All of which led Hallie to one conclusion.
“I can’t stay here,” Hallie said, the words out before she knew what she was going to say. Her throat closed up and she couldn’t manage anything else as Rosalia protested. Then she caught the understanding and knowledge in Cotovatre’s expression and managed to get some words out. “You’d already worked that out, though.”
“I feared it would be the case, yes,” Cotovatre said, her voice gentle. “And I am sorry.”
“I’m sorry, too,” Hallie said, and turned to Rosalia, taking hold of her roommate’s hand for a brief moment. “I don’t think Wilona is going to just give up. So I need to be elsewhere. I don’t want to bring trouble to you, or to anyone else.”
“No one is going to mess with our Rosalia,” Kendra said, startling Hallie. The elderly witch looked fiercely determined, an ancient warrior in an ancient black dress.
“It’s true,” Aneta added, to Hallie’s further surprise. “The witches of low city have a great fondness for Rosalia’s baking.” There was both truth and humour in Aneta’s words and Hallie managed a faint smile in response.
“We won’t let any harm come to our girl,” Nelda added. It was as solemn a promise as Hallie could ever imagine coming from the witch.
“Really, I’ll be fine,” Rosalia protested, looking flustered. “I am more worried about Hallie.”
“There is no need to worry about me,” Hallie said, and managed a better smile.
“We will make sure of it,” Emmet promised. He hadn’t spoken much, but his quiet words sent a sigh of relief around the table. “And we will also watch out for Miss Rosalia as well,” he added. “Any friend of Hallie’s is a friend to us as well.”
“The local gangs have also let it be known that no harm should come to her,” Aaron put in, surprising everyone. He seemed a bit flustered by all the stares, but his mouth lifted in a small smile. “Apparently, they also like her baking. And the fact that she doesn’t discriminate in who she serves.”
“Well, of course not,” Rosalia said, as if the thought had never occurred to her. And it probably hadn’t.
The worry that had pulled Hallie’s stomach into knots faded. The elite might scoff at the witches of low city, but they were a potent force and, with a little help from Cotovatre and Emmet, not to mention the protection of the local gangs, Hallie thought that Rosalia might just be the safest person in the entire city.
“I need to go back to the old place,” Hallie said, with some reluctance.
“There’s nothing there,” Rosalia said, then sat up a little. “We can move some things back for you, though.”
“If I may? I have a different option,” Cotovatre said. “A place outside low city may be better.”
“That’s true,” Hallie agreed, with some reluctance. She looked at her ancestor. “In high city?”
“Yes,” Cotovatre confirmed, with an unexpected hint of mischief. “I think you will find it quite to your liking.”
Intrigued, Hallie was about to ask for more information, but then realised there would be plenty of time on the way to high city. Right now, her time here, with her friends, in low city, was coming to an end. Suddenly restless, she got up from the table and took her mug and plate over to the kitchen area, not surprised when Rosalia joined her.
“I wish you didn’t have to go. Not like this, at any rate,” Rosalia said, voice soft and carrying sadness.
“I know. But the lease is in your name, and if I am not here, I really do think Wilona will leave you alone. Or face what sounds like a lot of consequences,” Hallie added, with a laugh.
“So it seems,” Rosalia agreed, smiling back. “Let me know that you are safe, please?”
“Of course,” Hallie said. She hesitated, looking at her best friend. For almost all of their friendship, they had lived quite separate lives, seeing each other only occasionally. As much as Hallie had enjoyed having Rosalia as a roommate, she knew that they would still see each other and not lose the friendship they had. And also realised that Rosalia had already figured out something that Hallie had only just allowed herself to think, which was that Hallie wasn’t coming back. Not to this house, not to her old home, and perhaps not to low city. At least not to live. Things had changed. The sense of being displaced returned. She didn’t know where she belonged. Where home was. She cleared her throat around a hard lump and struggled to keep a calm tone. “Is it okay if I leave my things here for a bit, just until I get settled?”
“Yes. You don’t need to ask. You’ll always have a space here, if you need it,” Rosalia said, voice and expression full of warmth. She leant forward and touched Hallie’s wrist. “Always.”
“Alright. I’d better go, then,” Hallie said, and hugged her friend. “Thank you for a wonderful meal and lovely company. It would be great to do this again soon.”
“I do like to cook, so you can count on it,” Rosalia said, with a smile.
Her heart lighter with that promise, Hallie got through the goodbyes with everyone else at the table, picking up her bag, jacket and boots in the hallway as she followed Cotovatre and Emmet out into the cold night air.
There was a sleek city car waiting for them, and as they approached, a slight young man got out of the driver’s seat and held the doors open first for Cotovatre and then, to her amusement, for Hallie. He took her bag and stowed it in the boot before holding the front passenger door open for Emmet.
“We’re going to the apartment, Eli,” Cotovatre said, settling back.
Hallie sank back into the comfortable cushions and wondered if she should have offered to sit up front, so that Cotovatre and Emmet could sit together.
