Bitten in Two

You can’t burn enough incense to comfort our spirits in that knowledge.”

Eishel reached back, wrapped her hands around a guembri like ones I’d seen musicians strumming in the Djemaa el Fna for the past few days, and stuttered, “N-n-n-n-ooo. You’ve forgotten already. I-i-i-it’s not about the bal .

That was just a clue, remember? Sister Yalida left her map inside it. The map that leads to the Rocenz. Roldan made it our solemn duty to guard it—”

“Aaaahhhh!” screeched Nedo.

“In vain!” screamed Cleahd.

“Do you think those CIA fuckers haven’t figured al this out already? They’re probably halfway to the map right now,” Wrul hissed.

Eishel shook her head. “Impossible! The Enkyklios map hasn’t been disturbed in decades. We’ve seen to that.” She pul ed the guitarlike instrument to her chest.

“No!” wailed Wrul . “The map! You’ve put the map at risk!”

“Wasted lives!” screamed Nedo. “Empty deaths!”

“Wait!” Eishel cried before Wrul could wrap his claws around her neck. “It’s stil at the Musee de Marrakech.

Think! I’m sure you’l remember if you just try! The rest of our pack is stil there, stil guarding it. And even if they failed like…” She nearly swal owed her tongue as Cleahd screeched and began tearing out her hair.

“No! I didn’t mean that!” Eishel scrambled to her feet, holding the guembri out in front of her like a shield. “I’m only saying, even if our enemies did, somehow, find a way to steal it they could never interpret it. The tannery is as much a labyrinth as a warlock’s maze.”

“Too late!” wailed Cleahd.

“The vampire and his Trust have already gone!” bel owed Wrul .

“The map! The map!” chanted Nedo, over and over again, punching his head forward with every other word so that Eishel final y hid her face behind the instrument.

They pressed so close to her they could’ve walked through her if they’d taken another step. “I’l warn the pack, al right?” she cried. “They’l ambush the Trust before they can even crack the door to the storage room.” can even crack the door to the storage room.”

“Go!” demanded Cleahd.

“Go!” “Leave now!” the other two chimed in, waving their hands like geese herders.

Eishel ran toward the door, working up such a head of steam I half expected the hoot of a train whistle to toot out of her ass as her arms worked up and down like little pistons. It seemed nothing could stop her from leaping into the street now that the entrance had been destroyed.

Instead? She slammed into Raoul’s replacement ful force.

Thunk.

For a second she reminded me of a cartoon cat, foiled in its endless mouse chase by one of those sudden, unexpected impacts that flattens it, tail to whiskers, before it slides to the floor with a long squeak of surrender. I pressed my lips together.

This is not funny.

Then she fel straight back.

Thud.

Cole’s strangled whisper broke the silence. “The only way this could get better is if the trapdoor opened underneath that rug she’s lying on and she tumbled down to the basement.”

Col ective intake of breath. Then Cole said, “I barricaded that door shut.”

Exchange of guilty looks as we realized what we’d been considering. And then Cole said, “Oh. Wait.” One wel -aimed kick and we al sighed happily as the floor groaned and Ahmed’s basement access door gave underneath what had been a colossal battle fol owed by the final insult of Eishel’s fal . She disappeared with a whisper of windswept clothing and a final, satisfying clonk.

We al grinned happily. Except for Raoul, who’d risen above such petty humor. And Vayl, who just didn’t get us.

They looked at each other while we shook our heads and wiped our eyes—and shrugged.

Vayl held out his arms. “Do I look like a man who is prepared to steal a map?”

Raoul gave him a critical once-over. “No. You look like you were just mauled by a lion.” He motioned to the slashes healing on Vayl’s arms and his half-digested calf. “If it makes you feel any better, I’m assuming you won.”

“It does.” Vayl glanced at us, his eyes lingering on mine just long enough to make sure I understood. “But if that is the impression I leave, you lot would frighten a wel - armed street gang. In which case, I suggest we go back to the riad to change before the authorities decide we look too interesting not to question—”

“Was that our next step?” Cole asked me.

“Yup,” I replied, staring hard at him, wil ing him to read my mind. “Right after Raoul sends the Luureken to the great beyond so she can’t warn the pack we’re coming.” Raoul scowled at me. “Don’t get used to this. I’m not here to help you start your own morgue.”

“Don’t be ridiculous,” I said. “Ahmed’s fridge is way too smal for that.” I took off for the back room and the