Shadow

by Christi J. Whitney

  Shadow

  Book Two of the Romany Outcasts Series

  CHRISTI J. WHITNEY

  HarperVoyager

  An imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers Ltd

  1 London Bridge Street

  London SE1 9GF

  www.harpervoyagerbooks.co.uk

  First published in Great Britain by HarperVoyager 2016

  Copyright © Christi J. Whitney 2016

  Cover layout design © HarperCollinsPublishers Ltd 2016

  Cover design © Cherie Chapman

  Cover photographs © Shutterstock.com

  Christi J. Whitney asserts the moral right to be identified as the author of this work.

  A catalogue copy of this book is available from the British Library.

  This novel is entirely a work of fiction. The names, characters and incidents portrayed in it are the work of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or localities is entirely coincidental.

  All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. By payment of the required fees, you have been granted the non-exclusive, non-transferable right to access and read the text of this e-book on screen. No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, down-loaded, decompiled, reverse engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of HarperCollins.

  Ebook Edition © June 2016 ISBN: 9780008122409

  Version 2016-05-11

  To my family.

  Table of Contents

  Cover

  Title Page

  Copyright

  Dedication

  1. Silent Cries

  2. Unexpected Fate

  3. Fearful Hope

  4. Stepping Backwards

  5. A Sure Uncertainty

  6. Going Nowhere

  7. Healing Wound

  8. Chained Freedom

  9. Blinding Darkness

  10. Alone Together

  11. Melted Stone

  12. A Perfect Mistake

  13. Closely Separated

  14. Certain Perplexity

  15. Ebbing Sway

  16. Gentle Thunder

  17. Healing Wounds

  18. Close Distance

  19. Sweet Agony

  20. Dawning Night

  21. Waking Slumber

  22. Frozen Fire

  23. Immovable Currents

  24. Veiled Revelations

  25. Controlling Destiny

  26. Unending Finality

  Epilogue: Awakening Dreams

  Acknowledgements

  About the Author

  Also by Christi J. Whitney

  About the Publisher

  1. Silent Cries

  Monsters don’t attend graduation parties. Not even when their best friends send invitations decorated with enough glitter to nauseate a fairy. I held the card between my clawed fingers and sprawled across the bed as I read it for the tenth time.

  You’re invited to a

  Graduation Party

  In honor of

  Katie Noele Lewis

  Friday at 8:00 pm

  Katie didn’t know what I’d become. How could she? I hadn’t set foot inside the school since the night my life had changed. The only people who knew were a clan of Outcast Gypsies, and their secrets were now mine.

  A familiar lump of emotion wedged between my lungs, and I held my breath until the ache eased. After five months, I’d learned to live with the sensation. Some days were easier than others, but I’d known graduation day was going to suck.

  There was a sharp rap at the door. ‘Sebastian?’

  I hid the invitation under my pillow. ‘Come in.’

  My foster brother stepped into the room then jerked to a halt. He squinted. ‘Sebastian, you know you freak me out when you do that.’

  ‘Do what?’

  ‘Sit here in the dark,’ Hugo replied.

  ‘Oh.’ I glanced at the window. The shade was pulled and the curtains drawn, as usual. Lighting wasn’t something I thought about these days, since I could see as easily in pitch-black as I could the middle of the day. ‘Sorry.’

  Hugo leaned against the doorframe. ‘Hey, it’s your room. Besides, who am I to complain about saving some electricity around here? Money’s tight enough as it is. I’d just like to see more than two silver dots when I talk to you.’

  I blinked at the dim glow filtering in from the hallway outside my room. My brother often compared my eyes to the way a wild animal’s mirrored light.

  ‘Well, what do want me to do?’ I leaned over and switched on the desk lamp. ‘Wear bike reflectors?’

  ‘I was thinking more like those glow strips little kids wear on Halloween.’

  ‘Perfect. I’ll run out and pick some up tonight.’ My stomach rumbled, and I pressed a hand against my torso. ‘And while I’m at it, maybe I’ll head into town, terrify the locals and eat some livestock.’

  ‘Hungry again?’ he asked, sounding curious. ‘You ate just an hour ago.’

  I uncurled myself from the bed and stretched. ‘When am I not hungry? I know you guys said I needed additional sustenance and all, but this is ridiculous. I have the appetite of a sumo wrestler.’

  ‘Maybe your body’s still adjusting, Sebastian.’

  ‘Adjusting,’ I repeated. ‘You make it sound like I’m suffering from jet lag.’

  Ignoring my complaining stomach, I walked to the window and peeled aside the curtain. The remains of the evening sun glistened against the newly green trees. I felt Hugo studying me – or trying to, anyway. The way my body blended with shadows made me difficult to pinpoint in dim light. I knew I was more intimidating than I used to be – back when I’d just been Hugo Corsi’s kid brother.

  ‘So, how are you doing?’ he asked suddenly.

  I studied him in return. My brother owned the Gypsy Ink Tattoo Parlor, and he looked every bit like a tattoo artist. His brown hair had grown out over the winter, and he’d trimmed his goatee, but his grungy T-shirt didn’t hide the myriad of designs he sported over most of his skin. Hugo Corsi was also the head of a clan of Outcast Gypsies, which made him even more secretive and mysterious. Talking emotions with him never came easy – for either of us.

  ‘I’m fine,’ I replied.

  He wasn’t convinced. ‘I know graduation was this morning—’

  ‘I told you, I’m fine.’ A growl welled up inside my throat, and I paused to swallow it down. ‘It’s not like I didn’t know this was coming, Hugo.’

  ‘Yeah,’ he replied with a shrug. ‘I just thought you might want to talk about it.’

  ‘Why?’

  Hugo and I had patched things up, but neither of us could totally forget the past. He’d kept the truth of what I was hidden from me. I understood why he’d done it, and I’d forgiven him, but it was still hard not to get suspicious. I could read unspoken things in my brother’s eyes every now and then. Secrets seemed to be Hugo’s specialty, and that made trusting my brother an ongoing challenge. But I kept trying.

  And so did he.

  ‘I want to know how you’re feeling, Sebastian.’

  Processing my emotional state was like taking a swim in the middle of a swamp. Everything was murky. There was something inside me – a cloudy part I didn’t like dwelling on – that had been feeling all kinds of strange things lately, things that didn’t feel very human. I couldn’t explain them to Hugo because I didn’t understand them myself.

  ‘I don’t know how I’m feeling,’ I said finally. ‘It’s not like I really have something to base all this on. How am I supposed to know what’s normal for a—’

  ‘Gargoyle,’ Hugo
finished the sentence for me.

  Hearing the word still made me flinch. Gargoyles were mythical creatures, pieces of Gothic architecture. They weren’t supposed to be real. ‘Yeah.’

  Hugo rubbed his chin. ‘Well, you said you’ve been feeling better, right?’

  My lips tightened into a smile. He made it sound as though I were recovering from a cold. ‘I guess so.’

  ‘And all the weirdness stopped after—’

  My brother cut himself off, but I knew exactly what he’d been about to say.

  After the Romanys left town.

  I reached under the collar of my shirt and touched the dandelion pendant. Its glass surface was warm, as always. My wrist throbbed in response. The dandelion tattoo inked into my skin was like an open wound: never scabbing over, never healing.

  Pretty much like my heart.

  ‘I’m okay, really,’ I said with as much conviction as I could. ‘After all, missing a few graduation parties isn’t the worst thing that can happen to a guy, right?’ I smiled and lifted my eyes to meet his, knowing my silver irises would reflect the light from the hall.

  ‘All right,’ Hugo replied. ‘Just checking.’

  My smile widened. ‘You’re such a big brother.’

  ‘Well, I don’t have a manual to go by, but maybe I’ll earn an Eagle Scout badge or something for effort.’ He backed out of the room. ‘The guys are on their way, and they’re bringing food. Didn’t think you’d want to miss that.’

  ‘Sure. I’ll be there in a minute.’

  Hugo shut the door behind him. I heard the thud of his steel-toe boots as he left the apartment. My stomach rumbled again. I crossed the room and dug Katie’s invitation out of hiding. She was having the party in her parents’ enormous backyard. There were a lot of trees. And it would be pretty dark by the time the festivities really got started. Maybe I couldn’t attend a graduation party, but I could definitely observe one from a distance.

  Anything was better than staying cooped up in the apartment.

  I stuffed the card in my pocket and scrounged for a clean shirt. Finding clothes for people who had wings wasn’t as easy as the superhero movies made it out to be, but Genella, James’ wife, figured out a way to alter my shirts to fit around them using a combination of zippers and buttons up the back, enabling me to wear regular clothes.

  I discarded my old shirt and struggled into the new one – fastening it from behind without too much effort, thanks to many weeks of practice. Then I turned my attention to the heavy nylon straps I wore, even around the apartment. They crisscrossed my chest, held together by Velcro, passed over my shoulders and under my arms – effectively pinning my enormous leathery wings against my back.

  As I checked the closures, I caught my reflection in the fractured mirror over the dresser. Hugo wanted to replace the glass like he’d done with the other mirrors I’d smashed months ago, but I’d gotten used to seeing my shadowy features through the spiderweb cracks. Or maybe I just preferred it that way. I’d accepted my new body, I supposed, but I was nowhere near being okay with it. The sight of my pewter hair, the conspicuous shape of my harshly pointed ears, and my weird gray skin – always made me jump.

  It was like seeing a face in the background of a horror film.

  I curled my upper lip, exposing two rows of sharp, jagged teeth; then forced my attention away from the mirror. I retrieved my jacket from the closet and worked it over my protruding back, feeling a bit like Quasimodo. The jacket had been a present from Hugo: long, and roomy enough to accommodate my strapped-down wings, and with a deep hood to hide my face.

  The jacket was also Hugo’s answer to my being confined to the apartment – a way for me to get outside without being noticed. I couldn’t exactly walk into McDonald’s and order a value meal, but I could take a somewhat guarded stroll in the park.

  I made sure the other essentials of my disguise – leather gloves and extra dark sunglasses – were stashed in the pockets before I exited the apartment and headed down the hall to the Gypsy Ink. My gaze swept over the red walls and eclectic furniture. The lights of the waiting room had been dimmed, mainly for my benefit. Outside the shop window I could see the silhouette of the town of Sixes just beyond the parking lot. Inside, Hugo lounged on one of the two purple sofas, sipping a mug of coffee and reading a magazine.

  ‘Hey, I’m just going to step out for a few,’ I said.

  Before he could respond, the shop’s doorbells jangled. James, Kris, and Vincent – my brother’s best friends and fellow shop owners – barged in. Behind them came James’ wife, Genella, and Kris’ girlfriend, Dali, each carrying several large bags. The smell of food smacked me in the face, awakening my overactive gargoyle senses. I had to stifle a groan. My body was seriously craving some protein.

  ‘It’s the graduate!’ Vincent declared.

  ‘Happy Pomp and Circumstance and all that crap,’ added Kris.

  James handed me a large envelope. ‘This was in the mail.’

  I glanced at the return address. It was from the high school. I slashed open the envelope with one claw and pulled out an important looking document.

  My diploma.

  ‘I told you all that work you did with Ms Lucian would pay off,’ said Hugo.

  The paper in my hand should’ve meant something to me. It represented the culmination of my high school achievements. ‘Thanks, guys. But I don’t see the point. It’s not like I really need one in my line of work.’

  ‘But you earned it,’ said Hugo. ‘That makes it worth something.’

  The others nodded while staring and not staring at me at the same time. I’d grown accustomed to their occasional awkward pauses when dealing with me. After everything we’d gone through and despite the support they’d offered, a real live gargoyle standing in the middle of the tattoo shop was still unnerving.

  ‘So, anyway,’ said Genella quickly. ‘Congratulations.’ She dropped her bags on the counter, engulfed me in a tight hug, and then pulled back with a frown. ‘Why do you always keep your wings strapped down, Sebastian? It’s got to be uncomfortable.’

  Kris grunted. ‘I’ll tell you why. It’s because he’s broken two lamps, our best coffee pot, and half of Vincent’s pirate ship collection.’

  My shoulder and wing muscles cramped under the constrictive bindings, but I only smiled. ‘Guilty as charged.’ I glanced at the members of the Corsi clan, watching their faces shift into expressions of oddly placed excitement. ‘Okay, what’s going on? You guys look like someone just bought you a puppy.’

  Genella shrugged. ‘Well, we thought since you couldn’t go to graduation, we’d have our own celebration here.’

  ‘A party?’

  ‘Who needs all that boring commencement stuff anyway,’ said Dali, as she slid a box of pizza from her bag. ‘This is way better. Now, come on Sebastian, use those knives you’ve got on your fingers and help us dig into this food. I bet you’re starving. I had Frankie load these babies up with sausage and ground beef, just for you.’

  I wiped my sleeve across my mouth, already beginning to drool. Meat sounded perfect, and the smell alone was causing me to waver. But it was nearly eight o’clock. If I was going to Katie’s, I had to go now. ‘Thanks, guys. I really appreciate it. And I promise I’ll eat as soon as I return.’ I backed away from the pizza, trying not to breathe through my nose. ‘I’ve got to step out for just a few minutes, but I promise I’ll be back before you’ve opened the second box.’

  Hugo’s brows knotted over his eyes. ‘Where exactly are you going?’

  ‘Just a walk,’ I replied. ‘I need some air.’

  ‘This is about Katie Lewis’ party, isn’t it?’

  I couldn’t get anything past Hugo Corsi. ‘Yeah.’

  He leaned forward and crossed his arms. ‘I’m not going to stop you, Sebastian. But if you’re looking for some kind of closure by seeing your old friends, I think you’re going to be in for some disappointment.’

  ‘Don’t worry,’ I said as I slipped my hoo
d over my head. ‘I’ll keep to the woods.’

  Katie lived in a nice subdivision near the school. Thankfully, the stretch of undeveloped land between the tattoo parlor and that section of Sixes provided easy concealed access for me to travel. Various paths ran through the woods connecting with the city park’s bike trail and a nature walk. I chose one of the less worn paths and started off at a brisk pace.

  I’d made it halfway to Katie’s house when I noticed my eyes and nose were stinging. I brushed my sleeve across my face, wondering if someone was burning leaves – though it wasn’t really the season for it. I sneezed twice and cleared my throat. The air smelled like sewage. Then, I shivered.

  Cold.

  The temperature dropped around me. It seeped through the pores of my skin and settled in my midsection. It had been months since my warning sense had fired like this. So long I’d almost forgotten what it felt like.

  Almost.

  I glanced over my shoulder as I walked. The trail appeared empty, but the sensation of eyes watching me increased with every step. I eased slowly off the path and passed behind a clump of azalea bushes.

  The putrid smell lingered, but nothing else happened. I was far from trusting any of the abilities I’d gained, but I couldn’t shake the ominous prickle of danger either. I waited, muscles tight and body impossibly still. I didn’t like this feeling at all.

  Gradually the scent weakened and the air turned warm again. My stomach unclenched, and I ventured out onto the path. The sensation of being watched had vanished, along with the smell, but I knew I hadn’t imagined it. At least, I didn’t think I had. I decided to jog the rest of the way through the woods, just in case.

  By the time I arrived at Katie’s, the party was in full swing. It was nearly dark, and the evening sky was the color of blood and gold; shadows were growing long in the tall oaks on the edge of the Lewis’ property. I really didn’t know why I’d come. Maybe I was looking for closure, like Hugo said.