Claudia, Shawn, Cameron, and I rode in Claudia's brand new hunter green Rodeo. Richard, Edward, and Nicole rode along in Edward's Hummer. I didn't care whom I rode with. Wait, let me quit lying. I'd have rather rode in on a damn horse instead of riding with Edward. There was just something about him that warned me to stay away. So, I'm growing up and becoming smarter. Took this long just for that?
By time Claudia finally got my attention, she was on the other side of the road playing chicken with an oncoming car. I screamed at her begging her to get on the right side of the road. She laughed at me while she slid the car back on the right side. I wanted to open the door and jump out to my death. But hey, St. Louis needs me. Oh and to make my mood better, Cameron was sitting beside me. Right now, I'm honestly not feeling like playing the role of sweetheart. I'm about to go meet Jean-Claude for a second time in my lifetime. I was hoping for only once, but sometimes no one gets what they truly want. Sometimes, they come back for more. Let's just hope I can take more.
Cameron's eyes stayed fixated on me while I tried to ignore him. I glared out the window, stared at the back of Shawn's head, even watched the poles on the fences near the road blur past. I didn't want to talk to him for some reason. Actually, I didn't want to tell him I wasn't in love with him. He would be able to smell a lie and it doesn't smell too good.
"Cameron, how did you become Ulfric? How did you get here if you are Ulfric?"
Claudia's voice surprised even me. I wasn't expecting it.
I looked over at Cameron to see him staring out the window. Maybe he wasn't up for talking either. Too bad.
"I had to kill a guy named Garrett."
I laughed at a thought that passed through my mind. Cameron's face turned to mine. His eyebrow was raised.
His voice carefully played along the lines of laughter and sexual tension. Damn, he's hot.
"Why were you laughing?"
"Just thinking about something. Maybe it should be our motto. I kill 'em, you eat 'em."
He slumped back in the seat smiling up at me. I suppose he's happy that I'm taking his werewolf qualities so well. I can't really say that I am or that I'm not. I haven't seen him shift and I'm guessing since he's Ulfric he can do it at will. Nice thought there.
"Cameron, is it possible that you can shift only certain parts of your body?"
He grinned up at me. I had to dwell further in this. I mean he could be the one. It's best to know about things like this. Sure is...
I had to add. "Like what parts?"
His grin got wider as he sank further down into the seat. I looked up to see Claudia's eyes in the rear view mirror. Naughty girl.
* * *
Claudia and I stood outside the door of the Circus of the Damned watching the vampires pass by on stilts. Their faces were painted up real clown nice. Problem was: I never really liked clowns. I've never been scared of them. I just never thought they were funny. They were just weird people with weird clothes wearing unusual paint on their faces. Now, theres vamps with blood written across their face. What a terrific sight.
My body felt stiff as memories made their way into my mind. I didn't want to be in St. Louis anymore. I knew for sure I'd never move here. The feel of Julie was haunting me. She shouldn't have died. I'm unbelievably evil. Who the hell kills their own sister?
"Sara?"
Cameron's voice caught me off guard, causing me to refocus.
"What?"
He stepped beside me putting his arm across my shoulders.
"You coming in?"
I raised my head, flicking my eyes back and forth. I didn't realize I'm still at the Circus of the Damned.
Cameron guided me inside the building. The scent of magic filled my senses. It reminded me of walking in on my mother while she was brewing something up. I knew her magic was always for the best, but what about this? Who's using it? Is it legal? What's it for?
Cameron's hand continued to push me further into the room. The scent was flowing in the air. It jammed into my sinuses. My head felt like it was recovering from minutes of spinning in place. My legs became unsteady, wobbly. Cameron's arm was the only thing keeping me up. His face was down in front of mine. He was kneeling, staring into my eyes.
"What's wrong?"
"Someone's using magic."
He stared at me confused. "Wasn't your mother a witch?"
I took in a deep breath to try to calm my spinning head. "Yeah, but she wasn't this strong. There's something either inside or outside using it. I don't think it is a witch. It's something more powerful. Probably a necromancer."
"How do you know that?"
I tried to smile up at him, but my face wouldn't allow it. "My father was a human servant. He had some of this power, just not as much."
And just like that, with my last words, the magic was gone. It didn't linger in the air the way sprayed perfume does. It was just gone. Either the thing holding the power died or it was powerful enough to gather every bit of power it let out all at once. I almost didn't want to stick around to find out, but hey, business is business.
When my strength was back to normal, I tried to walk forward again. Cameron's hand held on tightly to my back. I tried to push him off, but he wouldn't move. I started getting angry with him. I wanted to be able to get up and walk around. I was fine now.
I grabbed his face and pulled it down to mine. My voice was harsh as I spoke through gritted teeth.
"Let me go. The magic's gone and I'm fine."
His eyes searched my face trying to find any sign of pain. He raised his right hand up to my face. His fingers lightly ran across my cheek. He pulled me closer to him, hugging my back. I rolled my eyes, but hugged him back.
"Cameron, will you let go now?"
He raised his eyes up to me placing his chin between my breasts. I ran my fingers through his hair catching a handful of it. I pulled his head back until he faced mine.
"Cameron, this puppy dog love stuff is nice, but I'm here on business. You either back off now or go home."
I opened my hand, letting his hair fall back against his beautiful head. I stepped away from Cameron, walking further into the building.
* * *
Color flooded my eyes all at once. I was overwhelmed by the brilliant colors. The five vampire clowns were simultaneously riding three feet tall bicycles. They were all dressed in colors far too neon for their near translucent skin to handle. Fire surrounded them causing them to ride around in a tight circle. A hell bound circus.
Cameron came to stand next to me. "So this is what the supernatural think a clown fest is supposed to be."
I smiled up at him. "Freaky as hell but yeah."
Cameron took a few steps behind me. He touched my shoulder, trying to get my attention. "Claudia, Edward, Nicole, and Shawn went this way."
My eyes followed Cameron's hand as he pointed to a black door with a sign that read "Personnel Only." Hell, I'm special.
Cameron guided me across the crowded floor. His head was bent down near mine to make sure that I could hear what he had to say.
"Where's Anita?"
His mouth was near my earlobe. "The RPIT police called. She left on an assignment. She'll be back later."
"Cool."
Once he moved his hair out of my sight, I found that he had opened the door. Cameron stepped back from me and let me get the entire view. Jean-Claude was standing next to two other vampires. The one on his left had flaming red hair with eyes so green emerald's seemed just an illusion. The other that stood to his right was a beautiful longhaired blonde that dwelled in the shadows. His glittery blonde hair glowed under the fluorescent light. He was a sight of perfection with his beautiful light blue eyes shining out behind his mask of shadows.
The french accent Jean-Claude withheld in that luscious mouth of his begged for my attention.
"Sara, so nice of you to finally join us."
My hand went to my stomach from a sudden pain. I pushed Cameron out of my way and quickly ran to the opening of the Circus of the Damned. My mind was rushing and spinning again. The magic was back. I fell to my hands and knees on hard concrete. I felt like my body was going to turn itself inside out. My throat burned, my head spinned, my eyes watered under the neon glow of the Circus's sign. My eyes closed, trying to stop from crying. A hand touched my jaw raising my face up to meet his glare. I don't know this hand. My eyes opened wide, releasing tears. My vision was diluted causing me to see wavy faces before me. Two bodies were standing there. One with long black hair that billowed its way across my face. The other had shorter blonde hair that foamed around his face. The black haired one stood in front of me with his power blasting out at me like electricity through his veins. He was trying to penetrate through my mind. He wanted to break me.