chapter twelve

indie

Flowers By Grave - Savage Gra$p, KAMAARA, $werve

T he music pulses through my veins, each beat syncing with my heart as I sway in the center of the room. The crowd around me is a blur of masked faces and flailing bodies, all of them lost in the same dark euphoria that has me by the fucking throat. Sweat clings to my skin, mingling with the haze of smoke and something almost metallic in the air, like the sharp scent of blood lingering just beneath the surface.

But none of it fucking matters. Not with whatever Dario slipped in my drink pumping through my veins. Wreaking havoc on my nerves so that everything feels more intense, more vibrant. Despite the dark shit unfolding around me, and the scent of death that lingers in the air, I feel alive, electric, every inch of my body buzzing as it moves to the beat.

I feel goddamn untouchable.

I let my eyes drift across the crowd. It's chaos, pure and beautiful. Cirkies dressed in dark, twisted costumes—corsets, leather straps, and masks that obscure their features, turning them into something almost inhuman. I catch glimpses of the twisted games they're playing, men and women on leashes, being led around by their ‘masters,' while others have taken to darker indulgences, with blood pooling on the floor under a pair of dancers who seem to be locked in some erotic, violent performance.

It's exactly what we all wanted for our Dark Harvest. A spectacle painted in deep blacks and reds, all illuminated by the flickering glow of jack-o'-lanterns scattered throughout the tent. The carved faces leer at us from all angles, twisted expressions mocking the living, their hollow eyes glowing a sinister orange.

I can't help but smile. I never expected to spend a Halloween like this. Back home, it normally involved Naomi picking me up to go to someone's house party. One that I didn't want to go to, but it was better than sitting at home with my dad.

The thought of it has my stomach bile climbing up my throat.

No. I push the thoughts back down. None of it matters. Not how I used to spend Halloween. Not Naomi, not even him. It's all in the past. This is where I belong, in the eye of the storm, where darkness and desire collide. The people around me may think they're indulging in their fantasies, but none of them have lived through what I have. They haven't survived the shit that I have.

I am the fucking fantasy. The queen of this twisted circus, and everyone here fucking knows it.

The mugginess of the tent is relentless, and my throat is dry. Reluctantly, I pull myself out of the flow of the music, glancing back to where Johnny and Lux disappeared into the shadows. Part of me wishes they would come back. There's something hot about watching them both stand guard over me like the feral beasts they are, but I know they're handling something important.

I'll be fine.

I make my way to the bar, my hips still swaying to the rhythm even as I move through the crowd. The masked faces part for me as if they know— she's untouchable. It's like they can feel the danger rolling off me, and it feels good.

The bartender is different from earlier, a stranger with dark eyes peering at me over his black mask. His costume is simple—black leather vest, thick black tribal tattoos crawling down his arms, a dark edge to his movements. I smile sweetly, leaning over the counter as I catch his gaze. "Water, please," I say, my voice cutting through the noise like a knife.

He doesn't speak, just nods and pours me a glass, sliding it across the bar. His eyes linger a second too long on the swell of my chest, but I let it slide. After all, at least he didn't drug me. I down the water, cool relief rushing down my throat.

I'm about to return to the dance floor where Lux ordered me to stay when I feel it. That creeping sensation of being watched. Not in the fun, Lux is always watching me kind of way, but something darker and predatory.

I glance to the side, and there he is—the guy Johnny had laid out earlier, standing at the edge of the bar with two of his friends. They're all wearing the same black masks, but their eyes… I can feel them undressing me, stripping me down to something vulnerable. If I were anyone else, I might actually feel afraid. But I'm not. I'm Indie fucking Conners. Dark Queen of this circus, and they have no fucking clue who they're dealing with.

The leader, the one Johnny hit, is built like a brick wall, shirtless now, his chest broad and covered in tattoos that wind around his muscles. His pants are black, clinging tight to his thighs, and his cocky stance screams confidence. His two friends are built the same—tall, muscular, dressed in various pieces of leather that look more suited for a dungeon than a dance floor, but shit, who am I to judge. They're all predators in their own right, but none of them are at the top of the food chain.

Not here. Not in my world.

I'm about to turn and head back to the dance floor when the leader steps forward, his voice dripping with sleaze. "Hey there, kitten. You look like you could use a little company."

I can't help the laugh that slips off my lips. It's light, teasing—like he's told me the best joke of the night. "Company?" I tilt my head, giving him a slow, amused once-over. "Sweetheart, I'm doing just fine on my own, thanks."

His grin widens, that kind of smug, confident look of a guy who thinks he's already won the game before it's even started. Poor bastard . "Come on, we just wanna have a little fun, you like fun, don't you?"

I roll my eyes, barely suppressing a yawn. "Fun? You and I must have very different definitions of the word." I turn to walk away, but his hand shoots out, grabbing my arm with a firm grip.

Oh. This is gonna be good.

I glance down at his hand, then back up at him, my smile sharp and wicked. "You really want to do this, huh?"

His fingers tighten, his lips curling into a devious little smirk. "You're not going anywhere, kitten."

His friends close in around me, one behind, another brushing his fingers along my thigh like he's testing the waters. They surround me, but all I feel is amusement.

They have no idea who they're fucking with, do they?

"I'd suggest you let go of me, and scurry off with your friends, like a good little boy," I say, my voice dripping with sugary sweetness. "I'd hate for this to get all… messy."

The leader chuckles, his breath hot against my ear. "You're fucking feisty. I like that. But you're not exactly in a position to be making demands. Look around, kitten—there's no rules tonight," he whispers. He's so close to me I can feel his hardness pressed up against my abdomen.

I sigh, shaking my head in mock pity. They're really dumber than they look. "Are you sure about that?"

His friends laugh, their hands starting to wander beneath the fabric of my costume, pushing boundaries they really shouldn't. All I can think about is how short their lives are about to become. Johnny is gonna lose it. And Lux? Lux will probably savor every second of making these pathetic fucks pay for laying their grimy hands on me.

I almost feel bad for them. Almost.

The leader pulls me closer by the waist, his grin spreading wider. "You talk real big for someone so small."

I bite my lip, letting my eyes sparkle with mischief. "Small? Maybe." I lean in close, brushing against him, my lips near his ear. "But untouchable. At least, for you three."

He snorts, clearly not buying it. "Untouchable? I don't see anyone coming to save you, kitten. So what's stopping us from having a little fun? I mean, isn't this the circus of desires? What if my desire is to sink my fat cock so deep inside you that I split you open? Hmm?"

I smirk, stepping back, slipping easily from his grip. "Oh, sweetheart. You just punched your own ticket out of this world by even considering it. Congrats though, I'll make sure to send your family flowers." I smirk. "What do you think they'd prefer? Carnations or roses?"

His grin falters for a moment, uncertainty flickering in his eyes before he shakes it off, trying to play tough. "Death ticket? What are you talking about?"

I laugh again, this time darker, edged with a dangerous gleam. "You really think you three are the predators here, don't you?" I lean in, whispering close enough for him to feel my breath. "But you're not. And the second you guys touched me? You all signed your own death certificates. You'll never walk out of this circus alive."

His confidence wavers again, just a flicker. "Big talk for someone who's all alone."

I flash him a wicked, knowing smile. "Oh, honey… Look around you. This is my circus. I am the Dark Queen and I am never alone."

Before he can respond, a voice booms over the chaos, cutting through the music like a knife. "INDIE!"

Lux. His voice is pure fury, the kind that sends a chill down even my spine. He's back.

The guy freezes, his hand dropping from my waist as his friends step back, all of them suddenly aware of just how fucked they are. I glance toward the shadows, where Lux is storming toward us, Johnny at his side, both of them radiating a darkness that makes everything around them pale in comparison.

A darkness that has a familiar aching heat building between my thighs.

The guys try to step away from me, panic setting in, but it's too late. I step forward, placing myself directly in front of the leader, my grin never faltering.

"Now, I did try to warn you," I say, my voice dripping with sarcasm. "You boys are so fucked now."

Through the holes around his eyes and mouth, I can see the way the leader's face pales beneath his mask, and I can't help but laugh.

Now this is my idea of fun.