Page 72 of Cursebound
I can’t tell which of my feelings toward him are my own and which are the result of supernatural meddling, and until I can, nothing is safe. The part of me that came undone when he said he loved me… That part is not allowed to be in charge right now.
The neighborhood is still very much alive, and as we make our way along the bustling streets, I see the signs that mean we are near the compound: small groups of beefed-up vamps hanging around on street corners, cars parked with lookouts inside them, a woman sitting with a cat that isn’t actually a cat on her lap. Every step we take is being watched, and the information is being relayed.
By the time we make it to the town house at the heart of their territory, I can feel so many eyes on my back my skin is crawling. Through the velvet pouch that Donatella rigged up, my amulet is screaming that I’m in danger.
Luca bumps into me as though by accident, and the familiar static tug buzzes at the edge of my mind. I force myself to let him in. This is an advantage, and we need all the advantages we can get.
I won’t let anyone hurt you, Rosa. You have to believe that. But once we’re inside, I can’t let anyone see what I feel for you. If they see that weakness, they will exploit it. Just remember that it’s all for show, okay?
I nod grimly and welcome my flare of anger—at him, at the vamps circling us, at the whole fucking world. I am not his pet. I’m not some little plaything to keep the predator amused. And I am not their victim. I am the goddamn Capelli Seer, and I will not let any of this crap take that away from me. He moves away pretty quickly after that—maybe all my fury was the mental equivalent of blowing a whistle down the phone at an obscene caller.
“Attagirl,” Donna says. “Now you look pissed. No shame in being scared—I am too—but we don’t show fear. We don’t turn our backs. We never ever run.”
I smile at the words. These are the rules that are drummed into us when we’re being trained as kids. Donna had her own mother, Flavia, in that role, which was probably a whole lot better than Tomasso and his belt—but he did his job well, and I haven’t forgotten. I’ve never shown fear, never turned my back, never run—and I’m not about to start now, no matter how many Cosca soldiers are eyeing up my neck.
We stop outside the house, and without anyone knocking on it, the huge red door swings open. There are five broad steps leading up to it, and Pietro curses behind me. Looks like the vamps didn’t get the memo about wheelchair accessibility. Without a word, Matteo hoists him and his chair up against his massive chest and follows us through the doorway.
I gaze around, amazed at what I’m seeing. Luca described it to us, but it really is something. Outside, this street looks like any other—a long row of town houses, interspersed with bodegas and restaurants and bars. I’m guessing some kind of spell wards normal humans away, or maybe this whole area is supernaturals only.
Inside, it is completely different. There is space all around me—all the buildings have been knocked through to create a huge reception area. Corridors branch off in every direction, a broad staircase leads up, and guards are posted all around.
As I take it in, a skinny girl dressed in a flowing pink hippie skirt and a too-big faded Nirvana T-shirt flies toward us. She throws herself into Luca’s arms, and he holds her there, smoothing her dirty-blond hair back and kissing her head. I don’t feel a scrap of jealousy because the way he handles her is so careful, so gentle, that it’s clear their relationship is familial.
“You’ve been gone too long!” she says, her brown eyes wide. “So long! Minnie read me all the Percy Jackson books!”
“Yeah? Were they good?”
“Soooo good! There was this girl, and she had this magic cap, and when she put it on, she turned invisible! I’ve got my own now!” She mimes putting a hat on, and, well, nothing happens.
But Luca appears shocked and says, “Jesus! Where’ve you gone?”
The girl giggles and pulls off her imaginary cap. She is unbelievably thin, her cheekbones sharp, her arms made of nothing but knots of muscle and sinew. “I’m back!” she says, hugging him again. “Don’t really need it. Nobody ever sees me, you know that!”
Matteo’s expression darkens. He walks toward her and is also given an enthusiastic hug. “We see ya, baby doll—we always see you. Freya, can you take Moonface for me? If I’m not back later, make sure she goes to Minnie, okay? I know you and Minnie will look after her.” He passes her the leash, and I realize that he’s preparing for the worst-case scenario and making sure his dog is cared for.
I get a lump in my throat and wonder how I have lived so long without really understanding these creatures. I’ve met lots of vamps in my life, and not always at the pointy end of a stick. I’ve met them, but I haven’t befriended any, haven’t bothered to look close and see that they are as varied and complicated as the rest of us. Matteo looks like a brute, but he’s one of the sweetest souls I’ve ever met.
When Luca is done chatting with one of the guards, he grabs me and shoves me in front of him so hard I stagger and fall. I land on the carpet, stung by humiliation as the guard laughs. I snap upright and reach out to punch him in the face.
Luca intercepts my fist with his hand, squeezes it tight, and gives my fingers a little rub with his. All for show, I remind myself. All for fucking show.
“Have to keep an eye on her,” he says to the guard, who has gone full fangs out. “She’s a wildcat. Okay to go through? I think the Don will be happy to see us.”
The guard snarls at me, and I snarl back. I am in enemy territory now, and all my instincts are screaming at me to start killing.
Calm the fuck down, Luca mutters in my mind, sounding worried.You’re not doing a very good impression of someone looking to be Vincenzo’s ally.
I glare at him, then look at Donna. She’s suffering too. Her face is pale, but her eyes are wild, casting about her, her fingers clenched around her amulet. Yet she has kept a pleasant smile on her lips, and to anyone who doesn’t know her, she likely looks perfectly relaxed.
We reach another large wooden door, and this one is guarded by four vamps. Not the most menacing I’ve ever seen, but all of them Old World, I can tell. They nod at Luca, genuine respect in the gesture. Looks like Minnie was right—he does have support here.
“How is he, Stefano?” Luca gestures to indicate whoever is on the other side of the door.
“Oh, you know. Same as ever,” Stefano says, grimacing. He has one of those super-deep, super-gravelly voices that should be used to narrate movie trailers.
“That bad, huh?”
Stefano confirms that it is in fact that bad, then politely asks us all to deposit any weapons with him before we pass through. I have to laugh as Donna makes a big show of pulling a finger-length stake out of her bra, managing to craft a full burlesque performance out of it. The vamps appear mesmerized, but I’m not fooled. These guys are professionals, and it’ll take more than a glimpse of cleavage to distract them. Still, it eases some of the tension, and as we roll through the door, I feel a lot less likely to snap.