find new ways of tantalising my senses. As the Swamp Girl I didn't care. I just wanted to play. As Mrs Frankenstein I would have liked to continue my experiments forever as there was just so much to learn, but I was smart enough to understand the need for all things to eventually pass. And as the Mummy, I had a similar opinion.
It was in my form as the Vampiress that I most desired to live forever. And thus, in this form, I pondered the most on the Immortality Machine, and how it might benefit me.
One night, while the Circus Infinitus was set up on a remote hill in Yorkshire, I made up my mind and decided to wait for Professor Abbacus in the Omniportallis chamber. When he appeared, sometime after three in the morning, I glided silently out of the shadows to greet him. “Professor?”
He turned around with a look of long suffering. “What the Hell d’you want, Vampiress?”
“I must speak with you – it’s very important.”
He rolled his one human eye at me in exasperation. “What now? Can’t find anyone to bite in this provincial backwater?”
“No – there are plenty of victims here. I have come to a decision.” I stroked the ancient necklace. “I want to use the Immortality Machine.”
Icarus narrowed his human eye suspiciously. “Why? Is it because you cannot transfer your vampiric power through a bite, and would like some poor human lover to live forever as your pet zombie?” He snickered.
I glared at him. “No! I want to use the machine on myself.”
Icarus stared. “But there’s no point. You are already immortal.”
“Technically I’m not. In this form I do not age, but as Victoria I will only live at the very most seven hundred years. There will come a time when I will die. I don’t want that to happen. I want to live forever – as the Vampiress!” I finished with a hiss, bearing my sharp canines at him. “I believe, if I use the machine, I can stay in this form permanently.”
Icarus rubbed his metal chin as he thought about it. He needed very little reason to power up the Immortality Machine, but this was something he had never attempted before. “You are a dangerous creature as the Vampiress, Victoria. What will stop you from trying to take control of everything here?”
“I have no need to control this tawdry establishment, Icarus. You need not fear me. I will stay only for as long as it suits me.”
“Your necklace could interfere with my machine. I still do not know the full extent of its powers.”
He was stalling and needed some incentive to continue. I had grown in power since joining the Circus Infinitus and becoming involved in all its adventures. Perhaps I was strong enough to persuade him. I walked up to the Professor, sliding my long fingers with their blood-red nails around his shoulders. “You will be fully compensated should anything happen to your precious machine.”
“It took me years to build, and I have only just managed to repair the damage caused by your pet gorilla!” Angrily he shook my hands off. “Save your vampiric wiles for someone on whom they will actually work!”
I stepped back, annoyed that my beguiling powers still didn't work on him. His will-power was truly phenomenal. “Well, I do have a substantial sum to offer.”
“It had better be very substantial. Very well – my curiosity has been piqued. I will use the machine on you. Give me a few minutes to power it up.” He stomped off across the room, his tattered leather coat flapping behind him. I followed, unable to wipe the triumphant smile from my lips. Oh, to remain in this wondrous form permanently! To be able to enjoy each and every night without fearing a return to some lesser body! I might even be able to leave this travelling sideshow and strike out on my own. I yearned to find others like me. Since joining the Circus, I had learned that there were other vampires out there, but they kept themselves secret – too secret for me to seek them only one night out of seven.
I watched as the Professor rolled out the Immortality Machine on its tracks and connected its cables. I had made up my mind and didn’t want to think about what would happen if the machine didn't work. Why shouldn’t it work, anyway? I asked myself. It transformed both living and dead things into undead of varying degrees of lucidity and power. Why shouldn't it seal me into this wonderful form forever?
Icarus muttered as he worked, punching keys on the control board and pulling levers to power up the device. The great engines began to rumble. No doubt the other circus folks had already worked out he was playing with his Immortality Machine again.
When the engines were screaming at full strength, the capacitors whining with stored power, and the overhead lights flickering intermittently, the Professor swung around. “It’s ready, Vampiress. Get undressed and get up there now!” He pointed at the metal grille above the tank. “I will shackle you in.”
I shed my long red gown and strode naked up to the machine. The Professor simply glared at her, showing no sign he was moved by my awesome appearance. “Hurry up, I can’t hold it at this level forever!”
“It’s at full power?” I asked as she stretched herself out on the platform.
“For an unknown transformation such as this, I can’t take any chances.” He shoved my limbs into the heavy metal manacles and locked me in.
“Surely you are enjoying yourself now, chaining me in, putting me at your mercy?” I purred with as much seduction as I could muster.
“Don’t waste your so-called breath,” he growled and lurched away. “You could escape simply by turning yourself into mist.”
I sighed - and the Professor yanked down a lever, dropping the platform into the tank without warning, plunging me beneath the icy salt water. Lucky I don’t need to breathe, I thought darkly. Then the lid was slammed down on top, sealing me in the semi-darkness. I had no idea what Abbacus was up to out there until the water around me burst into light. Electrical discharges sizzled into the chains biding me, burning into me body. I opened my mouth to scream, and boiling water churned into my lungs.
Everything went black for an instant – or an hour – I couldn’t tell. But the next thing I knew, I was struggling to breathe. How could this be? I was the Vampiress! I didn’t need air! But my lungs felt like they were bursting! Then the lid disappeared and the platform lifted. I jerked furiously against my bonds, struggling to break them, but they seemed impossibly strong. Salty water burst from my lips as I began coughing and spluttering. Somehow I managed to get my breath back. “What … what is going on here?” I croaked. I tried to see what was going on, but my eyes were stinging, blurred with salt water. Why did I feel so weak? Why did I feel so … alive?
I felt the metal bands around my wrists and ankles being loosened, and I curled up, rubbing my eyes. I could hear the unpleasant rasping sound of the Professor laughing at something.
I managed to clear my eyes enough to see. Abbacus was indeed laughing, pointing and laughing at me. Great clouds of smoke puffed from his chimney. “What are you doing?” I shouted at him.
“You’re alive, Victoria. My machine has
reversed the process!”
I looked down at my fingers, expecting to see nothing. But a strange pair of hands extended before me, still glistening with drops of salt water. I couldn’t believe my eyes. I had not seen my living flesh for over a hundred years! Was my skin really that soft pink colour? Did I really have those freckles? “I … I’m not invisible!”
“I can see that,” Abbacus declared, then snorted with more laughter. “You’d better get yourself dried up before you catch your death!” He cracked up again.
“I’m glad you find this so amusing!” I climbed off the platform and stood shivering on the hard metal floor. “I was beginning to think you had no sense of humour at all!” The necklace around my throat felt uncomfortably warm against my skin, but the rest of me was covered with goosebumps. “I don’t suppose you have a blanket or something?”
In my human form, I usually went back to sleep after my midnight transformation. But tonight I was too excited to sleep. And besides, by the time I reached my own private room, it was already four o’clock in the morning. I peeled off the oil-soaked old coat the Professor had given me, then took a hot bath to clean and warm up. Then I found a dressing gown and sat down in front of her mirror, where I normally tried to make myself visible beneath lots of makeup. But now a new face stared uncertainly back at me, a face I hadn’t seen since I was sixteen.
It was my own human face, almost forgotten. I could see elements of my six other visible forms in its shape, but the eyes were a soft doe-brown instead of red or black, my hair fine and curly instead of thick and luxurious, light brown instead of black. I brushed my fingertips across warm, pale skin. Soft, living skin, not cold, hard porcelain, fur, scales or desiccated flesh. “I am finally myself,” I whispered. “I am … Violet.” It seemed the Vampiress’ quest had resulted in my own quest finally being fulfilled. I was human again. Completely and utterly human. But was the change permanent? I stroked the amulet around my throat. It was still uncomfortably warm. I had to talk to someone, but who? I doubted the Professor wanted to speak to me again so soon.
Was the Ringmaster awake yet? He didn’t sleep as long as some of the Circus’ living occupants, but he couldn’t stay awake all night like the undead. I rummaged through my wardrobe for something to wear, scorning the usual shapeless, concealing gowns I wore as the Invisible woman. Instead I grabbed one of the Vampiress’ more modest velvet dresses. It was still very revealing and dragged on the ground, but at least it didn’t make me look like a schoolmarm. Covering my shoulders with a cloak, I ventured from my room and into the main body of the Big Top.
A few carnies were already preparing for the morning show, due to start at eleven. I spotted Ralph and hurried over to him. He spun around on hearing me approach. “Who are you?” he snapped, obviously hung over from a big night. “You’re not supposed to be in here!”
“Ralph – It’s me, Violet! Er, Victoria! This is what I look like when I’m the Invisible Woman!”
Ralph winced. “B-but you don’t look like anything when you’re invisible!” he finally managed.
“Have you seen the Ringmaster?”
“Um … I don’t think he’s up yet.”
I swept out of the Big Top and emerged into a cold, windy morning. Pulling my cloak more tightly around my shoulders, I crossed the hill towards the tents linked to the Big Top by their thick cables. Then I spotted Felina the Beast-Mistress coming towards me, her fur extended to keep out the cold. On seeing me she stopped and stared suspiciously. “None of the rides are running yet, and the first show doesn’t start for three hours!”
“You might be fine with animals, Felina, but you really need to work on your people skills,” I told her. “Don’t you recognise me?”
Felina narrowed her yellow eyes, but then she stepped up to me and sniffed me. “Victoria?” she gasped. “Surely not! You’re supposed to be invisible!” She sniffed again, pausing at my throat. I opened my cloak to reveal the amulet. “Mother Earth preserve me! It is you! What happened?”
“The Vampiress tried to use the Immortality Machine to make herself immortal. As you can see it didn’t work! I need to see the Ringmaster. Maybe he can explain what happened.”
“Does this mean you won’t become the Wolf Woman or the Swamp Girl anymore?” Felina asked softly.
Suddenly I found herself at a loss. Of course Felina would be disappointed by the transformation. In this body, I desired men, not women. “I … I don’t know. That’s why I want to see the Ringmaster.”
Just then I noticed a flash of movement out of the corner of one eye and saw the Ringmaster coming around a corner, already dressed for the day. The wild wind whipped his long hair and cloak out behind him. He stopped when he saw me, at first simply looking annoyed that a visitor had shown up so early. Then I felt something, as soft as a fingertip, brush against my mind. The Ringmaster’s eyes widened in amazement as he approached. Felina chose that moment to scurry off. “Victoria?”
I knew he couldn’t read my mind. The amulet protected me from random telepathic probing. “It is I, the Invisible Woman, visible at last.”
“How did this happen?”
I took a deep breath and described the Vampiress’ bizarre plan.
“Unbelievable!” the Ringmaster gasped. “I’m surprised she managed to convince the Professor to go along with such a harebrained scheme. But then he hardly needs an excuse to power up that ridiculous zombie-making contraption.”
“Please – I need to know long this will last. Is it permanent?”
“I’ll need to examine the amulet. May I?”
I allowed him to touch the necklace. But then he muttered something under his breath and pulled off his leather gloves so he could get a better reading. He lifted the amulet away from my throat and peered at it intently with a sapphire gaze so sharp it could have cut glass.
“Your amulet is still functioning, but it appears to be in a state of flux. It is as though the Immortality Machine has scrambled the curse, freeing you from it.”
“I’m … free?” My heart raced from a mixture of excitement at the news – and the Ringmaster’s close proximity.
“For the moment.” He released the amulet. “But I can’t say for how long. That’s up to … your necklace.” He smiled thinly.
My head spun. I was free! I was finally free! I could simply enjoy being human. Before I could speak, the Ringmaster had turned and strode off into the Big Top. Realising that I had been talking to him without any nervousness sent my heart racing. I wished I’d asked him more. I realised that that actually being visible in human form had given me far more confidence than previously. So many questions whirled around my head, and I ran after the Ringmaster into the Big Top.
It took me several minutes to track him down within the labyrinthine building. I found him once more talking with Professor Abbacus, this time in front of the Omniportallis machine. I was about to withdraw when Adam beckoned me over.
“Take another look at Victoria’s amulet, Icarus. It really is quite fascinating!”
The Professor grumbled something in exasperation and started fishing through the pockets of his new coat – a ratty grey leather thing in even worse condition than the one he had loaned me. He found his magnifying monocle and opened the glass cover over his right eye to reveal that single bloodshot eyeball. He screwed the magnifier in and then grabbed my necklace, almost yanking me off my feet.
“Careful!" I warned, annoyed by his attitude.
“You’re right,” he muttered to the Ringmaster, “It has been completely scrambled. The various energies that used to be confined to individual gemstones have now been dispersed across all seven. As a result Victoria has reverted to normal, human form.”
“Can you tell me for how long?” I asked.
“I’d need time to study the amulet. I could work out if there is a progression. But not now. I still need to set up for the day.”
“And put the Immortality Machine away,” the Ringmaster added.
Ic
arus swore. “Of course.” He turned and stomped off, leaving me alone with the Ringmaster once more. Adam smiled brightly down at me and my heart beat a little faster. “I thought a lot about your true appearance, but I never thought you’d be so-“
“Plain?”
He laughed again. “You are not plain. You are vibrant and alive. And the fact your thoughts are properly shielded from me makes you even more interesting. You do not know how tedious it can be to always be able to read minds."
Violet blushed and looked down at her folded hands. “I thought after the Vampiress and the Spider Queen you would find my true shape somewhat … dull.”
“I admit the Vampiress and Spider Queen are fascinating creatures, but they are consumed by their passions and always hunger for something or another. You are the refreshing truth that remains after all those superhuman urges are removed, and I really would like to get to know you – just you – better.”
I couldn’t believe my senses. I didn’t know what to say! All my wildest dreams were finally coming true! But one question rose above her confusion. “Why … why is this happening now? This is the personality I wear as the Invisible Woman. Why did you never seek me out as her?”
“I could never find her,” he said and laughed.
“Ha ha, very funny. You really should leave the humour to the clowns. Tell me truthfully, Ringmaster.”
“The Vampiress and the Spider Queen call me Adam. You can call me that too.”
But not Del, I thought to myself. For some reason that name is reserved for Icarus only. “Couldn’t you face me as the Invisible Woman? Did I have to require a visible body before you would speak to me socially? Seriously, after all I have been through in my various forms, I can hardly be Shrinking Violet, now?”
He smiled. “No, of course not. But you are wrong – an invisible lover would have been as interesting as all the others." Suddenly, his smile broadened. "Can you imagine? You would be able to see me inside you. You would be able to see me come."
The Circus Infinitus - Victoria 7 Page 17
