‘There was something I left out when I was telling you everything,’ I said, turning to Katie. ‘Ezzie sort of works with the Corsi clan.’
‘Ezzie?’
‘Ms Lucian … Esmeralda Lucian … is a former gargoyle.’
Katie shot me another suspicious look. ‘What is that supposed to mean?’
‘I don’t know all the details,’ I said, looking back towards the tattoo shop. Everything was still quiet. ‘A long time ago, when she was a gargoyle, Esmeralda had a charge. His name was Markus, and he died. Apparently it was her fault, and she was turned human as punishment.’
I could see Katie processing. I assumed it was about Ezzie, but her question caught me off guard. ‘So, does that mean that Sebastian could be cured of whatever this is?’
‘It’s not a disease.’
The words snapped free of my lips harsher than I’d intended. But I didn’t regret them. My stomach turned over again as I saw Sebastian’s face in my memory and heard my name as he said it, gentle and full of warmth.
‘I didn’t mean—’
‘I know,’ I said quickly, studying the flashing neon sign of the Gypsy Ink. ‘Ms Lucian still has a lot of shadowen abilities,’ I continued, preferring to switch the subject back to Ezzie. ‘And her senses are really good. Plus, she’s still really protective of the Corsis.’
‘Why do the Corsis need protecting?’ Katie asked.
‘We all do,’ I replied.
‘From what?’
‘I told you, from the shadow creatures.’
Katie slumped in the driver’s seat with a heavy, exasperated sigh. ‘Yeah, yeah. The monsters that have been after your people since the Dark Ages. I heard everything you said back at my house.’
I didn’t have the energy to reply, not that there was anything else to say. After listening to my outrageous story, Katie had still chosen to come with me. Could I really expect anything more?
The shop’s neon sign went dark.
I checked my phone again. It was five minutes past midnight. After a few moments, three motorcycles rounded the side of the building from the back of the strip mall. It was easy to make out the figures of James, Kris, and Vincent, even underneath the sickly light of the street lamps. An old pick-up truck followed them through the empty lot. As the vehicle slowed to pull out into the street, I caught a glimpse of the occupants: Hugo driving and Ezzie in the passenger seat.
‘Okay,’ I said, buckling my seat belt. ‘Let’s go.’
Katie kept a considerable distance from the Corsi caravan as they took the main road leading out of Sixes, just enough to keep Hugo’s brake lights in view. Neither one of us spoke as we turned onto the Interstate. I leaned against the window, staring at the darkened road and the occasional white lights from oncoming cars.
‘So, what are we going to do when we get there?’ asked Katie.
‘I’m still working on that.’
I massaged my temples with my fingertips. I would testify before the High Council on Sebastian’s behalf. I would do everything in my power to make sure he walked free. But my head ached with uncertainties, questions that went deeper than his being framed at the kris.
What information did Karl’s books contain that was so important Augustine would be willing to murder for it? And why was he still after Sebastian, as Hugo believed? But there was one question that bothered me the most: what had happened to Sebastian when he was in that cage to turn him so wild?
‘Josie, did you hear me?’
I jumped in the seat. Katie threw a sideways glance at me as she drove.
‘I’m sorry, I was thinking.’
‘About Quentin?’ she asked. Her tone was level and pointed. ‘You do realize you haven’t said one thing to me about him this whole time.’
I felt cold again, and I wrapped my arms around my stomach. ‘He went with Augustine last night, on my father’s orders, to make sure Sebastian was delivered safely to the High Council. I’m sure he’s probably on his way back home by now.’
‘You don’t know?’
‘He hasn’t texted. But he usually doesn’t when he’s working.’
Katie’s curious stare burned into me. But I didn’t look at her. I knew Quentin had been pleased with how things had turned out in the kris, despite the sweet words and consoling hugs he offered me. He’d never liked Sebastian, never even gave him a real chance. And I knew I was going to have to confront that head on. But right now, I had Sebastian’s trial to think about.
*
‘We have to stop for gas,’ said Katie.
‘What?’ I bolted out of my half-slumber and yanked out my phone. We’d been on the road nearly three hours. I stared at the black road stretching out before us. There were several red taillights, and I wasn’t sure which one was Hugo’s anymore. ‘No, we can’t. We’ll lose the Corsis.’
‘My refuel light’s been on for the last twenty miles,’ said Katie. ‘We won’t make it there on this tank. Besides, I really have to pee.’ She glanced pleadingly at me. ‘I promise, we’ll be really quick. But I’m seriously going to wet myself if we don’t stop now.’
‘Okay,’ I said, trying to manage my frustration. ‘Just hurry.’
We took the exit ramp and stopped at the first gas station. I filled up the tank while Katie went inside to use the facilities. She came out a few minutes later carrying two sodas. I finished paying, but as I reached to take one of the bottles from her, a cold breeze whipped across my face.
The garish white lights from the gas station only reached the edges of the parking lot, leaving everything beyond in shadowy darkness. The air felt warm, but the breeze was noticeably colder – a sensation I’d felt before. Goosebumps sprouted up my arms.
‘What is it?’ Katie asked, frowning at me.
‘This was a bad idea,’ I said, moving towards the car. ‘We aren’t anywhere near an Outcast Haven. We don’t have any Marksmen with us.’
‘What are you talking about?’
I opened the back door and reached for my bag. I retrieved the diamond-coated knife Quentin had given me – the one I’d used on Matthias when Sebastian and I had been attacked on Copper Mountain. The blade caught the light and glittered. Katie stared at it as though I’d pulled out a jar of scorpions.
‘It’s a Marksman knife,’ I said as I surveyed the parking lot. It was empty and still. Poster advertisements covered the front windows of the tiny convenience store, preventing me from seeing inside. ‘Diamond-coated weapons are the only things that can kill shadow creatures.’
Katie’s shock morphed into irritation. ‘And we’re back to monsters.’
I ignored her comment as I eased cautiously around the front of the car. I’d gotten so used to having Sebastian by my side the last few weeks, that I’d almost forgotten what it felt like to be afraid, genuinely afraid. But he wasn’t here, and all I had to defend us was one small knife and my limited fighting experience.
The cold breeze swirled bits of trash across the concrete.
‘I should’ve known,’ I said, peering upward. ‘It can smell me.’
‘Smell you?’ Katie took a step backwards, her jaw hung open in disbelief. ‘Okay, you know Josie, I’ve been giving you the benefit