She drummed her fingers rapidly against her leg as her gaze went around the room. ‘But I’m … whatever it was you called me.’
‘Gadje.’
‘Yeah, that. I thought you weren’t supposed to associate with us.’
‘It has nothing to do with hanging out with you. It’s about not telling gadje all about us. My father trusts that I will do what I’ve always done – keep my heritage a secret.’
‘Well, you obviously suck at that.’
Katie didn’t smile, but the iciness melted from her eyes.
‘I guess I do,’ I said.
We sat in silence in the middle of Katie’s room, surrounded by stuffed animals. I closed my eyes. Memories immediately sprouted to the surface. The kris, my uncle, Sebastian locked up. If Katie didn’t agree to this, I didn’t know how I was going to make it to Savannah without my father finding out.
A door suddenly squeaked. I opened my eyes to find Katie rummaging in her massive closet. She began tossing clothes into the center of the room and then dragged out a small piece of luggage.
‘What are you doing?’ I asked.
‘Look,’ she said, stopping long enough to glare at me. ‘This does not mean I believe your ridiculous creature story, because I don’t. But if you think Sebastian’s in trouble, then I want to help.’
‘But you don’t have to—’
‘Yes I do. Your father can still think you’re staying with me for the weekend. But I’m not leaving you in Savannah alone, not after everything you’ve just told me. So you’re gonna have to deal with that.’
I really smiled for the first time all night. ‘I’ll help you pack.’
‘Hey mom,’ said Katie, knocking on the door. ‘You awake?’
‘Yeah,’ came a muffled voice from inside.
Katie motioned for me to follow her into her mother’s bedroom. Nicole Lewis walked out of the bathroom wearing a fluffy bathrobe, her face covered in a green-tinted facial mask.
‘Hey, Josephine,’ she said pleasantly, opening the top drawer of her dresser as she smiled at me. She was an older, mirrored image of Katie, right down to the bright blue eyes. ‘I haven’t seen you in a long time. How’s everything going with the Circe?’
I smiled back. ‘It’s been busy.’
‘Mom, can we switch cars this weekend?’ asked Katie.
Nicole sat on the edge of the bed and proceeded to file her nails. ‘Why, is something wrong with yours?’
‘No, it’s just that Josie and I just decided to take a girls’ weekend to Savannah. They’re having a food and craft festival tomorrow, and Josie’s in serious need of a break from the Circe for a couple of days. You know your car’s a lot more reliable than mine on long trips.’
I glanced sideways at Katie, but I didn’t say anything. Nicole finished one hand and turned the emery board over to start the other. ‘When are you leaving?’
‘Right now.’
Nicole paused and looked at her nightstand clock. ‘It’s 11:30.’
‘We want to get an early start in the morning,’ I jumped in, still smiling. ‘I have some family in Savannah that don’t mind us staying with them for a few nights.’
‘Please, Mom,’ said Katie. ‘I promise I’ll bring your car back home with a full tank. This is the only weekend Josie’s free all summer.’
Nicole looked at me for a few seconds, and then puckered her lips in a sympathetic way. ‘Well, I suppose so. My keys are on the kitchen table. Just don’t forget to leave me yours.’
Katie rushed forward and hugged her mom. ‘Thank you!’
Nicole laughed and wiped a smudge of green facial off Katie’s cheek. ‘As long as you promise me you’ll call when you girls get there. And let me know when you’re coming home. Okay?’
‘I’ll make sure she does,’ I replied.
We backed out of the room quickly and retrieved our things. Katie swiped the keys off the table on our way to the garage, rolling her suitcase behind her. I threw my duffel bag in the back seat of her mom’s Lexus and slid into the passenger seat.
‘Why are we taking your mom’s car again?’ I asked.
Katie adjusted the mirrors. ‘Because Hugo knows my car.’
I felt a surge of surprise. ‘I hadn’t thought of that.’
‘Which is exactly why I’m coming with you.’
The tension in Katie’s tone was palpable. She pulled the car out of the garage and headed down the long driveway. We didn’t say anything as we drove through town. Katie was even quieter than Francis had been. I felt a knot form in my stomach. Finally, I couldn’t take it anymore.
‘Katie—’
‘You know,’ she said, stopping me with a wave of her hand. ‘All these months, I thought Sebastian was the one who’d gone completely nuts. But you’re telling me a man was killed at the Circe, and then some crazy guy hauls Sebastian out of Sixes in a cage, and no one even called 911?’
‘You know we can’t do that,’ I said slowly.
‘Why, because you’d have to explain your monster story?’
I leaned back in the seat and stared out the window. ‘Katie, maybe I shouldn’t have told you …’
‘No,’ she said. ‘I asked for it. I did.’
‘Okay,’ I said, and left it at that.
Maybe I’d crossed the line by telling Katie the truth, but I couldn’t help feeling grateful she was here with me; relieved not to have to pretend with her anymore – whether she believed me or not.
Katie put on her blinker as we waited to turn into the small strip mall that housed the Gypsy Ink Tattoo Parlor. ‘So, what’s the plan?’
‘Park on the far side of the lot,’ I replied. ‘There’s a convenience store that’s still open. We can watch the shop from there. We’ll wait for them to leave, and then we’ll follow behind.’
‘Can’t you just map out the directions on your phone?’ asked Katie as she turned into the parking lot. ‘Why do we have to follow Hugo?’
‘It’s not about directions. I want to know what the Corsis intend to do when they get there. I haven’t been to our Haven in years. I’m not even sure the High Council still meets in the same place. I need the Corsis’ help, but this time, they won’t be able to push me out.’
Katie chose an empty parking spot near the road, but one that faced towards the tattoo shop. She turned off the car, and we settled in to wait. I glanced down to check my phone. It read 11:50.
‘Hey, isn’t that Ms Lucian?’ said Katie suddenly.
I peered through the shadowy lights of the parking lot. A woman was making her way quickly across the empty space, carrying a small bag. She was dressed in jeans and a t-shirt, and her red-tipped black hair blew across her face as she walked in the direction of the Gypsy Ink.
‘Yes,’ I said. ‘That’s her.’
‘What’s our drama teacher doing here, and this late at night?’ Katie leaned