The Twilight Prisoner (15 page)

It was a gray November Sunday in New York, and outside the window of Jack's bedroom, snow was beginning to fall. The sounds of the city dulled—horns grew distant, shouts softer—and a buzzing stillness echoed through the apartment. His father was out and it was time to turn on some lights and finish translating the end of the Proserpina myth for Latin class. But, instead, Jack watched the big, thick flakes drift lazily toward the window ledge and thought about Euri. Now that he was back in the living world, he wanted to see ghosts, and every night he willed them to appear: a troupe of ballet dancers leaping from roof to roof, bankers haggling over stock prices as they flew downtown, bike messengers peddling furiously through the sky. Jack could control his powers now, but it didn't matter. He couldn't conjure the one spirit he wanted to see. Euri was locked away at Bloomingdale.

The doorbell rang. Jack trod in his socks to the foyer, wondering if Mrs. Finkelstein's cat had escaped her apartment again. But when he opened the door, he saw Cora.

“Hi,” she said.

“Hi,” Jack murmured. Ever since they had returned from the underworld, he had kept his distance from her. It wasn't that hard, especially since she was hanging out with Austin as much as the Latin Club now. A few times, after Latin class, he had caught her staring at him and sensed she wanted to talk, but he had always hurried off.

After an awkward pause, Jack held open the door and stepped aside. “Want to come in?”

“Thanks,” she said, taking off her long black parka.

He pointed to the couch in the living room. Cora sat down and he perched on the opposite arm.

“How's Austin?” he asked. He had meant to sound casual, but he feared the question came out like an accusation.

Cora didn't seem to notice. “Nate's back in college. He's got a new apartment, too. No more hissing cockroaches. Just a few regular ones.”

“That's good,” said Jack. But he felt disappointed. The end of Nate's cockroach problem was just one more sign that Euri was stuck at Bloomingdale.

Cora's cell phone began to ring. She pulled it out of her pocket and looked down at the number.

“You need to get that?” asked Jack, thankful for the disruption.

Cora shook her head and stuffed the cell phone back into her pocket.

“How's your mom?”

“You know she thinks we all just got locked in the Columbia basement,” said Cora with a sly grin. “But you and Euri were right. She did okay. Even without me.”

“You did okay, too.”

Cora's eyes searched Jack's. “Maybe you could come over some time and meet her?”

“Sure,” said Jack.

Cora abruptly stood. And even though he had been wishing the whole time that she hadn't come, Jack suddenly didn't want her to leave. “Do you want a drink or something?” he asked, realizing he probably should have offered her this when she had come in.

She shook her head and put on her coat.

He scrambled to keep her there. “Did you finish tomorrow's Latin homework?”

She turned and put her hand on his arm. “I need to try things out with Austin,” she said, “and I can'thave you hate me for that.”

Jack looked at the floor.

Cora sighed and walked over to the door. She began to open it, but Jack rushed to stop her. “I gave you Austin back,” he said.

“I know. I know exactly what you did.”

“I don't hate you.” He reached out and touched a lock of her hair. She stood still, like something wild he had caught, a bird briefly resting in his hand. Then footsteps echoed in the hallway, and Cora tucked the lock behind her ear and turned the doorknob. “See you tomorrow,” she said.

Jack watched her walk to the elevator, then came back inside and put on his hat and jacket. After he was certain that she was gone, he took the elevator down and began to walk toward the park. The snow had dampened down the city's usual electric spirit. Streetlights flickered and finally switched on.

By the time he reached the park, the snow was sticking to the ground, covering the patchy grass and other blemishes, and turning wood fences and trash cans into lace. The chain-link swings at Specter Playground rocked softly by themselves in the wind. Jack sat down on one of them, swinging slowly. The park began to grow dark— the snow glistening like confetti and glowing under the lamps.

“Hey, there.”

Jack turned. Euri was sitting on one of the swings that just moments earlier had seemed to be rocking on its own. He dragged his feet across the snowy ground, slowing himself to a stop. “How did you get out of Bloomingdale?”

“Nice to see you, too,” said Euri.

“I mean it's great, but how—”

“They let me out.”

Jack must have looked surprised, because she rolled her eyes. “I'm not always an outlaw. I passed my assessment.” She stuck her leg in the air. “No more ankle charm. Austin's great-grandfather also put in a good word for me.”

Jack thought about Nate and how his cockroach problem had disappeared. “Wait, how long have you been out?”

“Five weeks. I was going to go find you soon.”

“Nate—?”

“I stopped haunting him,” she said. “I promised Dr. Earle I was done. And I am. But I also told Dr. Earle I'm not ready to move on.”

Jack took a deep breath. He couldn't help feeling relieved.

“I'm going to someday, though,” she added gently. “Maybe even someday soon.”

“I know,” he whispered.

“But, Jack?”

“What?”

“I love you, too.”

Before he could say anything, she stuck out her tongue. “Let's see who can swing higher! Go!”

Euri didn't even have to pump her legs to make the swing take off. She began to fly back and forth, as high as she could before spinning once completely around the metal bar.

“Show-off,” he mumbled.

“Come on!” she shouted.

He thought about Proserpina and the pomegranate— from the Latin
pomum granatum
or
apple of many seeds
—she had tasted. Cora couldn't love him—at least not now. And Euri would leave him someday, as would all the people he loved. For a moment, he felt the temptation to indulge in despair. But Auden was right. There was only one choice. He pumped his legs, closed his eyes, and forced himself to smile. Snowflakes melted against his eyelashes, kissing his face. He suddenly felt loved—not just by the world, but by himself.

Jack and Euri continue their journey thanks, in large part, to the following people: Alex Glass, my multitalented agent; Jennifer Besser, my visionary editor; Sarah Self, my enterprising film rep; Lyda Phillips, my talented critique partner; Elaine Milosh, my loving mother and mother's helper; and Julian Barnes, my husband, champion, and best friend.

Many thanks to Team Hyperion, particularly the legendary Angus Killick and tireless Jennifer Corcoran. Heartfelt thanks also go out to Michael Barnes, Michael Cook, Brian Hecht and Doug Gaasterland, Peter Glassman, Franklin Foer and
The New Republic
, Gussie Lewis, Katherine Jentleson, Joe and Anna Mathews, Jeremy Nussbaum, Jennifer Rasmussen, Evelyn Renold, Sally Rieger at the National Cathedral School Latin Department, and Louis Sorkin at the American Museum of Natural History Entomology Section.

Thanks to my family—particularly my generous father and Los Angeles guide, Ken Marsh, and my wonderfully supportive Maine fan club—Donna Barnes and Robert Griffith, Richard Barnes and Sandra Armentrout, and Caitlin, Jared, and Walter Ruthman.

Finally, a special thank-you to the young readers of the Northport–East Northport Public Library Mock Newbery Club for their help critiquing the first chapter and coming up with the title of this book.