“Thanks.” I smiled politely, backing away, without taking my eyes off her. The rides seemed louder then, the lights dimmer and the tents taller, all crowding around me like eerie Ents, waiting for me to trip on a branch so they could grab me with hands like claws and drag me into empty tunnels where they’d...

I shook off those images and looked around frantically for any sign of Eric. I didn’t want the candyfloss anymore and only held it as a prop so I’d look less lost and alone.

But I was lost and alone. How did I even know Eric would come back for me? How did I even know he wasn’t stalking me—waiting to attack me?

The human on stilts appeared a few tents over, his spotty shirt making me relax. At least there was one person I was sure wouldn’t eat me if given the chance. I picked up a quick step and darted out into a crowd of teens to get to him, smacking straight in to the firm, almost rubbery chest of a man.

“Oh, God,” I said, peeling sticky pink candyfloss off my arm. “I’m such a klutz.”

But he said nothing in return, staying completely silent until I looked up at him and froze—an entire lifetime of heartbeats giving up in one breath.

“Ara?”

“Jason.”

The candyfloss fell to the floor, the sound around me rushing into my ears like a horn in a tunnel. Each reaction happened in my mind, but came too slowly from my body. I wasn’t running. Why wasn’t I running?

“Ara. I’m not going to hurt you. I’m here for Karnivale,” Jason stated, taking a step away from me, his brow knitting together tightly in the middle. “Why…” he shook his head, “why are you here?”

“I’m here for Karnivale, too.” My voice shook.

“Ara, do you know what Karnivale is?”

“Yes. Well, I mean, no—but.”

“Who brought you here? Surely you’re not here with David?” he asked with a hint of uncertainty.

“No.” I shifted my feet out of the running-madly-away screaming position. “Why? Have you seen him?”

“No.” He stared at me, his lip lifting slightly over his teeth.

“I have to go.” I turned on my heel.

“Wait!” He grabbed my arm; I clutched a hand over his, closing my eyes into thin slits.

Don’t hurt me!

“I—” He released his grip. “I’m not going to hurt you.”

My eyes opened slowly again to the face of concern.

“Just tell me. Who are you here with?” Jason looked around, probably wondering where my escort was; a very good question. “Is it a vam—?”

“Yes. He’s a vampire.”

“And you knew he was a vampire when you came here?”

“Yes. Why?”

“Did he tell you what Karnivale is?” his voice sounded strained, hurried.

“Not really. He said it’s a fun thing for vampires—an annual gathering.”

“Ara, it’s a buffet.” He looked at his watch. “You have about five minutes before midnight, and then—” his voice trailed off, his hand slightly extended toward me.

“He didn’t tell me that.” I swallowed and took a step back, looking around at the other humans. I have to warn them.

“No!” Jason extended his hand further, laughing nervously. “Don’t do that. You’ll be killed instantly.”

“But—”

“Ara, you have to go,” he stated, becoming taller. “If David knew you w—”

“If he knew what, Jason? If he knew what? He doesn’t care. He left.” I leaned forward, raising my voice. “He doesn’t care what happens to me. And what’s it to you, anyway? You tried to wipe me from the face of the Earth. Now you get your chance, don’t you?”

“Ara, please?” His shoulders became tight and high. “You have to go. Now.”

“I’ll go when I’m ready.” I folded my arms.

“God, you’re so stubborn.” Jason reached for me; I squealed as he grabbed my arm.

“Problem?” My vampire escort finally appeared, sipping an ice-soda through a smile.

“You?” Jason said through his teeth.

“What’s up, man.” Eric gently pressed two fingertips to Jason’s wrist, pushing his hand off my arm.

“Why did you bring her here?” Jason pointed directly at him, his hand almost swearing pain of death. I felt so short standing between them.

“She’s fine,” Eric said, sipping his drink again. “I’ll get her out of here before midnight.”

“She’s not yours to take risks with, De la Rose.”

“Cool it, Knight,” Eric said with same spite. “She’s not your problem either.”

Jason’s jaw tightened, his eyes narrowing, awakening the monster I knew too well. A split second passed; he shuffled his feet, clenching his fist before it shot out like lightning. I didn’t see anything, nothing at all except the tent collapse behind Eric and the ice-soda fall to the sand in a splash of red, marking my shoes and jeans with a frosty cool.

“Why did you do that?” I screeched.

“That guy pisses me off.” Jason grabbed my arm and started walking, dragging me like a naughty child beside him.

“Where are you taking me?”

“I—” His words ended on the wave of high-pitched screams that filled Karnivale then, coming to gurgled ends in tents all around us as the lights went out, flooding the fair with pitch-black fear.

“What is that?” I said into the sudden darkness, hoping Jason was still there.

“That’s...the buffet.” He twisted his wrist to pull me closer, shielding me in his long, hard arms.

“Buffet?”

The silence under the screams spread like ashes over the night, and dying carnival light flickered shadows onto the grounds around us, showing shifting figures with each flash. My head whipped to the left, a fraction after Jason’s. He stood taller, enveloping me like a mother swan wraps her young. “I have to get you out of here.”

“No!” I struggled against his hold. “No. Let me go.” Please don’t hurt me. I can’t go through that again.

“Relax, Ara,” he said, his breath warm on the crown of my head. “I promise, no harm will come to you. Please, we have to leave before this gets bad.”