Page 7 of Priest and his Anarchist

My mom’s name flashes over the screen.

“Hey, Mom…” The tension in my shoulders eases.

“I’m just making sure you haven’t accidentally killed someone.”

I laugh. It’s unfamiliar and feels like cracks splitting over my cheeks. “I miss you. How’s everyone?” I rest back in my chair and cross one leg over the other, exposing fishnet tights. Even inthe confinement of the changing section, the atmosphere is an allure of striped walls and crowned skulls.

“Good. Perse and King are visiting this weekend so we’re changing the itinerary to fit an appearance from them.” Midnight Mayhem used to be a single tent that would travel all over the world as one. The same rule applied then as it does now, with the shows starting at the stroke of twelve, but after the death of one of the Brothers—can’t remember which one—they decided to split, now each taking their own corner of the world. Mom and Dad’s show chose a valley deep in the hills of Spain, while Persephone and Kingston remained in New York. Last I checked, they had one in Japan, and another back where Midnight Mayhem started, Romania.

“Ah, well that should be fun.” My smile doesn’t return.

Mom chuckles a little. “I miss you.”

Lilith Patience doesn’t use softness in any setting except when she talks to me. Sometimes I wonder if it’s by guilt, but I remember who my mother is and that she has nothing to feel guilty for.

“I miss you too.”

“There was a reason why I was calling but I’ve forgotten.”

I roll my eyes. “Father not there or something?”

Mom laughs again, only this time it dies out. “He’s out looking at a boat.”

“Oh god…” I shuffle up my chair, once again looking back at myself in the mirror. “And where’s Dad?” I mention my other dad and the one who, biologically speaking, helped create me. The Elite King.

“He should be almost home from visiting Bishop.” The mention of Dad being on this side of the world and not seeing him pulls at something deep in my chest. Mom must sense it because she sighs. “You know if he could, he would.”

I swallow but it feels like sand. “I know.”

“Okay, I better go. I’ve got to hunt down limes for our margaritas.”

“Okay, Mom. Love you.”

“Love you too, honey. Text your papas. They miss you too.”

“I will.” Ending the call, I toss my phone over the vanity as the ringleader introduces the next set.

It isn’t unpleasant to be here. The atmosphere merely reminds me of everything I’ve denied myself over the years. The risk itself is worth being here, because when the time comes, there is nothing anyone can do to stop him.

The screen of my phone lights up again. Mom probably remembered what she was calling for. My smile falls, the laughter in my throat dying when I read over the words from an unknown number.

Put on a show for me, Madness. Have you missed me?

Like a vortex, I’m sucked back down memory lane…

Chapter Two

luna

year one

seven years ago

Ican’t see through the blur of my eyes, no matter how much I try to scrub the tears away. He had wanted to hurt me. That much was obvious, but I don’t know why. Why he hates me so much that the mere thought of me makes him sick. I am sure of it, at least since every time we come here for the winter holidays, he makes my life seem insignificant.

I try to hide my anger, but today, he dared me to skate over a frozen bed of water that sat at the bottom of a waterfall. He waited until I was in the middle before he shot a hole through the ice, causing spiderwebs of cracks to form. The water was so cold. By the time Vaden pulled me back to the shore, I had enough hate inside of me to rival even his own.

We don’t spend much time with the Elite Kings, since Mom and Father like to argue about it. Dad wants me to be more present here, with them, but Father doesn’t.

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