78. Blade
BLADE
As soon as the green lights flashed, the three of us took off.
I’d pulled Knight of Pentacles, sending me to Medieval Mayhem. On the complete opposite side of the park as our start in Jungle Jolt, I had a good feeling that Tess may have picked it out.
Hooting and hollering, I sprinted down the cobblestone path toward Feverpoint’s main entrance, Nash and Cyrus running just behind me.
Our feet tore into the pavers, all of our angst funneling to this moment.
The wind blew my hair back, keeping it out of my face more than my mask already did. Fall chilled the air as soon as the sun set behind the mountains, making my skin rise with goosebumps as sweat mixed with cold wind.
“Better run, Trinket!” I shouted.
I wanted her afraid, she was more fun to catch that way.
But as we ran through the park, I felt freedom. Real freedom.
There was nothing in the world that could stop us on Fright Night.
Catching up to me, Nash roared out her own warning. “Stay quiet, Sweet Lamb!”
We laughed, a cackle ringing out over the park.
We need this.
And no one on this godforsaken planet could understand how it felt to be truly free. Everything else in the world faded away — The Messenger, our drug trade, the Violence — none of it mattered here.
When we got our green lights, we became the sharpened claws of one hungry beast, working in tandem for our singular goal: to claim her.
Creating a line of masked clowns, Cyrus put herself next to me. “No escape, Ragdoll!”
I knew under her stitched-up mask that a sick smile would be plastered over her face. One that would send a shiver down all of our spines.
As we approached an intersection, the last one for Cyrus to dip into her destined section, she split off from our line.
“May the best Freak win.” Her voice was stern.
And I knew from her words that her vendetta against Tess hadn’t faded. Despite what we’d been through over the last couple weeks — the last few days in particular — she was just as determined as ever to get her vengeance.
To fulfill her supposed Prophecy.
Watching her back as she disappeared into Rapid Rush, I thought about following behind her. It was the only way I could make sure Tess didn’t slip into Cyrus’s grasp. None of us knew what she intended to do with Tess once she was in her teeth.
But I knew it wouldn’t be pretty.
I could smell the violence come off of her, hear the anguish for revenge in every breath from her lungs.
The twisting in my gut was hard to ignore.
I could ignore the stupid fucking cards.
They were just pieces of paper. I hardly believed in any of this nonsense to begin with.
What would Nash say?
It mattered to her, to Cyrus most of all.
We’d already broken Tess’ trust. I couldn’t do it to Nash and Cyrus too.
Shaking it off, I kept on as Cyrus disappeared into the darkness.
She’ll be in my area. I’ll find her first.
If she could just stay hidden for six hours, I could track Cyrus down and keep an eye on her.
Just a few hours, Trinket.
She’d gotten pretty good at this little game of ours. All of her research on Feverpoint had paid off.
If she’s meant to be mine, tonight, she will be.
And if not? I might just have to take her again afterward.
The tension built up in my body begged for a release. And if I couldn’t get it during Fright Night, Tess might just have to be tied up in my lair again.
God, she’d looked so stunning dangling like that. So helpless.
Between my legs, my clit throbbed as Nash and ran toward Noir Nights. That was where our paths diverged.
A simple nod was all we gave each other as we split off. We knew our mission: keep Tess out of Cyrus’s path. Protect her at any cost. And then enjoy her ourselves.
My body ached with need as I began searching through Medieval Mayhem, hunting between jousting tournaments and castle walls. Armored knights stood guard at every doorway, playing tricks on my eyes as I thought she was in my periphery.
Tess has rewired my fucking brain.
All I could do was breathe her. My heart beat for her.
My chest hummed as I slowed my pace, letting the sounds of the overgrown park wash over me. Crickets, bristling leaves, mice skittering.
With my Twins in hand, I let the blades grind against each other.
A loud shink ringing out over the faux-stone walls.
I’d told her to run if she heard us. But I knew I could catch her if she tried to sprint away from me. It was time to draw out my prey.
Getting lower, I let my knees bend as I surveyed the shadows.
“Here, Trinket. Let’s play.” I laughed as I ran the blades together again.
SHINK.
From a stall made to look like a wagon, something shifted in the darkness.
My soul set on fire. I knew what I’d do when I laid my hand on her.
Now it was time to claim my prize.