Page 14 of Chaos Carnival

“We need to move fast.” Maverick pushed himself up, swaying. “I know a shop in Paris. Old witch, specializes in celestial ailments—“

“No.” Stone's voice cut through the room. “You're not phasing anywhere.”

“He's right.” Cross stepped between Maverick and the door. “Phasing will accelerate the poison. And the hunters will track the energy signature in seconds.”

“And I'm not going anywhere until Addie is safe,” I said. “You stay here, Maverick, so that you don't have to use your powers and attract the hunt—“

“No.” Maverick's voice was steel. “Too dangerous. Ivan would kill you before you got within ten feet.”

“You got a better idea?” I challenged.

The crystal skull's surface rippled with a mysterious blue light. “Perhaps we're approaching this all wrong. In my experience, the best way to deal with megalomaniac villains is to appeal to their vanity.”

Cross spread out a map on the rickety motel table. “The circus is set up in an abandoned fairground outside town.” His finger traced a circle around the perimeter. “Ivan will have wards up, but they'll be focused on keeping people in, not out. He wants an audience.”

“We need to scout the location,” I said, pushing myself up from the bed. “See what we're dealing with.”

“I can do a perimeter sweep,” Stone offered.

“Not alone,” Lux countered. “We go in pairs. No one gets caught solo if the hunters show up.”

Maverick shifted beside me, his skin alarmingly cool where our arms touched. “The old storage buildings might still be standing. Perfect for stashing backup supplies or setting traps.”

“Or hiding bodies,” Oscar's voice echoed from the skull. “Though I suppose that's rather pessimistic of me. Perhaps he’s just storing cotton candy and shattered dreams.”

I studied the crude map Cross had drawn. Three main tents formed a triangle, with smaller attractions scattered between them. The maintenance tunnel entrances had been marked to create a web of potential escape routes, assuming they weren't blocked.

“Tomorrow at dawn,” Stone decided.

I nodded, trying to ignore the creeping terror in my veins.

“Dawn's cutting it close,” Cross said, frowning at Maverick. “You're all running on empty after the last few days.”

I glanced at Maverick, noting again how cool his skin felt. Stone looked equally drained, dark circles under his eyes that hadn't been there a week ago. Even Lux, who usually radiated energy, seemed subdued.

“The tattoo working for you?” I asked Lux.

He lay a hand on his chest where the dagger lay hidden under his shirt. “Looking promising, but hard to tell for sure. Haven't had much chance to absorb without immediately burning through it.” He gave me a sympathetic look. “Once we stop phasing everywhere and actually rest, I'll have a better idea.”

“We should do Stone next,” I said, earning surprised looks from everyone. “What? We were going to wait and see, but we don't have that luxury anymore. You're all exhausted.”

“With what equipment?” Stone asked. “Unless you've got a tattoo machine hidden in that backpack of yours?”

I hadn't thought of that. “There has to be a shop in town that—“

“Too risky,” Maverick cut in. “We're trying to stay under the radar, remember? Can't exactly walk into a tattoo parlor and ask to borrow their equipment.”

Zara straightened, her silver eyes gleaming. “Actually, I know someone. Works out of a basement studio, caters to some specific clientele. She doesn't ask questions.”

“Define specific clientele,” Stone said warily.

Zara's lips curved into a knowing smile. “Let's just say she's familiar with supernaturals. And she owes me a favor.”

I caught Maverick's eye. “I'd rather risk it than watch him go into stasis at the wrong moment.”

Chapter 9: Carnival of Shame

Maverick

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