Page 24 of Unmasking My Dark Knight

She had that cute, frustrated expression again. I knew I was a part of that, but I wanted to be a part of something more. I wanted to make her smile. I wanted to see her eyes light up. But there was nothing there, nothing yet behind what felt like a stubborn little girl who was still holding some grudge I couldn't figure out.

That’s when I heard a group of people laughing, approaching us from behind. It was part of the bridal party, and I couldn’t be more disappointed that our moment was interrupted.

“Ro! There you are! Let’s go; we have to beat the girls!” Gustav walked up to us, along with Tallulah, who went straight toward Ivy Jade.

She let go of my arm and gave me one last glance before being pulled away to the other group.

“Guess we’re gonna get out of this one alive…” I said to her as she walked away. I turned, then continued into the maze with Gustav and some guys, checking to see if Ivy Jade was still staring in my direction. She wasn’t. But I hoped that sometime soon, she would be.

I was far from being done chasing her.

There was so much more to come…

CHAPTER 10

Ivy Jade

Ugh, that annoying little snot, Ro.

I hated him more today than in all the previous years combined. How dare he show up at my brother’s wedding with that… smirk on his face? He was even worse at the corn maze. Smug and arrogant, standing tall like some stupid scarecrow in the middle of that awful field. And to think of all the people to run into for help, it had to be him… He totally irked me. And how dare he call me rude? I couldn't believe he would scold me like I was some child! The man hadn’t changed a bit since the last time I saw him at Gustav’s graduation party.

By the time we arrived back at the chateau, it was nightfall. At least I managed to escape it unseen, but I dreaded my ride share. If I had had our driver from home here, I knew he would have brought me here with the utmost discretion. Except I wasn’t home; I was in front of this stupid Scare Park again. The large lettering of the park name stood grand above me, filled with purple and red flashing lights—‘Thrill Valley,’ it read.

I bought myself a ticket with cash. I couldn’t have Papi or Mami know I was here at night; they’d wonder why. And if they pressed me enough about ‘why,’ then my transparent face would surely give me away. It’d flash like a bright red arrow on my forehead, pointing out the look of guilt all over my face for losing the rings. I’d die of mortification!

No, really. It would happen to me.

Once I passed the metal turnstile, I looked at the unholy park before me. It was dark enough that only the dimmed bulbs came alive, cascading terrifying shadows against the brick walls of the shops and haunted houses around.

My heart started to pound quickly as screams filled the crowded park. I turned left, right, and looked up and down. My hands tingled in the worst way possible. I didn’t want to be here. No freaking way! The terror of clowns was headed my way, and I looked like their next snack.

Nope, I refused to have a repeat of last night.

Except…

“Good Lord!” I shrieked loudly when I heard loud scraping sounds running towards me. I wanted to float away or explode into a million pieces, taking the park out with me. "Don't do that!” I yelled, shutting my eyes with both my hands, not knowing where to go, who was there, or what.

I froze in place. If I ran off, I expected to tumble down a ditch and right into a freshly dug grave, laboring a tombstone with my full name—Ivy Jade Castellanos, barely thirty and not so much thriving.

“Hey, Princess,” a deep, guttural voice said behind me.

I opened one eye to peek. Ek! It was him! High Jynx!

He remembered me?

I couldn’t even utter a word, but my other eye opened, so there was that.

“Why are you scaring me, clown?!” I barked, my hands turned into fists by my side. I was still on edge, dealing with the adrenaline hangover from the corn maze earlier.

“Nice to see you, too.” He smiled, swooping his dark hair back. He had that smile to him–not the one painted over his lips, but the one that was white and sterling. I had no idea that clowns could have such pretty teeth.

“You freaked me out, and if it wasn’t obvious yesterday, then you should know that I don’t do well in this environment.”

“The blood-curdling screaming was a bit of a giveaway,” High Jynx said, running his hand along his smooth jaw. “Which is why I figured you might want to wear one of these.” He held out a little flashing object.

“What is it?” I curled my hands to my chest. It looked like something a construction worker would wear. Plastic and cheap.

“This necklace protects you from all the boogeymen running around.” High Jynx fiddled with it. “It’s the universal sign of a scaredy cat.” The necklace was chunky, beaded, filled with colors and warning signs.