“We’re all dealing with harsh times.”
“We’ve been trained for this. We knew it was out there. Warren didn’t.”
For a moment, Warren felt good about the fact that Naomi cared enough to argue over him. But the sobering realization was that he’d probably never get to thank her because he was about to die.
Enough, Merihim said. You’re not this weak.
The demon’s voice speared agony through Warren’s head. He jerked in the grasp of those who held him, almost exploding out of the tub. Startled shouts and curses rang out around him.
“He’s convulsing!” the doctor shouted. “Hold him down or we’re going to lose him!”
Warren fought, but he was pressed back down into the cold liquid.
You will not be held, Merihim commanded. You are stronger than they are. Get free. Go find Balekor’s Hammer before it falls into Templar hands.
Unable to resist the order, Warren renewed his struggles. This time he felt the fever die inside his mind. Strength like he’d never known flooded through him. He pushed up from the tub, then swept a hand out, knocking the doctor and the medical attendants away from him, sprawling them across the room and the floor.
“Stop him!” Tulane cried.
Naomi darted forward, her hand raised.
Moving more quickly than he thought he could, Warren caught the woman’s hand. “No,” he said.
She stared into his eyes, then he felt the power surge from her. The last time, it had knocked him out. But this time he short-circuited it, never letting it leave her flesh.
“No,” he repeated, more gently this time. He released her hand and allowed her to step back from him. Another feeling dawned within him, a siren’s call that urged him into motion. “I have to go.”
“Why?” Tulane demanded.
“Where are my clothes?” Warren stepped from the tub and looked around the room. He didn’t see his clothes anywhere. He didn’t see Kelli, either. “Where’s Kelli?”
“You’re not leaving,” Tulane said.
“We sedated Kelli,” Naomi said. “When you started convulsing, she began screaming like she was in pain.”
Warren continued the search for his clothing. “Is she all right?”
“I don’t know.”
What if she isn’t? If something happened to her, it’s your fault. Warren struggled with the guilt he suddenly felt, then pushed it away and concentrated on finding his clothes. They had to be somewhere in the room.
“I said, you’re not leaving.” Tulane stepped in front of Warren.
Angry and feeling trapped, Warren turned on the man. “I am leaving, and I’m leaving now.”
“We’ll see about that.” Tulane barked orders.
Instantly the room filled with armed Cabalists in security gear.
Do not let them stop you, Merihim commanded.
Unconsciously, Warren squatted and slapped his left hand—the one that was covered in the greenish-black scales—against the floor. He operated on instinct, unleashing the power inside him.
Immediately, pale violet electrical bolts sped through the floor and reached the men. When it touched them, they were blown into the air and fell down, unconscious to a man.
Standing again, Warren spun around and grabbed Tulane with his left hand, bunching the man’s shirt and coat in his left fist. He lifted Tulane almost effortlessly from the floor, realizing that he could just as easily have thrown the man from the room.
“I’m leaving,” Warren said. “You can’t stop me. You won’t stop me.” He used some of his old power, the one that he had grown up with and was most familiar with. “Do you understand?”
Tulane fought against the persuasion. Sweat blossomed on his brow and his face knotted up.
“It’s the demon.” Naomi came around the side, stepping into Warren’s view but addressing Tulane. “The demon is siphoning power into him. I can’t do anything.”
“All right,” Tulane said. “You can leave. But let us come with you. There’s so much we can learn.”
No, Merihim said.
Warren fought against the demon’s wishes, but it was hard. Still, there was a part of him that wanted to be in control.
“I can help you,” Tulane said. Despite his effort at appearing calm, Warren could smell the stink of fear on the man. “What are you going to do? Leave here on foot? I can put vehicles at your disposal.”
You will not let him come, Merihim said.
Releasing his hold, Warren dropped Tulane. The man slid bonelessly to the floor. “Do whatever you want,” Warren said. “Bring me my clothes.”
A few minutes later, dressed and still feeling strong, Warren stepped from the Cabalists’ house and into the large landscaped yard. Tulane already had the panel truck waiting.
You won’t defy me, human, Merihim said. I can kill you where you stand.
Warren closed his eyes and shut out the demon’s voice for a moment. He concentrated on the urging that filled him. Almost immediately, an image popped into his head.
It was somewhere down on the River Thames. The building was a large, rambling affair, dark now because the city’s power was off. He struggled to read the faded name painted across the building’s brick walls.
HOLDSTOCK GLASSWORKS MANUFACTURING.
“I can get you what you want,” Warren whispered to the demon. And he knew that he would. He was too afraid of Merihim not to. “But I can’t do it alone. I need their help.”
When there was no further argument from the demon, Warren joined Tulane and Naomi in the panel truck. The vehicle was packed. Another followed behind them as they pulled through the gates and sped out onto the road.
“Do you know where we’re going?” Naomi asked.
“Yes.” Warren ignored Tulane’s baleful stare. The Cabalist leader was less of a threat than the demon, and at the moment Warren knew that he had enough power to save himself from Tulane. Even if he was doing the demon’s bidding, it was enough that he knew he had enough power to save himself. The realization was comforting.
“Where?” she asked.
Warren ignored the question and looked through the front windshield. London’s tall buildings could be seen in the distance.
“Warren,” Naomi tried again.
“No,” he told her. “You’ll know when you need to.”
“What about the other demons?” Tulane asked. “Will we be protected from them?”
“No.”
“Then this is foolish.”
“You can
