The Fading Dusk

by Melissa Giorgio

  I tried to fall back asleep, but it was impossible. After a restless hour of tossing and turning, listening to one of the other prisoners cough insistently, I gave up. Pushing my body up into a sitting position, I rested my back against the wall and watched the sky slowly brighten from a deep gray to a light pink through one of the small windows.

  When Aden walked into the room, I jumped off the bench, smiling. But my smile slipped away when I saw he wasn’t alone. A smaller figure wearing a cape with the hood thrown over his or her face followed closely behind, carrying a small wrapped bundle.

  “What’s going on?” I asked Aden quietly. My eyes darted back and forth between the two. For some reason, I felt disappointed. I’d been hoping for another private conversation with Aden before I had to face the captain. I hadn’t expected him to bring a friend. “Who is that?”

  “Is that any way to greet an old friend?” The other person pushed back the hood, revealing a very familiar blond-haired, blue-eyed girl.

  I gasped. “Elyse? What are you doing here?” I forgot to keep my voice down, and Aden looked around frantically. Besides the prisoners, who were still sleeping, we were alone. Odd. Usually soldiers stood guard at the doorway. I gave him a questioning look.

  He cleared his throat. “I—ahem, paid them to give us a moment.”

  “A moment to do what?”

  “Hey, Irina, pay attention to me!” Elyse pouted. “I’m here to see you, and you’re worried about the other guards?”

  “Not to sound rude, Elyse, but again, why are you here?”

  She gave Aden a pointed look and he stepped away to give us some privacy. Parnaby’s assistant turned to me, smiling. She was dressed in tight-fitting tan pants and a loose white shirt, her shiny blond hair tied up in a neat ponytail. She held up the bundle in her hands; I could see now that it was a set of clothes. “I figured you were tired of living in the same clothes, so I brought you a change.”

  My eyes, still sore from the previous night’s two-hour crying fest, filled with tears again. “Really? But… why?”

  “Why?” Elyse looked confused, but so was I. It wasn’t like we were lifelong friends. Yes, we’d talked from time to time, but I never expected her to visit me in prison. I bit my lip, feeling horrible. Would I have done the same for her? Honestly, I didn’t know. “Because you’re innocent, of course!”

  My eyes widened. “You know about what happened? What they’re accusing Bantheir of?”

  She nodded, looking grave. “Yes, Parnaby and I heard all about it. I came straight away, as soon as I could, and had Aden smuggle me in.” She made a face. “That horrid councilor said you’re not allowed to have visitors; not until you confess, anyway.” Elyse threw her free hand up in the air, looking exasperated. “Confess to what, I have no idea. He’s the only one who believes you’re involved!”

  “The captain certainly thinks I am,” I said, thinking of the scowls he’d shot my way. I rubbed my arms. “He wants to question me in a few hours, to find out what I know.”

  “Do yourself a favor and tell him the truth,” Elyse advised. “That’s all he’s looking for, unlike the councilor, who wants you to admit you and Bantheir go around murdering people and drinking their blood or something equally disgusting.”

  “Elyse!” My stomach churned at the thought.

  She wrapped her fingers around the bars, staring at me intently. “But if you convince Leonid of your innocence, he’ll have no choice but to tell the councilor that you know nothing. And then they’ll have to let you go. They can’t keep an innocent person locked up!”

  I couldn’t help but focus on the fact that she’d referred to the captain as “Leonid.” What sort of relationship did those two have? And why did it matter to me? No, the more important question was, how did Elyse, a street magician’s assistant, even know the captain to begin with? And the case with Bantheir? Why did she know the details? Was she merely investigating on her own because she was concerned about me, or was it something else?

  I narrowed my eyes in suspicion. “You’re not telling me the whole truth, Elyse.” When I realized how ungrateful that sounded, I blanched. “I mean, I’m really glad you came here and brought me clothes and it’s good to hear that someone besides Aden thinks I’m innocent, but…” I dropped my eyes to the ground, feeling horrible for saying what I was about to say. “I have to wonder why.”

  Aden started coming over, looking tense. Elyse exchanged a look with him, then turned back to me. “Listen,” she said with a soft sigh, “I can’t tell you everything, but me and Parn? We’re working to get you out of here. Until then, we need you to hang tight, Irina.”

  What? The street magician was involved too? First Bantheir was accused of murder, and now Elyse and Parnaby were what, lawyers? Vigilantes?

  Was no one who they appeared to be?

  Before I could ask, Aden said, “You need to go. Hood up and straight out, Elyse, like we agreed.”

  “Of course.” She pulled up her hood, hiding her golden hair once more. I could feel her eyes on me. “Irina—stay strong.”

  Before she could walk away, I said, “Wait!” Elyse paused. “Do you and Parnaby believe Bantheir is guilty?”

  Elyse pushed back her hood slightly, so I could see the sadness in her eyes. That look hit me deep in my soul, and I froze, scared to even breathe. “I’m…” Elyse shook her head. “I’m sorry.”

  She pulled up her hood and left.

  I stood like that for a few seconds, rousing only when Aden came right up to the bars and called my name. I blinked. “What?”

  “I said, do you want to change now? Before I take you to the captain, I mean?”

  I looked at the bundle in his arms—a simple light-blue cotton shirt and tan pants—and nodded. It would be a relief to get out of my soiled assistant clothes. As Aden unlocked the cell, I felt a pang of guilt. I hadn’t even thanked Elyse. Coming here was obviously a risk for all of us—her, Aden, and me—and all I’d done was yell at her.

  “Aden?” I asked in a shaky voice as I accepted the clothes from him. “If you talk to Elyse again, can you tell her I’m sorry and thank you?”

  He smiled warmly. “Of course. Now, get dressed. You’ve got a captain to convince.”

  ADEN KNOCKED ON THE CAPTAIN’S door and a voice called from within. Moments later, the door opened and Captain Leonid poked his head out. His hair was mussed, like he’d just woken up, and a number of buttons on his shirt were undone, exposing a wide expanse of dark skin. I quickly avoided my gaze, concentrating on a spot on the wall instead. “Ah, very good. You’re even early,” the captain said. “Take her to the empty room down on the left, Aden. I’ll be there in a moment.” The door shut before we could answer.

  “So, not his bedroom then,” I muttered.

  “What?” Aden asked.

  Blushing, I shook my head and motioned for him to proceed.

  We entered a cramped, windowless room with a few hard wooden chairs situated around a long, rectangular table. We each took a seat on one side of the table, Aden’s leg bouncing up and down with nervous energy. I stared at the table, running my eyes over the various grooves cut into the wood. How many other people had sat where I sat, forced to answer questions they didn’t want to answer?

  Captain Leonid walked in carrying a tray of food, which he placed in front of me before tugging on his gloves and sitting in the seat across from mine. He had done up the buttons on his shirt, I noticed, and thrown on his military coat for good measure. Even his hair had been combed, every strand in place. I pulled one of my locks, the curls limp and filthy. Was he trying to intimidate me, or was he just flaunting the fact that he had soap and water and I didn’t?

  My stomach grumbled as I eyed the tray. It was just toast and porridge, but I didn’t care. At this point, I would eat anything. But I didn’t dare touch it—it might belong to the captain.

  “She’s wearing new clothes,” the captain remarked, leaning back in his chair as he eyed me. I stared at the table, r
esisting the urge to squirm under his dark gaze.

  “There was a donation this morning,” Aden lied smoothly.

  “Did you check the clothes first?” Captain Leonid asked.

  “Of course.”

  Acting on their own accord, my hands drifted to the pockets, and I was startled to discover a stone of some sort in the right pocket. My eyes widened.

  Aden kicked me gently, and my head whipped to the left to look at him. He stared straight ahead, but a muscle twitched in his jaw. Wordlessly, I removed my hands from my pockets.

  “Aren’t you hungry?” the captain asked me.

  “That depends,” I said.

  “On what?”

  I gave him a sweet smile. “Is it poisoned?”

  He looked taken aback. “Why would it be poisoned? I’m here to question you, not kill you. If I wanted you dead, you would have been a long time ago.”

  My smile slipped. “That’s… not very comforting.”

  “It wasn’t meant to be.” Captain Leonid gestured to the food. “Eat. I’m sure you’re hungry. Although we all know whose fault that is,” he muttered.

  With a glare, I picked up my spoon and dug in. The porridge was sweet, sprinkled with a dash of cinnamon, and it took all of my self-control not to shove my face into the bowl.

  “You’re dismissed,” Captain Leonid said to Aden.

  We both froze. “Ah, actually, I was hoping I could stay?” Aden asked. He glanced at me, no doubt noticing the wide-eyed look of panic I was giving him. “For support?”

  The captain sighed heavily. It was obvious he was going to say no; he probably wanted a chance to yell at me without Aden interfering. “Fine,” he said to my complete surprise. “However,” he continued when we both exhaled in relief, “the things we are about to discuss are extremely classified. Only a few know the details; I know who knows, and I know what they know.” He leaned forward, a frightening gleam in his dark eyes. “If I receive word that any of this information has been passed on, I will hold you personally responsible, Aden. Do I make myself clear?”

  Aden swallowed noisily. “Yes, sir.”

  Feeling bad for Aden, whose skin had gone pale and clammy, I reached over and patted his hand. He gave me a small smile in return.

  Finished with threatening Aden, the captain flipped through a stack of papers that had been on the table when we walked in. “So, where shall we begin?”

  “Can I have my necklace back?” I asked in a rush.

  He stared at me for ten seconds in silence. Raising an eyebrow, he said, “No.”

  “But—”

  “I ask the questions, Lark, you answer them. That’s not too difficult, is it?”

  My cheeks began burning. Aden shifted uncomfortably in his chair but said nothing. “Don’t call me that,” I mumbled.

  Which was clearly the wrong thing to say. The captain’s lips curved into a slight smile, his eyes glittering. “You also don’t issue orders, Lark, I do. You, Lark, follow my orders.” He rested his elbows on the table. “Do you understand me, Lark?”

  I was gripping my spoon so hard I was certain the wood would crack in two. “Yes.”

  “Yes…?”

  What I really wanted to do was pick up the porridge and hurl it at his smug, self-satisfied face, but I was too hungry to waste food like that. Elyse’s voice popped up, reminding me to convince the captain of my innocence. To do that, I needed to behave myself. With a loud sigh I said, speaking to the table, “Yes, Captain.”

  “Good.” He leaned back, the chair creaking. “Let’s begin.” Dipping a quill into a pot of ink, he slid a paper in front of him. “Normally we fill out this paperwork as soon as the prisoner arrives, but your situation was… unique.”

  Ah, so not everyone gets to be yelled at by Councilor Raynard? Should I feel special?

  Captain Leonid began reading from the list. “Name—”

  “Irina,” I said at the same time he said, “Lark.”

  He paused, eyebrow raised, as if waiting for me to argue with him again. Sucking in a huge breath, I glowered at the floor, keeping quiet. The only sound in the room came from him scratching “Lark” down on the paper. “Age?” he asked.

  “Seventeen,” I mumbled, still refusing to look up.

  “I’m eighteen,” Aden piped up. “Just turned, in fact.” His cheeks went pink when I turned to stare at him. “I just thought you’d want to know.”

  My own face began heating up and I looked away, smiling.

  The captain cleared his throat.

  “Oh, sorry, how old are you again, Captain?” Aden asked innocently. I unsuccessfully swallowed my snickers.

  He glared at me. “Eighteen.”

  “Really?” I blurted out. “I thought you were at least twenty-five, twenty-six. Must be all that scowling you do. Makes you look older.” And the pompous way you carry yourself, I thought to myself. Like you’re better than everyone. Oh look, here comes the scowl!

  Captain Leonid set his quill down and folded his hands in front of him. “Tell me, Lark, how did you meet Bantheir?”

  I stiffened. It was an innocent enough question, but I swore he knew answering it would hurt me. Something about the way his eyes gleamed and his lips slightly curled in the corner—it was as if he were taking pleasure from this.

  My hand automatically reached up to grip my necklace. When I remembered it wasn’t there—the captain had probably set it on fire—my heart did a nervous sort of skip. The necklace was always there. Gone, and I felt like half a person. Like I’d betrayed my mother.

  My throat began aching as I fought off my tears. I don’t want to sit here, in this tiny room, answering his stupid questions about Bantheir! It was a giant waste of time. Bantheir hadn’t killed anyone. Anything I told them wouldn’t help with the investigation because they were looking for the wrong man. Elyse told me telling the truth would help, but she was wrong. No one was going to listen to me; they’d already made up their minds.

  “I don’t want to do this anymore,” I said stiffly. “Aren’t we just wasting everyone’s time?” I pointed to his paper. “You pretend to write things down, but are you even listening? Aren’t you convinced I’m the murderer’s accomplice? I’m surprised you haven’t asked me to describe how we killed the victims yet!” My voice rose to a shout, echoing off the walls. The whole prison probably heard me, but I was past the point of caring. What else could they do to me? I was already locked up for life!

  I expected his face to redden with anger. I expected him to yell back. Instead, the captain scratched his chin, regarding me carefully with a gaze that made me feel like a child who’d just thrown a tantrum. “Aden, please go to the kitchen and have them make us a pot of tea. I could go for a cup right now. How about you, Lark?”

  The abrupt change in conversation confused me. “W-What?” Realizing he was serious, I sputtered, “Y-Yes, please.”

  Aden looked torn, like he was afraid the captain would backhand me the moment I left. I wasn’t scared, though. I should have been, but I wasn’t. If Captain Leonid wanted to hit me, he would, regardless of whether Aden was in the room or not. But he wouldn’t… I thought back to the other night, when Raynard had been about to hit me, only to be distracted by his papers falling off his desk. The captain had done that on purpose, I now realized with a growing sense of wonder.

  “Do yourself a favor and tell him the truth,” Elyse said. “That’s all he’s looking for, unlike the councilor…”

  I touched Aden lightly on the shoulder. “Go. I’ll be fine.”

  Green eyes troubled, he nodded and left the room in a rush. I had a feeling he would be back in record time.

  “That tea better be hot,” the captain muttered, echoing my thoughts. I stifled a laugh and our eyes briefly met. The corner of his mouth curled up, shocking me. The captain was… amused?

  Something changed in that moment; an understanding passed between us. I wasn’t about to call him my friend, but I was starting to understand what Elyse meant. �
��You want us to work together,” I said softly.

  He looked surprised, like he hadn’t expected me to come around so soon. Quickly recovering, he nodded his agreement. “Yes. We’ll have a better chance of getting to the bottom of this if we combine our resources.”

  “And you think that’ll happen if I tell you everything about Bantheir?” I picked at the dirt crusted under my fingernails. “You realize how… annoyed this makes me, don’t you? You want me to spill every one of his secrets, so you can use them against him. Why should I do that?”

  He sighed unhappily. “To help prevent any further murders from happening, of course.”

  “But they’re going to continue because you’re looking for the wrong man!” I stood suddenly, gripping the table. Captain Leonid stiffened but remained seated. “Murders? Magic? You’re not des-

  cribing Bantheir! You’re describing someone completely different! Someone twisted and evil!”

  “Has it ever occurred to you that maybe the man you know isn’t the real Bantheir?”

  “Impossible,” I said with a shake of my head. “I’ve lived with him for thirteen years. I know him.” Captain Leonid reached for his quill again. Seeing this, I quickly added, “Fine, you want to know how we met? Thirteen years ago, when that terrible plague raced across the slums, it claimed my mother. Before she died, she sent me north. I knew how to sneak into Way, we did it all the time, begging for food.” The captain’s brows narrowed at that, but he continued recording everything I told him. “I wandered Way lost, confused, and heartbroken. I was four, Captain, what did I know about taking care of myself?

  “Then I met Bantheir.” I sat back down, smiling slightly at the fond memory. “My feet had carried me to a courtyard, much like the one we had performed in two days ago. It was his first show and he was nervous, fumbling with his props at first. But as he became more comfortable with the show and the crowd, his confidence grew, and he had everyone completely mesmerized. Including me. For an hour, we watched him tell fortunes, make coins appear from thin air, and cast ‘spells.’ When the small crowd left, they were smiling, and Bantheir’s hat was ringing with coins. Utterly transfixed, I remained, watching him clean up.”