The Circus Infinitus - Victoria 7

by Ethan Somerville

  Somehow I managed to wrench my limbs from the manacles. Because the Professor hadn’t been able to see me, he hadn’t locked me in as tightly as he should have. Which was just as well, because he was charging towards me, arms upraised, fists clenched. Black smoke pumped wildly from his chimney. I had never seen him so furious!

  “Wh-what-" I realized that I was still invisible.

  “Your accursed necklace has destroyed my machine!” he howled as he crossed the drenched floor. “It will take me years to rebuild!”

  I realized he could see me because of the mark I was making in the wet. I scrambled desperately to my feet amidst the torn metal wreckage of the Immortality Machine, realizing I had to get away. The Professor was angry enough to kill. I tried to dart past him – he lunged to grab me - and then his feet slid out from under him and he landed on his back with a crash.

  Still invisible, my necklace burning my bare flesh, I bolted in terror from the lab. Behind me Icarus bellowed his fury. Even though the Ringmaster had made the request, he still saw the damage as all my fault.

  Somehow Icarus had been right. This time the dark intelligence within my necklace had recognized the Immortality Machine’s power and reacted against it. Instead of resetting in confusion, it had burst forth a dreadful pulse, strong enough to destroy the contraption that once again dared to overcome its energy. It had made sure that I could never try that trick again.

  I made it into my room and locked the door in case Icarus came after me. “Will I ever be free of you?” I wailed, tears of frustration coursing down my cheeks.

  Then an all too familiar lethargy overcame her and I barely had time to dry myself before collapsing into bed. This time I welcomed the dark, and the new form that would drive my unhappiness away.

  When I woke, in my new form, I dressed in the appropriate attire and padded from the room, heading back to the Professor’s stage. He was still there, crouched amidst the broken pieces of his machine, weeping. I had never seen him do that before. I had never realized that he could cry.

  The sight made my throat close up.

  “I’m sorry,” I managed.

  He lurched to his feet a fury. “You! I will kill you.”

  “You can’t kill me.” I walked towards him. “I’m already dead. Let me help you fix it. I can do that." I touched his shoulder. "I can even help you do it better.”

  He slumped, but didn't shake my hand off. “One night in seven! I will be here forever!”

  “Then we had better get started. I already have some ideas, and will need to put them down before I change again.” In my form as Lady Frankenstein, I glided towards the stairs leading up to the laboratory.

  I heard him following, and rejoiced that he was over his fury with me. I knew it would take months to rebuild the machine, but I already had the plan for the new device outlaid in my mind, just like he did. The hard part would be getting all the materials, not the actual construction.

  Up in the lab, I wasted no time in pulling out a roll of paper and rapidly sketching the new machine. The control-board would be inbuilt and contain all the buttons, dials and levers required to power and activate the device. For a few minutes Icarus simply stared, not speaking, not showing any emotion. Then, slowly, he began to make suggestions, returning to his old self. He could see how these changes would make the new device far mote powerful and streamlined.

  "Yes, yes," he whispered. "It will be perfect! I have at least some of the parts this will require, and Gordon Steamworks should be able to construct a new tank within a couple of months." He rubbed his hands together, for a moment lost in his dream. Then cold, hard reality must have come crashing back down on him. His shoulders slumped and he sighed.

  I continued working, modifying the designs on the paper. What I wanted to do was comfort Icarus. But I knew it wasn't my touch he wanted. Suddenly, a cold hand closed around my chest, like an iron band constricting my heart. It didn't beat, hanging dead in my chest, but suddenly I felt like I was having a heart-attack.

  Inside my head I cursed Adam for rejecting Icarus so cruelly. Then I nearly burst out laughing hysterically at the total absurdity of the situation. I was furious at the Ringmaster for his affair with me.

  It was a wonder I wasn't totally and utterly insane.

  "Machines break down," Icarus muttered, more to himself than me. "Parts break or wear out. Pieces need to be replaced. They even blow up." He gestured downwards, in the direction of the Omniportallis chamber. "But they are always loyal. They will do anything for you until the end, until they are too worn out to continue. Not like people." He turned and stomped off to another part of the lab.

  I didn't need to ask who he was referring to. Again, I wished I could go to him and comfort him. But I didn't think I would be able to cope when he rejected me. I knew the dreadful, incapacitating ache of unrequited love.

  I couldn't believe that I hadn't realised it before. In this form, I loved Icarus.