12. Chapter 12 #3
"Olli is a chameleon. He does a lot of odd jobs when needed. He used to help run his mother's shop in the Market District. She is the one responsible for our tattoos." Cassius explains quickly, which piques my interest.
"What tattoos?"
"Our wings – "
Remus tsks, silencing the words Cassius is freely spewing.
"Hey!" I point a finger at Remus. "If I am to be a part of this group, I want to know everything. Not just what you think I should be permitted to know. Tell me about the tattoos."
Remus and I stare at one another, neither of us budging.
Finally, Remus huffs, "The reason we survived the Mass Execution, the reason our wings are hidden, is because of Pillar Ollivander's alchemy.
She infused a magical property designed to camouflage our wings into black ink tattooed our backs. We can retract them when we want."
"You all have these tattoos?" I ask, watching as Remus, Cassius, and Shaw all nod their heads in confirmation.
"Not everyone," Olli says sadly. "I'm only Half-Wing."
"But" – I eye Cassius – "you're Half-Venturan. Do you have wings?"
"I do, but – "
"Not all Half-Venturans have wings," Olli interrupts as if to defend himself. "My mother is an Orlencian and my father was Venturan, but I have no true trace of the Wings."
"You have their blood," Carmen interjects like a proud mama. "That's what matters."
But from his expression alone, I know Olli doesn't believe that. The wings are important to him, and he lacks them. A piece of his story tugs at my heart and I don't like the sentimental sensation.
"We will regroup in a week after the first ball to check in," Remus scoots off the counter and drops to his feet. "As of now, you know your assignments. I need to get Ines home before the staff realizes she's missing."
"I'm not going anywhere with you," I snarl and my shoulders tense.
"I'm the only one who can escort you," he quips. "And I'll be able to protect you if we run into any unsavory characters past curfew."
"The only unsavory character I see is you," I cross my hands over my chest, digging my preverbal heels into the ground. "And if you value your life, you won't press your luck being alone with me."
Challenge flares in his eyes. "Is that a threat?" He takes a thundering step forward spurring me to shoot to my feet and slam my hands on the table.
"It certainly wasn't a compliment."
"Well," Cassius whistles lowly before motioning for everyone to leave. "Good luck getting back to Otero's."
Carmen walks over to me and squeezes my hand before wrapping her arms around me.
My first instinct is to push her off of me, but her familiar scent of lavender soothes me and reminds me of our friendship.
It was us against the world, until it wasn't. I don't blame her.
How could I after everything she has been through?
One of these days, when I have the chance, I'll slay every man who laid one unwanted finger on her.
"I will see you soon, mariposa." Butterfly.
The nickname floods me with nostalgia; our countless childhood adventures flash in my mind. I haven't been called mariposa since the day she disappeared. She used to tell me one day, I'd fly. So why do I feel like I'm sinking instead?
"May the Saints have mercy on our enemies." Remus says and everyone in the room stills.
In unison, the other four echo in return, "For we surely won't."
As quickly as she embraces me, Carmen releases me and slips her hand into Shaw's as the others quietly file out of the apartment.
Once the latch clicks into place, I glare at Remus whose blazing eyes have faded from sheer stubborn will to one filled with remorse, apology even.
I'm not sure what thoughts are tormenting him, nor do I care.
If he is set on apologizing for torturing me, for testing me, then he can swallow those hollow words.
I don't want to hear them, nor do I care to forgive him. Let him rot.
"If you're taking me home, let's be done with it." I stomp to the door, more determined than ever not to be alone with him a second longer than need be.
Surprisingly, Remus doesn't have a snarky response locked and loaded but dutifully follows me to the door.
As I leave the apartment, I scan up and down the long hallway, realizing I have no idea which way to go.
Remus locks the door and without a word turns to our right.
I have no choice but to follow him and even though I have half a mind to push him down the three flights of stairs, I keep my hands and thoughts to myself and trail him to the street.
I don't know why I expected to see a carriage waiting for us, but the street is abandoned.
Everyone and everything, save for us, is asleep.
Remus offers me his coat, but I slap his hand away.
He shrugs the coat on, pops the collar to shield his neck from the light drizzle and shoves his hands into his pockets before strutting down the sidewalk.
Reluctantly, I walk alongside him, knowing we have at least an hour's walk to Dona Otero's estate.
I'm so ready for this treacherously long day to be over with.