‘It’s not your decision,’ said Nicolas coolly.
Quentin’s usually calm demeanor appeared dangerously close to breaking. ‘But Josephine was attacked tonight!’
My eyes darted to her as she pushed herself up from the stage. ‘I’m fine,’ Josephine insisted. ‘No one actually attacked me. It was just a couple of drunks, and Sebastian fended them off.’
Quentin spun, his face clouded with the wrath of a storm. ‘You stay away from him, Josephine. He’s nothing but trouble.’
I pressed my back harder against the canvas wall. It didn’t sound like Josephine had told him the full truth about the figures on the road, but did Quentin somehow know about me? I ground my teeth so hard my jaw ached.
‘What are you talking about?’ Josephine demanded.
He knelt, putting a hand on her shoulder. The crowd had grown quiet again, all attention fixed on him. ‘It’s for your own safety,’ he said, reverting to his hypnotic voice. ‘Yours and your family’s.’
He sounded just like Hugo.
Josephine opened her mouth, but Nicolas pushed forward before his daughter could reply. ‘We aren’t sure of anything yet, Quentin,’ he said in a cautionary tone. ‘Don’t jump to conclusions.’
‘Oh, I’m perfectly sure,’ Quentin challenged back.
For several moments, no one spoke or moved. I crouched lower, trying to force my quivering body to still. My headache returned, and I reached up to pinch the bridge of my nose between my thumb and finger.
While Quentin defiantly held Nicolas’ gaze, Sabina moved towards her daughter. Josephine seemed confused, and most of the circus folk shared her expression.
‘Do you trust this boy?’ Sabina asked.
A tornado swirled in my stomach as I realized she was talking about me.
‘I hardly know him,’ stammered Josephine.
Her mother leaned forward. ‘But do you trust him?’
‘Yes, I do,’ she replied. ‘It’s just…’
‘Just what?’
Josephine’s face changed, and her head turned. My breath hitched as her gaze swept over the space where I was hiding. For a second, I thought she saw me. ‘I don’t really know what to make of him,’ she said finally.
Feelings for Josephine that had nothing to do with protection welled up inside me, and I clenched my fists, trying to ignore them.
Quentin glared at Sabina. ‘You see?’
‘At first, he unnerved me,’ Josephine continued, avoiding Quentin. ‘He was always watching me, always giving off this really weird vibe.’ She paused, her eyes shifting suddenly to the entrance of the tent. I froze, until she looked back. ‘But I don’t feel the same way now. Especially after tonight. I don’t know, it’s like he’s looking out for me. If Sebastian hadn’t been there, I don’t know what would’ve happened.’
Nicolas and Sabina exchanged glances. Francis frowned. But Quentin; I’d never seen Quentin look so angry with Josephine. Something rumbled deep in my chest, and I inched closer to the stage, looking for the best way to get a clear shot at his throat.
‘If he hadn’t been there tonight, you wouldn’t have been in danger in the first place,’ Quentin fumed. He grabbed her hand. ‘Josephine, I don’t want you going near him…’
‘Stop.’
Nicolas’s firm voice sliced through the air. Quentin raised his chin insolently, but he obeyed. He released Josephine and moved away.
‘I have a lot to think about,’ Nicolas said. ‘But we’re not going to solve anything tonight.’
Francis stepped forward. ‘But, Father…’
Nicolas shook his head. ‘Tomorrow, we’ll meet again and discuss our next course of action. Until then, everyone, don’t leave the Circe without my knowledge and permission. You’re dismissed.’
I was shocked at how quickly the circus troupe obeyed. It reminded me of the way the guys listened to Hugo. I slid from the entrance as the crowd broke into smaller groups and left the tent. Soon, the stage was empty, save for Josephine and Quentin. I crouched in the darkness, watching.
‘Quentin, tell me what’s going on right now.’ I could hear the strain in her voice. ‘What does Sebastian have to do with anything?’
‘You’ve always known your family had enemies, Josephine. It’s why we move around so much.’
‘And you think Sebastian . . ’
‘Is one of them,’ he finished.
‘But he’s one of the Corsis. They’re not our enemies.’
Quentin huffed. ‘They’re not our friends, either.’
‘I don’t believe that,’ she murmured.
‘Did anything else happen tonight, Josie?’ Quentin’s face was difficult to read. ‘Anything you’re not telling me?’
A sinking feeling crept into my soul. My anger fled, and I was left with pure and simple dread.
Josephine moved to the edge of the stage, looking out over the empty audience. ‘I told you, there were some idiots out by the bridge and Sebastian ran them off. That’s it.’
Quentin’s lips drew into a tight line, but then, his face relaxed. ‘Well, I’m just glad you’re okay. You had me really worried, Josie. Now, come on, I’ll walk you to your trailer. It’s been a long day.’ Quentin stood a few feet from her, his hand outstretched, but Josephine didn’t move. ‘Aren’t you coming?’
She scanned the tent again, hesitating as her gaze neared my hiding place. ‘Not yet. I want to finish the last section of my routine.’
‘The show’s going to be canceled,’ he replied. ‘You don’t need to rehearse anymore tonight, Josie.’
‘Father never said we were canceling, Quentin.’
‘No, he didn’t,’ he admitted. ‘But Nicolas listens to me, and he’ll see reason by the time I’m done. Now, please, come back to the trailers.’
‘Just a few minutes.’
‘Fine. I’ll stay with you.’
‘Please, Quentin. I just need a moment alone to clear my head.’
His face clouded. ‘I can’t let you do that, Josephine.’
‘I’m not going to be long,’ she snapped. Then she softened and approached him, lifting up on her toes, and kissed him. I wished I hadn’t seen it. ‘Twenty minutes, and I’ll be back in my trailer. I promise.’
He looked as though he was going to refuse, then his arms came around her. ‘All right,’ he relented. ‘But no more than that. I’ll be waiting on you.’
He leapt off the stage and went out, though I couldn’t be sure if he was gone or waiting outside, keeping a close eye on his girlfriend. I scowled at the floor. Somehow I’d become the enemy of a group of people I didn’t even know.
Josephine looked over the rows of bleachers, but I knew she couldn’t actually see me. If I was quiet, I could sneak out without her knowledge. She never needed to know I’d been…
‘Sebastian?’
I jumped at the sound of my name, knocking noisily against the metal seats. Josephine didn’t seem surprised. I sighed and stepped into the aisle.
‘Hey, Josephine.’
Her hand slid to her throat, her fingers wrapping around the pendant at her neck. ‘I knew you were there.’
I took a deep breath. ‘How?’
‘I’m not sure, exactly.’ She looked embarrassed. ‘I…I felt you.’
My head went all woozy, but I planted my feet, determined not to go into freak mode. ‘You did?’
Josephine didn’t answer. Instead, she seated herself on the edge of the stage and dangled her legs over the side. After a long silence, a frown touched her lips. ‘How long have you been here?’
‘Long enough.’
Josephine wrapped her arms around her knees. ‘Then you know you should probably go.’
‘I’m sorry for intruding,’ I replied quickly. ‘I just wanted to make sure that you were all right.’
‘Why all this concern?’ she demanded, though her voice was gentle, confused. ‘I barely know you, Sebastian.’
I nodded, studying the floor. ‘I know.’
‘So why do I feel like I should?’
I lifted my eyes to meet hers, and the sight of her face jarred the breath in my lungs. ‘I’m sorry,’ I said again, backing up. ‘I’ll let you get back to your rehearsal.’
‘Wait.’ Her voice rang in my ears, and instantly, there was electricity in the air. She tilted her head. ‘You know I’m supposed to stay away from you.’
‘Yeah, I heard.’
‘I don’t know, Sebastian,’ she replied, her brow creased. ‘At first, I just thought it was simple jealousy.’
I couldn’t hide my astonishment. ‘Jealousy?’
Josephine’s lip curved slightly. ‘Quentin’s always been a little overbearing; boyfriend’s prerogative, I guess. But he’s been keeping a special eye on you.’ She grew serious. ‘I didn’t think much about it at first, until he started talking about you. He was pretty upset that you took me home from the play.’
‘I’m not trying to cause trouble.’
‘It’s not that, Sebastian,’ she replied. ‘Quentin and I have been together a long time. Fights happen. But this is different. It’s like he’s scared of you.’
‘Why would that be?’ I asked carefully.
‘I’m not sure,’ she said, shaking her head. ‘You’re with the Corsis, and he’s always suspicious of other clans, no matter where we travel. But that doesn’t really explain it.’
‘So he hasn’t said anything to you directly?’
My voice sounded tense in my ears, but Josephine didn’t appear to catch it. She sighed and drummed her fingers on her knees. ‘No. That’s how it is around here. The people in charge only tell us stuff when they feel it’s necessary.’ She paused and glanced over her shoulder toward the tent flap. ‘I’m not buying the robbery story my father told the troupe. I think there’s something else going on. I haven’t seen Quentin this on edge in months, but I swear, he’s like a brick wall with me lately. I know he thinks keeping me out of things is for my own good, but it’s so…’
‘Frustrating?’ I offered.
‘Yeah.’
Josephine’s shoulders slumped. I wanted so much to pull her close. I concentrated on the back wall instead. ‘It’s hard not knowing what’s going on,’ I said. ‘Especially when you feel like everyone else around you does.’
Her fingers played in her hair, and I couldn’t help watching. Every movement she made burned itself into my memory.
‘So we’re both in the same boat,’ she replied.
‘Yeah,’ I said. ‘I suppose we are.’
Our mutual confession felt like a bridge, suspended between this fragile and strange relationship – whatever it was – waiting for one of us to step first, to test its strength.
Her lips puckered in thought. ‘We should probably do something about that.’
‘What do you suggest?’ I asked, my skin tingling with wary anticipation.
She tilted her head, looking me over. Her gaze made me uncomfortable and excited all at once. ‘Well, for starters, maybe we should level with each other.’
The floor seemed to tilt underneath me. I sank down onto the first bleacher and propped my elbows on my knees, head forward, trying to breathe evenly. She was right. We’d both been skirting around things, especially the last few days. ‘Okay.’
‘Sebastian?’
‘Yes?’
‘What are you?’
My muscles contracted until I felt my bones would crack with the pressure. She peered down at me, trying to see my face within the depths of my hood. The question hung heavy in the air; Josephine’s first step across the expanse.
‘I know I said you hit your head when we got off the Ferris wheel,’ she continued, speaking quickly, as if she was trying to finish before she changed her mind, ‘but you didn’t. You fell out of the car…from the top. From the top, Sebastian! That had to be almost a thirty-foot drop. But you were back in school the next day, perfectly fine.’
‘Fine is a relative term,’ I said, trying to smile, but failing miserably. ‘I don’t feel like I’ve been fine for a really long time.’ I paused, taking several breaths in the silence, letting the reality of my words sink in. I studied my fingernails before pressing on. ‘So why didn’t you say anything before?’
‘I said I knew something was going on with you.’
‘I mean, about my fall.’
Josephine closed her eyes. ‘Because I convinced myself I’d made it all up.’
‘Yeah,’ I replied, rubbing my forehead. ‘Me too.’
There was a long pause.
‘I’m not imagining things, am I?’ she whispered. ‘You are different, aren’t you?’
I flinched. It was my turn now, my moment to step forward, to close the gap. But how? There was no way I could tell her I was a gargoyle. It was too bizarre, and I only half-believed it myself. I had to say something. The way she was looking at me was melting all my resolve. But I had to know something first.
‘Why didn’t you tell Quentin the whole truth about tonight?’
Josephine folded her hands in her lap and examined them. ‘I should have. I mean, it’s his job to protect us. But if I told him about those things on the road, then I would’ve had to tell him about you.’ She shook her head, sending a rush of hair over her shoulders. ‘I couldn’t do that, Sebastian, because…I want you to trust me.’
Another step.
‘Well, about leveling with each other,’ I began. ‘I know this is going to sound crazy…’
I went cold all over. My shoulders tensed, and a decidedly animal-like sound left my throat before I could stop it. Josephine jerked in surprise. Quentin’s voice rang out, smooth and commanding, from the opening of the tent.
‘Josephine, it’s been long enough.’
I dove beneath the bleachers and crouched in the shadows.
Josephine stood over my hiding place. ‘I’m almost done.’
‘Ten more minutes,’ I heard him say.
So much for revealing any secrets tonight, crazy or not.
‘He’s gone,’ said Josephine in a whisper.
I rose cautiously. ‘I need to go. I don’t want you getting in trouble.’
She moved closer, and sparks lit the edges of my vision. I found myself holding my breath as those brilliant emerald eyes searched mine. ‘Listen, Sebastian, whatever it is, you don’t have to tell me everything tonight. I can see in your eyes that you aren’t ready, and it’s okay. I can wait.’ She held me trapped in the depths of her gaze. ‘But please, stay.’
Tiny explosions went off in my head. ‘Why?’
‘Because I feel…safe…around you,’ she replied.
She looked so vulnerable, and her voice was so pleading. Even if I’d wanted to, there was no way I could refuse. Still, I was determined to try. For her own good. And for mine.
‘Maybe it’s better if I…’
‘I know it doesn’t make any sense,’ she quickly cut me off.
‘But Josephine…’
She reached out, gingerly touching my arm, almost as if she were afraid to. ‘Just until I’ve finished my routine.’
Josephine smiled, and what little resolve I had left burned away. ‘Okay.’
What else could I do?
‘Thanks, Sebastian. I’ll just be a few minutes.’
She returned to the stage and pressed a button on the small sound system near the steps. Music filled the tent. The sound was haunting and otherworldly, like something from a different time.
A part of me wanted to finish the conversation and tell her what I was, or what everyone thought I was. But how would she react? Josephine moved gracefully to the center of the stage and posed. My heart sped up at the sight of her. No, I wasn’t going to say anything.
Not yet.
Her long skirt fell back from her leg, revealing several dangling anklets. Then she began to dance. Her hands wafted around her face, fingers flowing, every bangle and bracelet sparkling in the light. I stood, mesmerized, unable to take my eyes off her. Time melted into oblivion, and every
thing phased out of focus except her. Josephine Romany was the only thing that existed in my world.
After what seemed like an eternity, the music drifted away. Josephine’s arms lowered, and her eyes found mine. A current of electricity leapt up my arms. In that moment, something passed between us.
And we both knew it.
‘So, I guess I’ll see you later?’ she asked, breaking the connection.
The hopeful tone of her voice made my heart soar.
‘Yes, Josephine,’ I said softly. ‘You will.’
18. Smoke and Mirrors
When I returned to the Gypsy Ink, it was nearly dawn, and Hugo was waiting for me. I’d forgotten about the attack until I saw him. He lounged on the counter, wearing a T-shirt and a pair of ripped jeans. The bandage on his cheek was gone, but his tattooed arms didn’t obscure the claw marks I’d given him earlier.
‘How are you feeling?’ I asked, throat raw with guilt.
His face was wiped clean of any emotion. ‘Much better.’
Vincent, James, and Kris entered from the hallway, their expressions shadowed against the pre-dawn darkness. I’d never seen any of the guys arrive at the shop so early.
‘Morning,’ I said, watching them warily.
Outwardly I sounded calm, but my blood was racing. These weren’t the same rough-and-tumble tattoo artists I’d known before. They’d become strangers, and a whole lot more intimidating. I surveyed the array of shattered glass still littering the floor. Lying in the middle of the debris was the painting of the Gypsy caravan.
Quentin’s words came back to me.
‘We’re not associating with that clan! They don’t have any regard for our laws!’
He’d been referring to us. No, I corrected myself. Not me, them. They were the Gypsies. I was…
Something else.
I broke from my thoughts as I realized no one had responded to my greeting. Once again, I was met with that creepy wall of silence.
‘Okay, what is it?’ I demanded.
Hugo leaned forward. ‘Where’ve you been?’
‘Out.’
Grey (The Romany Outcasts Series, Book 1) Page 18