Page 134 of Trapped By the Blood Ruby

“I’ll be fine,” I assured him, uncertain as to why everyone was making such a big fuss. Overprotective vampires. I refrained from rolling my eyes.

“There,” Laurent said, giving the sheathe at my thigh a final tug before standing. “Come.” He took my hand and led me along the sidewalk to the busy intersection. We waited for the pedestrian cross sign, then moved straight toward the giant cathedral.

I was mesmerized. It looked like something out of the renaissance era. But an otherworldly quality clung to it too, a sense of power that had nothing to do with faith and everything to do with magic. Constructed from stone, with giant towering spires that ended in sharp points, its windows glittered with stained glass. Tonight, they were dark. It was surrounded by a tall, decorative iron fence, sealing it off from pedestrians and onlookers. It looked deserted inside, but outside, tourists lingered snapping photos before continuing on their way.

“Saint Viggo’s Cathedral,” Laurent murmured, his voice tickling my ear. “One of the oldest cathedrals in all of Italy. During the day, it is open to the public for tours, but at night, it is transformed.”

I frowned up at it, trying to understand how that worked. “How will we get in?”

“You’ll see.” We rounded the block. The edifice took up so much space that traffic was diverted around it. Modern buildings had been constructed adjacent, but none of the skyscrapers that could be seen in other cities.

The iron fence gave way to a massive stone wall circling the back portion. We stopped in the shadows and Marco stepped forward. I watched as he created a small slice on his thumb, using his pointed canine tooth. He swiped it across a brick that, even in the darkness, was clearly stained beyond recognition. Whatever magic governed this place seemed to accept his offering. A rumble sounded, then a portion of the wall moved inward. Marco and Vittorio stepped through first.

“Only creatures of magic may enter,” Laurent explained when he witnessed my confusion. “Blood allows the enchantments of the doorway to recognize our kind. The night market is open to all but humans, though that does not mean you won’t see a few here and there.” Laurent took my hand and we followed.

I took in everything with parted lips.

“There are many entrances,” Laurent explained as we descended a set of stairs that glowed with torchlight. “Tunnels that lead into it from under the city. This entrance will be the least dangerous.”

After that, we walked in silence as a tight group. I didn’t miss the way everyone surrounded me, pressing me between the safety of their bodies. We traversed several corridors, a maze of passages beneath the cathedral. When they opened wider, we passed a few market-goers coming and going, some carrying cloth bags and other wares. Beyond a curious glance, they gave us a wide berth and paid us little attention.

I heard the market before I saw it. The air itself seemed to thrum with magic, making my skin tingle with anticipation. My excitement rose. I was nearly trembling.

We ascended a wide staircase that deposited us into a massive space of glittering torchlight. It looked nothing like the inside of a cathedral. I staggered to a stop, hit by a cacophony of noise, smells, and sights beyond my imaginings. Cool nighttime air licked my skin, and I was vaguely aware of the night sky overhead. I didn’t do more than glance up in disbelief, too taken by everything else. So many colors, and movement, and scents. I couldn’t decide where to look first, so I simply stared, open-mouthed.

Laurent brushed his lips against the shell of my ear. “Welcome, little flower, to the night market.” Then he tugged on my hand and pulled me into the chaos, into a world I never could have imagined existed.

33

As we walked, I stared in disbelief at what could only be accomplished through magic. The night market. Since discovering the existence of supernatural creatures, I’d faced vampires, witches, a few demons, and a goblin bounty hunter. None of that prepared me for this. The market was like the submerged portion of an iceberg. Before tonight, I’d only witnessed what could be seen above and this was the supernatural world’s underbelly.

Brightly colored tents and stalls spanned as far as I could see. Farther than the limits of any cathedral interior. Colorful flags and fabric awnings zig-zagged over a maze of walkways, tethered to poles and tent tops. Lamps and lanterns cast light in dizzying patterns over everything.

Some tents were open, showing off wares. Others were mysteriously closed, hiding their secrets. Smaller booths were mixed throughout. There were also carts selling refreshments. All sorts of mouthwatering scents mingled in the air—spiced meats, exotic fruits, and things I couldn’t begin to identify. The cart on my left had a dark spiced drink and colorful pops the size of candied apples, but definitely weren’t.

It looked more like a circus than a market. Especially given the clientele. Crammed into the walkways was an eclectic assortment of beings—some nearly human in appearance, others decidedly not. It was like stepping into every fairy tale I’d ever read, except these creatures were real and breathing. I gasped as one such individual passed right by us. “Is that a…”

“Leopard shifter,” Laurent answered for me, taking in my amazement. The leopard was far from the only oddity. Animals of every size and type meandered through the crowd. No one paid them a second glance. I spotted a black bear, walking on all fours beside a human-looking female, whose fingers were tangled in his fur.

I looked more closely at those resembling humans. The vampires were easy to spot with their impossible beauty. There were far more of them than anything else. I’d grown accustomed to their appearance and graceful movements.

“Is that…a fairy?” I breathed, unable to look elsewhere as the pointy-eared female strode past us. Her eyes lingered on me. Her orange hair was pulled back, with a dainty tiara atop her head. Luminescent freckles dotted her skin. Her gauzy dress seemed to float around her legs.

“Vittorio and I will circle back later,” Marco said, eager to break away from us.

“Sure,” Laurent murmured, then added, “That’s a fae. Fairies have wings. See? There’s one over there.”

“Oh!” I sucked in a breath. The pixy looking male stood a few inches shorter than me. He had stunning gossamer wings that flexed as he talked with a booth owner. His white hair was short but messy. The air around him glowed with a pink aura.

“How does this place even exist?!” I breathed. To think, Laurent had intended to keep me home tonight! The thought of missing this was unimaginable.

“Magic, darling,” Zola said, pressing herself against my other side as we walked. She linked her arm through mine. “Lots of magic. Wait until you enter the booths.”

“Yes, let’s!” I clapped my hands together.

“We’re not here to dally,” Laurent said, his words clipped. I finally spared him a glance, only to find his eyes in constant motion, his jaw tense. He gripped my free hand tighter than necessary.

“Oh, come now, Laurent. The girl is mesmerized. Let her enjoy this while we are here.” Laurent grumbled something unintelligible as I gave him my best puppy dog eyes. “Vittorio and Marco will sniff out our quarry. Until then, we can enjoy ourselves. Yes?” This last part Zola said to me, smiling. My head bobbed in eager agreement.