Page 6 of Carnival of Crows

The Ringmaster stood in the center of the lineup. I had admired his costume from across the tent, but up close, he stole the whole damn scene.

The deep crimson tailcoat looked as though it had survived decades beneath dust and smoke, its once-rich velvet faded at the edges and torn near one shoulder. Black embroidery curled across the lapels like dying vines. The white sleeves beneath had been rolled neatly to his forearms. His heavily tattooed forearms, at that. Black ink disappeared beneath crisp fabric, disappearing and reappearing every time he shifted. His face, with his sharp jawline and high cheekbones, belonged on a marble statue somewhere. Although, it would be a travesty not to be able to capture the emerald green of his eyes.

He wasn’t smiling. He didn’t have to. Everything about him demanded attention. Mine, especially, apparently.

For one completely humiliating second, I forgot there were other people standing around us.

“Luci?” Cassie’s voice snapped the spell.

She leaned toward me with a mischievous smile.

“Want to do something fun instead of the standard pose?” she asked.

“I…”

Brilliant. Fantastic response, Luce.

“I mean…”

My brain finally rebooted and I was able to think coherent thoughts and then articulate said thoughts.

“Yes.” I laughed at myself. “Yes, of course.”

I clapped my hands together. “Let’s do this.”

Cassie pointed toward an old wooden pedestal.

“Stand up there,” she instructed.

I climbed onto it.

Jack, the infamous Jack-O’-Lantern himself, dramatically knelt at my feet, presenting a glowing pumpkin as though he’d just uncovered the world’s greatest treasure. Luca, who I recognized as his character The Fool, dropped into a low crouch beside the pedestal, one gloved hand pressed against the floor, his painted grin somehow equal parts ridiculous and terrifying. Cassie circled behind me, looping the end of her whip loosely around my wrist like she’d just recruited the circus’s newest performer.

Then…The Ringmaster moved.

One smooth step. He stopped directly behind me.

Close enough that I caught the clean scent of cedar mixed with autumn air beneath whatever theatrical makeup he wore. One gloved hand swept outward toward the camera. Like he was presenting me to an audience.

…Or claiming me.

Or maybe that was just wishful thinking on my behalf.

“Magnificent,” the photographer called from behind the camera. “Hold that pose!”

The flash popped. Then another.

“And one more!”

I laughed before I could stop myself. The camera clicked again.

“Perfect.”

The photographer stepped forward as she lowered the camera with a smile. “Those’ll be with Carrie before you even leave tonight.”

I hopped down from the pedestal, thanking everyone before stepping aside so my friends could get their photos too. When they were done, we started making our way to the back exit. The haunt would be starting soon.

We weren’t far enough away to not hear a very deep voice ask about the “smokeshow with the orange streaks in her hair” though.