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It looks like a ruins, but trust me, it s not. It s layered with prohibitive arcane magic.
That doesn t affect May, does it? Savian asked, gingerly feeling his forehead.
No, it doesn t, but May has worked through the protection and made it to the inside. She and
Gabriel s ethereal self are having a look around in there to see what s what before Drake takes over.
I had a feeling it might be this place. Savian considered the redbrick ruins of what must have
once been a glorious Russian Orthodox church. It felt wrong for what it was, if you know what I
mean.
I studied the building that the L au-dela had turned into its sepulcher. Nearest us was a tall round
columnated tower, topped with a spire bearing the Orthodox cross. Gothic rounded windows and
columns ran down the body of the church, ending in a huge dome on the far end, most of which was
still standing. Surrounding the remains of the church was a thick stand of firs, and the air, even at
night, was sharp with the scent of pine. Bats flew overhead as they searched for their evening meal,
the waxing moon partially hidden by some clouds, but peeping out now and again to shine down an
almost unearthly glow upon the building.
It certainly is atmospheric, Aisling said, rubbing her arms as she glanced around somewhat
nervously. I wonder where Drake s gotten to.
How did it go with Dr. Kostich? I asked Savian. Other than his attempt to blow you up.
His expression hardened. It went. I caught up with them about three miles outside the forest. I tried
to take them by surprise, but Kostich saw me just as I jumped him. That was when he got off the
arcane blast, but despite that, I managed to knock him out long enough to restrain him with some duct
tape and nylon rope.
I hope that doesn t make things worse for you and Maura.
He shrugged. It had to be done. He slid me a look from the corner of his eye, then suddenly
grinned. I can t tell you how good it felt to use that neck pinch on him. He dropped like a sack of
mages. Then I tied up his driver and him, and drove them off a side path into the woods where I hope
no one will find them until we re done here.
The watch is still on its way, I reminded him.
Yes. Hopefully not so many that we can t handle them. He looked around. Where are the
others?
May and Gabriel are inside, as I said, although Gabriel s body is propped up next to the building.
Drake and his bodyguard, István, are securing the perimeter. May s demon lord got too close to
Aisling, and Drake set him on fire, which he just seemed to enjoy, so he went off with Constantine to
discuss something about spectral whips. I really don t want to know more than that. And Baltic,
Pavel, and Holland are doing something I also don t want to know about with a couple of electric
mantraps that Drake brought along with him. I should check on Baltic, speaking of that. He needs to
discuss with Constantine what has to be done to deal with Thala, and there s no way he ll do that
without me there to nag& er& guide him.
He laughed as I headed around the side of the building, calling after me in a soft voice, I ll go
back to town, unless you think you need me here.
No, you go to Nepal. I m sure Maura could use your help more than we will need you. Thank you
for everything, Savian.
He saluted me. A pleasure, as always. Except the arcane blast. I ll call when we have Maura s
mum to safety.
Godspeed, I called after him, then made my way through the encroaching forest around one side
of the sepulcher, passing Gabriel s relaxed form on my way. I paused to check that he was all right,
then continued on around the far side of the church, where the huge round dome sat over a
semicircular bulge of brick and stone columns. In the shadow of one of the columns, I could see the
faint images of Baltic and Pavel as they stood together, consulting about something. Did you set your
traps? I asked when I was close enough for them to hear me.
As a matter of fact, I did, a voice answered, but it didn t belong to Baltic. It wasn t even male. I
gasped as I spun around, a noise that was cut short as Thala, emerging from the nothing that was the
beyond, slapped a hand around my mouth, and before I could so much as blink, wrapped a thin, very
sharp wire around my neck. I didn t think it would be you I caught, though. However, this will work,
too.
Baltic glanced toward me, did a double take, and roared his fury to the night sky even as he leaped
toward us, a brief glimpse of moonlight shimmering along the white scales that covered his dragon
form.
Thala spun us around so that I was between the two of them, the wire digging painfully into my
neck. This is a razor garrote. Any closer, and I ll decapitate your mate.
That stopped him. He stood just out of reach, softly panting fire.
I don t know what you think you re going to do here, but you should be aware that we re not going
to let you get away with anything, I said, being very careful to not move as I spoke. Nor are we
going to let harm come to Violet. [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
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It looks like a ruins, but trust me, it s not. It s layered with prohibitive arcane magic.
That doesn t affect May, does it? Savian asked, gingerly feeling his forehead.
No, it doesn t, but May has worked through the protection and made it to the inside. She and
Gabriel s ethereal self are having a look around in there to see what s what before Drake takes over.
I had a feeling it might be this place. Savian considered the redbrick ruins of what must have
once been a glorious Russian Orthodox church. It felt wrong for what it was, if you know what I
mean.
I studied the building that the L au-dela had turned into its sepulcher. Nearest us was a tall round
columnated tower, topped with a spire bearing the Orthodox cross. Gothic rounded windows and
columns ran down the body of the church, ending in a huge dome on the far end, most of which was
still standing. Surrounding the remains of the church was a thick stand of firs, and the air, even at
night, was sharp with the scent of pine. Bats flew overhead as they searched for their evening meal,
the waxing moon partially hidden by some clouds, but peeping out now and again to shine down an
almost unearthly glow upon the building.
It certainly is atmospheric, Aisling said, rubbing her arms as she glanced around somewhat
nervously. I wonder where Drake s gotten to.
How did it go with Dr. Kostich? I asked Savian. Other than his attempt to blow you up.
His expression hardened. It went. I caught up with them about three miles outside the forest. I tried
to take them by surprise, but Kostich saw me just as I jumped him. That was when he got off the
arcane blast, but despite that, I managed to knock him out long enough to restrain him with some duct
tape and nylon rope.
I hope that doesn t make things worse for you and Maura.
He shrugged. It had to be done. He slid me a look from the corner of his eye, then suddenly
grinned. I can t tell you how good it felt to use that neck pinch on him. He dropped like a sack of
mages. Then I tied up his driver and him, and drove them off a side path into the woods where I hope
no one will find them until we re done here.
The watch is still on its way, I reminded him.
Yes. Hopefully not so many that we can t handle them. He looked around. Where are the
others?
May and Gabriel are inside, as I said, although Gabriel s body is propped up next to the building.
Drake and his bodyguard, István, are securing the perimeter. May s demon lord got too close to
Aisling, and Drake set him on fire, which he just seemed to enjoy, so he went off with Constantine to
discuss something about spectral whips. I really don t want to know more than that. And Baltic,
Pavel, and Holland are doing something I also don t want to know about with a couple of electric
mantraps that Drake brought along with him. I should check on Baltic, speaking of that. He needs to
discuss with Constantine what has to be done to deal with Thala, and there s no way he ll do that
without me there to nag& er& guide him.
He laughed as I headed around the side of the building, calling after me in a soft voice, I ll go
back to town, unless you think you need me here.
No, you go to Nepal. I m sure Maura could use your help more than we will need you. Thank you
for everything, Savian.
He saluted me. A pleasure, as always. Except the arcane blast. I ll call when we have Maura s
mum to safety.
Godspeed, I called after him, then made my way through the encroaching forest around one side
of the sepulcher, passing Gabriel s relaxed form on my way. I paused to check that he was all right,
then continued on around the far side of the church, where the huge round dome sat over a
semicircular bulge of brick and stone columns. In the shadow of one of the columns, I could see the
faint images of Baltic and Pavel as they stood together, consulting about something. Did you set your
traps? I asked when I was close enough for them to hear me.
As a matter of fact, I did, a voice answered, but it didn t belong to Baltic. It wasn t even male. I
gasped as I spun around, a noise that was cut short as Thala, emerging from the nothing that was the
beyond, slapped a hand around my mouth, and before I could so much as blink, wrapped a thin, very
sharp wire around my neck. I didn t think it would be you I caught, though. However, this will work,
too.
Baltic glanced toward me, did a double take, and roared his fury to the night sky even as he leaped
toward us, a brief glimpse of moonlight shimmering along the white scales that covered his dragon
form.
Thala spun us around so that I was between the two of them, the wire digging painfully into my
neck. This is a razor garrote. Any closer, and I ll decapitate your mate.
That stopped him. He stood just out of reach, softly panting fire.
I don t know what you think you re going to do here, but you should be aware that we re not going
to let you get away with anything, I said, being very careful to not move as I spoke. Nor are we
going to let harm come to Violet. [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]