“You said your role in the opera was a silent role?” Ciaran asked. I nodded. “Then no. I don’t see how you could have had anything to do with it. I’ve seen your magic, Seraphina. Twice now. You are powerful, but you are untrained. It would take a skilled magic wielder to bring down a chandelier that size. You probably could have made the bulbs explode if you’d beensinging,” he mused, “but you weren’t. So no. I don’t think it was you.” He sounded so confident. It soothed that anxious part of my mind that had been eating away at me the whole journey down here. “But it sounds like whoever did it wanted to make it look like itwasyou.”
“Why?” I gulped. “Why frame me? To have me killed? Because of something I didn’t even know about and can’t control? People were crushed under the chandelier. More were injured. It makes no sense.”
Ciaran ran his hand through his hair. I was momentarily distracted by the beauty of that simple gesture.
“Because Scion’s power over people is so dependent on making us into the enemy. By dehumanizing us, they are able to maintain control over everyone and everything else. We are their scapegoat. And at the same time, the power we possess threatens everything they preach to be true. There is nothing they wouldn’t do to maintain that power.”
Silence rang in the space. It wasn’t entirely comfortable. A current of energy hummed between us whenever Ciaran and I spoke. I couldn’t ignore it as his eyes met mine. I was mesmerized by the little flecks of lighter brown toward the centre of them. I felt a jolt in the lower regions of my stomach just sitting next to him. I gulped. I wasnotsupposed to feel anything likethis.
“So what now? What do I do? I can’t go back, I’ll be burned at the stake.” Ciaran shuddered as I said it. I remembered how he’d gotten those scars. A pang of sadness went through me as I thought about that young boy.
“Looks like we’re both fugitives now.” He smiled, but it didn’t quite reach his eyes. “You can stay here as long as you like. It will be close quarters, but at least it’s warm and safe.”
“I can’t intrude like that. That’s not fair to you.” I huffed. He was only being polite. There was no way he wanted me here,invading his space. I didn’t know how I could stand it either. Being in such close proximity to him. His presence was so overwhelming that I could feel him in every corner of the room.
“Seraphina, I would never turn you out into the cold. Don’t be ridiculous. Stay. Please.” Ciaran’s voice was soft and soothing to my frazzled nerves. And when he said my name, I couldn’t say no. So I nodded that I would indeed stay.
CROSSROADS OF THE DEAD
More clothes like the ones I had worn the last time I was here were laid out on the bed, and I took them into the tiny bathroom to wash up. It was small and utilitarian, like the rest of the apartment, but clean and tidy. I had been in such a daze the last time I was here, I barely noticed the bathroom at all. This man and his tidiness. If he knew what kind of roommate he had just signed up for…
There was a small white pedestal sink, a toilet, a mirror and a clawfoot tub, with bare copper pipes running along the white tile walls. How did he have hot water down here? I didn’t know, maybe this was magic as well. I didn’t care much about the mechanics as I ran myself a scalding hot bath and let the water wash away the grime and the ache of the day. I found the fresh soap that smelled like Ciaran and scrubbed away what remained of my makeup, letting my curly hair out of the low ponytail and detangling it as best I could.
Once I was clean and dry, I made my way back into the common area of the apartment. Ciaran was lying down, long legs propped on the couch, reading a book. He snapped it shut as I reappeared. He looked me up and down.
“Well, that’s better.” He smirked. “You don’t look like a wet clown anymore at least.”
I rolled my eyes. “At least I wasn’t half naked,” I crooned.
“I didn’t realize it was a problem. You didn’t seem to mind the view.”
I pressed my lips together in a thin line. Well, he’d won that sparring match.
“We’ll have to get you some clothes tomorrow if you’re going to be here for a while. Go, sleep. Rest up. We’ll deal with everything else in the morning.” Ciaran gestured toward his bedroom. “The bedroom is all yours.”
“Where are we going to get clothes?” I blurted, not sure what he meant.
Ciaran chuckled. “You didn’t think it was just this apartment down here, did you?”
“Er… yes? What else is there?”
He crossed his arms over his broad chest. “You’ll have to wait until tomorrow to see. There is much to explore Beneath Lutesse.” Ciaran flashed a grin.
“Beneath Lutesse?”
“Yes.” Ciaran swung his legs off the couch and stood, closing the distance between us in a quick stride. “Beneath Lutesse.” He reached out with one finger and pushed down on the tip of my nose.
“Did you just boop my nose?” I shook my head in disbelief. Ciaran laughed.
“I’m sorry. You just look so cute. That shirt is huge on you.”
“You’re ridiculous.” I huffed, my eyes rolling before they made contact with Ciaran’s. I was in his thrall once again, feeling that energy pulse between us.
“Why are you doing this?” I asked, my voice low. “Why help me at all?”
He seemed to think about it for a moment. Something dark passed over his face but was gone in an instant. “Because I remember what it’s like to have no one. To be afraid and alone. To be persecuted. I don’t want anyone to have to feel that way just because they have magic.” It seemed like a good enough answer.
I nodded, still entranced by his gaze. “Thank you.” My voice was so quiet, almost a whisper. Mere inches separated us. I was the one who looked away first as I turned to walk toward the bedroom.
