*Content warnings in description*
Gabriel was dutifully waiting by the door when Darius made his way downstairs.
He opened the door with a smile and gestured ahead. Warily, Darius led the way out, seeing a black car waiting already. Exhaustion settled into his bones once more as he tugged the door open and settled down in the passenger seat.
Within moments, they were on their way.
Thoughts of Lan simmered just beneath the surface. Darius could barely keep himself together when it came to Kallum. Opening the pandora’s box that was Lan’s existence made him queasy. And with tomorrow’s trials creeping up rapidly, he knew it was only a matter of time before all his fears, nightmares, and fantasies were verified.
“Would you like to know more about us?”
The question jarred him.
Darius’s lips thinned, confusion twisting his features. “What are you talking about?”
Chuckling good naturedly, Gabriel clarified, “It must be hard for you. Our Ringleader has a bad habit of speaking in riddles. I just wondered if you wanted to know anything.”
“And he wouldn’t be angry with you for telling me?”
“It depends on what you’d like to know.”
Darius didn’t bother to point out the cryptic nature of that response. Sighing, he leaned back in the seat, closing his eyes. “What is the most useful ability you have?”
“Me?” Gabriel repeated, blinking rapidly in surprise.
Darius wasn’t watching though, threading his fingers together and getting comfortable against the leather seat. “Kallum is mine to unravel,” he murmured, ignoring the alarm bells in his head. “I’ll ask him what I want when I want. So? Will you answer?”
There were several more seconds of stunned silence before Gabriel tentatively laughed. It was a nervous sound. Cautious. “The most useful ability I have,” he repeated carefully, “I suppose, is a mastery of memories.”
“You remember everything?”
The car took a slow, smooth right turn, streets so silent the crunch of gravel was almost discernible. Warm golden light flashed off the tinted windshield, creating strange shadows that were soon whisked away.
“Not quite,” Gabriel replied. “Night Children have a slightly different constitution. We have certain attributes that may be useful.” He smiled faintly, cheeks dimpling. “All of us are adept at memory suppression. It’s a survival trait, of course. But some of us, myself included, may be more particularly talented at memory manipulation.”
“Kallum?”
He shook his head. “That is not one of his many talents. He’s much better at, well, you’ve seen it already.”
Darius considered pressing the point but relented. It would do no good to harass Gabriel about it. Besides, he would rather not show his ignorant hand. Was he hinting at something Darius would’ve already witnessed? The glass egg warmed in his pocket, suddenly feeling heavier. No. Not that, right?
He tried to recall his other encounters with Kallum, but found they were getting jumbled. The burden of the past 24 hours was making his mind sluggish.
“So, memories,” Darius began, opening his eyes slowly. “You manipulate them to protect your secrets? Delirium’s secrets?”
“Sometimes,” Gabriel smiled. “Whatever Kallum deems most important. He has few things he treasures. I try to help where I can.”
He scoffed, social filters frayed as he blurted, “You’re teasing me.”
“It’s not often I get to chat with you.”
“We’ve never met.”
Gabriel just shrugged, a strange little light in his bright eyes.
They drove in silence for several minutes. The roads were growing vaguely familiar but didn’t seem to be his neighborhood block. After another five minutes of curiously peering out the window, Darius turned back and asked, “Where are we going?”
“I thought a small night out would be fun.”
“No thanks.”
Gabriel stifled a laugh. “Trust me. You’ll enjoy this. It’s not what you’re probably thinking.” The car turned again, this time gliding down into an underground parking garage.
Annoyed, Darius made to protest again, but choked on a shout when masked faces flicked out from the edges of the car. He shoved back against the passenger seat, head whipping around as the car calmly slowed to a stop. All around, bobbing faces and curious hands danced across the windows, their jeweled masks glinting under dull, dim lights.
“Where—!” A finger hushed Darius, lingering on his lips for a breath too long.
His eyes dragged over to Gabriel who leaned over him, a mad twist to his smile. Surely, it wasn’t the most astute observation, but it was then that Darius realized just who he was in the circus.
Harlequin.
“I won’t harm you and neither will they.” He nodded slightly toward the curious strangers. “They just want to dance.”
Darius hardly had a second to protest before a mask was tugged over his face and a hard sphere of plastic was shoved between his lips. Thick leather straps held it in place, buckling at the back of his head. A guttural cry worked out of his throat, hands and feet shoving uselessly at Gabriel. His body was fully twisted in the seat now, frantically trying to get away.
In the blink of an eye though, the door clicked open behind him, his seatbelt released, and groping hands snatched him up.
Darius screamed as Gabriel waved goodbye to him.
Both of his arms were arrested to the sound of giggling and the feel of hot breath on his skin. The fear continued to build as he was dragged through the dark parking garage, kicking and writhing. At some point, he felt his feet lift off the ground.
It was equal parts nauseating, thrilling, and horrifying.
Just as he thought his heart would explode, the electric thrum of brass, bass, and bright lights engulfed him.
Head snapping up and around, Darius saw the metal door to the parking garage swing shut. The domed room glittered in shades of gold. An endless stream of crimson confetti fluttered down, winking in the warm light. Jazz whirled through the air, an upbeat and playful tune settling his racing blood. The people who had carried him in dispersed, leaving him alone in a sea of masked strangers.
Hesitantly, he loosened the gag, feeling it release easily. Irritation and something akin to rage bubbled in his chest as he spat the plastic ball out. It was blood red and chained to two strips of glossy leather. He rubbed his cheeks, wondering if it had left marks. A quick glance around afforded him no clues to a trash. Reluctantly, he stuffed the slightly wet contraption into his trench coat.
Asshole.
He scowled, pushing his way through the masses to get a drink. It was too late, he was too tired, and this was all too much.
When he found the bar, it was all glossy dark wood and crystal shelving. The place screamed wealth in a way Darius had rarely encountered. He certainly appreciated that this wasn’t a scummy back alley pub, but that bar was very low.
“What can I get you?” the bartender grinned.
“What’s your cheapest drink?” Darius called back, digging around for his wallet.
She laughed, waving her hands. “Oh no. It’s all been paid for. Whatever you like.”
His eyes narrowed in confusion.
Seeing this, she took it upon herself to make him a drink. The music was loud enough to muffle their conversation, but not enough to deafen. “This is invite-only and member-only. People who come here pay their dues and the dues of their guests. We don’t question it.”
The concoction she mixed was several different liquors and juices. They layered in a whimsical gradient of blues and pinks. With a wide grin and exaggerated wink, she slid the glass across the bar. “Enjoy. The live band is great, and the aerial show is even better.”
Deeply troubled but also intrigued, Darius took the drink and sipped it to calm his nerves. It did seem to be a live music show now that he looked around carefully. The throngs of people organized themselves in his mind, no longer resembling a hoard of bodies.
He carefully made his way through the crowds, not shoving this time. The drink tasted spicy and rich despite the tooth-rotting sweetness of the colors. It was a contrast he wasn’t quite sure he appreciated yet.
“Having fun?”
Darius whipped around, immediately scowling at Gabriel. “Take me home.”
“Soon,” he assured, hands slipping into his pockets. “A good friend of mine is performing tonight. I thought you would enjoy it.”
“Why?”
“Because he’s talented,” Gabriel chuckled.
A million complaints rose up. It was tempting to lash out. Darius stubbornly reeled it in though, taking a larger swig of his drink. The flavors were transforming on his tongue, tasting spicy at first before turning sickly sweet near the back of his throat. A tingling warmth settled low in his belly, rippling out to his tense muscles.
“Why don’t we dance until then? It shouldn’t be long.” Without waiting for a real response, Gabriel pulled Darius in, casually careful of his drink. The music shifted and the guests partnered up around them.
Darius looked around, surprised for only the briefest moment. He no longer really questioned the circles that Delirium existed in. They were different in more ways than Humans could possibly understand. He struggled to remain angry when magic was in the air and a charismatic performer from his childhood dreams led him through a gentle dance.
The room spun pleasantly. Gabriel’s touch was curiously warm through the layers of clothing and for the first time, Darius noted the hunger in his expression. Not a Night Child’s hunger, though. It was different. Familiar.
“The friend.” Darius laughed, finally understanding what was going on. “Is he coming back with us?”
Gabriel smirked widely. “I share, but Kallum usually doesn’t.”
He replayed his own words and immediately flushed.
The Harlequin chuckled, voice dropping. “At least, he doesn’t share when it’s you.” The words felt heavy. Layers of meaning that Darius found himself troubled with discerning. Gabriel leaned closer. “If you convince him though, I’d be happy to have you.”
Darius snorted, jerking away. “After the performance, take me home.”
“Of course, Little Prince.”
He glared.
“Forgive me,” Gabriel murmured, too playful to be sincere. “That’s your nickname among some of the troupe.”
He stopped himself short of asking why he had a nickname. It was obvious. Too obvious. I’m his treasure.
“And Kallum?” Darius asked. “Does he use it?”
“No,” Gabriel shook his head. “But he looks very pleased when we do.”
Darius rolled his eyes, earning a laugh from his dance partner. Taking another sip of the delightful drink, he asked, “Are all of you the same as him?”
“You mean, are we all…?” he trailed off. Darius nodded stiffly. Night Children.
“Of varying degrees,” Gabriel replied carefully. “There are two kinds. Some are born. Some are made.”
“And you all live forever?”
“No one really lives forever,” he demurred, twirling Darius in a languorous circle. “But perhaps we are one breed of being that approaches infinity.”
Darius didn’t reply, letting the words settle. The music changed slowly, fading out and fading back in as the lights dimmed. His attention was drawn to a growing spotlight. In a matter of seconds, he was watching a man soar through the air above them, draped in blue silk and confidence.
The trapeze artist seemed to shine as applause roared up at him, drowning out the music of his aerial dance.
Gabriel had been right. Darius was enraptured.
He would always be enraptured.
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