Ascension. A.S. Fenichel

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СКАЧАТЬ waved the torch. “Not long.”

      “You could have helped.”

      “And deprive you of such a magnificent victory. I would not think of it,” Reece said.

      Lillian tucked her unique blades back into their sheaths. “You needed no assistance, my friend. You rarely do, but rest assured, should the day come that we are needed, we shall be at your service.”

      Belinda loved these two people. The made her laugh when things were at the worst. She never doubted that both Lillian and Reece would give their lives for her. They enjoyed their little jokes and sarcasms and most days she found them a refreshing break from the staid attitudes of the ton. Those people lived every day in a fog of lies and monotony. At least her friends lived with their eyes wide open. “Shall we go on?”

      With a nod, Reece continued down the hall.

      The next set of steps down took them to a corridor, which sloped even further downward and ended at a large door. It looked as if it might have been part of a ship at some point.

      Reece said, “I do not like this, only one way in or out. We could easily become trapped in here.”

      “People died to get us this information. It will all have been in vain if we do not even take a look.” Lillian’s voice was steady.

      Belinda kept her own council. It didn’t matter if she agreed or not, she would fight or flee as required to further their goal. Nothing else mattered besides driving these demons from England and back to hell where they belong.

      “We go, then.” Reece opened the door and damp musty air billowed out.

      Belinda’s skin tingled with gooseflesh and all her senses heightened. There was nothing as thrilling as taking on a demon cell, and she knew from experience that the musty scent coming from the open door was a sign that they were close to something. Demons preferred to live near damp, filthy water. Wet, hot air flooded the corridor. They crossed the threshold, entering a large cavernous room lit by large cauldrons of fire. High above the water-covered floor, they traversed a series of catwalks that spanned the ceiling. Below, on the far side of what had once been a warehouse, a large group of demons knelt, enthralled with what was happening just out of Belinda’s view.

      Reece made quick work of the demon guarding the door, silently slicing its throat. The very large malleus demons had a low intelligence, enormous heads and slimy skin. These demons rarely moved around in the open.

      The man-sized trebox demons like the one she’d killed outside the office cloaked their gray, scaly skin and walked among humans in broad daylight. Disguises and an inattentive society, allowed them to walk the streets freely.

      Reece moved to the right, while Belinda and Lillian took the catwalk to the left. They crept along careful not to bring attention to themselves. The stench was almost enough to bring up the small supper she’d had hours before. Belinda’s heart pounded. It wasn’t fear. She lived for the hunt, thrilled in the kill. There was nothing to compare.

      Concealing trousers under her skirts had become her practice since the day she’d needed to run from a demon hunt. Her heavy skirts had wrapped around her legs and nearly cost her life. Lucky for her, she’d managed to run the trebox through, but it had been a very close thing.

      She loved the way the men’s clothing hugged her hips and legs. They allowed her freedom of movement as opposed to the restrictions of heavy skirts, corsets and layers of frill. What would Gabriel say if he ever saw her in such attire? Of course, he never would, but he’d be mortified. Probably call her a trollop. Perhaps that was the solution to her problem. If she let him see her as she truly was, he would run from their engagement.

      Gabriel had no place here in the bowels of London. His place was so much loftier. He was the image of the archangel he’d been named for. He could never understand what she was doing or why. Forcing the stray thoughts aside, she concentrated on the room, the demons and the best way to get out alive.

      Focus, Belinda.

      Lillian pointed toward two malleus demons blocking the stairs down to the floor. From under her skirt, Lillian pulled a small crossbow, specially made for her. She nocked an arrow and waved across to Reece who nodded. She let the arrow fly and the demon gurgled as the projectile pierced his throat. He clutched his neck and fell over the edge of the top step, tumbling until he came to a splashing stop at the bottom.

      The other demon roared and rushed the women. Belinda twirled her sword around her arm once, pressed past her friend and ran the demon through. His arm came up and knocked her sword out of her hand. Her arm lashed back, hitting the railing hard enough that her flesh ached with pins and needles.

      She dropped to her back and kicked out as the demon leaped forward, catching him in the stomach at the spot where she had stabbed him. His eyes rolled back in his head when Lillian’s Japanese dagger impaled him. He tumbled over the catwalk, hit a support beam and fell to the wet floor.

      Lillian smiled down at her and offered her hand. “Nicely done.”

      “Thank you for the help,” Belinda said.

      Lillian just nodded and rushed down the stairs.

      Reece was already fighting several demons.

      There was three inches of fetid water on the floor. Lillian pulled up her skirts and tucked them cleverly into her belt, revealing very high boots adorned with sheaths and loops for several different manner of weapons including a whip, which hung above her knee. She was completely unashamed that part of her leg was visible as she rushed into the fray. She used one of her two long sai daggers to slice through the throat of a scaly, gray trebox demon.

      Belinda’s boots splashed down just as a malleus rushed the stairs. She spun into a back-kick, surprising the larger opponent with her strength, before making a second turn to get enough thrust to lop off his bulbous head. The demon’s empty eyes stared up at her from the murky water. Belinda’s stomach roiled, but she pushed farther into the battle.

      Belinda stabbed a smaller demon with her dirk. By that time Reece, had fired his gun into the head of a large demon and run two through with his sword. Lillian carved up one with her elaborate knives and threw several of the darts she kept at her thigh.

      Gasping for air, Belinda clutched her knees. She studied the corner that had so enraptured the creatures, but saw nothing, save for a large, bloody rock where she supposed one of them had stood. She moved closer. Nothing indicated to whom the blood belonged.

      She turned back to her companions. Ten demons in all had gathered. The three of them had killed nine. Reece grabbed hold of the throat of the last trebox. His human fingers looked pale against the gray skin.

      “Tell me where to find the master,” Reece demanded.

      The trebox widened his eyes but said nothing. His scrawny arms flailed against the much stronger Reece.

      “I will let you live if you tell me, demon,” Reece said.

      It was probably a lie. They never left a demon alive if they could defeat him. That’s what they did. They killed demons. Hunted them and then killed them. No mercy. No pardon.

      Reece pressed the barrel of his pistol against the demon’s forehead. The creature’s black eyes widened.

      Lillian СКАЧАТЬ