I step toward my father, and he takes a step back, as the realization dawns on him that I never intended to leave the Carnaval, I belong here. I shimmy and slide around him, trapping him between Ezra and myself, and as I take another step forward, he takes yet another one back. We keep this up, with me spinning my stick to keep him moving until the back of his legs hit the chair, and he sits. Ezra’s hand slams down onto his shoulder, and he holds him in place as he takes the can of gas and pours it over my father. We watch as the spirit trickles over his face, over his shirt, and down his trousers. There was no way he’d escape this show unscathed, even if he did manage to survive.
I do a body roll, gyrating my hips and blowing Ezra a kiss before I lean in and spit at my father’s feet. “You will never hurt anyone, ever again,” I vow as he begins to curse me.
“You stupid whore! God will never forgive your sins! You will burn in hell, you wanton slut!”
Titling my baton toward his heart, I watch as the flame jumps, catching the gas-soaked fabric and going up in seconds. I wasn’t a sadist like he was. I wasn’t going to draw his death out with torture, even though he deserved it. Burning him alive would be plenty. It was slow enough to make him suffer unbearable agony, with minimal effort from me and not much of a cleanup either.
I thrust my devil stick into the waiting sand bucket and grin as the others move closer, warming themselves on the flames, clapping and cheering. Someone has brought out cases of beer and bottles of gin as the music continues to play in the background. This was my home, this was where my soul belonged, and I wasn’t afraid of the monsters and the freaks that stood beside me, because I was one of them.
Ezra nuzzles against my neck as we stand watching the fire, his horn cutting into my skin as he murmurs against my ear, “This is the Carnaval, it isn’t a fairy-tale escape. It’s bloody and brutal, and we look out for our own. This is all we have.”
“It’s all I need,” I reply honestly as he leans down and lights his cigarette with the flames. Tonight had been the final stage in fixing myself, the last stitch in the tapestry of my life. It had been everything.
Retribution for Charlotte.
Revenge for me.
Freedom for us all.
The End.
Acknowledgments
To my husband, thank you for feeding me, looking after me, making sure I sleep and shower during the week before deadlines. I love you for always being you.
Ashleigh, thank you for the kick-ass playlist assembly and talking through my plot holes with me at 2am. I couldn’t ask for a better best friend.
Sarah and Annamarie. I will owe you guys forever. Your love for my work is what pushes me across the finish line.
Dominque (Dom’s Proofreading) and Abigail (Pink Elephant Designs) – I’m honoured to work with you guys once again! You’re amazing.
And a special thank you to Yolanda, for letting me take part in this fantastic series. I fangirled so hard when you slid into my messages and even now, I can’t believe that Ezra and Delilah are out in the world. So again, thank you!
About the Author
Alice La Roux is a dirty minded, mouthy Welsh author who is still trying to find her genre while dabbling in erotica, fantasy and horror. She owes her husband, best friend and sister everything―without them she wouldn’t be writing. She’s a bookworm who reads anything and everything and is addicted to social media. If you want to stay in touch and get the latest updates (or just see pictures of her dog) then don’t forget to stalk her!
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