Midnight Girl

by Will Shetterly

  He looked at Ilya, then Tarika, then Cat, then continued, “We decided to kill a nighter and impress our parents. It was the most foolish thing anyone in the clans has done, and our parents were not impressed. But Val and I learned that we can trust each other completely. From that day, whenever I made a decision as an Udofia, I asked myself first how it would affect the Medianoches.”

  He turned back to Cat, “Everything in me says to support you. Let this be known to everyone here. And especially, to you, Catalina Medianoche. You honor your father and your family. There could be no finer First of the Medianoches, and no one I would rather serve with on the council of the Five Clans.”

  Cat thought, Crying in gratitude, bad now. She said quietly, “Thank you.”

  Olujimi shook his head. “Don’t thank me. I must continue.” He looked again at Professor M, then Cat. “There’s no way that you would choose to betray us. I know this. If you used glamour to make me feel as

  I do, I would sense it. My heart and my mind both know that you’re a good and honest girl. No, woman.”

  He looked down at his Ouroboros ring, then held it up. “But I wear this ring. My duty is not to my heart or my mind.” He looked at Val. “It’s not to the brother I love.” He looked at Cat. “It’s not to the young woman I love as much as any of my daughters. My duty is to our cause.”

  He looked at Auntie Fong, Mr. Rahman, and Ms. Arkan. “As is yours.”

  Cat felt something heavy settle on her chest. She tried to breathe casually as Olujimi looked back at her. His eyes were like her father’s at midnight, when he had fired the bolt at her heart. He said, “My duty says Baldomero de la Sombra could make you think you are free when you are not. What I see now is the young woman you are. But if that nighter has planted—”

  “No!” said Professor M, slamming the table. “Olujimi. Trust me! I would know—”

  Olujimi held up his ring again, looked from it to Professor M, then back to Cat. “If that nighter planted a command in your mind, Cat, when it’s triggered, I will see his creature, someone with a nighter’s strengths, but not its weaknesses. Someone who could destroy the Five Clans. Someone who could condemn humanity to slavery or worse.”

  He closed his eyes, inhaled, opened them, exhaled, and said, “If you were my own daughter, I couldn’t risk that. Your father was right last night, Cat. We must do what he could not.”

  Professor M said, “Try to harm her, and one of us will have a dead brother.”

  “Val, think!” Olujimi said. “It’s war! To win, we do what we must. You know this.”

  “She’s my daughter!”

  “You think I have no heart? If I could give you my right arm instead, I would. If I could give you my life instead, I would. All I can do is promise the beasts of the night will pay for what they have forced upon us.”

  “No, Olujimi. I tried to kill her once. That’s enough.”

  “No one expects you to do this. Nor to vote for it.”

  “Only to accept it.”

  “Because it’s necessary.”

  “No!”

  “Will you go against the Five Clans?” Professor M nodded. “Vote against her, and it’s Four Clans.”

  “Then the nighters win, no matter what we do.”

  “Not if you accept Cat. Keep the clans together.”

  Olujimi breathed slowly, then said, “It’s better to have Four Clans and no doubt than Five and the constant fear of betrayal. You know—”

  “Stop telling me what I know, hermano.”

  Professor M spoke the last word like the cruelest insult. Cat shouted, “Stop it! Just stop it!” She pointed at her finger. “Ring! Stop it, please!” She turned to Olujimi. “If the Medianoches leave the Five Clans, what happens?”

  “If? You don’t make this easy, but then, you shouldn’t. If this happens, I’ll vote for the Four Clans to seek your death as quickly as possible.” He looked at Professor M. “And anyone who comes between us must be treated as an ally of the nighters.”

  Professor M said, “I’m up for—” Cat said, “Ring! Does it mean anything?” Professor M nodded. Cat asked Olujimi, “So it’d be a war between the families. The four clans against Tia Belen in Lima, Primo Rolando in Cordoba—” Olujimi nodded. “Against everyone who stayed loyal to you. I don’t know how many would die. But I know the Medianoches don’t have the resources to win.” Cat looked down at the family ring. A piece of the turquoise was broken off. Someone had hit it against something, accidentally or intentionally. That was the result. Results stayed with you forever.

  Her father thought the ring would protect her, but it made her the leader. Who should leaders protect? She said, “We’ll respect the council’s decision.”

  Professor M said, “Cat!” She held up the ring. “First of the Medianoches.” He said, “No. No way, Cat. No—” She took his hand and squeezed it. Then she said, “What kind of adviser are you?”

  “I’m your fa—”

  “You’re the Medianoches’ adviser, right?”

  “Don’t do this. Cat. Don’t.” She looked at Olujimi, Auntie Fong, Mr. Rahman, and Ms. Arkan, then nodded. “Let’s vote.”

  Chapter Fourteen:

  Death in the Afternoon

  Ilya leaped to his feet, pointed at Cat, and shouted at Ms. Arkan, “She saved us! She saved me, and you, and Tarika! That’s all you need to know! She saved us.” He looked at the others. “That’s it. The whole stupid trial. All this talking. All the what ifs and maybes and who knows, while the important thing is right there! She saved us.”

  “Ilya,” Ms. Arkan said. “Sit down.”

  “No! You’re going to vote to kill her like that makes it okay, like the difference between us and the nighters is we have a nice vote, but it’s not true. Vote to kill her, and you’re as bad as them.”

  Ms. Arkan said, “Son. We’re not as bad as they are. We are worse. We must be, to win.”

  Ilya looked at Cat. His eyes were wet and his nose was running as he said, “Don’t. Not everyone in the clans will go along with this. Not if we tell them—”

  “Ilya!” Ms. Arkan said. “You can’t change the vote, so sit down and be quiet.”

  “Mother, you said when you know what’s right, you must do everything, no matter what.”

  “To defeat nighters, my son. Not to save a poor girl—” She stopped, then nodded. “Yes. We can’t know the truth about her, but whether we’ll be voting to kill an innocent child or a fiend—” She shook her head. “It doesn’t matter. Sit.”

  “No.”

  “We’ll vote whether you sit or not.”

  “If I sit, I’m agreeing to your vote. I don’t.”

  “Ilya—” Ms. Arkan looked at the end of the table. Tarika was standing. She said, “Ditto.” Ms. Arkan said, “No one cares what children—” Professor M grunted as he pushed against the arms of his wheelchair to stand unsteadily before them. Cat squeezed her eyes together, then wiped them with her fingertips and opened them. She held her hands in front of her face, staring at the turquoise ring, then put her hands on the table. “Everybody. Thank you. Now sit, and we’ll vote.”

  Ilya said, “Don’t, Cat. It’s stupid.”

  “Thanks a lot.”

  “You’re trying to do what’s right, but this is wrong!” Cat pointed at the ring. Ilya said, “It’s just an old ring! There are all these stupid traditions

  —”

  “Ilya. I don’t want anyone to die for me. That’s what’s stupid.”

  “And then what? The war goes on like it always has!”

  “I can’t change that.”

  “I thought you wanted to. I thought that’s why Mother doesn’t trust you.”

  “I want it over! But what’s the choice? Accept what the council decides or start a war between the clans, and then what happens? Nothing changes, or the nighters win. Nothing changing isn’t much, but it’s better than that, isn’t it?”

  Ilya shook his head. Cat said, “Sit. Ilya. Please.” He said, “I’ll o
nly recognize one decision by the council,” and sat. “What he said,” Tarika said as she sat. Cat looked at her father. “Dad?”

  “Likewise,” said Professor M, lowering himself into his chair. Cat studied him. “If you’re tempted to go against the council—”

  “‘Tempted’ doesn’t begin to describe it.”

  “Think about who would join you, Dad. Then say who you want dead.”

  “You don’t play fair.”

  “Where did I learn that?” She looked at the clan representatives.

  “Okay. Uh, I’m not sure how to phrase the question.” Olujimi lifted his hand. Cat said, “Yes?” He winced, then said, “Yes or no. For the good of the Five Clans, must Cat Medianoche be killed?” She nodded. “Should that include how?”

  “How depends on—” He looked down, then back at her. “How depends on whether you accept the vote or flee. If you accept it, you can choose what you— Ah, what you choose. If you flee, it’s the duty of everyone here to try to kill you in any way possible. If you escape, that’ll apply to every member and ally of the Five Clans.”

  She nodded again. “Got it. Yes or no—” Professor M said, “Cat, for the love of God—”

  “Love of everybody, Dad. Yes or no. Should—” She swallowed.

  “Should I, uh, Catalina Milagros Medianoche, be killed?” Ms. Arkan added, “For the good of the Five Clans.”

  Cat repeated, “For—” Olujimi said, “That’s not necessary.”

  “Now I ask each of you?”

  “Yes.”

  “Uncle Olujimi?”

  “Yes.”

  “‘Yes’ meaning—?”

  “Meaning yes. I’m sorry. But yes.” Cat thought, Okay, get the easy one over with. “Ms. Arkan?” Ms. Arkan looked down at the table, then at Ilya. He said, “No!

  Mother, no!” She looked out the window, then at Cat, and nodded. “Yes.” Ilya hit the table with his fist. Cat shook her head, and he looked away. She turned to Auntie Fong and Mr. Rahman. “Mr. Rahman?”

  “No.”

  “No?” she repeated, blinking at him. “No. Wars are not won by those who only do the safe thing. There’s a time for boldness. No, I say.” He looked at Auntie Fong. “Let Cat Medianoche live.”

  Cat thought, Two to two. Two to two! I might— She said, “Auntie Fong?”

  Auntie Fong looked at Mr. Rahman. “Wars are not won by those who never do the safe thing.” She turned to Cat. “I am very sorry, Catalina. Yes. You must die.”

  Cat sat in silence, hearing only her thoughts. I must die. I just turned fourteen. I must die. It’ll save a lot of lives. Why can’t something save mine? Ilya’s right. It’s stupid. It’s stupid to kill anyone because everyone will die sometime anyway. Why hurry death for anyone?

  Because I can’t save my life, but I can save others.

  She realized the silence was only in her mind. In the dining room, everyone was shouting and nearly everyone was standing and she couldn’t make out any of the words. She stood, raised her hand high, and yelled, “Ring!”

  Everyone fell quiet. Cat said, “I’ve got an hour?” Olujimi nodded. “Is the meeting over?” He shook his head.

  “What’s left?”

  “You accept the decision?” She looked at Ilya and Tarika, then her father. “Yes. First of the Medianoches. Yes.”

  Olujimi said, “Then you can end the meeting and—” He looked at Professor M as he looked away. Olujimi turned back at Cat. “And have the hour to do as you wish. But after that time—”

  “Any loyal member of the Five Clans is supposed to kill me.” He nodded. Ms. Arkan said, “Cat. Several of my people are watching this house.”

  “So I shouldn’t try to escape?”

  “Or if you want to go outside in the next hour, someone must go with you.” Cat looked at Tarika and her father. “I don’t want to go anywhere else.” It was strange to see the people she loved being so sad and so angry at the same time. She was grateful for an excuse to look away when Olujimi said, “Someone has to stay near you. Until.”

  “Who?”

  “Whoever is chosen. Or you choose. To ensure—”

  “I die. In an hour.” He nodded. “How do you—” Professor M said, “Give her some time, at least!” Olujimi said, “The hour’s begun. The sooner the details are arranged

  —” Less than an hour. She glanced out the window. The sky was the deepest Arizona blue. Were clouds whiter in Arizona because of the clear sky? Last night, she had thought she would never see the day again. Now she would never see the night.

  She looked at the four representatives. “I can’t kill myself. I would just keep waiting for a miracle. One of you has to. I get to choose?”

  Olujimi nodded, and then the others did.

  “I don’t care how. Whatever’s fastest and most painless, because, ouch, bad. As for who—” She pointed at Saeed al-Rahman.

  He touched his chest. “Me?” She nodded. “But I never wanted this!”

  “You’ll go along with the decision, right?” She saw his lips tighten. Then he said, “Yes.”

  “And if I choose you, you’ll do it.”

  His nostrils flared with an inhalation. Then he repeated, “Yes.” Professor M raised his hand. Cat said, “Yes?”

  “That’s not fair. Xandra started this. Olujimi finished it. Let one of them—” Auntie Fong said, “I should do it. My vote—”

  Cat pointed at her ring and told her father, “The only one you might be able to forgive someday is Mr. Rahman.”

  As Professor M looked down, Ilya stood and shouted at Cat, “Don’t you care? You can’t just do this like—”

  Ms. Arkan tugged on his arm. “Respect her choice.” Cat met Ilya’s eyes and nodded. He groaned in despair, and sat. Cat said, “Anything else?” Olujimi said, “When you adjourn the meeting, Auntie Fong, Xandra,

  Ilya, and I will join the ones outside. We’ll return at—” He glanced at his watch. “Four twenty-five. Saeed must stay near you, but if you give your word you won’t escape, he can give you some privacy.”

  Cat nodded. “I promise. That’s it?” She studied each face. Ilya and Olujimi were staring at the table. Her father had his eyes closed. She looked at Tarika last and thought, I wish Dad hadn’t let her come, but I’m glad he did.

  She said, “Adjourned.”

  Professor M grabbed her hand, gasped once, then released it. Everyone else stood. Olujimi, Mr. Rahman, Auntie Fong, and the Arkans went toward the door as Tarika ran to hug Cat, who thought, Best friends forever, as they embraced, though she couldn’t say it.

  Then she pushed Tarika back and called, “Ilya? Can you stay? If you want? I mean, you can stay. If you want.”

  He said, “If you want.” Ms. Arkan said, “Ilya—” He glared at her. She nodded and left. Professor M said, “Cat? We’ll do this any way you want. Don’t worry about hurting anyone’s feelings. We can all go, or we can all stay, or you can say who you want to see when, or whatever you like.”

  Cat said, “I wish I could eat ice cream now.”

  He nodded. “We got coconut sorbet while you were napping. I could go get some. I’ll go get some. I’ll fix it in the kitchen. Come when— Whenever.” He spun his chair and rolled out. In the hallway, Mr. Rahman closed the door, leaving Cat alone with Ilya and Tarika.

  Ilya said, “Throw me across the room so no one can say I helped, then go.”

  Tarika looked out the window. “There’s a big guy at the corner of the house. You can outrun him. The sooner you do it, the better. They’ll expect you to wait a while before trying anything, I bet.”

  Cat said, “I gave my word.”

  Tarika said, “You heard them! It doesn’t matter what you say in a war! This is our war right now.”

  Ilya said, “It’s true. Any of them would lie to the enemy. Right now, they’re—” Cat said, “Doing what they think is best.” Ilya nodded. “Which is stupid.” Cat said, “I wanted to thank you. For—”

  “So escape! That’s thanking me
.”

  “The big guy outside the window?”

  “Uncle Istvan. He’s not slow, but you could, uh—”

  “He’s armed, and he’s fought nighters.” Ilya nodded. Cat said, “And if he yells, Mr. Rahman comes in.” Ilya nodded again. “And they know I’m in this room, so your Uncle Istvan isn’t the only one watching this side of the house.”

  “Why do you say this?”

  “Do you want me to kill your uncle?”

  “No!”

  “Then how—”

  “I’ll jump him. That’ll distract him.”

  “And you’ll be helping me, and they’ll have to kill you.” Tarika said, “I’ll be your hostage. They can’t blame anyone if—” Ilya shook his head. “If a nighter has a hostage— You blame the nighter and shoot through the hostage.” Tarika said, “Okay. What’s that leave?” Cat said, “Having coconut sorbet.”

  “But—”

  “Having coconut sorbet with you guys would be really good.” Tarika frowned. “You don’t even know if you like coconut sorbet.”

  “It’ll still be good.”

  “That’s stupid, Cat.” Ilya coughed slightly, as if clearing his throat, then shook his head.

  “No. I had lemon sorbet in Venice. It was good. Coconut sorbet. That is probably good, too.”

  Tarika said, “We can’t just—” Cat nodded. “Can. Please, Tee.”

  “It’s—”

  “I know.”

  Tarika nodded. “Okay. Sorbet.” Cat smiled. “Rhymes.” Tarika gave a small smile in return. “I’m a don’t-know-it-poet.” Cat said, “The best. Hug?” Tarika nodded and stepped close. Cat said, “Ilya? If you’d like—”

  He nodded and stepped in to join them. Cat thought, Okay. This is good. Lots of people don’t get this much. I’m going to cry really hard now if— She said, “Sorbet?”

  “Okay,” Tarika agreed, and Ilya nodded.

  Cat went to the door and tapped. Mr. Rahman opened it. Cat said, “We’re ready for sorbet. You can join us.”