Public Enemies by Ann Aguirre Read Free Book Online Page A

further, so I could only parse the scene in staccato flashes, imprinted in an inverted color spectrum, so I felt like I’d fallen into negative space.
    That went on for what felt forever. It got hard to breathe for the panic tightening my chest, and I held on to Kian as hard as I could. Thin cool fingertips trailed over my other hand, but I knew it wasn’t him. I jerked away and strained to see exactly what was touching me. The creature twirled away in a flutter of inky hair, ragged clothes, and the shine of too bright eyes, like a cat in the dark.
    â€œWhat was that?”
    â€œHarmless. Mostly.” That didn’t really answer the question.
    But before I could press the point, the shadows dispersed to normal levels and the strobe stopped. I blinked, repeatedly, adapting to the candlelight. It was hard to tell what was costume and what was reality, though even if something seemed human, it probably wasn’t. The strong smell I’d noticed outside intensified; it reminded me of a deep, dark wood, dense with trees and ancient things, unknowable but earthy too. It also held the essence of a storm—lightning splitting the sky, ozone, dirt, and decay—wrapped around a desiccated bone.
    Then the Harbinger appeared before us, defying gravity in a slow drift to a dais I hadn’t noticed. This time, he was dressed as a mad harlequin, complete with belled hat and pointy shoes. His hair hung in multiple braids, each adorned with some crazy icon. The cat statue had vanished, and in its place, he carried a carved walking stick topped with a dog head.
    I pressed closer to Kian, who was watching the show. He wrapped an arm around me in response but he never looked away from our benefactor. A show of respect, maybe. I followed his example and waited to see what would happen next.
    â€œAll of my esteemed guests have now arrived,” the Harbinger said. “Which means the entertainment can proceed.” That prompted a wave of applause, and like any good showman, our host paused to permit the revelry. He went on, “There stands among us one who is willing to die for love.”
    Hysterical laughter echoed throughout the room, gaining volume until it assaulted my eardrums in maniacal crescendo. Four creatures slunk toward us, until it was all I could do not to slap them away. I’d been told not to draw attention to myself, and starting a fight would definitely qualify. My eyes couldn’t decide what they looked like—sometimes they were arachnid and other times they were feathered head to toe like avian demons. There was probably some awful story to explain their creation, but I was more concerned with keeping them from touching me.
    I’d learned my lesson with the thin man.
    The Harbinger continued the show, once the derision subsided. “I think we can all agree that such a one must be honored tonight, for there is no greater fool than that.”
    â€œCrown the king!” came the thunderous response.
    What the hell. I remembered something, but so many hands were already pulling at Kian, tugging him away from me and toward the dais. The chant gained ground, coming in hisses and moans, ecstatic screams and hoarse croaks. Kian tried to fight the mob’s will, but our hold broke and then there was only the endless tide of monsters surrounding me.
    I went up on tiptoes to watch him being shoved upward until he was standing at the Harbinger’s side. He clapped Kian on the shoulder. “Tonight, you are king and I, your fool.” To the audience, he added, “Behold your liege, the Lord of Misrule.”
    Four pairs of hands settled on my shoulders, keeping me from moving toward the stage. I tried to shake them off, but the more I struggled, the less it seemed worth it. My mind went strange, fuzzy and indistinct. The scent of cut flowers filled my head and I relaxed. Suddenly, this seemed like the best party I’d ever attended.
    â€œKian is really hot,” I