Page 92 of Cirque Obscurum

She needs the hunters.

She wants revenge.

“Tell me your nightmares,” I coo as I peer into her terrified, bruised face.

She glances at a busted window, where ripped curtains blow in the wind and laughing voices reach us. “Them. They are my nightmares.” She searches my gaze. “I want them to pay for what they did to me.”

“We can handle that.” I offer her my hand, and she places the card in it. “In return, you have a choice—join us or continue with your life.”

“I like my life. It won’t be easy, but I want to go home. I can’t, though, knowing they are still alive and out there,” she admits.

“Then let us rid you of that fear.” Standing, I pocket the card as I grin at her. “Stay here.”

Whistling to myself, I head out of the abandoned building and around the back where I find a group of three boys passing a joint between them, laughing as they talk.

“Did you try that ass? It was tight?—”

My features contort in anger, and I pull my blade, twirling it as I skip their way. “Hi, boys, I heard you like to play. Can I join?”

Their heads whip around, and I giggle. “What the fuck?”

I don’t let them say another word. Their actions caused enough pain, and their words won’t help them get another chance.

I stab my blade into the first boy’s stomach because he’s facing us. His scream fills the air as I yank it up and out. I kick him so he falls into the dirt. While the others are frozen in shock, I tilt my head and skip to the next guy. Once I stand before him, I grip his dick through his pants, and with the power of the cards filling me, I rip it from his body, holding it up like a trophy as he howls. “Not much to brag about, is there?” I comment as I toss it away.

He collapses at my feet.

The third turns to run as I laugh. “Run, little rabbit!” I giggle again. “Little rabbit, little rabbit, won’t you stay? After all, I thought you wanted to play!”

The power of the cirque still fills me, so I fling my hand out, letting it flow from me. Cards fly through the air like daggers, and they slam into his back, knocking him to the ground with a scream as I prowl over, seeing our suits sticking from his bleeding back. Kicking him over, I grin down at his pale face.

He lifts his hand to ward me off. “Please, God?—”

I slice out with my dagger, taking his hand as he screams and gapes at the stump. “No god can save you now,” I tell him happily, and then I bring my boot down on his crotch, crushing until he finally passes out. Leaning down, I grip his hair and begin to slice. I carve through his neck, blood squirting across my mask and face, and when his head is finally separated from his body, I turn to see the others watching, letting me take the lead. My eyes land on the first boy. He’s still alive and trying to get away.

“Heart, do the honors,” I call as we watch the first boy try to crawl away, sobbing and bleeding everywhere.

“With pleasure, Queen.” He stalks the boy as he glances back at us, sobbing and screaming louder. Heart feasts on his fear as I watch, and when he finally stops before him, the boy lifts his head.

“Tell me if this hurts,” Heart says as he plunges his blade into the boy’s chest, carving out his heart while he’s still alive. When he falls to the ground again, he’s already dead.

Dropping the head with the other bodies, I walk over and check to make sure they are all dead just as the girl stumbles from the building. I expect horror, but all I see is relief and satisfaction in her gaze as she stares at the bloodbath.

“Thank you.” She looks at the bodies then us. “Thank you.”

“Go home. Heal. Enjoy your life, and remember, if you ever need us, we’re here. All you have to do is call.”

We watch her go.

We’re the shadows in the night, the monsters of this world, the broken and beautiful.

We are the saviors of the weak and the damnation of the strong.

I glance at my men to see them watching me. Diamond steps forward.

With his mask in place, he reaches for me like they did all those nights ago when they saved me. This time, I don’t hesitate. I place my hand in his, smiling at the mask and the man underneath.

I chose life all those months ago, and I choose it again each and every day with them.

With my cards and my men, my family and my home.

“Let’s go home to where brutal things linger and nightmares thrive,” I rasp.

He grins and leans in to whisper in my ear. “Tell me your nightmares, Queen.”

I smile and lace my fingers with his, but I don’t answer. I am the nightmare. I am the queen.

And the darkness?

The darkness is home.