Darius hid in his room the entire day, save for a few stops in the kitchen and bathroom. When Evan came around worried in the morning, he feigned illness and thought about how he’d rather be on his deathbed anyway.
Every explicit detail of the previous night haunted him.
He could still taste fine silk on his tongue and smell the alluring aroma of Delirium’s beloved Ringleader.
Climaxing without being touched was now on his very short list of most embarrassing experiences. Darius was not easily shaken. Too much stress and too little time had made sure the world rushed by as he watched on, detached. The only perk of such a dull life was that he felt very few regrets.
Nowadays, it seemed that every week boded a new mortifying experience.
But wasn’t it already too late now for him to take it all back? Darius glanced warily at the glass egg still sitting on his nightstand. It had stayed put after he drifted off, exhausted and satisfied. And when he awoke, the thought of putting it away crossed his mind.
And then it never happened.
He watched it. Thought about it more. Then would turn away to distract himself with any number of other things.
Night fell.
Darius was still slightly lightheaded from blood loss, but nothing like the days of deficiency from the last time Kallum drank. Was it for his benefit?
"I’m at your service."
Chills raised the hairs on his skin. It was such a simple statement but carried weight that Darius didn’t know if he could handle. He wanted to suffocate himself at the memory of what he said in response—of the many things he said, in fact.
Fuck it.
He dressed and burrowed into a warm hooded jacket. Snatching the glass egg off his nightstand, he shoved it into a pocket and trudged out. Evan hadn’t returned yet, leaving the apartment thankfully empty. Darius slipped on sneakers and hurried out, only barely remembering to lock the door behind him.
More and more questions kept piling up while answers diminished.
What had the egg done to him?
Why was Kallum there?
What did he want?
Darius took the train, heart racing madly at his snap decision. The rattling of the rails kept him sufficiently tense—not that he needed any more reasons. It was a long ride and he settled into his own rampant thoughts with dismay.
All day, every day since he attended the circus, he had been unable to let it go.
No one seemed capable of giving him the answers he wanted. Alternatively, he didn’t have the nerve to ask anyone about the things that spooked and lured him.
By the time he arrived at the nearest station and walked along dark narrow streets to the sprawling circus lot, the show was in full swing. He could hear the boisterous music and see the bright lights of the Big Top. In the chilly September air, wind rippled through black and white striped tents, making their shadows dance across gravel.
Darius stopped at the gated entrance, peering up at the wrought iron and carefully crafted sign. Delirium. Its imposing form seemed to loom over him, twisting with mirth. He shook it off, knowing that it was certainly just paranoia.
The ticketing booth was still open. A small golden light dangled over the ornate counter. Darius approached it hesitantly, leaning over to see who was inside.
No one.
“Show’s already begun, kiddo.”
He swallowed a scream, clamping a hand over his mouth. Whipping around, Darius nearly melted to the floor. His hammering heart didn’t slow as he took in Adrian’s form.
The man wasn’t costumed, but the whimsical twist on his suit was evident. A comedy mask was tied to his head but pushed out of the way. All of the little details of his appearance faded away though when Darius noticed the bandages peeking out from the high neck of his shirt and in the gap between his black gloves and sleeves.
“Darius?” Adrian blinked, clearly surprised. It melded into a smirk though as he leaned forward. The pallor of his face was no longer the sickly color it had been during their last meeting. His pupils were rimmed deep red and his cheeks and lips spoke of a rather recent feeding.
“I need to talk to him,” Darius blurted.
Adrian sneered, but it held no bite. “You might regret it.”
He didn’t respond.
Shrugging, Adrian backed up and waved him toward the gates. “You can wait in his tent. I’m sure he’ll be thrilled.” He snickered, leading the way.
Darius scurried after him, staying a safe distance away. The long gravel driveway was lit by strings of light and the twinkling fixtures on a lazily rotating carousel. He vaguely recalled it from their visit a few weeks ago, but now it seemed even brighter.
“Why bother?” he asked softly, eyes lingering on the glossy monochrome horses and carriages.
“It lights the way,” Adrian answered easily, throwing it a short look. “It’s only open during the afternoon since our show is in the evening, but it makes this place look more alive if we keep it on all the time.”
“That’s important, isn’t it?” Darius mumbled, clutching the glass egg in his pocket. “To make things look alive?”
The smile Adrian offered was far too amused. “Yes. It is.”
They stared one another down for a long moment. Darius didn’t know if he was being ridiculously brave or stupid, but with all his emotions frayed anyway, what did it matter? Adrian was the one to turn away first, continuing to thread through the grounds.
The Big Top burst with applause and shouts in the distance. Darius jumped a bit, surprised at how far it reached. Ahead of him, Adrian looked back. “We’re possibly the most famous circus in the world.”
“You’ve had centuries to build the reputation.”
Adrian laughed. “You’re definitely his kind of person.” He smiled a little warily and stopped in front of a tent that looked just like the others. “Here we are.”
The only thing that might have tipped off Darius was the wooden top hat pinned to the exterior. Adrian untied the thick black rope in front of the tent and then pushed it open.
They entered darkness.
It lasted only a moment as Adrian flicked on an electric lamp.
Darius turned in a slow circle, taking in the sparse furnishings and racks of costumes. A few rather antique-looking black trunks were stacked in a corner alongside pristinely cared for leather suitcases. Glass baubles spiraled down from the high ceiling, twinkling in the dim light. He thought the interior would be black and white, but instead it was draped in deep red and gold.
The wooden vanity had an assortment of makeup and a large mirror. Darius glanced at it, seeing Adrian looking back at him with an almost taunting smile. Guess that mirror myth was fear-mongering, too.
He sank down on the plush velvet couch, feeling determined but wholly out of place. “Hey.”
Adrian grunted softly in response, tidying the vanity.
“Where’s the coffin?”
His laughter shook the tent and Darius hid a smile. Adrian set the makeup products back into their proper holdings as he replied, “Those would be a bit stuffy for any of us.”
“Then what do you prefer?”
“Maybe a cage.”
Darius stiffened, but immediately deflated when he saw Adrian’s teasing grin. Rolling his eyes, he settled back gingerly on the couch. “You all are…you know?”
He arched a brow. “Do I know what?”
Darius shook his head, worrying his bottom lip. “Never mind.” Changing the subject, he said, “Your bandages are visible. It seemed like you wanted to hide them though.”
Adrian’s expression clouded. It was a complicated series of emotions. Darius couldn’t pin even one down, but it felt like he had just stepped out onto thin ice. The handsome man stopped fiddling with the vanity, instead leaning back on it. He faced Darius, arms crossing leisurely. “He’s watched you for a long time.”
“I figured.”
“Does it scare you?”
Yes. Of course. Darius shook his head slowly once. Twice.
Adrian chuckled. “Liar.”
Neither of them spoke for what could’ve been minutes, or just a few seconds. Darius wasn’t sure how to respond, and it seemed like Adrian was willing to wait it out. Whatever he said would be an admission.
Deciding that he was already neck deep in dangerous territory, he took the plunge. Darius carefully removed the glass egg from his pocket, holding it up to the light. “What is this?”
The confident mask slipped off Adrian’s face.
Is that good? Darius felt dread wash over him. Suddenly the music box felt like a lead weight and he recoiled, placing it on his lap. The movement seemed to spark something in Adrian, and he straightened up.
Still keeping his distance, he asked, “Kallum gave you that after all?”
A nod.
“Have you used it?” he murmured, wonder and fear mixing on his face.
“Used it?” Darius repeated. The events of the previous night came back to him. It was one of the reasons he had come tonight for answers. In his wildest fantasies, the significance of the egg had never been more than a party trick. Was it really so important?
Adrian waved a vague hand around his own head. “It can do things to you. The music, that is.”
“Like what?”
“Not sure,” he admitted, looking increasingly uncomfortable. “It’s complicated stuff and highly individual. You’re better off waiting to ask Kallum the details. I’m surprised you accepted it without knowing anything.”
Darius grimaced. “I’m returning it.”
He barked a laugh. “Doesn’t work like that. It’s yours forever, that much I know.” Noting the disbelief on Darius’s face, he pointed to the concrete floor. “Break it. You’ll see.”
Clearly unsure, he stood up and walked closer, raising the egg into the air. It felt almost like blasphemy to do it. His heart clenched and his palms began to sweat. Everything seemed wrong. Shaking all of it away, he chucked the music box, flinching as the glass shattered into a thousand pieces.
Darius only had a second to regret what he had done because then the shards were collecting and reforming. In the blink of an eye, the egg was whole and resting in the palm of his hand. It warmed under his touch, almost humming with life.
“What the fuck,” he breathed.
Adrian stifled his laughter this time. “Yeah. It’s the real thing.” He glanced around the tent, seeming to consider his options. “If you’re content to sit here, I’ll leave you be. But if you’re interested, why not watch the rest of the show?” A sly smile worked its way across his lips. “Rumor has it you missed the last half when you came before?”
Darius flushed crimson. Tucking the egg away, he brusquely rubbed at his cheeks. “Where can I sit?”
Comments (5)
See all