*Content warnings in description*
Since that day in the bakery, Darius had been hyper aware of even the slightest noise or image resembling a circus act. He chalked it up to being both exhausted and suddenly nostalgic about the past. Oftentimes, little things didn’t catch one’s attention until someone made it explicit. In his case, he hadn’t even been aware of a circus in town, but now he couldn’t stop seeing things everywhere.
He didn’t even buy a ticket to their show.
It was a waste of time and money. He hardly wanted to sit around for a few hours watching gimmicks and party tricks that could only delight a small child. After what the baker had said, he recalled vague memories of sitting with his parents in the Big Top and clapping here and there. The faces of performers and the details of what he had seen were sadly gone though.
Things only took a turn for the weird though when the music started following him.
It started with just a tinkle and then a tinkle turned into a beat, and before Darius understood what was happening, he was being lulled through the city streets by the unmistakable, rappa-tap-tap of distinct circus music.
All Darius could discern was the familiar rapid-fire beat of a drum, and the groan of a brass instrument. Sometimes, when he sat at his desk on late evenings, he would swear the calliope itself was somehow transmitting little ditties into his room. It wasn’t impossible, he told himself. After all, the calliope was a circus piano that could produce sounds as far as nine miles.
Perhaps, someone on a higher or lower floor of his apartment building favored the unique instrument.
That was certainly more comforting than imagining a circus was stalking him.
It seemed preposterous, and yet painfully likely.
That was why on Friday morning, he did something he hadn’t done in a very long time. It had been five days since the strange sightings and sounds began. Five days since his exam.
He called his parents.
“How are you doing?” his mother asked. “It’s not often that you call us.”
“Sorry, yeah, I’m fine,” he assured, rubbing his head. “I just have a small question.”
“Yes?”
He licked his lips, feeling utterly stupid. Taking a deep breath, he said, “We used to go to the circus a lot when I was a kid, right?”
His mother was silent for a long time before finally answering, “Yes. But what does that matter? It’s been over a decade since we’ve gone.”
“Did anything weird ever happen?”
She laughed. “What do you mean? It was the circus. Weird things always happen there.”
“No, but I mean, did anything weird happen to me?” Darius frowned, trying to ignore the voice that told him he was being a lunatic. An entire circus wouldn't just be stalking him. Perhaps he needed to get out and breathe like Gabriel had pointed out. They had been wound tighter than coiled springs before, during, and after those exams. He silently thanked his friends for convincing him to visit a club that evening.
It wouldn’t surprise anyone that Darius was halfway to losing his mind and the circus was just a convenient tool for channeling that madness.
He reached for a bottle of water, sipping it carefully. “I know I must sound crazy,” he continued when his mother didn’t respond, “but I just...keep hearing their music everywhere. I know they’re promoting their performances, but it’s almost like—yeah.”
“Honey,” she sighed, “I think maybe you need to relax. You’re tired. The circus always brings up good and bad feelings in everyone. Don’t let it bother you.” Her tone was concerned, but Darius wasn’t so dense that he missed the underlying bafflement.
Of course, he was aware that the entire premise of their conversation was preposterous. He himself didn’t want to admit that he felt followed by a troupe of odd performers.
That was silly.
Very silly.
“You’re right,” he sighed, “sorry for calling about such a small thing. I’m going out with some friends tonight, so maybe that’ll help.”
“That’s good,” his mother assured, sounding relieved. “Make sure not to stay out too late though. I wouldn’t want auntie and uncle to worry about you.”
“I know. I won’t.”
They chatted for a few more minutes, but then his mother was called away. She was right. There was nothing to be concerned about.
“Aren’t these a little tight?” Darius cocked a brow, eyeing Lara through the floor length mirror. He tugged at the skintight black pants, feeling extremely exposed.
His friend waved a dismissive hand. “What are you talking about? It’s just fashion! This is what you wear to clubs. It doesn’t matter if you’re aiming to get with someone tonight. You just don’t wanna stick out.” She grinned widely and tossed a low-cut shirt at her wary friend. “Put that on too. It’ll show off your chest.”
“What’s there to show off?” Darius grumbled under his breath, doing as he was told anyway. At the very least, the shirt was loose, and he wasn’t about to raise complaints. Or rather, maybe his major complaint was that they were even doing something like this. He knew it was a supposedly good way to relax, but the more he thought about it throughout the day, the more anxious he had become.
Why was he even going out dancing? He didn’t like dancing. He didn’t like sweating. He didn’t particularly like being crowded by strangers.
Lara hugged him suddenly, a little coo bursting from her lips. “You’re adorable!”
I’m overreacting. Calm down. Sighing, he patted Lara’s arm and smiled. “Thanks.”
“You guys ready yet?” Gabriel appeared in the open doorway, looking enviously gorgeous as always.
“Yes! Let’s hit it!”
They piled into a taxi laughter and jokes keeping the atmosphere light. Darius pushed his worries away, trying to be present for possibly the first time in his short life. Smiling along with them, he ignored the chill creeping down his spine and the whispers of a distant performance beckoning him.
The moment they stepped onto the hot, sweaty dance floor, Darius was torn between puking and running. Only Gabriel’s presence behind him kept his legs from whipping around and carrying him out. He glanced up at his friend, noting the look of excitement in his dark eyes. He’s definitely enjoying this already. Darius stifled a tired sigh and pushed his way further into the crowd.
“Do you want something to drink?” Gabriel shouted near his ear.
Darius jumped slightly and then nodded. “Just a soda!” he yelled back.
His friend made a face, but soon grinned playfully. With a nod, he disappeared into the throngs of people, leaving Darius alone. Alone? Wait. Where were Adrian and Lara?
Did we already get separated?
Darius spun around in an awkward circle, managing to bump nearly every person in his immediate vicinity. He tried to see over the heads and shoulders of clubbers but failed to catch sight of anyone he knew. For a second, he thought perhaps that was Adrian’s profile, but then the person turned away. Part of him wanted to give chase, but his fear of losing Gabriel kept him glued to the spot. If he came back and Darius was gone, what would they do?
We could call each other.
Pulling out his phone, he quickly shot a message to Lara and Adrian.
He stared at the screen with such intensity that he barely noticed the heat leave his backside, only to be replaced by a refreshingly chilly presence.
A shiver wracked his frame, and only then did he realize something had changed. Confused, Darius lowered his phone, looking around to see that people were still dancing. As he turned though, his eyes locked on a familiar-yet-unfamiliar pair of cold, dark eyes.
A whimsical little smile played on the stranger’s lips as he tilted his head down. Messy locks curled around his pale features, glowing all the colors of the rainbow under the flashing lights. Shadows hollowed out his throat and streaked across his smooth skin.
The stranger didn’t speak, just smiled a bit wider as he brushed the back of his hand across Darius’s cheek.
He froze.
The stranger’s fingertips trailed down, tracing the line of Darius’s jaw, the pulsing veins in his neck, and finally slowed to a stop at his clavicle. He smoothed a thumb across it, pushing aside the fabric of Darius’s shirt inch by inch.
Something carnal flashed in the stranger’s dark eyes as a little pink tongue flicked out to wet his ashen lips.
Darius blinked. Jerking back slightly, he yanked his shirt back up, heart pounding. “Who are you?” He barely spoke above a whisper, but the stranger had somehow heard.
In the span of a breath, Darius was pressed against his body and breathing in an intoxicating scent. He gasped sharply, fingers curling into the man’s shirt sleeves as if trying to ground himself. Whether or not he wanted to push away was debatable.
Cold, cold lips pressed against Darius’s ear and the softest voice murmured, “Kallum.”
It was electric.
Darius nearly jumped out of his own skin, eyes wide and blood abuzz with energy. A fog wrapped around his mind the longer they stood so close—a strange contrast to the excitement coursing through his veins. He repeated Kallum’s name and gripped him harder.
“I’m not going anywhere,” Kallum assured, lips gliding slow and teasing down the column of Darius’s throat. Both hands found their way to his slim hips and then cold fingers were pushing underneath Darius’s loose shirt, icing the heated skin wherever it touched.
Immediately, he was torn between jerking away and drawing closer. Chills clawed down his body when their hips were pressed flush together. “W-Wait,” Darius swallowed thickly, mortified at the immediate reaction in his too tight pants.
Kallum pulled him closer. “How sweet,” he murmured, one hand ghosting lower, lower, lower. He traced a line along the waistband of his dark denim, finger dipping just below the button enclosure.
Something between a moan and shout strangled itself in Darius’s throat. Instinctively, he responded to the teasing promise, head rattling with images of frantic groping, halting gasps, and dark corners. His nails dug into the stranger’s skin. A haphazard swear slipped off his tongue.
Kallum pressed a languid kiss to Darius’s exposed shoulder before sinking sharp teeth in and sucking sharply.
All of a sudden, the lust spiked and plummeted in unison. Darius choked on a shout of pain. He tried to shove the man back, but the strength to do so was quickly seeping out of him. His body slumped against the stranger, eyes shutting against the dull pain in his shoulder. Everything was going numb as cold breath rushed across his skin.
In a blur of movement, he felt his feet leave the floor and then the cool night air was swirling around him. Darius blinked, confused, achy, and lightheaded.
“Where,” he trailed off, groaning at the persistent fog clouding his mind. Why couldn’t he think straight? The building’s rough brick facing scratched against the thin fabric of his shirt.
Rolling his eyes around, he saw a light-polluted night sky and could faintly hear passing cars. What really stood out though was Kallum holding him upright. Effortless. Amused. Cold. So cold. Darius finally settled his gaze on him.
“You’re more delicate than I expected,” Kallum remarked idly, stroking a thumb across Darius’s cheek. His eyes were no longer dark. Rather, they were glowing a warm, deep maroon to match his flushed cheeks. It was possibly more tantalizing than before. “We’ll need to work on your endurance.”
Darius shook his head as if to refuse, but only managed to make himself dizzier. Staggering forward, he bumped into Kallum, once again feeling his muscles turn to putty. Swallowing a small noise, Darius tried desperately to make sense of what was happening.
One second, he had been sure they were doing something, but then it was so hazy he couldn’t actually be sure of anything at all. What did I do? What did he do?
“Relax,” Kallum chuckled, tipping Darius’s chin up. “We’ll meet again soon.” His eyes trailed to the backdoor of the club, and then he reluctantly stepped back, letting Darius slump to the dirty floor.
The backdoor shuddered open.
Lara burst out, eyes falling on Darius almost immediately. She frantically called for Adrian and Gabriel as she knelt down to survey him for injuries.
Nothing.
“Darius? Hey, buddy? You with us?” Lara lightly slapped his face a few times until he blinked and focused. “It’s me. Lara. You there? How many fingers am I holding up? What’s your name?”
“Two,” he grumbled, wincing harshly as a sharp pain shot through his head. Darius gripped his skull tightly, fingers curling in his sweat slicked hair. “I’m Darius, and I have a splitting headache.”
“Do you know what happened? And why are you out here?” Lara wrapped an arm around his shoulders, speaking in an urgent, measured tone. She grimaced at the unfocused gaze that tried to meet her own. It was obvious that someone had drugged Darius, but when and how?
Darius just shook his head very slowly. “I don’t know. The last thing I remember is waiting for Gabriel to come back with a drink for me and then—nothing.” He frowned, holding his head tighter. “I don’t feel great.”
Lara helped him up and toward the main road. The sooner she could get Darius into a bed with a cup of water, the better. She wasn’t going to risk having the poor guy stay out when they weren’t even sure what sort of drug had gotten him into such a delirious state. Maybe going to the hospital was a better idea. If it got worse, she would definitely take care of him.
“Adrian and Gabriel will meet us back at my place. You’re gonna sleep over, alright?” Lara rubbed Darius’s back as they trudged away.
He could only nod in response, barely able to keep his head on straight.
That was why he failed to notice when the soft tinkling of a pure silver bell bid them farewell.
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