Sanguine Moon

by Jennifer Foxcroft

  * * * * *

  I had been lulled into a false sense of security by Enzo’s crisp appearance and manners, and the fact that he has made me untouchable. The Vipers couldn’t exact their revenge on me. His men give me a wide birth and show respect that I never earned. I was fooled into thinking I was safe. For a moment, I’d forgotten the newspaper articles I’d read about him being behind a dozen unsolved murders. My focus was Mini and trying to have him trust me enough to free her. But, he’s never going to do that. He’s an evil monster that issues orders to do unspeakable things.

  I drive home in a daze. Halfway there, I pull over and rest my head on the steering wheel and cry.

  I can’t take this any longer. Winding down my window, I throw the bundles of cash as far away from my car as I can. Ten minutes later, I’m out on the street, picking it all back up again. This is not a game. I can’t do anything stupid. I dump it in my trunk, dry my eyes, and head home.

  The Bun Lovin’ Barn is my escape to avoid my parents, but I couldn’t care any less about how some drunk college kid wants his hotdog. Spring break has started so the night is busy, helping to pass the time, but I keep seeing the man’s body jolt and then drop out of sight.

  The terrifying image plays on repeat in my head. Mini. He’s got Mini, and he will not think twice about hurting her if I make one wrong move. The hope that I could take her home was shredded when that trigger was pulled. And living without hope, turns you into a ghost like Kelly.

  “I said double onions, not cheese. Jeez, too dumb to remember a simple order,” mumbles the drunk pig.

  I shake the cheese off the hotdog, but he insists I give him a fresh one since he hates cheese. My fingers lock around the bun in my hand, pulverizing the dough and meat. Tiff pulls me out of sight and steps in to take my place. She’s got her flirt-face on and hands out the longest wiener I’ve ever seen. I scowl at her for giving a prize dog to a dick.

  “Here you go,” she says with another Kodak smile. “It’s an extra big one to remind you of what’s missing in your pants.”

  He curses loudly, but she calls the next customer waiting with a smile. I slide down the van wall, trying to hold in my laughter. I can’t. It erupts as I sink to the floor. I laugh and laugh, glancing at Tiff to see she’s biting her lip preparing the next dog. Tears roll down my cheeks, but then my emotional pit takes over and I’m no longer laughing. I’m sobbing, and I can’t seem to stop.

  I tuck my head into my folded arms that are resting on my bent knees. I don’t want to make a sound, but after a minute, I need to breathe and another racking sob echoes in the confines of the van.

  “Shhh …” Tiff rubs my shoulders. “Don’t let him get to you.”

  “It’s not that,” I mutter. “It’s …”

  Mini.

  Murder.

  Rocks and Decker.

  Where does it all end?

  “You’re stressed over Mini. I get it.”

  “And Decker died,” I sob. And I witnessed a guy lose his life today at the hand of the man that has my sister. Tiff is shocked at my outburst. I explain that he was killed in an accident. Lying about his death makes me feel like a traitor. I can’t tell her the ugly truth, but I hate myself for lessening the loss. That owl murdered him. It was a crime that nobody will pay for, just like Enzo won’t see the inside of a jail cell for the guy’s life he took.

  The world isn’t made up of unicorns farting rainbows. I get it. I really do.

  Tiff insists I leave early. I don’t have it in me to argue and walk home via the park. I never used to enter the park at night without Rocks, but I’ve come to realize that I’m under the protection and control of Enzo Ascari. I sit alone on the park bench in the dark unafraid. Nothing will happen to me unless Enzo permits it—of that, I’m quite sure. I might not see his men, but there’s no way Enzo doesn’t watch my every move.

  The cold snap that has hit Georgia forces me out of the park thirty minutes later. When I open the front door, Dad is hugging Mom in the wide entrance to our kitchen. I can’t hear what he’s whispering to her, but as I stand and watch them, her shudders of sadness lessen. Mom opens her eyes and when she sees me, she flinches. It’s the strongest reaction she’s had to anything or anyone in weeks.

  “Everything okay?” I ask, walking over. Dad turns and looks surprised.

  “You’re home early?”

  “Yeah, I kinda had a meltdown, and Tiff sent me packing,” I admit. I feel so far away from them, and it’s slowly killing me.

  Mom’s eyes roam over me for a moment or two, and then she turns and heads for her chair by the TV. The fact she doesn’t ask about my breakdown makes me wonder if she’s currently suffering through one of her own.

  “Mom all right?”

  Dad shakes his head. “You?”

  I shrug. “Rocks’ brother was killed, and with everything that’s happening with Mini, I just …” I shrug again. I’m pretty sure I don’t need to explain.

  Dad covers his eyes with one hand. “Oh, God. That’s awful. No. Oh, God. Shit.”

  I hadn’t wanted to tell them about Decker because I knew the mention of someone dying—someone young—would make them wonder about Mini and if she’s still alive. Dad moves further into the kitchen and asks if he can get me anything, but he won’t look at me now. I tell him I’m not hungry, but there’s something off about his body language all of a sudden.

  “Have you heard something about Mini from those PI’s?” I can’t keep the panic from my voice.

  Dad shuffles around, opening cupboards and then the fridge, but he still won’t look at me. “No, we, ah, we went to see the police. We just got home before you.”

  “What about?”

  The sandwich he’s making does not need that much attention. I step closer, but he’s still focused on cutting cheese off the block.

  “Just new leads. That sort of thing. Don’t worry about it, sweetheart.” He’s obviously keeping something from me. Maybe the police told them statistics on missing kids or something equally horrendous. He’s probably just saving me from more bad news that isn’t confirmed one way or the other.

  Dad moves to the spread out newspaper on the other side of the kitchen island, with his sandwich in hand.

  “You see the update on that Viper’s trial you were so interested in?” he asks. I wince and hope he wasn’t looking at me to notice.

  I shake my head, but as suspected he’s zoned in on the small print and doesn’t see. “No, what’s happening?”

  “The Ascari girl gave her evidence today, and the press are speculating it will be over soon. They think without their leader this gang might implode which will decrease their distribution.” His finger is skimming along the article that he’s summarizing. “Imagine an Ascari being hailed a hero.”

  Fudge.

  The eel inside my guts starts trying to bite its way free. I want to scream that Ascaris aren’t capable of kindness, or doing anything good. Then it occurs to me that I am one. The blood in Sophia’s veins is the same as mine. What will my parents think when what’s going on with Mini comes to a head? Will they be proud of me?

  Never.

  This is all my fault. I slink out of the kitchen and head to her room. Sitting in the dark in the rocking chair, the room smells of my sweet baby sister. It hurts to breathe in deep with such a strong reminder. Each week after my Saturday shift, I’ve felt lost. Not getting to check on her for two whole days nearly does my head in, but then I think of Mom. No wonder she’s coming apart at the seams.

  The start of my spring break usually has the girls and I in a frenzy of shopping and movie dates, but I can’t focus on fun. Tiff texts to make sure I’m okay and see if I want to hang with her tomorrow. I decline and don’t even bother with an excuse. Like Mom, I prefer to be closer to home, even though it means locking myself in my room to avoid my parents. I know Mini isn’t going to be returned, but having fun makes me feel even guiltier. I don’t deserve fun.

  Tuesday, I lie to Mom a
bout meeting up with the girls so that I can meet Johnson and Brick. Enzo arranged for me to be picked up earlier today because I’m off school, and since it’s spring break, business is booming. There are seven extra duffle bags of cash waiting in his counting room. As a reward he allows me to spend a whole hour with Mini.

  My backpack is always full of supplies for the little poppet, but so far my escort has confiscated it every single time. When I entered Mini’s room however, it was by the door. Looking at the glass window, I can only see my reflection, but I’m sure Enzo is in there. He’s given me access to everything I brought with me, except my phone.

  Mini is delighted when I hand over a pack of her favorite cookies. After she scarfs them, she sits as still as a two-year-old can while I paint her little nails. It’s the calmest I’ve felt in a very long time.

  “Little Sparrow,” Enzo calls as I’m being lead back to the SUV parked in the warehouse. “Come.”

  Brick and Johnson look at their boss—clearly this wasn’t in the plan for today. I follow Enzo back down the corridor that runs between my ‘laundry’ and the room where the drugs are bagged up for distribution. Turning to the left, we enter a small kitchen room, and I notice supplies that are clearly for Mini on the counter.

  “You can keep your things here if you wish,” Enzo says, pointing to the wall of lockers. He opens a locker on the bottom row that’s empty. “You will hand over your phone, but your backpack can stay in here from now on. If you have things for her, you can get them before you visit.”

  I have to force my jaw to stay shut. Enzo is giving me freedom at the warehouse. “What about the guards?”

  “I will inform them you know what you’re doing now. Your work has impressed me, and I’m not easily impressed. You can go where you please.” He smiles without showing his teeth.

  “Thank you, Papa.”

  “I knew the Ascari in you would surface.”

  * * * * *

  Wednesday when I enter the kitchen to scavenge for food, Mom asks why I’m not at school. Her face crumples with anguish when I explain it’s spring break, and she mutters something about that not being possible. I make her a sandwich and leave it in front of her. She’s hugging Mini’s security blanket and doesn’t notice the food. I leave it in the hope that she’ll eat something.

  Dad comes through the door as I’m cutting up my PB & J.

  “What are you doing home?” I ask.

  He doesn’t smile. His eyes go straight to the love of his life, who even he can’t save. “I try to swing by to check up on things if I can.”

  My guilty conscience has trouble dealing with Mom. Occasionally, I think she’s onto me, and her silence is punishment for what I’ve caused, but it’s not the case. She just isn’t coping and blames herself. I grab the bread again and start on a sandwich for Dad, leaving it on the countertop when I’m done. He’s by her side coaxing her to eat and give him the blanket. It breaks another chunk off of what remains of my heart.

  Our doorbell ringing stops me on the stairs. I dump my plate and soda on the bottom step before heading to answer it. When I open the door, I’m met with the angriest pair of blue-black eyes I’ve ever seen.

  Rocks isn’t just mad; he’s flipping furious.

  Since I haven’t seen him for over two weeks, I can’t even begin to fathom what has ignited such a reaction in him. I step back, but not to invite him in. His venom is almost seeping out of his pores, and I don’t want to get any closer.

  “Why didn’t you tell me?” he seethes between gritted teeth.

  “Tell you what?” My mind is jumping from every secret I’m keeping to find a reason he could be this angry—with me. Did I miss a crucial news report about the bat cull? Has another attack happened that he found on the news? My guilt spikes because I haven’t been monitoring the media like I promised.

  “About Mini.”

  I gasp. “What?”

  I push him away from the door, almost closing it, and step onto the porch with him. “How do you know about that?” My brain is overloading and can’t process how he could have possibly heard about her. Her face is getting less and less airtime as the weeks pass.

  “The police paid me a little visit this morning. I’ve got to tell you the Sire is pretty impressed with me right now.” His eyes are cold and hard—emotionless—as he stares me down. “Why on earth would you think I would take her?”

  My stomach lurches. I’m thankful I haven’t eaten my sandwich or I know it would reappear. Once the initial shock passes, I mentally connect the dots. Chad and Kelly were avoiding eye contact with me and acting strange. Dad swore when I told him about Decker. They spoke to the police a few days ago …

  “They didn’t!”

  I spin on my heels and storm through the living room and stop in the kitchen. Mom is resting her elbows on the kitchen island with her head in her hands. The blanket and Dad are nowhere to be seen. She’s a broken woman, but that is no excuse for accusing Rocks of abducting Mini.

  “How DARE you!” I scream.

  She jumps and looks up. Shock ripples across her features as her eyes first focus on me and then the giant boy I can feel standing close behind.

  “How could you? Rocks? Honestly? Did you honestly think Rocks would have anything to do with this?”

  Silent tears track down my face because my body needs to let out some of the emotions that are twisting and snaking their way through my internal organs. I’m so disgusted with them that my anger is morphing into heartbreak. Plus the fact the Sire witnessed a cop question his son about aeronaughts that think he’s capable of child abduction. This sends my guilt levels to a ridonculous high. If you could measure guilt levels, mine are probably orbiting around Saturn.

  Mom clasps her hands over her mouth and bursts into tears too.

  “What’s going on—” Dad enters from the living room still holding Mini’s security blanket. His eyes land on Rocks, and he swallows.

  I turn on him angry as a cornered bear. “This was your idea, wasn’t it? You really believe he would do that to Mini?” Dad recoils at the sound of my voice. It’s acidic enough to burn through steel.

  Mini’s disappearance is on Enzo and me—my fault. Now the police have questioned Rocks at the market in front of his father. I have given the Sire and the Fold another reason to ban aeronaught interaction and keep them locked in another century—well, my parents have.

  What did the police think of the Gothic appearance of all the market inhabitants, I wonder? I cringe at the thought of them asking for official identification. Sugarplums.

  Would the cops treat the Camazotz with respect or suspicion based on their freakish appearances and the darkness that surrounds them? My heart is racing, and I can feel the blood pumping in my neck. I have to fix this, but how?

  “Sweetheart, Rocks …” Mom’s voice is barely above a whisper. She sniffs. “I—we—please understand.” She bows her head in shame, and the gesture makes me want to reach out and hug her even though I’m crazy mad. Deep down she knows what they did is wrong, but she wants her baby back. I get it, but Rocks?

  When she faces Rocks over my shoulder, the look on her face makes me dig my fingernails into the palms of my hands. I need a distraction to get me through this moment. I must stay strong, and I must do it for my little, innocent sister who is alone in that cold, stone room waiting for me to return to her tomorrow. The need to come clean is fighting for freedom. But, I’m doing this to keep Mini alive and to keep Chad and Kelly safe. Enzo could just as easily have taken my parents from me to force me to turn to him. I chant this over and over in my head. There’s a dirty cop on the payroll. Telling them will do more harm than good.

  “Rocks, I know you love her and would never ever harm my baby, but …” Her eyes turn vacant. Dad steps in next to her and wraps a protective arm about her fragile frame. His touch rouses her. “But, we had run out of leads, and we were desperate. We hadn’t seen you. You practically lived here and then you just … disappeared too.”<
br />
  As if that is reason enough to send the police.

  “You know him!” I yell. “I told you he was busy! You know he would rather give his own life than harm a hair on her head. You know this!” My voice breaks on the last word. My own tears are choking me. I feel responsible for them doubting the most reliable person on the face of the planet.

  “I know,” she whispers. “I know. We’re so sorry. Parents will do desperate things when … the police kept asking for names.”

  Rocks walks around the kitchen island as silent as a shadow. Chad tenses, but Kelly pushes to her feet and steps into his open arms. Her sobs are almost hysterical, and I can tell that Rocks is holding her upright. If he let go, she would be no more than a puddle on the tiles.

  We’re all seated around the island with fresh coffee and cookies from a packet. I saw Dad glance at the best-by-date since I can’t remember ever serving a guest baked goods from the supermarket. Mom appeared shocked as she scanned the limited contents of the fridge to offer Rocks a snack. It’s like the fog that has choked the life out of her lifted momentarily, and she’s seeing our reality for a second.

  Dad moves to the doorway of the TV room. With the remote control in hand, he scans for any channels playing local news. I don’t understand why this gives him hope because it’s not as though Mini’s going to appear on TV in the arms of a police officer safe and sound. It’s never going to happen. She’ll be stuck in her jail cell with Enzo until Sophia returns when the trial ends.

  Rocks and Mom are talking quietly next to me. Her repeated apologies make me want to cut myself. The pain from my fingernails is barely registering. I need a bigger form of punishment, although watching the horror and torment in both their eyes is brutal enough.

  I try to take a deep breath, but the air barely fills my lungs. There is no way in hell that Rocks could possibly connect Mini to Enzo. It was almost two months ago when I confessed to Rocks that Enzo had found me, but he doesn’t know anything that has happened since. I pray he won’t ask, but that boy rarely misses a clue. Mom smiles a sad smile and nods at whatever Rocks is saying to her. The look she gives me makes my chest constrict.