"Ihave a pair of rubber gloves?" Dennis stepped closer and pulled a pair outof his jean's pocket. Leave it to the paramedic.
"Youkinky fucking bastard." Jimmy slapped him on the back.
"I'djust left work. Bite me."
Istopped reaching for them. "They're not…used, are they?"
"No.I usually keep a pair in my pocket just in case."
"Well,you're the new boy scout. Sorry, Chief. You're fired."
"Ican live with that."
Iopened one of the gloves and stuck my finger inside, whispering, "Uisce," and praying that my spellwould work. Slowly the glove filled with water and started expanding. "Okay,everybody drink some," I said and passed it around.
Mymother took it first and punctured a hole in the middle finger with her nailbefore drinking some. "Ugh, it tastes like rubber."
"Idon't know whether to make an 'udderly disgusting' joke or an 'I'm sure that'snot the first time you've had that taste in your mouth' joke first." Nanacackled.
"Well,I'll be sure to make an 'I'm surprised you can't fit all five of them in yourmouth at once' joke when it's your turn." Mother huffed and handed theglove to Candace.
"Remindme to slap both of them with the glove when we're done," I whispered toChief.
"Makesure it isn't empty when you do."
"Aglove full of water might hurt."
"Water?I was going to tell you to fill it with sand," Chief said with a throatychuckle.
Ashriek pierced the otherwise quiet. Yuki took a couple of strides forward andpeered at the mountain. "Uh…that mountain is surrounded by angels."
"What?Where?" I stood next to her, putting my hand on her shoulder. That was thefirst words she'd spoken since we'd left.
"Flyingaround the mountain," she answered curtly.
"Youcan see that far?"
"Youcould too if you'd try. But it just goes to show you, you do need us." Shehumphed and walked away.
Pissedoff I was going to go off on my own again?
Lordforbid you ask for help instead of leaving us to pick up your pieces.
Yep.She was pissed. Not that I could blame her. I'd done exactly what I'd promisedI'd never do again.
I'mnot too happy with you, either.Dar wasn't angry, more disappointed. I felt it more than heard it.
NorI. Shea seconded.Technically, he thirded, but the list of people who were pissed at me wasusually pretty long.
I'mnot angry. Just confused.
Thanks,Ellis.
Youare welcome.
Jimmycuffed me in the back of the head. "So, what are we going to do?" Hemotioned toward the angels.
"Hideif we can and try our best to be sneaky bastards."
Ittook nearly four more hours and two gloves of water before we were close enoughto make out the details of the mountain that wasn't a mountain. It was a giantcastle carved from stone. It might have been a mountain at one time, but Mephistopheleshad made it into a big ass fortress.
"Twoin front of the door and another twelve circling overhead like righteousbuzzards. Think there's a back door?" Chief asked as quietly as possible.Even whispering, I was watching the angels warily. Who knew how good theirhearing was.
"Doubtit. Wouldn't be much of a fortress. I don't see any sewer grates either. Thinkwe only have one option."
Master?
Ilooked over at Dar.
Ihave an idea.
What?
Heshimmered for a moment before growing two feet, gaining rows of razor liketeeth, and sprouting a pair of wings. I stared at him in disbelief.
Ithought you could only assume a form of something you've consumed?
Ican't.
Youmean?
Heshrugged.
That'sdisgusting.
Tellme about it. I had indigestion for a month. Can you conjure some chains? He stared at me hopefully.
Ican.
Thenyou are now my prisoners.
Onlywhen I, and everybody else, was shackled behind him did I realize how stupid ofa plan it was. Thisnever works out well in the movies.
Youwatch too many movies.
Fromthe rocks where we'd hidden, we marched as Dar dragged us along in tow. Theangels circling above us continued to do so, keeping their distance, butfocusing their attention on us below, slowing their lazy spirals.
Atleast they're not attacking,Dar said proudly.
They'rea couple of hundred feet above us. Let's see how well we do with the twoguarding the door.
"Theydo not appear to be arch angels, at least," Candace whispered behind me.
"No,they don't." The arch angel in the town square had been more human lookingin its beauty. The two ahead had the same shark-like grimace as Dar. It was ashame he hadn't munched on one of their more powerful cousins.
Whenwe made it to a short distance away, they came to life and crossed theirspears, barring entry. One of them said something in a language I'd never heardbefore and hoped to never hear again.
Daranswered in English. "The child of Aodh."
Bothangels tilted their heads and took a step forward, keeping their spears crossedand muttering something else.
"Theyare confused. Lady Belenus didn't say anything about more prisoners. Tell himto say, 'Vicna naoBelenii mith vorath.'"
Irelayed Candy's message to Dar, who repeated it. It would have been so mucheasier if Candace had telepathy, too. I sucked at repeating things. I needed topick up a copy of Angel as a Second Language for the store.
"Howdo you know what they're saying or what to say?" I whispered my questionto Candace.
"Ido not know. I am just grateful I do."
Theguards uncrossed their spears and stepped apart, reaching out with their free hands,and pulling the doors open for us. I thought we were home free until theypulled them shut behind us and brought up the rear.
Whichway? Dar hissedthe question in my mind, panic tinging his mind speech.
Idon't fucking know!Left! Go left! We had a fifty-fifty shot ofguessing right.
Theangels shouted angrily behind us. I chose poorly.
Thesound of gunfire echoed in the stone hallway as Chief fired off two rounds, onein each of the angel's faces. It didn't drop them, but they screamed in agonyfor a moment while their wounds healed. Their silvery blood stopped spreadingacross the front of their white garments. Long enough for me to pluck my scythefrom my neck and slash them from shoulder to hip in two swings.
Bloodsplattered the walls beside us, but still they didn't fall.
Aimfor their necks!Dar managed to shout before a hell hound leapt over all of us and encircled oneof their heads in its massive jaws. Ignoring the crunching going on, I tookanother swipe with my scythe. It went in, but it didn't come out,
