Shattered Circle

Worried, he remained focused on her. Through three rounds of the chant, her volume lowered. On the fourth time, her voice cracked. Her voice began to rasp, sounding like she badly needed a drink of water.

He willed her to keep going, to have the stamina and the clarity of voice to continue, but on the fifth round, her voice began to falter altogether. Not sure if it would make any difference, he positioned himself behind Lydia and began to sing her part. Vilna looked at him, glanced down at his hands, then at Lydia’s shoulders. He let his hands hover over the old woman’s frail shoulders. His brows raised, silently asking Vilna if he was doing the right thing.

She nodded.

Johnny’s hands lowered slowly, detecting a brittle, heated static before he made contact.

This is going to be bad. He breathed deep. When his hands were completely in contact with her, an electric shock gripped his hands and forearms. He held his breath, fighting to master the pain. Fur sprouted and his claws pushed out. The energy kept pushing higher up his arms, bringing the change with it.

He understood that by his joining their outer circle, the ley line energy was rerouting through him. It was pushing at him from both sides, trying to link. When he wrapped his head around that fact, he was able to release the tension in his muscles and allow the power to meet at his sternum. He itched as fur rose under his shirt, but once the new flow was established, he found he could revert the transformation. Lydia’s rigidly held shoulders loosened. She fell silent.

Then Lydia’s knees gave way.

CHAPTER FIFTY-THREE

Goliath slid into the backseat of the waiting limo and shut the door.

Beside him, Menessos said, “She is not far.” The car pulled away from the curb, tires squealing. “She is hiding in Mall B, near a tree.”

“Only four blocks away? Why are we bothering to drive?” Goliath wanted to tell Menessos about the protrepticus, about hearing Samson’s voice, but there was no time. “What’s the plan?”

“You get out at the corner of the mall, the car will take me closer to where she is hiding, and I confront her directly. The car waits while I try peaceably to get her to return, distracting her while you approach from another direction. You grab Beverley.”

“Count on it.”

When the car slowed to make the turn, Goliath exited, rolling into the street from a quickly opened and shut door without the car actually stopping. The late hour meant traffic was practically nonexistent. Menessos would be counting on Ailo to detect the car arriving, slowing near her.

It was a good plan.

But.

If he could slay the shabbubitu and safely remove Beverley from harm, he would.

Crouched, Goliath hurried in the direction opposite that of the limousine, circling around to enter Mall B by a pedestrian path.

Malls A, B, and C were large landscaped areas, green oases open to the public. Mall B had the most trees. It also had a medium-height wall to reduce traffic noise from the nearby Shoreway.

In moments, he could hear Menessos’s voice. He was pleading with Ailo to return to the haven. Near a tree, Goliath leapt over the wall and landed silently on the grass inside, keeping his body aligned with the tree’s trunk.

As he assessed the situation, he noticed Menessos was remaining on the far side of the wall. Ailo was near the wall, with her back against some kind of stone monument shaped like a large square about three feet high and ten feet across. There were stone benches on three sides, and a tree on the other. There was considerable open space between them.

He started forward.

He was fifteen yards away from them when he saw a dark shadow racing ahead of him on the ground. He dived to the side and felt a razor-like talon scrape his ear.

The huge owl screeched and flapped her wings, raising up into the sky.

Goliath had hit the ground and started to roll as he saw Ailo come running into the open, screaming to the sky, “Take us, Liyliy! Don’t leave! Take us!”

In her arms, Ailo cradled Beverley, who was mummy-wrapped in gray silk.

A glance at the sky revealed the large bird had circled around and was lining up for another flying dive. Her outstretched talons were open, ready to grab.

There’s no fucking way she’s going to pick them both up and fly out of here.

Lurching onto his feet, Goliath was racing forward before he was fully upright. From the corner of his eye he saw Menessos leap over the wall and hit the ground running as well.

Ailo turned and lifted one arm out, ready for the owl to grasp her. She had her other arm locked tight around Beverley. When she saw the two vampires advancing on her, a stripe of gray fabric fluttered out and wrapped tight around Beverley’s neck. “Stay back or I’ll wring her little neck!” Ailo cried.

“Ailo, no!” Menessos shouted.

Goliath sped up.

CHAPTER FIFTY-FOUR

Wide-eyed, Demeter shook her head and took a step back.

“I will send you to the place where they are, Demeter. Strike him with this.”

“You want me to attack Hades? A god? Are you out of your . . . ” Remembering whom she was addressing, Demeter’s words trailed off and she ended by clearing her throat.

“If you want her back, his hold on her must be broken. My scythe will accomplish that. She cannot leave his realm otherwise.”

Demeter could not move. Not only was the goddess offering up Her scythe, She intended for Demeter to wield it.

“Only this will save your granddaughter. Take it.”

Demeter mustered her courage and reached shaking hands toward the scythe. Hecate’s hands slid from farther down the shaft, allowing Demeter to assume a firmer grip. “Do you have it?”

Demeter nodded.

Hecate released the scythe.

The long blade was unexpectedly heavy. The tip crashed down, embedding in the muddy shore. Demeter maintained her hold, and grasped the shaft more firmly. She bent slightly as she tried to heft the blade from the mud. It shifted but she could not lift it. There was strength in her hands, in the dragon’s blood on her skin, but her arms remained weak.

Hecate’s hand rested on Demeter’s shoulder. “Falx portare.”

As the words were spoken it seemed to Demeter that she had become the axis point on which the world spun. Dizziness engulfed her. She leaned on the scythe for balance and concentrated on breathing. When the motion stopped, she opened her eyes and found she was standing on the dais of a great throne room.

Before her blazed a ring of fire. Within the circle of flames, a man and a woman lounged, embracing and locked in a passionate kiss. Hades and Persephone.

They didn’t seem aware of her presence. The fire must have been blocking her out.

Or maybe the kissing is just that good.

Steeling her resolve, firming her grip, she readied herself to lift the scythe and charge forward. In her mind’s