The Circe de Romany left town months ago.
So why was the head of their clan in our shop?
The front door banged open, jangling the bells, and two men stomped in. They wore dark clothes. Thinly concealed weapons glinted at their hips. My stomach exploded with warning ice; the sensation nearly knocking me off my feet. I clutched my torso and breathed hard through my teeth as a third man entered the shop.
Quentin Marks regarded me, and a deep scowl crossed his face. My lip curled from my teeth. I snarled. Quentin’s hand dropped to his belt and his fingers closed around the hilt of a glimmering knife. I crouched defensively. My wings shuddered underneath my jacket.
Nicolas Romany rose from the couch. ‘Sebastian Grey,’ he said gravely, ‘we need your help.’
2. Unexpected Fate
My brain registered Nicolas’ words, but I couldn’t rip my focus from Quentin Marks. Not only was he the leader of the Marksmen – the official bodyguards for the Romany clan – but he was also Josephine’s boyfriend. And he despised me. I heard myself growling, but I couldn’t stop. The sound rumbled from my chest with each breath I took.
‘Control your pet, Corsi,’ said Quentin coldly. ‘Or I’ll tame him for you.’
Hugo glared. ‘That’s enough from you, Marks.’
‘Quentin,’ admonished Nicolas. ‘Let’s be reasonable.’
‘Of course,’ the tall Gypsy replied, his voice like syrup. His hand slid casually from his knife. ‘I’m always reasonable. After all, I’m not the animal in the room.’
The other men sneered, and I choked down another growl. Though I’d only had a brief encounter with the Marksmen, as it had included a volley of arrows aimed at my gargoyle hide, I’d developed an extreme distaste for them.
‘All right,’ said Hugo. ‘You wanted to see him. Now you have.’
Nicolas started towards me then seemed to change his mind. He observed me from the edge of the couch. His expression reminded me of a scientist scrutinizing the details of an experiment. ‘And you awakened him yourself?’
‘I told you, he belongs to the Corsi clan.’
‘I’m afraid I must disagree with you,’ said Nicolas.
My hand went to my wrist, my claws curling around the dandelion tattoo. It throbbed against my fingers. ‘I don’t belong to anyone,’ I said, looking pointedly at Hugo before turning my eyes on the Romany leader. ‘But I’ve chosen to stay with my brother.’
Nicolas appeared taken aback, as if he hadn’t expected me to speak. ‘Guardians don’t have a choice in such matters.’ His gaze fixed on my wrist. ‘It took me some time to discover exactly what happened between you and my daughter last autumn. But I’ve done my research. I know about the sclav, Sebastian. I know the truth.’
I glanced sideways at Esmeralda. She’d been the first to tell me about the sclav – an object owned by a guardian’s intended charge. Once physical contact was made between a gargoyle’s brand and the Gypsy’s sclav, the two became sealed in a guardian-charge bond. Even Hugo, whose clan prided itself on branding gargoyles through the centuries, hadn’t known how to complete the process. If he had, then I might truly have belonged to the Corsis.
Josephine’s pendant pulsed with heat under my shirt. The necklace was her sclav. But she’d given it to me when her family left town. Hugo thought the separation would be enough to break the seal. But I knew it hadn’t been. And neither had anything else my brother had tried. I may have chosen to stay with the Corsis, but my decision didn’t change the truth.
I was Josephine Romany’s guardian.
‘Sebastian’s my brother,’ said Hugo. ‘You have no claim to him.’
‘He’s a gargoyle. He’s not related to you or any of your clan. You may have branded the creature, but you can’t keep what’s clearly been chosen for us.’
‘Nicolas,’ said Quentin, using that low, controlling tone of his that set my nerves on edge. ‘The Corsi clan doesn’t want to give up their pet. It’s exactly like I told you it would be. We’ve wasted our time coming here.’
‘You’ve had your say,’ Nicolas said to the Marksman, a warning edge to his voice.
Quentin bristled. ‘And I’ve told you, my men are more than adequate to—’
‘The discussion is over!’ Nicolas snapped.
‘Why do you need this gargoyle?’ asked James. ‘You’ve got so many protectors of your own.’ He jerked his chin derisively at the Marksmen. ‘Aren’t they enough?’
‘The Romanys are one of the head families in the kumpania,’ replied Nicolas. ‘You know that having such a prominent position among our allegiance of clans doesn’t come without risk. Surely you’ve heard of the unrest among our people up north over the past few months. Rumors of power struggles among the bandoleers. Members of the head families are concerned for their safety.’
My heart leapt up my throat. Was Josephine in danger? Why hadn’t I felt anything? I clutched my throbbing wrist as the pendant burned against my chest. Maybe I had been feeling something, after all. I just hadn’t realized what it was until now. My wings shuddered under my jacket. ‘How can I help?’
Hugo stepped forward. ‘Sebastian—’
I cut him off with a wave of my hand.
‘Our troupe will be arriving from Maryland tomorrow,’ continued Nicolas, shifting his gaze to me. ‘We’ll reside in Sixes through the summer until we determine our next course of action. Sebastian, I want you to come and stay with us at the Fairgrounds.’
The possibility of being near Josephine again sent a rush through my system and, for the first time in weeks, hope fluttered with fragile wings inside my chest.
Vincent scowled. ‘I don’t think that’s a good idea.’
Nicolas ignored him. ‘You’ve been branded for us, Sebastian. Their clan has no say in the matter.’
Hugo glowered. ‘He was branded for one of you.’
‘And your clan left,’ added James. ‘She left …’
Everyone from the Corsi clan looked solemnly at me, and I braced myself against the counter. Instincts flooded my head with conflicting messages. I felt incredibly protective of Hugo and the others – they were my family – but it was nothing compared to what I felt towards Josephine Romany. In the pit of my stomach, the war rekindled with a vengeance. Going against my brother’s wishes was like swimming upstream, but fighting against this never-ending pull was even worse.
‘Hugo,’ I said lowly, my inward struggle causing my voice to thicken with a growl. ‘Maybe there is—’
‘No,’ he said sharply. He pointed at Nicolas. ‘I don’t believe sending him with you is in the best interest of either clan, and I won’t let you take him by force, no matter how many Marksmen you’ve brought along.’
The Corsis moved closer to me. The other Gypsies shifted in response. Their close proximity set my emotions on fire. I was hemmed in – trapped like a cornered animal. My vision blurred red and my head clouded. On whose side did I fall? I couldn’t think straight. I pressed my hands to my temples as a guttural sound wrenched from my throat. ‘Stop,’ I snarled fiercely. ‘Just stop it.’
Weapons flashed in the Marksmen’s hands, but no one moved. A tense silence fell over the room, broken only by the inhuman growls coming from my own mouth. Before I could bring myself back to my senses, a voice spoke from the corner.
‘Have you considered what you’re doing to the boy, Hugo?’ Esmeralda pulled herself from the shadows with an expression of glassy calm.
‘What are you talking about?’ he demanded.
‘He’s confined to limbo here,’ she continued, her voice as pointed as her gaze. ‘The process that began with his being sealed to the Romany girl isn’t complete. As long as he remains with you he’s incapable of fully changing into what he’s meant to be.’ Her silvery eyes flicked to mine. ‘Sebastian’s fighting a battle that will only grow worse if he’s prevented from fulfilling his duty. He’ll never be able to win unless he’s given the chance. Is that in his best interest, Hugo? Is that what’s best
for him?’
Hugo stared at Esmeralda, and a muscle jumped in his jaw. He didn’t speak for several moments. The other Corsis looked at each other uneasily. Finally, Hugo leaned against the wall, crossed his arms, and turned his gaze on me. ‘Sebastian, it’s your decision.’
My instincts instantly cooled like water thrown on a blaze. I’d made my choice to stay with the Corsis. Life with Hugo hadn’t always been easy, but he was my brother, and he cared about me. It was only recently that I realized how much.
But the pull to go with the Romanys – to go to Josephine – strained violently inside my chest. I stared hard at the floor until I was able to push past the ache in my ribs. I wouldn’t turn my back on my brother now. Not after everything we’d gone through.
Suddenly, I felt an odd buzzing in my head like a burst of static.
A voice pulsed through my thoughts.
Don’t worry about them, Sebastian. I’ll look after your brother and his clan.
I blinked, confused. The voice belonged to Ms Lucian, though her lips hadn’t moved. She looked at me, her face expressionless, but it felt as though she’d practically shouted inside my head. Just as I started to dismiss the voice as part of my imagination, the sensation hit again like bees swarming inside my brain.
You already know your answer. Let the Corsi clan go. They will be safe.
‘Well, Sebastian?’ asked Hugo.
I jerked from my thoughts to meet his gaze. There was no indication from him that he’d heard anything. Everyone had grown deeply quiet. They were waiting for my answer.
The voice in my head – Ms Lucian’s voice – was right. I knew, deep down, that I was only fooling myself. As much as I wanted to make this work I couldn’t stay here anymore. My life meant nothing the way it was now. But how could I just abandon the only family I knew? I searched Esmeralda’s face with the glimmer of silver in her hazel eyes, and I saw written in them the promise of Hugo’s safety.
It was the reassurance I hadn’t realized I’d needed until that moment.
‘I’ll go with the Romanys.’
My brother’s face went rigid. Guilt squeezed at me, but I set my shoulders. I wasn’t changing my mind. Not this time.
‘You have your answer,’ Hugo said to Nicolas.
‘Good,’ Nicolas replied, satisfied. ‘We’ll see you tomorrow at the Fairgrounds, Sebastian.’
As Quentin fell into step behind Nicolas the Marksman shot me a threatening look. The hair on the back of my neck prickled, and it took a good deal of effort not to snarl at him in response. He and the rest of his darkly clad posse followed Nicolas out of the shop, and the Gypsy Ink was quiet.
‘Sebastian made the right decision,’ said Esmeralda, breaking the silence.
A scowl darkened Hugo’s features. ‘Yeah, and how do you know that?’
‘Because it’s what he’s supposed to do,’ she replied. ‘You, of all people, should know that, Hugo Corsi. Your ancestors helped infuse those powerful traits within the guardian psyche. Sebastian chose to stay with your clan – an action more difficult than you will ever know – but keeping him here has only postponed his true calling.’ Esmeralda’s eyes narrowed. ‘Sebastian deserves the chance to find himself. You owe him that.’
It was eerily heavy in the waiting room as my brother and Esmeralda regarded each other. The rest of the clan watched the exchange – some with interest and others with wary caution. But before I could ponder either her words or the intensity of the standoff between them, Esmeralda broke the wordless deadlock by heading for the front door.
‘You’re leaving?’ I asked, shocked. ‘Just like that?’
She smiled that weird, mysterious smile of hers. ‘It’s not as though I’m needed here, Sebastian,’ she said. ‘Besides, I have some things to take care of.’
‘Like what?’ I pressed.
The smile remained on her lips as she placed her hand on my arm, leaned up, and kissed me gently on the cheek. When Esmeralda’s gaze met mine, the silver spark was visible within her hazel eyes once more. My head buzzed with electricity.
I want you to be careful, Sebastian. Change is coming, and there is something dark on the horizon. I’m afraid that many of the Outcast clans will soon become involved in a very old strife.
I jerked back, disturbed and uneasy. Once again I’d heard Ezzie’s voice, but she hadn’t spoken aloud, and no one in the room reacted to her words. I took a deep breath, feeling weirdly vulnerable. She blinked at me with her silvery hazel eyes, encouraging me to respond. Instinctively, I replied with a question in my head.
Is Hugo in danger?
Esmeralda’s lips quirked upward, and I got the feeling she was pleased with my communication. My head buzzed again.
Don’t worry. I’ve already told you. I’ll watch over them while you’re gone.
I started to reply, but Esmeralda squeezed my arm.
‘Goodnight, everyone,’ she said aloud with a casual flair.
Her gaze fell hard on me.
You need to guard yourself, even as you guard the Romany girl. This new life of yours isn’t going to be easy, Sebastian. But I have faith in you.
Esmeralda opened the door, and then she was gone.
The tingling in my head dissipated – leaving me stunned and a bit disoriented. She’d done most of the talking in my mind, but I’d somehow talked back, and she’d heard me as perfectly as if we were having a normal conversation. Was it some special talent of hers, or was it a gargoyle thing?
‘Well.’
Genella’s voice broke my reverie. She ducked behind the counter and pulled out a cardboard box.
‘What are you doing?’ James asked.
‘It’s Sebastian’s graduation day,’ she replied. ‘I made a cake, and I’m not about to let it go to waste.’ She flipped open the box, daring us to disagree with her. ‘Come on, Sebastian. You get the first slice.’
The weight of the Corsis’ stares added to the enormity of the decision I’d just made. I swallowed hard and leaned forward to examine the contents of the box. Written on the top of the cake in bright yellow icing were the words:
CONGRATULATIONS SEBASTIAN.
I wanted to laugh and cry at the same time.
It rained that night.
Storms in the South are unpredictable, exploding out of nowhere with thunder and wind. I lay awake, listening to the hail pelting against the roof. Lightning lit the room in intermittent flashes, casting ominous shadows on the wall.
I slid my phone off the nightstand and scrolled through messages to the best of my clawed-fingered ability. Most were from Katie. Though we’d talked weekly during the course of my ‘recovery’, it was largely a shameful collection of lies on my end – most recently, how I was going to spend the summer out of town, visiting Hugo’s family. Until I could tell her the truth – if that day would even ever be possible – Katie was a part of my life I’d have to learn to live without. I squeezed my eyes shut, desperately missing our friendship, and I waited for my stomach to unclench.
Thunder crackled, followed by a rush of howling wind. I tossed the phone aside and walked to the small window above my desk. The blinds and curtains were closed. I yanked back the fabric and pulled at the cord.
There was a face in the window.
I snarled in fright and flung myself backwards. My wings snapped free from their restraints and shot out wildly – knocking everything off my dresser and desk. Lightning flashed, illuminating a hideous head. Darkness again. Then another bright streak. The face disappeared. I gaped at the window, shuddering all over.
The face hadn’t been human.
Hugo burst through the door wielding a baseball bat. ‘Sebastian!’
I stared at the window, panting like an animal, my teeth bared. Outside, everything was dark and stormy. I squinted, straining for some visible proof of what I’d just seen – the gray and monstrous head pressed against the glass – but there was nothing there. Just water-streaked panes.
‘It’s okay, Hugo.’
‘Man, Sebastian …’
I looked over my shoulder, suddenly aware of the picture I’d created – crouched in the middle of the room, enormous wings unfurled, and debris scattered everywhere.
‘I thought I saw something in the window.’
Hugo looked past me. ‘I don’t see anything.’
Memories of the time before my transformation came back to me in a jolt. I’d spent weeks thinking I was going insane. I didn’t need to revisit those days. ‘I guess I just imagined it,’ I said, rubbing my eyes.
I wasn’t sure if I believed my own words. The sense of being followed earlier and now a beastly face at the window? It was beginning to seem less like my imagination and more like the gnawing fear I’d been stubbornly ignoring all night: that Augustine or his gargoyles might have returned.
My brother cleared his throat. ‘Want to put those things away?’
He was looking at my impressive wingspan. I tightened my back and shoulder muscles, and the wings retracted with a snap. I grabbed my jacket off the desk chair and worked it clumsily over the leathery membranes. ‘Sorry about that.’
Hugo dropped the blinds and closed the curtains. ‘Nasty storm,’ he commented as he crossed back to the door. He tapped the baseball bat gently against the doorframe. ‘Well, try and get back to sleep. You’ve got a big day tomorrow.’
‘Hugo?’
‘Yeah?’
I sat on the edge of the bed, lumps of folded wings draping on either side. ‘Thanks. For letting me go, I mean. I know it’s a big deal, going against your parents like this, especially after everything you’ve done to keep their rules.’
‘Right,’ said Hugo with a huff. ‘’Cause you see how well that’s worked out for me.’
‘Pretty much blew up in your face, huh?’
‘Like a hand grenade.’
I allowed myself to smile for a moment before pressing on. ‘Hugo, I told you I would stay with your clan, and a big part of me still wants to, but we both know I don’t belong here. I’m not really your brother, anyway.’ I ran the pad of my thumb hesitantly along the tip of one thick claw, repulsed by the sight. ‘I mean, I’m not even … human.’ The confession was difficult to swallow – like downing a bottle of medicine. ‘But I want you to know how much I appreciate the way you took me in and cared for me. I don’t remember much about my past, but I’ll always remember that.’
Shadow Page 3