Novel & Cerita The Pact Carnival Row

Just still, like dolls posed for display. Something was wrong. Very wrong. “Stop!” I cried, the rage inside me breaking, cracking into fear. “Please! Please, stop!” I fell to my knees. “I’ll do it—I’ll do the pact, I swear! Just stop hurting him!” Morgan lowered her hand slowly, almost reluctantly. The room pulsed with silence, broken only by Rowan’s ragged breathing. “Good,” she said with a twisted smile. “Now we’re finally getting somewhere.”

I questioned, stepping closer to Pamela. "Yeah, Elder Rowan holds a mixer for all the supernaturals in the area. They do it here in town, so no one steps on anyone's claimed territory." Pamela's friend shut the door as we began to descend. "There's a lot of humans at the coven this year and that drew in a lot of visiting packs. With the high success rate of those humans getting a mate—" Pamela began motioning like she was slitting her throat with her finger. "Thanks, Ricky, but I think we will check out the band." Ricky looked from Pamela to me when I started to turn green. I tried to pull away from Pamela to return to the closed doors.

It won’t make a difference in my decision. I shoved the contract at the end of the table and knocked on it. With steady steps, she reached in front and grabbed it. “What is this?” “A contract, sign on it.” I gave her a pen. “What contract?” She asked. As I stayed silent she read the whole thing and her eyes came out of her socket. “What?” “You are the witness of a murder done by Carnival. For so, you will under the protection of Carnival until you are unable to speak, in conclusion, until you die.”

She elbows my side and we are sent into another streak of hysterical laughter. “Let them have fun,” Row says, leaning back in his chair, eying the gambling tables just outside the bar ropes. “What do you say we go try our hand at cards, Paul?” He eyes me, then my glass, then the bartender who is happy to oblige serving us drinks as long as Row is tossing gold chips at him every few minutes. I watch Paul struggle to answer before finally nodding. The boys leave, Ann and I staring at each other for a split second, just long enough to get the same idea.

Finally, the day arrived. The biggest carnival was organized by the ‘Woodstock High School’ cultural team. Unlike all the previous years, this year’s carnival was an absolute hit. People were genuinely enjoying themselves. “You guys did an outstanding job,” Eddy told Evy, Owen, and Hailey. All three acknowledged his praise. “Let’s enjoy the carnival now. I want to play games—and I definitely want to go on rides,” Kayla exclaimed excitedly. “Of course, Kay,” Carson said, extending his hand to her. “Shall we?”

I don't even want to think about it. The paper read Mystery woman. If the Paps want to find out who that woman is, they will. It's only just a matter of time and I need to be ready when that happens. Or I can just prevent all that now, by calling off the Pact. Kay gasps, breaking the silence. "You know who else is so close to you to know you're the one in that photo?" My eyes widen and my heartbeat started thinking fast. "Who?" "Corby" fuck!....

I declared and he nodded in agreement. We both walked around the place and we went on many rides. This day was amazing and I didn’t want it to end. “There you are!” I heard Rowena holler, grabbing my attention. “This carnival is great!” I beamed once she was close enough. “I know! I love it! Look at what Declan won me!” She showed me the medium-sized panda teddy bear and I gushed. “This is so cute,” I swooned, taking it from his hands.

“I was betrayed from below.” Mrs. Carter pointed at him. “Do not get in my truck like that.” “I’m wounded.” “You’re damp.” “With trauma.” The laughter came quietly, strained but real. The stuck truck finally rolled free on the next pull. People stepped back, breathing hard, mud-streaked and cold, but smiling in the exhausted way of those who had avoided disaster by inches. Evelyn wiped her hands on her pants and tried not to notice that Rowan was still standing close enough for his sleeve to brush hers.

“When I was young, I made a pact with Rowan. In front of all the leaders. My son would marry his daughter. A promise made in blood. And now, questions are rising. When questions rise, doubts follow. And when doubt sets in, loyalty wanes.” I barked out a laugh, sharp and humorless. “Loyalty isn’t waning because I haven’t married Adriana. It’s waning because Rowan tried to kill me. Your precious ally, your would-be in-law, put a target on my back. Tell me—if Rowan truly honored that pact, would he have tried to kill me? His daughter’s supposed husband?” I leaned forward, voice low and venomous. “I am not marrying Adriana. No matter what you say. That’s the end of it.”

“Enough? I mean— I literally saw him wolf-out and WWE-slam a monster in the trees so— pretty sure I know everything.” Rowan groaned softly. “Please don’t call it that.” “I knew it,” she muttered, crossing her arms. “I knew you guys were hiding something supernatural. I just… didn’t realize the supernatural thing had fangs and muscles and a weird moral superiority complex—” Kai blinked slowly. “Are you describing Rowan?” “YES.” Rowan looked personally offended. Even through the pain. I would’ve laughed if the tension in Kai’s shoulders wasn’t making the entire room feel flammable.