Page 79 of Unmasking My Dark Knight

I confidently walked up to her, taking both of her hands in mine. “Hello, Princess,” I whispered through the loud crowd.

“We need to talk.” Her voice was firm, everything like the Ivy Jade I had known before, nothing like the Ivy Jade I knew now.

She pulled her hands away from mine, and the sting in my chest shot through me like a jolt of electricity.

I followed her as she led us to a secluded corner in the park, away from the shrieks, laughter, and happiness. I felt nothing but panic as she stopped and turned, looking up at me with her lips pursed together and her hands clasped in front of her chest.

“High Jynx,” she started, then laughed and shook her head, rolling her eyes to herself. “Or whatever your name is…”

I physically recoiled. What the fuck is her deal?

“I can’t do this,” she began again, putting her hands on her hips. “I can’t do whatever this is. This is so unlike me, and I have no idea what came over me.”

I was so startled that I had no idea what to say. I was frozen in place, my hands shoved in my pockets, the ring box gripped tightly in my palm.

She seemed like she was waiting for me to respond, to argue, but when I didn’t, she continued. “There are things that are expected of me. My family… they have my life set out in a certain way, and if I don’t abide by their rules, my life will be completely over.”

I bit my lip hard, nodding, the anger rising hot in my chest.

“Our lives are so different, and there’s just absolutely no way this could ever work in any sort of way.” Her voice was still firm, still unwavering, with a harshness that I couldn’t believe I had forgotten all about. “I mean, like… you’re a clown running around scaring people for a living, and that’s just something⁠—”

I cut her off. “Then why the fuck have you been clinging to my arm every night, following me around like a little lovesick puppy?” I snapped. “Why come up and kiss me and let me fuck you and come inside of you?”

Her eyes widened, her jaw dropped, and fury crossed her face. “I don’t know what came over me! And it’s not like I was the only one! You think I was the lovesick puppy?” she huffed. “With the carousel, and backstage, and the secluded area you took me to just to ‘talk?’” She used air quotes like I was just a piece of shit who wanted a quick fuck.

My face turned hot with a mixture of embarrassment, rage, and fucking heartbreak. “I did those things because I cared about you! And you were the one throwing yourself at me! You fucking begged for it. Why would you do that with ‘just a clown’?!” I threw her air quotes back at her.

I towered over her, and I almost felt bad as she looked up at me with wide eyes, like she was afraid of me.

“It was a stupid fantasy that I had to get out of my system,” she hissed. “Now I see that it was a mistake!”

“Oh, bullshit,” I snapped, growling at her. “None of it was a mistake. Mistake is just a word you’re using to excuse the fact that you had feelings for someone like me. Someone who isn’t as privileged as you!” I said, reaching for her wrist.

Ivy Jade looked shocked, her body pulled against mine.

“High Jynx!” she screeched, looking up at me.

“Just shut up,” I said, taking her arm, yanking the sleeve down. There, in the moonlight, dark and permeating on her skin was the black tattoo along her forearm.

She stared down at the quote from Roman Knight, unblinking and shaking.

“This…” I said, holding her still. “This is the truth. This is who you are and who you tried to hide. You’re not afraid of monsters, Ivy Jade. You’re afraid to be yourself because who you are has been judged throughout your entire existence.”

I let go of her wrist, and her arm fell to her side.

I shook my head, emotion simmering in my voice. “You’ve spent so much time reading about love that you only think it exists in books. But it’s real. And it’s standing in front of you right now.”

She grew silent. Whatever anger she came in with was crumbling, and what I saw behind it was sadness.

“And to tell me you liked me,” I spat, disappointed. “What was that for? Just part of your fantasy?”

My fists clenched by my side as my heart threatened to burst. I couldn’t believe this was happening.

“I did like you! I do! I just—” she started.

But I cut her off. “Stop it. Just stop it! You don’t need to protect my feelings by saying that, and you don’t need to justify your words for the sake of your actions,” I said, reaching into my pocket, pulling out the ring box. “You made it clear who you are… so let me do the same.”

I quickly gave Ivy Jade the rings, sticking them in her hand like a cursed object I needed to get rid of.