Chapter 2: A New Home
Nadya paused outside the stone crypt that was the entrance to the Court of Miracles. Together, she and Emilian had pushed the heavy stone top off, revealing a narrow set of stairs.
It was completely dark and a faintly stale odor was drifting upwards. Nadya took Emilians hand firmly and he nodded reassuringly before leading the way into the crypt. He held a small burning torch in front of him as he stepped nimbly down the stone steps. The deeper they went the heavier and thicker the air became.
At the end of the stairs was a large wide tunnel, filled with a dark, foul smelling liquid. The twins stopped on the bottom step and stared down into the eerie water. The torch light dance oddly on the still, reflective surface.
Emilian set his face in a determined grimace and took the first step down. The sewer water reach to about an inch above his ankle. He took his sisters hand and helped her down as well. They trudged alone through the rank waters together. Nadyas hand firmly holding Emilians. It was cooler in this tunnel, almost too cold. Nadya wrapped her thin, red shawl tighter around herself and continued making her way through the tunnel. They had been walking for about half an hour and Nadya was beginning to wonder when the tunnel would end, and if they were even in the right place.
Suddenly, a strong, cold draft of air swirled around them, blowing out their torch. Nadya gripped Emilians hand tighter and he drew her closer in the darkness, wrapping his arm around her shoulder. Lights flickered on around them and ghostly men dressed in black or as skeletons leered at them from the darkness. They closed in around them forming a circle.
Emilian squeezed Nadyas shoulder and glance around him for a way of escape. A thickset figure stepped out of the circle to stand in front of them. He pulled off his mask to reveal a heavily bearded face with a roguish grin. He had a single, large, gold hoop in his ear. A gypsy.
"Well what do we have here?" He said leaning closer his yellow teeth bared. "Intruders!" He bellowed the last word out at them, causing Nadya to flinch slightly. Emilian stood bravely by her side, though he was gripping her rather tightly. Most of the men in the circle around them laughed and began chanting.
"Hang them! Hang them!"
Fear pounded in her heart and she glanced quickly at her brother. His face was set in hard determination. The man took a step towards them, his hands outstretched. Emilian pushed Nadya gently behind him, placing himself in front. The man grinned and continued forward, one of his hands reaching for a dagger on his hip.
"Stop Simzo, they're only children." Simzo frozen in the middle of his advancement and turned his head in the direction of the voice. His sneer became wider and he laughed.
"I should've known you'd have something to say about this." Simzo changed direction and took a step toward the man who had spoken. This man stepped bravely out of the circle of watchers to face the much larger man. This new speaker was short and skinny and he wore a skeleton costume, the mask of which he held in his hand. He had short wavy hair and burning blue eyes.
The minute he stepped forward another one of the skeleton men stepped up, falling only a step behind the first man. He was tall and skinny with straight dark hair and a long, thin nose, with dark watchful eyes.
"Of course I have something to say, you are not are leader, Simzo, and have no right to decide punishment."
Simzo stepped even closer, until he and the first man were only a foot apart and waved his dagger in his face. The strange young man didn't flinch but held his stance.
"You dare tell me what I can do?" Simzo snarled pointing his dagger at him. "They are intruders. Children or not they deserve to hang!"
"You have no place to decide that." His blue eyes burned with a passion and he stared directly into Simzo's eyes.
"Fine Marko," Simzo said taking a step back and lowering his dagger. "We'll do this your way." He turned his attention to the man standing behind Marko. "Clopin, fetch Molish."
Nayda turned her attention to Clopin as he placed his hand comfortingly on Marko's shoulder before running gracefully into the darkness. When he was gone, Marko pushed past Simzo and stepped up to Emilian and Nadya. He smiled at them, revealing straight, even teeth.
"What are your names?" He asked calmly looking at them both. Emilian hesitated but Nadya stepped out from behind her brother and spoke first.
"Nadya." She said just as calmly.
"Emilian." Emilian said taking Nadya's hand gently and squeezing it softly. Marko nodded once and turned to face Simzo.
"These are gypsy children. They bare gypsy names. This is what the Court of Miracles is about! Giving sanctuary to those like us in need of it."
"That is exactly what the Court of Miracles is about." Everyone turned to face the newcomer as he spoke, some even stepped back to allow him entrance into the center of the circle. The newcomer was a tall, dark man with long dark hair and eyes. This was Molish, the king of the gypsies. A step behind him was Clopin, his eyes scanning the scene for what he had missed.
"They are intruders, Molish. We have a code about what is to be done with intruders." Simzo said harshly pointing his dagger at the twins. Molish turned his attention to them and his eyes widened in surprise then narrowed slowly in realization.
Molish took a few short steps forward until he was directly in front of the twins. He stared first at Nadya then at Emilian, his face blank of emotion. Then he turned to face the crowd of gypsy men. Every single person turned to him.
"These children will stay here." Molish said calmly and he turned to look directly at Simzo as he spoke. Simzo's face hardened but he didn't speak. "They will stay with Nuri, and I expect you all to treat them as one of us."
As soon as he was done speaking the crowds parted for him to leave. He turned to face the two young men, Clopin and Marko.
"Clopin, bring them to Nuri's. Marko, come with me. The rest of you get back to your positions."
His orders were followed right away, and the crowd around the twins broke up as the gypsies headed back to their positions, to guard the Court of Miracles. Marko stepped nimbly from the crowd and followed Molish into the dark tunnel. Clopin stepped forward and his calm exterior was broken by a wide grin. He got down on one knee before Nadya and took her hand.
"Welcome to the Court of Miracles, ma chérie." He placed a light kiss across her fingers and then rose up again. He nodded at Emilian who nodded back and took his sisters hand as Clopin led them off toward there new home.
A/N: Sorry it took so long! I'm busy with school and such. But I'll try and update as soon as possible. Thanks to everyone who reviewed. Your reviews kept me writing. Hope you liked the chapter.
.