Midnight. Christi Whitney J.

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СКАЧАТЬ muscles in her neck tightened against her dark hair, but she nodded and set the book aside. She leaned against the back of the antique chair. ‘Yes, of course. I was actually wondering how long it would take you to come find me.’

      I settled into the chair opposite her. Embers crackled in a small fireplace, producing enough heat to suck the chill from the underground cellar and make the room comfortable to sit in. I watched their pulsing glow for a few breaths.

      ‘Ezzie, what happened to you, exactly?’

      One of her arched brows lifted. ‘Could you be more specific?’

      ‘After Markus,’ I said carefully.

      Creases formed along her forehead and the sides of her mouth. ‘After Markus died, I was brought before the Sobrasi in their Court in Paris. I thought they would kill me, which would’ve been a sweet release. But instead, they did something much worse. I don’t know how it happened. All I remember is waking up in one of their dungeons … as you see me now.’

      ‘But how did you end up here?’

      ‘It is a long story through many years,’ she replied.

      ‘That’s code for more secrets, I take it.’

      She almost smiled. ‘I am not the only one with secrets, Kralitsa.’

      My breath caught. The traditional title was reserved only for our rulers. I’d never been called it, but again, no one knew I was the future queen. I lowered my voice. ‘How did you know?’

      ‘I know many things,’ she said simply. The wrinkles eased around her eyes, smoothing her skin once more. ‘After all, I have been around quite a while.’

      ‘But how—’

      ‘You have said it yourself. I am an original guardian. I came into existence as a result of your ancestor himself, Keveco Romany, during the seventh century. The year six hundred and ninety-nine, to be exact.’

      My mouth dropped open.

      ‘But you must remember,’ she continued. ‘I was not awake during all this time. In fact, I slept for hundreds of years.’

      I studied her features, this time more carefully. ‘Do you age?’

      Ezzie’s lip quirked. ‘We age, the same as all of God’s creation, unless we sleep. During that time, our life is suspended – frozen in stone. The moment we awaken, we become a part of this world, subject to the effects of time once more.’ She tilted her head, seeing the question in my eyes. ‘Why have I not died of old age by now? When the Outcasts fled Europe, I was taken with the Corsi clan, who had found a way to allow me to sleep, even in my human form.’

      ‘You’ve been alive for hundreds of years,’ I mused. ‘Which means you could be alive for hundreds more, if you slept, I mean. You’re basically immortal.’

      She laughed, but I heard pain underneath it. ‘To begin with, I am not nearly as young as I would wish for such a life. But we are not made to live out eternity here, neither shadowen nor humans. Our immortality lies in the hands of God.’ Esmeralda paused, and her fingers touched her neck, gently prodding her faded tattoo. I couldn’t make out the design. ‘I was awakened fifteen years ago,’ she continued. ‘By Zindelo and Nadya Corsi.’

      I sat upright in the chair. ‘Hugo’s parents.’

      ‘They gave me some semblance of life, human though it is. I may no longer be a guardian or have a charge, but I still feel the pull of loyalty and duty to the head of the Corsi clan.’

      So that’s why she was always so intent on looking after Hugo and the guys. It wasn’t just because Markus had been a Corsi. I clutched my hands together in my lap as I worked through my thoughts.

      ‘You once told us that love between a gargoyle and charge was forbidden, because of you and Markus. You didn’t want to talk about it then.’ I glanced up at her. ‘What about now?’

      Esmeralda uncurled herself from the chair and rose. I thought for a moment she was going to leave the room, but she paused at the bottom of the stairs. She ran her hand over the wooden railing.

      ‘Markus was not my first charge,’ she said, turning her gaze to the fire. ‘During the first several hundred years of our existence, gargoyles remained statues far longer than they were alive, only awakened when there was a threat, sealed to Roma as needed. But as clans began fighting amongst themselves, gargoyles were used as weapons, rather than guardians. The Sobrasi were formed to regulate the shadow world, but eventually, they came to care more for the power and wealth that control brought them.’

      ‘But Markus was not one of those,’ I said.

      ‘No.’ Esmeralda turned her attention to the fire. ‘There were still noble Sobrasi back then. When awakened, gargoyles were given time to acclimate to their surroundings before being sealed to a Gypsy. Markus was the Sobrasi tasked with assimilating them. I was under his care.’

      I frowned. ‘So you weren’t his guardian?’

      ‘Not at first. At that time, every member of the Sobrasi had their own guardian, and I had been selected for someone else. But Markus and I … there was something between us. Something I’d never experienced.’ Ezzie’s eyes glazed over in memory. ‘He went against the head of the Sobrasi and chose me instead.’ She looked back at me. ‘It did not win him much favor among them.’

      ‘How did you … I mean, how did you fall in love?’

      The expression on her face shifted. ‘Even before we were sealed, I felt connected to him. He wasn’t like my past charges. With those, the bond had been strong, but it was born out of a protective duty, a deep and compelling calling. But with Markus …’ Esmeralda hesitated, and I saw the corner of her eye twitch, the only evidence of whatever emotions she was dealing with. She sighed. ‘I don’t know why it happened to us. Why we were the ones to be cursed.’

      ‘How could your relationship be a curse?’

      ‘Because it got him killed.’

      ‘Ezzie.’

      ‘Please,’ she said, holding up her hand. ‘I don’t wish to continue speaking about me. I’ve spent many years trying to move forward.’ She moved to her chair and sat in front of me. ‘But you haven’t asked me the real question yet. The one that concerns you most.’

      Ezzie waited patiently.

      I fumbled with my pendant. ‘How was it possible? Shadowen are …’

       Creatures.

      I didn’t want to say the word aloud. But Ezzie seemed to know it, anyway. She perched on the edge of her chair, reminding me of a cat about to pounce. Her eyes locked onto mine with a fierce intensity.

      ‘When shadowen were first created, they were indeed, creatures of stone, brought to life. The grotesques were once noble beasts, charged with protecting holy places and innocent Roma. Until the blood feuds ripped the Old Clans apart and mutilated the shadow world in the process. Then chimeras were crafted to be even more brutal. You must remember, gargoyles were fashioned by the Roma to fight those СКАЧАТЬ