Page 69

Chapter Sixty-Two

LUNA

I sleep as if I was awake for twenty-something hours straight the day before, and wake up when the sun blasts my face. Sam stands at the window, his legs wide and his arms crossed over his broad chest, staring down the entire street.

“What time is it?” I ask.

She looks over her shoulder at me. “After two.”

I blink. Same Sam. Different Sam. “You change really fast.”

“A few thousand years of practice.”

“You want me to call you they/them? Like Alex?”

“Call it as you see it.”

“How old are you exactly?” I ask.

“I have no idea.”

“Older than the lawyer?”

“No. Do you need privacy?”

I pick up the Nike bag. “Are you going to be here when I get out of the bathroom?”

“Probably.”

“I’ll bring clothes then.” I go into the bathroom and do my business.

When I come out, Sam is in a chair with her legs crossed, facing the park.

“Are you looking for Carmine or someone else?”

“Yes to both.” She sighs and shifts to the edge of the seat as if she’s about to get up. “What do humans find so attractive about those creatures?”

“You really want to know?”

My question is rhetorical, but she takes a moment to think about it.

“Yes.”

“Well, let’s see.” I stand next to her and watch the street. “He’s beautiful. Visually. Easy on the eyes.”

“So is a leopard.” She rises and heads for the door.

“But—”

“And a rainbow.” Her fingers tap the molding around the door. “And a ruby so clear you can see through it, and so red the world is bathed in blood.”

That’s more descriptive than I ever expected to hear from this person in any form. Her openness loosens my tongue.

“Okay sure, but none of those look like a man, which I’m already wired to want. And his voice, it’s so confident, which comes, I guess, from being so old, with none of the frailty of an elderly person. And then there’s the power, which is… I mean, really kind of hot.”

“Even when he’s using that power against you?”

“I get it. But I mean… it’s still… I don’t know, maybe it’s daddy issues so… yeah? Red flag, I guess?”

“Do you know what’s really beautiful?” She doesn’t wait for me to guess. “You.”

I’m shocked for a moment, thinking she’s talking about me, Luna Beneforte.

Then she continues. “Serafina. Your mother. All of you. The little moving dots on the street, going about their business. Most of them are trying not to hurt anyone else while they’re doing it.

Most of them know the rules and laws humans have aren’t gravity.

They’re not real laws. They’re a choice.

Humans know they could profit more, live better, gain power by breaking them.

But they obey them for the good of everyone, and they’re crushed by those who don’t care to and they still try. ”

“You’re more impressed with people than I am.”

“You misunderstand. I’m frustrated.”

“We like pushing rocks up hills, I guess.”

“Sisyphus is also easy on the eyes. But still very human. He can walk away from that boulder any time.” As if hearing an old joke in her mind, she smiles to herself, then frowns.

“I’ve wanted to help you mortals…” She shakes her head.

“Get rid of the bad ones who hurt you. Then show you the world you can’t see.

Explain what you’re up against and tell you how to give yourselves a fighting chance.

Or if I could really intervene? Get between you and things that can hurt you. ” She stops there.

“Why don’t you?”

“Obeying the rules is a choice…” She gives the molding one last pat before she goes. “… for you.”