Chapter 7

~Ines~

I picked at my breakfast, my appetite nonexistent. If Quasi noticed this he didn't say so. I tried to focus my thoughts elsewhere but images of Willow's lifeless body cut into everything. I couldn't get the image out of my head.

"I'm not sure that water helped much." Quasi broke the silence.

I glanced his way and took note of his appearance. His skin was paler than usual, and he had dark circles beneath his eyes. I thought my own headache and nausea had been residual nightmare stuff, nope we were both nursing hangovers.

"Imagine how it'd be if we hadn't hydrated." I responded.

He scoffed. "Not sure I could feel worse."

I chuckled despite myself. "You'd be surprised."

"I'm just glad our drinking knocked me out. Not sure I've ever slept so well." He remarked. "How did you sleep?"

I shifted in my seat, my nightmare still fresh. "I slept….fine." I answered.

Based on his expression he wasn't fooled, he didn't look interested in pursuing the truth though and I was grateful for that.

The sound of the door opening had both of our heads snapping towards the entryway.

"Quasi? Quasimodo?" A feminine voice rang out.

The blood drained from Quasi's face and he glanced outside. "What time is it?"

"Who is that?" I whispered.

"Esmeralda." He answered.

"Who?"

"She's my friend." He explained. "And she's early!"

"Quasi?" This time a masculine voice. I recognized that voice…the captain of the guard.

"Hide." Quasi pointed to the lightning struck marble statue.

I didn't argue, I just darted away. There was no time for the trap door. Instead I hid amongst the clutter. I was small and wiry, it wasn't hard to find a spot.

Quasi hid my plate and glass before turning to the entry.

"Es! Phoebus!" He called down to them.

"Sorry for dropping by so early." Esmeralda called up. I could hear them climbing the ladder up into the loft. It wasn't long and she stepped into view, my breath left me. She was stunning. Emerald eyes, perfect dark skin, ebony curly hair that rippled around her. She was Romani like Ion, her dress was colorful and fit her curves perfectly.

"Not a problem." Quasi responded. His gaze brightened when he saw her and he pulled her into an embrace when she finished her climb. I felt an odd flash of annoyance.

"I've missed you my friend." Esmeralda squeezed him tightly as they hugged.

"I've missed you too." Quasi answered in kind.

"Alright… where's the girl." Phoebus entered the loft, his tone casual.

Esmeralda and Quasi broke from their hug.

"Girl?" Quasi asked.

Esmeralda stood beside Phoebus. "We know you're sheltering her." She said.

"I don't know anything about a girl." Quasi continued on.

"Don't lie to us Quasi." Phoebus's gaze started scanning the clutter. I held my breath as his gaze drifted over me. "You expect us to believe you aren't harboring a female fugitive wanted by a corrupt man?" He raised an eyebrow at Quasi.

"I only did that once, I wouldn't call that a history." Quasi retaliated.

"We want to help." Esmeralda stated. She turned from Quasi and addressed the loft. "We just want to help you! You can come out!"

I remained in my hiding spot. What was I going to do? I certainly wasn't gonna trust a guard, and I didn't know Esmeralda. Quasi trusted her, but….she worked WITH a guard. Hardly trustworthy in my book.

Phoebus fished something out of his pocket and held it up. "We have your boys hidden in one of our safe houses."

The light caught what he was holding and my breath caught in my throat. It was an earring…Ion's earring! Without a second thought I scrambled from my hiding spot and approached the guard with purpose.

"Let me see that." I demanded holding my hand out.

Phoebus shot a look at Quasi. "Don't know anything about a girl?" He quoted him.

Quasimodo shrugged sheepishly.

"I said, let me see that!" I grabbed for the earring.

Phoebus yanked it back out of my reach. "Aren't you a peach." He grumbled before tossing it to me.

I inspected it carefully. The earring was unmistakably Ion's. "What do you mean you have my boys?" I glared at him.

"They approached me for help." He answered with his eyes narrowed at me. "You're welcome by the way.

"For what?!" I snapped. "Arresting them? Thanks a lot."

"I didn't arrest them!" He retorted.

"You expect me to believe that they just came to you? I raised those boys! They would never." I hissed.

"Well that's what happened." He growled.

"Hold on a minute." Esmeralda stepped between us. Her gaze focused on me. "They truly did come to us. They're desperate to get you out of here."

I met her gaze. She seemed sincere. I sucked in a breath and let it out slowly. "You promise."

She didn't remove her gaze from mine. "I promise."

I relaxed my shoulders. "Well…I'm glad they're safe at least."

"I've got guards on them 24/7. Don't want Ward's men to find them." Phoebus stated.

There was silence for a moment. "Ion's gonna want that earring back." I grumbled.

Phoebus chuckled. "Yeah he made that clear."

I smiled. I could picture exactly what Ion would have said and done. My heart hurt as I thought of them. I missed them both desperately.

Esmeralda turned to Quasimodo. "We need to sit and talk this out."

Quasi nodded. "I've got some bread, we can eat and try to figure something out."

"Yeah and then we need to have a talk about your harboring habits." Phoebus grumbled. He moved towards one of the benches surrounding the fire pit.

"This is only my second time." Quasi rebuked. Phoebus shot him a look.

"It's not really his fault." I came to his rescue.

"Oh I don't doubt that." Phoebus glared at me.

"Hey I wanted to help." Quasi shot a glare back at Phoebus.

"Shall we open a bottle of wine?" Esmeralda offered.

I exchanged a look with Quasi. "No thank you."

"I'll pass."

"Oh." Esmeralda's expression was puzzled.

"We had a bit too much last night." I explained sitting down.

"I played a drinking game." Quasi said proudly taking a seat beside me.

"Well look at you!" Esmeralda beamed at him.

"Yes only, what, a week here and you already have made a drunk of our bellringer." Phoebus sneered.

I glared at him. "We were having fun." I ground out.

"Yes yes glad you're having fun." Phoebus rolled his eyes. "It's not like we aren't dealing with a crisis or anything."

"Oh lighten up." I rolled my eyes.

"Don't tell me to 'lighten up.' I've been busting my ass since you got yourself locked in here!" Phoebus hissed.

"Well this hasn't exactly been a vacation for me either." I retorted.

"You sure? Playing drinking games, sleeping in nice beds, eating good food. What exactly would you call it?" Phoebus argued.

I stood up. "You have no idea!" I snapped.

He stood up as well. "Enlighten me then!"

"Oh stop it." Esmeralda hissed. "The both of you." She shot a glare at each of us. "We'll never get anything done with you two bickering!"

I sat back down heavily. "He started it." I grumbled.

Quasi chuckled. Where Esmeralda was annoyed, Quasi seemed amused.

"Well I'll finish it!" She hissed her gaze at Phoebus who still stood.

"Oh c'mon Es she's…" He paused as he took in her expression. "Ughh fine." He sat heavily beside her.

"Good…now, you said you had bread Quasi?" She brushed some hair back behind her ear and turned to him.

"Ah yes." He grabbed a loaf off the butcher block before sitting beside me. He pulled out a knife and began slicing the loaf.

"Great. Then let's try to figure this out. " Es stated confidently.

—

~Ines~

For the next hour we talked and planned and brainstormed but kept hitting the same dead end. No way to walk out, no way to climb out, no way to tunnel out.

"Damn it." Phoebus grunted his gaze fixed on the fire in front of him.

We'd been sitting in silence for a bit, each of us thinking hard on my predicament. Surely there was something we were missing.

"Phoebus we're in a church." Esmeralda scolded.

"I'll take it up with the big guy later." He grumbled.

"I just don't see any way." Quasi murmured.

Phoebus's shoulders sagged in defeat. "I can't think of anything either."

"I've got nothing." I sighed.

"Maybe we should sleep on it?" Es suggested.

Phoebus and I gave a very similar dark chuckle.

"I've slept on it every night since I got here." I remarked.

"Funny, I have too." Phoebus met my gaze with an accusatory look.

I glared right back at him.

"Well, let's give it another week then." Es suggested. "We'll talk to the boys and see if we can't figure something out." She laid her hand on Phoebus's arm. The gesture softened his tough exterior and he gave her a small smile.

"Holy shit…are you guys together?" My eyes widened.

Phoebus glared at me. "We're married."

"Seriously? SHE married you?!" I chuckled.

Phoebus opened his mouth to retaliate but Esmeralda beat him. "Yes I did." She smiled adoringly at him and once more he softened.

I glanced at Quasi disbelievingly. He shrugged. "Huh." I raised my brows. "Just didn't expect that." A guardsman, much less the captain of the guard, to marry a Romani woman was unheard of. I gazed at Phoebus with a new light. Maybe I'd been a bit harsh on the guy. He shot me an ugly look as Esmeralda took his arm. Then again, maybe not.

"Before we go, I'd like a word Quasimodo." Phoebus glared at me. "Alone.

"Oh what, you don't trust me?" I teased.

The silence was palpable. I turned to Quasi who looked a bit sheepish. "I'm sure it won't be long."

I sighed. "Fine." I strode to the balcony.

—

~Quasi~

Ines strode away. She'd been at odds with Phoebus his whole visit, though I could tell it was driving Es crazy, I found it amusing. I liked that she gave him a hard time.

"What did you guys wanna talk about?" I asked them once Ines was out of earshot.

They glanced at each other. "We wanted to ask that you be careful." Es said gently.

"Careful?" I asked.

"She's a criminal Quasi. She's spent her life mastering manipulation, not to mention thievery and god knows what else." Phoebus explained. "She's going to see you as an easy target, so don't be an easy target."

"What?" I felt anger rise in my chest. "She isn't manipulating me."

"You don't know that." Phoebus continued. "She's taking advantage of you. She knows you're lonely and naive and she's using you."

"You have no idea." I hissed.

"Quasi." Es stepped forward and took my hands. "We are only concerned for you. You've been inside this tower your whole life. You don't know how some people can be."

I pulled my hands back from hers. Her expression showed hurt which made me instantly regret doing it but I held on to my anger. "I've known evil." I ground out.

"I know." She sighed. "And I know that you care for her…in a more than friendly way."

I didn't argue with her. I just glanced behind me at Ines who leaned against the railing. Her blonde hair billowing around her, she looked ethereal.

"I just don't want to see you hurt." Esmeralda continued.

"We just want you to be careful." Phoebus chimed in.

I sat for a minute thinking over what they said before letting out a deep sigh. "I promise…I'll be careful."

Esmeralda smiled and pulled me into a hug. "I'll see you soon my friend."

I nodded my head and felt my anger trickle away as she hugged me.

"We'll be back in a week." Phoebus called out to Ines who turned and gave him a thumbs up. "Think about what we've said." He met my gaze as he said the last part.

And with that they exited the belltower.

"What a meathead." Ines scoffed as she walked back into the tower. "I mean, I know he's the captain of the guard but he is just insufferable! Esmeralda seemed nice though."

I didn't respond. Phoebus and Esmeraldas words swirled in my head. What if they were right? What if her kindness towards me was a lie? What if she was just using me, she just saw me as an easy mark. I mean I didn't expect her to feel anything more than friendly towards me…but what if she didn't even feel that? What if she was revolted by me and she just hid it better than most? I tried to picture her disgust but I couldn't . I could picture it so easily on everyone. Everyone I'd ever met had met my gaze with a wrinkled nose and a sneer of revulsion…but she hadn't . Our first meeting she saw me as she'd see anyone else. She even…put her hands on my forearms. She didn't know what to expect when she came up here, she couldn't have faked that.

"Quasi?" She was gazing at me curiously. "You ok?" She asked.

I cleared my throat. "Y-yeah I'm alright."

"I'm sorry for my temper… I know everyone is just trying to help." She gestured towards the door. "I've never gotten on well with guards."

"It's alright, It took me time to like him too." I joked.

"I can't picture you not getting along with someone." She teased me and bumped her shoulder against mine. "You're too nice."

"Yeah, well even I have my limits." I Smiled at her fondly. As she beamed back I made my decision. Until she gives me a real reason to not trust her, I would choose to have faith in her. "You don't have to apologize for your temper, It's established that you have a real problem with authority." I teased.

"More like the authorities have a real problem with me." She put her hands on her hips.

I gave a hearty laugh and she laughed in kind. There was a pause and our gazes held for a moment. "I should probably go do maintenance on some bells." I gestured above us.

"Ah yeah."She smiled and held up her little bell. "I suppose I should too."

I laughed and swung up into the rafters, my heart full.