Midnight

‘I’ll be back soon, Josephine.’

Katie nudged me in the side. Hugo was looking at me with an expectant expression on his face, waiting, for my answer. I ran over my options in my head. Going to the Court of Shadows meant I would risk running into Quentin. If he discovered I was here, then so would my father. And, if I was being honest, I wasn’t ready to face Quentin.

I’d find an opportunity to speak to the Queen when she returned. I could be patient. I could wait. And, if for some reason she refused to hear me out, then I would make absolutely sure that I was there at the Kris Romani to testify on Sebastian’s behalf.

No matter what.

‘You’re right,’ I said. ‘I don’t want to jeopardize anything right now.’

‘Good,’ said Hugo, setting his mug aside and sweeping his gaze around the parlor. ‘In the meantime, the rest of you are free to head into the city while I’m gone, but I want everyone back to the inn before sunset.’

‘You gotta be kidding me,’ growled James. He peeled himself from the wall. ‘We’ve got a curfew now?’

‘In case you’ve forgotten, we had two groties on our tail last night. If they were willing to risk being out in the open, then who’s to say it won’t happen again? Plus, the more Outcasts there are, the more groties come out to play.’

I nodded in agreement. Summer and Autumn Gatherings always brought more shadowen around, since those were the only times large numbers of our kumpania assembled together in one place. Then, a realization suddenly hit me. ‘Your clan has no Marksmen.’

‘Never needed them,’ said Kris.

Vincent huffed. ‘We can take care of ourselves.’

‘In the past, maybe,’ said Hugo. But I’m not so sure anymore. So don’t do anything stupid while I’m gone, understood?’

The others mumbled their agreement.

*

‘We’re in Savannah,’ said Katie, pressing her face against the bay window overlooking the street. ‘And this city is gorgeous. Why do you want to stick around here?’

I swept aside the lace curtain and joined her in admiring the view. Rows of historic homes of varying designs and levels nestled neatly along the thick hardwoods on either side of the quiet road. Several people sat outside a cute little coffee shop the next block down. ‘I don’t feel like going anywhere right now. Not with Sebastian—’

Katie grabbed my hand and pulled us away from the window. ‘Hey, you heard Hugo. There’s literally nothing you can do for him right now. Hugo’s going to take care of him. I mean, Sebastian’s his brother.’

‘I know.’ It hadn’t taken much to convince Katie, but I wasn’t so sure. ‘But anyway, I also don’t want to risk anyone recognizing me, since I’m not supposed to be here.’

‘It’s a really big city, Josie. Are you telling me you’re that much of a celebrity in your world that you can’t leave this house?’

‘Definitely not a celebrity. It’s just—’

‘Just what? I mean, come on, you’re over eighteen. You can make your own decisions. Besides, it’s not like they could force you to go home or anything.’

Katie’s question sent a rush of heat to my face. Clan honor and family loyalty wasn’t something I could explain to her in a few sentences. Traditions and stringent expectations were the backbone of everything we were, but they were our customs, not those of the gadje.

Katie was trying hard to understand, and I could’ve hugged her for it. I felt the corner of my mouth lifting in a smile. ‘You know, it’s been a few years since I’ve been here on Outcast business. I guess as long as I stay away from the Court of Shadows …’

‘That’s more like it.’ Katie walked past me to the stairs and swung around on the bannister. ‘I’m mean, after all, you’re doing no one any good just moping around here.’

‘Okay, then,’ I said. ‘What do you want to do?’

‘Shopping and lunch,’ she replied. ‘Be right back.’

Katie bounded off to take a shower, which meant she’d be a while. I did my best to stay out of the path of the sisters. Ferka and Paizi were buzzing like frantic bees, getting everything in order. In two days, hundreds of Outcast Gypsies would descend on our primary Haven for the Summer Gathering, a two-week reunion of clans in our kumpania – which meant the bed and breakfast would soon be crawling with Corsis.

I explored the house while I waited on Katie, finally ending up in the kitchen, where a large pot of soup simmered on the stove, filling the room with the scent of meat and onions. I opened the door to the cellar. I expected cool, musty air, but instead, I smelled and felt the warmth of a fire. Curious, I made my way down the groaning steps into a decently sized room with a low ceiling. Part of the room had been furnished, with a sitting area and a couple of twin beds.

Esmeralda sat in a chair with her nose in a book. Other than the light bulb above the stairs, the only illumination came from a low fire in a small fireplace in the corner.

‘Does the sun bother you, like it does Sebastian?’

Esmeralda turned a page. ‘Not anymore,’ she replied. ‘I just prefer evening hours and dark spaces. Old habits, I suppose.’

‘Ezzie?’

She lifted her eyes from the book she was reading. Their color was hazel, soft and unthreatening, not the silver glint they often took on when she was irritated. I took that as a good sign.

‘Well?’ she said.

‘Can I talk to you?’

The muscles in her neck tightened against her dark hair, but she nodded and set the book aside. She leaned against the back of the antique chair. ‘Yes, of course. I was actually wondering how long it would take you to come find me.’

I settled into the chair opposite her. Embers crackled in a small fireplace, producing enough heat to suck the chill from the underground cellar and make the room comfortable to sit in. I watched their pulsing glow for a few breaths.

‘Ezzie, what happened to you, exactly?’

One of her arched brows lifted. ‘Could you be more specific?’

‘After Markus,’ I said carefully.

Creases formed along her forehead and the sides of her mouth. ‘After Markus died, I was brought before the Sobrasi in their Court in Paris. I thought they would kill me, which would’ve been a sweet release. But instead, they did something much worse. I don’t know how it happened. All I remember is waking up in one of their dungeons … as you see me now.’

‘But how did you end up here?’

‘It is a long story through many years,’ she replied.

‘That’s code for more secrets, I take it.’

She almost smiled. ‘I am not the only one with secrets, Kralitsa.’

My breath caught. The traditional title was reserved only for our rulers. I’d never been called it, but again, no one knew I was the future queen. I lowered my voice. ‘How did you know?’

‘I know many things,’ she said simply. The wrinkles eased around her eyes, smoothing her skin once more. ‘After all, I have been around quite a while.’

‘But how—’

‘You have said it yourself. I am an original guardian. I came into existence as a result of your ancestor himself, Keveco Romany, during the seventh century. The year six hundred and ninety-nine, to be exact.’

My mouth dropped open.

‘But you must remember,’ she continued. ‘I was not awake during all this time. In fact, I slept for hundreds of years.’

I studied her features, this time more carefully. ‘Do you age?’

Ezzie’s lip quirked. ‘We age, the same as all of God’s creation, unless we sleep. During that time, our life is suspended – frozen in stone. The moment we awaken, we become a part of this world, subject to the effects of time once more.’ She tilted her head, seeing the question in my eyes. ‘Why have I not died of old age by now? When the Outcasts fled Europe, I was taken with the Corsi clan, who had found a way to allow me to sleep, even in my human form.’

‘You’ve been alive for hundreds of years,’ I mused. ‘Which means you could be alive for hundreds more, if you slept, I mean. You’re basically immortal.’

She laughed, but I heard pain underneath it. ‘To begin with, I am not nearly as young as I would wish for such a life. But we are not made to live out eternity here, neither shadowen nor humans. Our immortality lies in the hands of God.’ Esmeralda paused, and her fingers touched her neck, gently prodding her faded tattoo. I couldn’t make out the design. ‘I was awakened fifteen years ago,’ she continued. ‘By Zindelo and Nadya Corsi.’

I sat upright in the chair. ‘Hugo’s parents.’

‘They gave me some semblance of life, human though it is. I may no longer be a guardian or have a charge, but I still feel the pull of loyalty and duty to the head of the Corsi clan.’

So that’s why she was always so intent on looking after Hugo and the guys. It wasn’t just because Markus had been a Corsi. I clutched my hands together in my lap as I worked through my thoughts.

‘You once told us that love between a gargoyle and charge was forbidden, because of you and Markus. You didn’t want to talk about it then.’ I glanced up at her. ‘What about now?’

Esmeralda uncurled herself from the chair and rose. I thought for a moment she was going to leave the room, but she paused at the bottom of the stairs. She ran her hand over the wooden railing.

‘Markus was not my first charge,’ she said, turning her gaze to the fire. ‘During the first several hundred years of our existence, gargoyles remained statues far longer than they were alive, only awakened when there was a threat, sealed to Roma as needed. But as clans began fighting amongst themselves, gargoyles were used as weapons, rather than guardians. The Sobrasi were formed to regulate the shadow world, but eventually, they came to care more for the power and wealth that control brought them.’

‘But Markus was not one of those,’ I said.

‘No.’ Esmeralda turned her attention to the fire. ‘There were still noble Sobrasi back then. When awakened, gargoyles were given time to acclimate to their surroundings before being sealed to a Gypsy. Markus was the Sobrasi tasked with assimilating them. I was under his care.’

I frowned. ‘So you weren’t his guardian?’

‘Not at first. At that time, every member of the Sobrasi had their own guardian, and I had been selected for someone else. But Markus and I … there was something between us. Something I’d never experienced.’ Ezzie’s eyes glazed over in memory. ‘He went against the head of the Sobrasi and chose me instead.’ She looked back at me. ‘It did not win him much favor among them.’

‘How did you … I mean, how did you fall in love?’

The expression on her face shifted. ‘Even before we were sealed, I felt connected to him. He wasn’t like my past charges. With those, the bond had been strong, but it was born out of a protective duty, a deep and compelling calling. But with Markus …’ Esmeralda hesitated, and I saw the corner of her eye twitch, the only evidence of whatever emotions she was dealing with. She sighed. ‘I don’t know why it happened to us. Why we were the ones to be cursed.’

‘How could your relationship be a curse?’

‘Because it got him killed.’

‘Ezzie.’

‘Please,’ she said, holding up her hand. ‘I don’t wish to continue speaking about me. I’ve spent many years trying to move forward.’ She moved to her chair and sat in front of me. ‘But you haven’t asked me the real question yet. The one that concerns you most.’

Ezzie waited patiently.

I fumbled with my pendant. ‘How was it possible? Shadowen are …’

Creatures.

I didn’t want to say the word aloud. But Ezzie seemed to know it, anyway. She perched on the edge of her chair, reminding me of a cat about to pounce. Her eyes locked onto mine with a fierce intensity.

‘When shadowen were first created, they were indeed, creatures of stone, brought to life. The grotesques were once noble beasts, charged with protecting holy places and innocent Roma. Until the blood feuds ripped the Old Clans apart and mutilated the shadow world in the process. Then chimeras were crafted to be even more brutal. You must remember, gargoyles were fashioned by the Roma to fight those evils.’

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