Raf and I looked at each other. He spoke first. "She's torn up about what happened, Saxony. She felt like she didn't have a choice. She's made an enemy of Dante. The worst thing you can do in that family is betray your own."
The old Saxony would have made a concession for her. But the new Saxony felt harder not only physically, but emotionally, too.
"There is always a choice," I replied. The hedge in my voice was foreign even to my own ears. Even though she'd done the right thing in the end, I had lost respect for Fed. Our friendship was over.
"That may be," Raf answered, "but try not to judge her too harshly. It's not been easy for her, growing up in that family."
I nodded. "I'm sure."
"What are you going to do? I can't help but think that you should just get out of here," he said, concern darkening his eyes.
"Trying to get rid of me so soon?" I joked.
He didn't smile. "I thought you were going to die, Saxony. I was going crazy trying to figure out what to do. I'm glad you're okay but, Madonna. A fire magus? I feel like I slipped into a different world."
He hadn't reached out to touch me since he'd seen the fire in my palm. Was it just in my head, or was he standing further back from me than usual? And why shouldn't he? I was probably terrifying to him.
Fed returned with my clothes and put them on the bed. "I made lunch. Come down when you're ready."
Raf followed her to the door and closed it behind him with one last look at me. I couldn't place his expression. Was he afraid? Mystified? Repulsed? Awed? All of the above? I shook the guessing game away; I didn't have time to worry about what he thought.
I pulled on my clothing, folded the nightshirt, and left it on the bed. My thoughts turned to Isaia and my hands shook with worry. Were there men watching the Baseggios even now? How could I convince Dante to call off his dogs without giving him what he wanted?
I left the room and found the stairwell. The wooden staircase broadened as it descended. Paintings covered the wooden paneling, and gauzy curtains blew gently from the window at the landing. I followed the sound of clanking dishes through a parlour which looked like it hadn't changed in a hundred years, and into a kitchen. Fed was spooning pasta onto three plates.
Raf poured water into three glasses at the table, which was tucked into a semi-circular turret. The windows overlooked a canal. Taxi boats and gondolas floated by.
"I thought you lived on Murano?" I asked as Raf pulled out a chair for me. I sat as Fed brought plates of pasta to the table.
"This is my grandparents' place," answered Raf. "They go to Capri every summer and give me the key so I can water the plants."
"Beautiful villa," I murmured.
"Thanks." He and Fed sat down in front of their plates.
The three of us ate in somber silence. I turned things over in my mind as we ate. I was the first to speak. "Fed, do you know if Dante actually sent men to Gallipoli?"
Her face melted with real regret. "I don't know for sure. I'm sorry, I should have asked him when he still trusted me. As it is, I'm not sure I can ever show my face in Dante's presence again."
I chewed thoughtfully. Fed had her own consequences to deal with, whatever they were. My mind was full of Isaia.
The formless, smoky shape of an idea began to solidify in my mind.
Thirty-Seven
“I have to go back." I put down my fork. Fed stopped talking mid-sentence. Raf looked at me over his wineglass, swallowed hard, and put his glass down.
"Where? To Dante?" he asked.
"No, not to Dante. To Enzo."
"Why would you do that?" Fed’s eyes widened.
"Well, I can't just run away." I pushed my chair back and stood. "The sooner I deal with this, the better. I don't see any other options better than going straight to the source, do you?" I took my plate to the kitchen sink, shovelled the last of the gnocchi into my mouth, and barely chewed before I swallowed it down.
"Yes. Get on a plane and get out of here. I mean, much as I don't want to see you go, I'd rather see you safe," Raf said, his brows drawn together.
"And what happens to the Baseggios then?" I rinsed my plate and stacked it in the dish rack. The problem was clear: when Enzo came to call Elda’s debt, would Elda manage to convince him that Isaia was no longer a magus? It was highly doubtful. A mother would do anything to protect her child. What might Enzo do to Isaia to determine whether or not the boy had the fire? After what I'd been through with Dante, I shivered to think of Enzo and Isaia even being in the same room together.
I turned in time to see Fed and Raf look at each other, but neither of them answered.
"Where can I find Enzo?"
Fed shook her head. "I don't think that's going to go well for you. I know you're a magus and all that, but Enzo worked with one for longer than I've been alive. He'll know how to get the upper hand."
"I'm just going to talk to him like a civilized person, that's all. You can either help me or not, but I'll find him myself if I have to."
Raf and Fed looked at each other again. Raf crossed his arms over his chest like he was hugging himself.
"I'll take you," said Fed.
Thirty-Eight
Fed and I stared at the wall of ivy before us. The greenery was broken only by a wide metal gate made of intricate iron curls. Somewhere within these walls, a crime boss worked and lived.
"Do you want to come in with me?"
"I don't think I'm ready for that," she said, wringing her hands. She turned to face me. "Saxony, I am sorry that I let Dante use me to trap you. I was very weak. I've never been strong, and I'm not too proud to admit that I'm still terrified. But, I want you to know that..." She took a juddering breath. "I want you to know that even though I'll never have the power that you have, I've been inspired by your courage. I'll think of you if… when I face Dante."
"Why don't you come in and talk to Enzo, too?"
She shook her head. "For you, it makes sense. For me, it would only make things worse."
"So you will face Dante? I thought maybe you were preparing to move to Hungary or something," I joked. I only half meant it to be funny. Fed’s betrayal of me still stung, and secretly, I really did think she was being cowardly.
A bitter smile twisted her lips. "Don't think it hasn't crossed my mind. But then, I'd always be running. For better or worse, this is my family. I think I have to face it."
"Good luck, Fed." I didn’t smile, but I held out my hand.
She took it, knowing that this was our goodbye. "You too, Saxony."
She walked back the way we'd come.
I approached the gates. A silver panel with a selection of buttons gleamed out from the leafy ivy. Each one had a label, but each label was in Italian. One of them said 'sicurezza,' which looked like it might translate as 'security.' I took a deep breath and pushed the button.
Almost immediately a male voice answered, "Prego?"
"Uh..." I began. Off to a good start. "Parla inglese?"
There was a pause and then, "Yes, go ahead please."
Wow, so polite.
"I need to speak with Enzo, please."
After another pause, the voice said, "You're early."
It took me a moment to recover after that one. "Mi scusi, I don't have an appointment."
"What is it regarding?"
"It is a sensitive nature. For Enzo's ears only." I winced—I sounded like a James Bond character.
There was a longer pause. "One moment."
I waited outside the gate, working on my calm and collected face. I flared the fire inside from dead to alive, just for the comfort it gave me. It was my security blanket. Time passed. Five minutes. Ten minutes. I grew antsy.
It's just a tactic, Saxony. He's letting you know who's boss.
Wait, am I overthinking this? Maybe the dude who controls the gate is just having a bad time in the bathroom.
I sat on the concrete lip in front of the gate. Another five minutes passed and I grew agitated. I got to my feet and was just reaching up toward the same button to give the sicurezza a piece of my mind when the voice returned, making me jump.
"Stand back, please."
I stepped back from the gate and the sheet metal door behind the bars swung open. A familiar man appeared.