“And Scion has never found it. They have no idea it’s here?” I had to wonder. How safe was it down here? Was I in danger of being persecuted?
“The City Beneath is protected and warded to the teeth against anyone finding it. You can only be shown the place by someone who already knows it is here. It’s old magic. Binding. For example, you will not be able to breathe a word of its location to anyone. I could only bring you here because I didn’t tell you about it first. If that makes any sense,” Ciaran explained as we ambled up the path. The packed dirt floor beneath our feet had given way to cobbled stone. Exactly like the streets above.
“There’s our library.” Ciaran pointed out a larger doorway carved into the stone walls. “And this is one of my favouritespeakeasies.” He pointed to a gold filigreed window with a dark green awning on the opposite side of the street. “Though I’d say it’s a little early in the day for a drink.” He flashed one of his roguish grins. I was speechless.
“This cafe, however, is perfect.” He nodded toward a small cafe—it was surrounded by a low fence and nestled back into a long alcove in the limestone wall, revealing the bustling interior. There was a large hand-painted sign hanging off the awning of the cafe that readChat Noir Cafe,with a painting of a small green-eyed black cat. “We’re going to be meeting a friend here, if you don’t mind.”
THE KING BENEATH
We sat at one of the iron bistro tables outside the cafe in this bustling city beneath the city that I had called my home for nearly six years. How many times had I strolled over the cobbled streets above, unaware that this sprawling metropolis existed beneath my feet? How far beneath the city did the invisible twin city stretch? I had so many questions. I sipped a frothy cappuccino and pondered where to begin.
“You haven’t said much,” Ciaran said in rough gravelly tones.
“I don’t know what to say,” I replied honestly. “Yesterday I was performing on stage, in the Lutesse City Opera. I had a life. I had friends. I had a future. And now… I’m… I don’t exactly know where I am. I certainly don’t have a life or friends or a future. And this—” I gestured to the marketplace around us. “I don’t know, Ciaran. I just don’t know what to say.”
People smiled amicably at Ciaran as they strolled past, on their way to wherever they were going.
“Understandable.” He looked down. “I would hope you know that I am your friend, though.”
“Are you? None of this insanity started until I met you.”
“I am. I’m trying to help you here. You know what will happen if you go back, right?” Ciaran looked graver than ever. His dark brows knit together, his knuckles white as they gripped the sides of his steaming mug of coffee.
“So what am I supposed to do? Hide down here forever? I didn’t ask for this. This isn’t fair.” The walls I had put up in those moments when I decided to save myself cracked, letting just a bit of my true emotions leak through.
“Nothing Scion has done to our kind is fair,” Ciaran hissed, his voice dropping to a whisper, “but that is the lot that we have been given. You are here. This is your reality. Get used to it.”
“I will not,” I began, but Ciaran held up a hand.
“We can finish this later.” He rolled his shoulders, and some of the tension in his face eased as he looked out toward the bustling market and waved at someone.
If I had expected to meet anyone down here, it was not the person who casually strolled toward us, her high heels clacking against the cobblestones—the woman Seff had sneered at, all those days ago. It felt like it had been another lifetime. He had called her a witch; I don’t know how he knew, but somehow, he was right. Here she was, flashing a winning smile at Ciaran. Something unpleasant twisted in my gut as I watched him return her grin.
“Elena.” Ciaran’s smile was warm and genuine as she approached. Today she was dressed in a much more modest fashion than she was when Seff had sneered at her: a simple black overcoat over warm looking black wool pants, with a flat black hat perched on top of her finger-waved chestnut hair. No sign of all her intricate tattoos.
“Ciaran.” Her smile crinkled her dark eyes in their upturned corners. “And you must be the famous Seraphina. I’ve heard so much about you.” She pulled a chair up and sat beside me. “Your message just said it was serious?”
“Seraphina, this is Elena,” Ciaran introduced us. “Seraphina will be staying with us down here for the time being.” He didn’t elaborate on why. Whether she knew the whole story or not, I didn’t know. I was fixated on how he had saidus, my gut twisting inexplicably.
“Then I’m guessing this is a fashion emergency?” Elena looked me up and down, noting the clothes I wore, which clearly did not fit.
“It is absolutely a fashion emergency.” I finally had the wherewithal to get words out. I was so struck by Elena, and if I was honest, quite intimidated by her. “I need help.” I gestured to Ciaran’s old clothes hanging off me, trying to be irreverent, even though I was a mess inside. Was this Ciaran’s lover? She was beautiful enough to be his match. Why did I care? I had no reason to think he wouldn’t have someone. Of course, he had someone.No one could look like that and not have someone.I told myself that it didn’t matter—what did I care?
Elena giggled in response to my plea. “That simply will not do. We must go play dress up. And then you can tell me all about how you managed to get away from those horrible Scion goons without any magical training. So impressive.”
So, she did know what had happened. I had no idea how—as far as I knew, Ciaran hadn’t left the apartment since I had arrived. But perhaps they had some sort of magical method of communicating.
“Sit tight, Elena, you’ll have your turn with her.” Ciaran’s lip twisted into a half-smile. My eyes darted back and forth between them, trying to piece together the nature of their relationship. It was going to drive me crazy.
“So, are you two… together?” The words escaped my lips like vomit before I had a chance to stop myself; I pressed them together immediately, wishing I could take it back.
Elena burst out laughing. Ciaran just gave a smirk.
“Goddess no!” Elena was almost doubled over laughing. “No. No, no, no, no, no.” She tried to catch her breath as she placed her hand on her abdomen. “No offence, Ciaran… You know you’re just not my type.” She winked at him.
“Sorry, my mistake,” I mumbled. I wished I could disappear and sink into a city even farther below the earth than this one.
“No, not at all.” Elena turned toward me. “It’s just, I’ve never been with a man. It sounded so absurd!” She started laughing again, as if the thought had entertained her to no end.
