“This place wasn’t always yours?”
She shakes her head slowly, her gaze dropping to the pendant in her hand.
“When Ophelia died, it was passed on to me.” Then her eyes meet mine, steady and dark. “They said she was a witch. That she practiced dark magic.”
A shiver traces my spine as she turns away, gliding back behind her desk, the pendant still hanging delicately from her fingers.
“Dark magic?” I ask. “But… aren’t you some kind of witch?”
She pauses, head tilted down for a beat before lowering the pendant onto the desk.
“I’m not a witch,” she says simply before her eyes flick up to mine and she picks up her smokes. “I lean more toward fortune telling and psychic readings.”
“Have you ever tried it?” I press. “Witchcraft?”
Her gaze sharpens, narrowing slightly as she places the cig between her lips. She lights it with a slow drag, the flame briefly illuminating her expression—curious, maybe a little wary.
“Witchcraft isn’t something you fuck with, Aurelia,” she says, voice low and calm. “Even I know there are boundaries you don’t cross. Some things aren’t meant to be touched. And when you do…” She exhales a slow stream of smoke. “…it always ends with… consequences.”
I give a small nod, the discomfort settling deep inside me.
“So…” she starts, eyes narrowing as she studies me. “Why are you really here?”
“Well… I know it’s sudden, but…” My lips press into a tight line. “I need my salary.”
One brow lifts, unimpressed. “You’ve haven’t been here long enough. Salaries are paid at the end of the month. We can provide food... Clothing...”
“No, it’s not that,” I say quietly, gaze dropping. “I just need cash.”
Her silence stretches, thick and unreadable.
“Never mind. Thanks anyway,” I mutter, already stepping back.
I turn and walk out, her scrutinizing gaze glued to my back, burning through me until I vanish behind the curtain.
As I exit the circus, I spot Wrath leaning against his bike outside the Hollows trailer with Soul standing beside him.
Shit. He’s really my last resort.
I hesitate, just for a second, watchinghim, before I shove the doubt aside and keep walking forward.
As I get closer, I catch Wrath side-eyeing me as if sensing my presence.
I stop a short distance away, clearing my throat, glancing off like I’m not really sure if I should be doing this, if I might regret it, but then I see Wrath give Soul a subtle movement with his fingers, a sign, and without a word, Soul walks into the trailer, leaving us alone.
When I look back, Wrath is already staring at me, those eerie eyes locked onto mine, pulling at the memory of last night. What he did… what we did, and it reminds me that he owes me. He owes me this one fucking thing, at the very least. I don’t have anyone else to ask now.
I fiddle with the hem of my shirt, before straightening my shoulders.
“I need a ride…” As soon as the words leave my lips, his brow raises, and I roll my eyes before gesturing to his bike with my hand.
“I need you to take me somewhere to collect something. It won’t take long… It’s…”
He doesn’t blink, he doesn’t react, and his silence, the judgement starts to edge it’s way under my skin. I throw my hands up, knowing this was a bad idea.
“You know what? Forget it.” I spin on my heel and walk forward, but his loud whistle stops me in my tracks.
My eyes close, and after a second, I inhale deeply, spinning around. His fingers crook calmly against his thigh, beaconing me to come to him.