City of Halves by Lucy Inglis Read Free Book Online

age.’
    He looked back at her. ‘Depends on how old you think I am.’
    She caught up with him, catching his arm. ‘If I have to walk with you, you’ll really have to slow down.’ He came to a halt and they started walking again, more slowly. ‘Thanks,’ she said. ‘So how old are you?’
    â€˜Nineteen.’
    â€˜You look older.’
    He raised an eyebrow. ‘Thanks. There are days I feel older.’
    She turned, walking backwards. ‘How old are Lucas and Elijah?’
    â€˜Old.’
    â€˜Stop talking in riddles!’
    â€˜They’re wraiths.’
    â€˜Ghosts? I don’t believe in ghosts.’
    He tutted. ‘Wraiths are physical beings. You felt Lucas’s hand? There’s a reason people say “cold as the grave”.’
    â€˜But—’
    â€˜They’re dead.’
    Lily stopped in her tracks. He walked past her.
    â€˜I know,’ he said over his shoulder, ‘it must be a lot to process. You’ll get used to it. They were clerks in an office on that site. They died in a fire their employer started for the insurance money. Back when insurance was a new invention, three hundred years ago or something.’
    She chased after him. ‘What?!’
    â€˜The bookshop is dual-purpose. They’re based there because they have to be – all wraiths are limited to the physical location where they died. It’s made them obsessed with travel. Places they’ll never get to see. So they like books, and the shop acts like a hub for the community. Lucas and Elijah are kind of elders for the London Eldritche.’
    â€˜And what was that child, with the . . .?’ She gestured to her back.
    â€˜Mothwing. They’re a sort of bastardised urban fairy. Most of our kind think they’re vermin, but the Clerks are fond of them. And they’re in decline.’
    â€˜Why?’
    â€˜No idea. They’re just disappearing slowly. At this rate itwon’t take much longer for them to become extinct. Another thing that’s bad for the balance. The Chaos, on the other hand, doesn’t seem to have any problem with multiplying.’
    â€˜But how do people not—’
    He shrugged. ‘I told you, humans see what they want to see. Did you ever notice them, before today?’
    She breathed out slowly. ‘No. No, I didn’t.’ They walked on.
    â€˜There are things I have to do before the watch begins,’ he said.
    â€˜Can I help?’
    He looked at her, amused.
    Lily blushed and shrugged one shoulder. ‘I want to help.’
    Raising an eyebrow, he said, ‘You want to work a night watch with me?’
    â€˜Yes.’
    He shook his head, laughing. ‘You wouldn’t last five minutes. Come on, I’ll walk you home.’
    Lily was about to protest when they turned a corner, and almost walked straight into the West Indian street cleaner in his green and yellow high-visibility clothing. He was closing the lid on his cart, and slammed it so hard his dreadlocks jumped. The man turned to them and rolled his eyes expressively.
    â€˜You!’ he said to Regan. ‘You tink I no got bettah tings to do wit me time? Two hundred poundsa demon dog to push tru da streets until de end of me shift? And den it tek me at least an hour and de half to offer it op tonight as it should be done. To bind it good. Riskin’ me ass for gettink arrested lak a crayzee man. Again. Risk looosin’ me job. Again.’
    â€˜Sorry, Felix,’ Regan said with an unapologetic shrug.
    â€˜I don’t understand,’ said Lily.
    Felix looked at her, his dark eyes piercing. ‘Accourse you don’t unnerstand. Dat is why Felix is de Cleaner and Felix alone. I bind dem, and I sekkle dem tight. Ain’t no comin’ back when Felix sekkle you.’ He closed his fist on the air in front of Lily’s face.
    â€˜I’m sure there isn’t,’ she agreed, although