CHAPTER ONE
A Demon Puppy Steals My Lunch
I remember the day the power went off in the Empire State Building. I should remember. After all, I had caused it. To be fair, it wasn’t completely my fault. I had been walking to the Empire State Building, as it was one of the biggest tourist traps in New York: in other words, pickpocket heaven. I stopped in front of an empty shop’s window to look at my reflection. My straight, orange hair was tangled and unruly, and my long eyelashes, which had once been the source of many compliments, were covered with grime. My slightly freckled face was a bit dirty, and my arms would have been, too, but I had learned to wear long sleeve shirts, since they both covered my arms and provided a place for the stolen goods I got from foolish tourists; after all, no New Yorker would be stupid enough to put their wallets in a place that was easily accessible for pickpockets.
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I hated my name. It had always seemed too fancy, too complicated, too old-fashioned. “Germaine Salvatorio. But call me Gem,” I added quickly. It was Kai’s turn to study me. “You’ve obviously been out here for a while,” he observed. “I mean, you’ve got that intimidating look in your eyes, and no offense, but you’re kind of dirty.” Smart boy. So he’s not as dumb as he looks. “I’m going to pretend I didn’t hear the last part,” I muttered. Kai didn’t say anything. “What happened to your parents?” he said quietly. I couldn’t meet his eyes. “They’re… gone.” He nodded. “So… Where are you going?” he asked awkwardly. “Oh, to the Empire State Building,” I said, grateful for a new subject to discuss. Kai gave me a strange look. “Why do you want to go there? It’s just a tourist location.” For the first time in a while, I grinned. “That, my dear apprentice, is exactly why.”
As soon as we walked into the Empire State Building, I started searching for a large tour group. They were simply the best: nobody knew anyone else. In other words, we blend right