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1902—Little Africa

Breath and air burst back into Viola’s lungs as she came to consciousness in a rush of nausea and dread. Only one person she knew of could attack like that—Werner. The coniglio. After what she had done to get him to safety? This was his repayment? She never should have let him go running off after the mess at the Flatiron Building. She should have made sure he wasn’t a liability.

Her cheek was pressed against the filth of the street, but she didn’t move. Not right away. Jianyu was lying next to her, and Cela just beyond. Both were starting to stir, but Viola hesitated, sending out her affinity instead. She found their two heartbeats, but not a third. Nibsy was gone.

Her head still swirling, Viola pulled herself up, cursing herself silently for letting down her guard. Cursing Nibsy as well for managing to get the upper hand.

Jianyu was already on his feet, checking Cela for injuries.

“They’re gone,” Viola told him as she pulled herself up and brushed herself off, trying not to think about the grime that had pressed against her cheek. She turned on Jianyu, furious. “How could you be so stupid? How could you lead him to us? You should have been more careful. You should have—”

“I was careful,” Jianyu said, frustration flashing in his expression. His voice was sharper than Viola had ever heard it. “I would never put either of you in danger.”

“You didn’t,” Cela said. “He’d already sent the patrols. You didn’t lead them here.”

“What?” Viola turned to her.

“We had a nice conversation before he knocked me out. It’s not just the sigils he wants. It’s the two of you as well,” Cela told them, her voice filled with unease. “He promised that he could protect me and my brother if you joined him again.” She had wrapped her arms around herself as though she’d caught a chill, but there was an edge to her voice that Viola approved of.

“He can go to the devil,” Viola snarled. “Nibsy Lorcan is a snake. You can’t believe a single word that drops from his mouth.” But even her bravado couldn’t dispel her unease. She looked to Jianyu. “How could he find us?”

“He did not have to follow me, not when he can track us,” Jianyu said. “Or, rather, he can track the sigils.”

Viola didn’t understand his meaning at first… and then, all at once, she did. “Logan,” she said, spitting his name like a curse. She remembered what the boy had told her when they were trapped at the top of that building. “He can find objects infused with magic. Objects like the sigils.” And like my blade. “But Nibsy, he didn’t take the discs?”

Cela shook her head. “He could have. I don’t know why he didn’t.”

“Knowing Nibsy, he has his reasons, and none of them portend well for us.” Jianyu turned to Cela. “Can you understand now why I said you must take the sigils out of the city, beyond the Brink? Eventually, he will decide the time has come for him to take them from us. So long as the discs remain here, Nibsy will be able to find them. With Werner’s help and control of the marks, he will be able to take them. There is nowhere in the city we can hide them, so you must take them out of his reach.”

Viola saw then the reason for the wildness in his eyes, the cause for his desperation to get Cela to safety. He felt something for her. It was no less than she would do to protect the person she loved.

Suddenly, she could not stop herself from thinking of Ruby, who was far across the seas and living a life that Viola could hardly imagine. She could never be a part of that life, but at least Ruby was safe from Nibsy Lorcan and the Order.

“It’s not enough,” Viola said, her voice heavy with the truth of the matter. She was already reaching through the hidden slit in her skirt for Libitina. “The sigils are not the only objects that put us at risk. What of my knife? Your mirrors? If, as you say, Nibsy has the marks, we cannot allow him to find us so easily again. Libitina, she is a liability now. So are your mirrors.” She turned and offered the blade to Cela. “You must take this as well. She will protect you, whenever you need protection.”

“I don’t want it,” Cela said, stepping back, but she ran into Jianyu and couldn’t retreat any farther. “He wants the two of you, and he’s not going to stop just because I leave the city. I can’t just run and leave you two behind to deal with the danger he poses.”

“Then don’t run,” Viola said, offering her blade again, determined. “Help to protect us. Nibsy Lorcan already has the ring and control over the Devil’s Own. He cannot be allowed to have any other power.”

“The sigils must be kept from him,” Jianyu agreed.

Viola took a step forward and gently placed Libitina in Cela’s palm. “We trust you, Cela. Not to run, but to fight with us. By keeping them safe, you keep us safe. And many more as well.”

Finally, Cela’s fingers wrapped around the handle of the blade. “Fine,” she said, her jaw tight. “I’ll go. I’ll take them outside the Brink and keep them away from Nibsy. But I’m not staying away forever. This is my city, my home. I won’t be forced away. I’m going to come back,” she vowed. “I’m going to return this to you.”

How many times had Viola let her dagger sail through the air, willing it to hit some target or another? But this, this was terrifying. To simply hand it over? To watch it disappear into Cela’s bag. It did not matter that Viola trusted Cela and Abel, nor that she knew this was the only real choice. Cela needed all the protection they could provide, but giving up Libitina meant she would have only herself, only her affinity, for protection.

“Certo,” Viola said, trying not to show how much she wanted to grab her blade and take it back. “Even the Brink could not stop me if you tried to keep her from me.” She pulled out the sigils and handed them over as well and watched as Jianyu gave her the bronze mirrors he kept always at his side.

Cela had barely managed to secure them in her bag when the door of the building burst open. Two of the patrolmen came bursting out. “There they are!” one shouted.

“Go,” Viola said, turning to face the men.

“But Abel,” Cela protested.

“Get her to the bridge,” Viola told Jianyu, knowing that they’d been seen. Knowing, too, what that meant not only for Cela and Abel but for everyone in that building. “Va via! I will take care of this and make sure Abel is safe. Go!”