LOGINShare
Chapter Thirty-eight
Last Updated:
2024-10-29 19:42:56Oliver
A rumble of thunder shook the train as rain hissed against the roof as it came down in sheets. Dried blood was caked into my clothes and hair, the stale metallic odor lingering in my nose. In front of me, Jules sat puffing on a cigar, and his hair lay in greasy strands on top of his head.
The lights shook with every crack of lightning. A thick fog of smoke filled the car, intertwining with the fragrance of Jules's top-tier bourbon. The ice in my glass clinked as I brought the amber liquid up to my lips. I let the warmth of the booze burn my throat as I tried to numb away the evening's events.
"So, what is going to happen to Pepper?" I finally asked the question that had loitered in my mind since I plunged the knife into John.
Jules blew out white wisps from his nostril and then knocked off the ashes in the tray in front of him before he spoke. "Pepper is with Birdie. She will be continuing her position in the troupe."
"She will?" My eye
Related chapters
Cirque du Lune Chapter Thirty-nine
OliverI grunted as I rolled over onto my side and stared at the door. How many people knew they had moved me into August’s old room? Why couldn’t they just leave me alone for a little bit?“Coming,” I breathed out as I pried myself from the bed. Whoever it is better have a good reason for coming here so damn late. I swear if it was Jules, Eddie, or Grady, they might as well just red light me for real this time.You could have knocked me down with a feather when I opened that door. I think my jaw was on the ground somewhere.“Elsie,” before I even had a chance to ask what she was doing there, she shoved me back into my room. Immediately, she stepped in and shut my door behind her. With the flick of her wrist, the lock clicked into place.“What are you doing, Elsie?” My mouth was so dry I could have coughed up dust. I had to force myself to look at her face and focus on her eyes.“Do I nee
Cirque du Lune Chapter Forty
Elsie“You know I heard you guys going at it from my compartment again last night?” Shirley took a puff of her cigarette and blew it at me. I knew the mischief that lingered in those eyes of hers.“Think of it as payback for every time I have found you and Carl making whoopie all over the train.” I rolled my eyes at her before I let out a giggle.“You know I don’t mind. If anything, it’s kind of ginchy to know that we are both getting railed at the same time.” As soon as the words left Shirley’s mouth, a group of women and their children walked by. The mothers hurried to cover their children’s ears and shoot dirty looks at Shirley as they herded the kids away. “You would think that they would realize those bra
Cirque du Lune Chapter Forty-one
Elsie “Oliver!” I hastily ran past Jules to follow Oliver, but Jules snagged my wrist, yanking me towards him. I willed myself not to spit in his face or stomp on his foot because the bastard would just get off on it. “Oh, did I forget to tell you that he was there?” Jules’s eyes gleamed with malice. He rolled his tongue between his lips, making me want to heave all over his perfectly fitted suit. “You piece of shit!” I hissed as I yanked my arm away from him. “What is wrong with you?!” I didn’t wait for a response as I bolted away from Jules, leaving him snickering. It was clear his goal was always to trip me up and trap me. He would never clip my wings, though I refused to let him.
Cirque du Lune Chapter Forty-two
Oliver The train rumbled down the tracks, horn blasting before the hiss of the brakes filled the air. The cars lurched forward as we came to a stop. The smell of smoke permeated the station, declaring our arrival as if anyone who was deaf or blind didn’t know we had arrived. I peeked out behind the flimsy aged curtain, examining the stop. I had never been to Baton Rouge, much less Louisiana in general. It was a different world compared to where I grew up. “You coming, kid?” Shirley asked as she came up behind me, causing me to jump. “Shit, you scared the piss out of me.” I hissed as I stumbled away from the train car door to face her. Her long black hair was loose curls, and her makeup accentuated her
Cirque du Lune Chapter Forty-three
Elsie Branches whizzed past my head as Scarlet drove us into the wetlands on the outskirts of the city. I heard Oliver struggling to keep up with me, and I wished I could slow down for him to catch up, but I wasn’t in control. The city’s noise dissipated, leaving only the faint chirps of insects, splashing from something under the water, the twitters of a mixed-species feeding flock moving through the trees, and the kerplunk of a turtle dropping off a log. Something about this melody was so soothing that I wished to capture it for whenever I was stressed. A twig snapped from behind a tree, causing Scarlet to finally relinquish control as a man’s voice filled the air. “What are you doing here, rogue?” A man w
Cirque du Lune Chapter Forty-four
ElsieThe words that had been so painful and heavy on my heart these past years felt lighter than they ever had as I told Everett about my past, how I lost Clyde and ran from my Alpha, how Shirley had found me and had taken me under her wing, how I became the star act in the circus. I told him everything, well, everything except about Oliver.I could feel Oliver’s eyes boring into the back of my head as he walked behind Everett and me. Wolves surrounded us from Everett’s pack. I expected Oliver to be scared or even hesitant, but instead, I felt like he just became more attentive to me.Cicadas buzzed around us, I used to find their buzzing annoying, but now it felt right. They were the most enthralling music I had ever heard, and I wanted to remember this moment
Cirque du Lune Chapter Forty-five
OliverAfter Elsie called Everett out, things went much smoother. Even though it hurt to watch them together in the beginning, I started to see the pieces falling into place. It was kind of like watching a newborn horse take its first steps. They weren’t perfect, but I saw the potential; the potential is what felt like acid in my veins. I never saw that with us.It was bittersweet for sure. I had wanted Elsie so badly, but I knew I never deserved her. I didn’t know if Everett did, but I saw the sparks that we never had.We were sitting at a table under a pagoda, sipping lemonade, when I cleared my throat, bringing Everett and Elsie’s attention back to me instead of staring into each other's eyes like love-sick puppies. “The sun is starting to drop, an
Cirque du Lune Chapter Forty-six
OliverNelson dropped me off on the edge of town closest to Cirque du Lune’s setup but far enough away where no one would catch a whiff of his scent. As I went to slam the door shut behind me, Nelson cleared his throat.“Yeah?” I ducked my head down as I looked back into the car at him.“If I were you, kid, I would get the hell away from those rogues; the sooner, the better.” Nelson’s voice was gruff; the way he talked about the circus and the rogues was like someone had squeezed lemon juice in a cut in my mouth.“Isn’t your future Luna one of those rogues?” I glared at that sad excuse of a man. “Have a nice evening Nelson.”I slammed the car door and started towards the soft glow on the lights, beaconing me home to the circus. I was tense until I heard the roar of the automobile rumble away. Only when I was sure he was gone did the tension in my body leave.No matter how long I wa
Latest chapter
Cirque du Lune Epilogue
Oliver Time flew like it never had before. Was this what it was like to be truly happy? Shit, if this was happiness, then I never knew it before. It had been five years since Jules went after Elsie. Five years that had gone by as quick as a cricket. Five blissful years that were a dream compared to all my years before. The first thing we did was weed out all of Jules's cronies after that night. As a whole, we decided it was best if we left them in the hands of the Sundrop pack. They caused unnecessary bloodshed in their pack territory. It was only fitting that they could decide their fates. It also saved us a heap of trouble, making it a win-win for all parties involved. Cirque du Lune officially went belly up the night Jules died in Lousianna—some of the performers and lackeys packed up and left soon after. Without Jules, everyone was free to do what they wanted, without his shadow of tyranny looming over them. Everyone could finally breathe without the threat of poison engulfing t
Cirque du Lune Chapter Fifty-three
ElsieA flood of familiar scents washed over me as blurs of browns, creams, grays, reds, and blacks lept through the gaps in the trees like a mighty rushing river. There they were, my chosen family, the rogues who banned with each other, searching for a safe glimmer in this dark world of ours. I felt my throat contract as I caught sight of Carl clinging to Shirley's fur while he whipped a rusted metal pipe through the air. There was a fire in his eyes, which was more potent than any flame he breathed.Jules's whole body stiffened from the crown of his greasy hair down to his toes. It seemed he hadn't prepared for the potential of the entire circus following him into the woods. The reassuring sight of Carl and Shirley proved that the pack of wolves wasn't coming to help him; they were coming to aid me. Jules was no longer in control of all these rogues, and I knew that simple fact had to scare the living shit out of him. I saw the irritation flick across his face as his skin tightened
Cirque du Lune Chapter Fifty-two
OliverAs the last wolf disappeared into the thickets, I waited as the last snaps of twigs and crunch of leaves faded. I expected a cold crash of fear to overtake me as I looked at Eddie. Unexpectantly nothing even remotely resembling fear licked at my belly. There was an eerie calm seeping out of the earth and weaving through the trees. I swiped my tongue across my cracked lips, dampening them to ensure we were still operating.I let my eyes fall back on Eddie; I only felt a wave of anger for every second, every minute, every day his existence had plagued me. From that wave, adrenaline raced through my whole being. He had to be stopped now, and it didn’t matter what he did to me; he just had to be stopped.“What’s it like to know you weren’t good enough for that bitch of a broad?” Eddie flashed his teeth, stained with a grimy yellow film from years of smoking and drinking. I knew that cold, cruel smile plastered on Eddie’s face was only to get a rise out of me. From Eddie’s eyes, I k
Cirque du Lune Chapter Fifty-one
Elsie The blood in my veins turned into rivers of deathly ice. The color in the world around me disappeared, leaving an unforgiving coldness closing in on me, threatening to stifle the raging of my heartbeat ticking away in my chest. This couldn’t be happening; he couldn’t be here. How far would I have to run to be able to escape his blood-drenched muzzle? Would I ever be free to enjoy the babble of a brook or the sweet aroma of fresh spring flowers? I should have known better. When did Jules ever give up? I knew the answer from the first time I saw him snap someone’s neck. Jules was a demon used to getting what he wanted, and if it weren’t willingly given to him, he would take it by force. Everyone around him were his personal puppets; every single one of us was dangling by weathered strings from Jules’s fingers. Every movement and every shadow Jules’s minions cast were calculated. At any second, Jules would decide it was time to sacrifice one of his pawns, and their lines would sev
Cirque du Lune Chapter Fifty
ElsieI had never been in a pack like this. Even my original pack was nothing compared to this. There was warmth in the air and a sense of peace that seemed to flow out of everyone I encountered. Compared to the years under Jules’s thumb or when I was in Delbert’s pack, this place was a pure ray of light.My mind was on overdrive as I met the members of my new pack. Their faces and hair colors blended into nothing but a muddled blur of a beige rainbow. I wish I could have slowed down time to take my time to memorize every person.They were all so happy and eager to see me, and I felt like an imposter; I was nothing that special. They were expecting someone they could rely on and who could lead them, and I was just a glorified performer. I could show them how to dangle from a ribbon if they wanted, but if you wanted someone who could be something of value to the pack, it sure as hell wasn’t me.Warmth crackled like electricity as Everett’s hand snaked around the small of my back. I loo
Cirque du Lune Chapter Forty-nine
OliverBirdie climbed up on an old crate that creaked underneath her; she looked like a bloody queen perched up there. There was something different about Birdie tonight. The timid girl who avoided holding eye contact with people was gone, and now a fierce woman stood before me. Roustabouts, performers, werewolves, humans, and everybody in between crept out of the shadows. Even Rosemary and Thomas slipped into view.“What’s going on?” Rosemary jutted her hip out to the side as she threw her arms across her chest. “What do you think you are doing calling us here like this?”“Attention, everyone! We have a situation!” Birdie’s voice rang out in the night air. “Earlier today, one of our troupe members found their mate.&rdquo
Cirque du Lune Chapter Forty-eight
OliverI looked at Birdie in disbelief. This dame ran so hot and cold; it was a miracle when I could actually figure out what she was thinking. This time was not one of those times; when I searched her for any indication of what was happening inside her head, Birdie’s eyes gave nothing away.Just because Elsie had left the circus and left me didn’t mean I would throw her away. Elsie would always hold a piece of my heart in her hands, and besides my own attachment to her, I had made a promise to look after her. I would keep my promise to Milton.“It doesn’t matter if she has a mate, Birdie. Whether or not you like it, Elsie will always be one of us, even if she isn’t here.” I scowled at Birdie before chasing after Carl and Shirley.“I did it for you!” I heard Birdie call after me, but I wouldn’t give her the satisfaction of me turning around to acknowledge her. Besides, I didn’t even know if I bel
Cirque du Lune Chapter Forty-seven
OliverI whipped around to find Eddie peering at me from a tree. The moonlight didn’t do much for his appearance. The dried residue of his makeup was flaking off, almost like his flesh was peeling off his face.“Oh, Eddie.” I gulped. “You startled me; I didn’t know you were there.”My eyes glanced around from Birdie, Carl, and Shirley; their expressions screamed they hadn’t been aware of his presence. That caused a pit to form in my stomach.Eddie slithered into view. “Who’s gone?” I hated his voice so much; it was so ragged it made my skin crawl.“No one is,” Carl quickly muttered before reaching into his pocket to pull out a cigarette.“Don’t lie to me, Carl.” Eddie hissed as he stalked closer to me. “Where is our star? Is she who is gone?”“I-I don’t know what you ar
Cirque du Lune Chapter Forty-six
OliverNelson dropped me off on the edge of town closest to Cirque du Lune’s setup but far enough away where no one would catch a whiff of his scent. As I went to slam the door shut behind me, Nelson cleared his throat.“Yeah?” I ducked my head down as I looked back into the car at him.“If I were you, kid, I would get the hell away from those rogues; the sooner, the better.” Nelson’s voice was gruff; the way he talked about the circus and the rogues was like someone had squeezed lemon juice in a cut in my mouth.“Isn’t your future Luna one of those rogues?” I glared at that sad excuse of a man. “Have a nice evening Nelson.”I slammed the car door and started towards the soft glow on the lights, beaconing me home to the circus. I was tense until I heard the roar of the automobile rumble away. Only when I was sure he was gone did the tension in my body leave.No matter how long I wa
