Page 12 of Chaos Carnival (Cirque de Sanguine #2)

Chapter 11: Corrupted Performance

Maverick

The blue electricity coursed through from the dome, buzzing against my skin. I scanned the crowd, trying to spot a way out of this fucked-up situation. Ivan had Addie in his grip, her eyes glazed over. She was totally under his spell.

Damn, he was too close—no way to get to her without starting a fight I wasn't sure we could win.

Tess thrashed in my arms, her eyes fierce and determined. Her frustration and fear tingled on my tongue, but she whispered, “Hold me back, Maverick. I can't let him get inside my head.”

So I tightened my grip, keeping her safe from Ivan's mind-fucking. It was a struggle, but I wasn't about to let that sadistic clown get her.

The crowd was a sea of lust, consumed by their perverse desires. Eyes glazed over, they were lost in a world of debauchery, oblivious to the danger lurking in their midst. If the situation weren't so damn dire, I would've kicked back and enjoyed the show—over a hundred people, surrendering to their most primal urges. Moans of pleasure filled the air, bodies writhing and twisting in sync. The wet, suckling sounds echoed through the tent, a symphony of fleshy delights. I hated the twinge of arousal despite myself, a testament to the raw, animalistic nature of it all. But then I spotted Ivan, his eyes flashing with malevolence, and I was jolted back. This wasn't a peep show; it was a ticking time bomb, and we were smack dab in the center of it.

“Come here, little witch.” Ivan's voice was thick with domination and lust, dripping with a demonic resonance that made my instincts scream in warning. His clown-tattooed face contorted into something even more grotesque as he leered at Tess. “Don't make me come get you.”

That's when I saw it—a flicker of movement near the back, barely visible in the dim light of the tent. One of Ivan's goons was sneaking up on us, probably thinking he was being real clever about it. The dumb bastard didn't realize I'd been watching for exactly this kind of shit. Time to make my move, before this whole situation went even further south than it already had.

“Not gonna happen, asshole!” I bellowed, hoping to distract that sick fuck, and maybe give Tess and Addie a chance to get the hell out of Dodge. “We're not sticking around for your freak show.”

Ivan narrowed his eyes, but he didn't seem too bothered. “You have no choice, seraph. My control here is absolute. You know I can make you do whatever I want. Your will means nothing.”

My blood boiled at his words, but I forced myself to keep my cool. This psycho had Tess under his thumb for too long, and I wasn't about to let him get away with it.

I tightened my hold on Tess as that meathead goon of Ivan's sauntered over, his eyes glued to us with a mix of confusion and amusement. My grip on Tess said it all: we needed to blow this popsicle stand, and pronto. But with Ivan's crew circling and the big top chaos unfolding around us, I wasn't sure how the hell we were gonna make our exit.

“Maverick,” Tess pleaded, her voice tight with panic. “We can't leave Addie. Ivan's powers—who knows what he's doing to her.” Her words hit me like a gut punch, and I knew she was right. But dammit, we were in a bind, and I had no idea how to get us out of it in one piece.

I wanted to help Addie, too, but intuition screamed at me that something even worse was about to go down. The crowd was getting restless, their lust turning dark and ugly. Tess began to slip from my grasp, her eyes wide with panic.

I braced myself for whatever came next, hoping we weren’t in way over our heads this time. With a casual wave of his hand, Ivan unleashed chaos. A bolt of electricity arced through the air, turning the crowd's violent fervor inward. They began to attack each other, rage and bloodlust evident in their faces.

“Hey, Ivan!” My voice cut through the air again, desperate to keep his attention on me. “You gonna let your little pets tear each other apart? Or are you just here for the fucking show?”

Ivan's smirk widened, his eyes still fixed on Tess. “They're nothing but distractions, my friend. But if you insist on interrupting my fun, who am I to deny you?”

He damn well wasn't my friend, but I'd take any small victory I could get at this point. The crowd was getting more worked up by the second, their hunger for violence and bloodshed palpable. I had to keep them focused on me, even if it meant becoming a target myself. Anything to buy some time and figure out a way to get Tess and Addie the hell out of here.

It was now or never.

I wrapped my arms tight around Tess and concentrated. The familiar cold rush of phasing swept through us as we slipped between dimensions. My control flickered, but I managed to get us to the other side of the carnival grounds.

We sprinted across the muddy field, ducking behind a stack of wooden crates near one of the supply tents. Tess's breath came in sharp gasps, her hands trembling as she gripped my arm.

As we ran, I glanced back, my heart pounding. Ivan stood amidst the chaos, his eyes locked on me. That demented clown face emanating malevolence sent the hair on the back of my neck on end. He raised a hand, and for a moment, I thought he'd send another bolt our way. But he simply watched, a sinister smile spreading across his face.

“We have to go back.” Her voice cracked. “Addie's still in there with that monster.”

“Listen to me.” I grabbed her shoulders, forcing her to meet my eyes. “Ivan's got that whole place locked down tight. We go charging back in there, we're just giving him more hostages to play with.”

“But—“

“No. I promise you we're going back for her. But we need Stone and Lux. We need intel. We need a real fucking plan that doesn't end with all of us dead, or worse.”

Tess's jaw clenched, tears threatening to spill. “Every second we wait—“

“Is another second we can use to figure out how to actually save her.” I softened my voice. “Ivan's too powerful right now. We rush in blind, we lose everything.”

She slumped against the crates, defeat written across her face. “Fine. But we come up with a plan fast. I won't leave her there any longer than absolutely necessary.”

“Deal.” I peered around the corner, checking for any of Ivan's goons. “First step is finding the others and getting clear of this hellhole. Then we strategize.”

We crept past the funhouse, and my stomach lurched at the warped reflections. Mirrors showed more than just distorted images—they revealed nightmarish versions of ourselves. My reflection's arms stretched like rubber, reaching through the glass. Razor-sharp teeth filled its mouth, and its eyes... fuck, those screaming eyes made my skin crawl.

“Don't look too long,” I whispered to Tess. “Those aren't normal carnival tricks.”

We darted past the “Snack Shack,” where dark burgundy stains splattered the walls and counter. The metallic fragrance hanging in the air told me it wasn't ketchup.

“Where the hell are they?” Tess's voice was barely audible. We needed Stone and the others—this rescue mission was going south fast.

The air shifted. A familiar heaviness crushed my lungs, and I knew we were fucked before I even turned around. Two hunters stood there, silver armor gleaming under the carnival lights.

“Deserter,” one spat. “Your kind doesn't deserve to exist.”

The ground beneath my feet rippled like water. Reality bent and distorted as they unleashed their will. I shoved Tess behind me, channeling what strength I had left through my poison-weakened body.

“Funny,” I growled, summoning a burst of energy that made my hands glow with dark fire. “I was about to say the same thing about you fascist pricks.”

The first hunter charged. I met him with a blast of energy that sent him flying backward. The second one's attack caught me in the side, and pain exploded through my ribs. The ground warped again, trying to swallow my feet.

I fought back, throwing everything I had at them. Dark energy ignited around us as our commands clashed. The carnival grounds shook, and somewhere in the distance, metal screamed as it bent under the strain of our battle.

Alchemy rushed through my veins, dark energy crackling as I faced off with the hunters. Each blast I threw drained more of my strength, the poison spreading its icy tendrils deeper into my system. My vision blurred at the edges.

The first hunter recovered, his armor gleaming as he launched another attack. I deflected it, but the effort made my muscles scream. Sweat beaded on my forehead as I struggled to maintain the defensive barrier.

“Fuck this.” I grabbed Tess's hand, yanking her away from a blast that would have taken her head off. “Run!”

We bolted between the carnival tents, my legs burning with each step. The poison was definitely making a comeback—my whole body felt like it was being stabbed with ice picks.

The hunters' heavy footfalls echoed behind us. These assholes were relentless, and I knew we couldn't outrun them for long. My powers were fading fast, each surge of energy letting more of that celestial poison seep through my system.

“This way!” I pulled Tess between two food stalls, ducking under a string of lights. The drumming in my chest grew louder, more insistent as we weaved through the carnival grounds. I just needed a minute to think, to come up with some kind of plan that didn't end with us dead or in chains.

The world tilted sideways as another wave of poison-induced weakness hit me. I stumbled, catching myself against a tent pole. Tess's grip on my hand tightened, keeping me upright.

“Mav?” Her voice was tight with worry.

“I'm good.” I wasn't. Not even close. But we didn't have time for that now. The hunters were getting closer, and I was running out of options.

I reached out with my mind, seeking the familiar signatures of Stone and Lux. They were close, thank fuck. I poured all my focus into sending a single, desperate thought: Get out now. Hunters on site. I knew Stone would understand—we didn't have time for explanations or pleasantries.

“Maverick—” Tess started to protest, but I cut her off.

“We have to leave. Now.” I pulled her close, wrapping my arms around her.

“They'll be able to follow us!” She struggled in my hold.

“Not where we're going.” I closed my eyes, focusing on the cold sensation of phasing. The world shimmered, and we slipped between dimensions with that familiar tug in my gut.

A hunter's voice echoed behind us, his command to halt lost in the ether as we disappeared from their grasp, their delicious frustration a distant buzz at the back of my mind. They couldn't touch us here, but they'd be waiting the moment we returned to the mortal realm.

I kept us in the void, letting my power carry us away from the carnival and Ivan's influence. We couldn't stay long—phasing took a toll, especially with the poison still in my system—but it would give us a chance to regroup and figure out our next move.

The void swirled around us, a kaleidoscope of colors and sensations, like falling forever, a relentless drop into nothingness. My arms tightened around Tess, keeping her steady as the void pulled and tugged at us. I wasn't gonna let her disappear on me, not now, not ever.

“You okay?” Her voice was soft, concerned.

“Peachy.” I forced a grin, even though I felt like hell. “Just enjoying the ride, darlin'.”

She huffed a laugh, and the tension eased a bit. But the hunters still lurked in the corners of my consciousness, like spiders waiting to pounce the moment we re-entered the real world.

“Here.” I angled us down, toward a hidden space between dimensions that I'd discovered a while back. A secret place where we could catch our breath, unseen and unheard. “Hold on, this might be a bumpy landing.”