Fang shook her head. “No answer is going to satisfy you,” Fang said. “If we stray to this topic, the point of trust will be moot. I suggest we continue to work together until we find a decent solution to your morality issues.”
“Morality issues? My beliefs are central to my motivations, and I have to know whether or not I can trust... someone like you.”
“We wake up with choices every day, don’t we? I’m not sure what brought you all the way up here, yet here you are. And please correct me if I’m wrong, but how many times have we been in the same room without you receiving so much as a threatening glance from me?”
“You didn’t stop Veiul from knocking me senseless. You almost let me get slaughtered by these creatures just now.”
Fang crossed her arms. “And you’re still alive. You know what? You’re far more capable than you think you are. Maybe you just need a few more opportunities to unearth the real you.”
They faced each other. The heat from Coyle’s cheeks matched the fire in Fang’s eyes. But Coyle realized Fang was right. No answer was going to satisfy her question, and they still had a city to save. Coyle let out a deep sigh and shifted her feet.
“I guess we’ll find out,” Coyle said.
“Perfect,” Fang said.
“On one condition.” Coyle grabbed Fang’s shoulder before quickly letting go. “We don’t kill anyone we don’t need to. Especially Moreci. Agreed?”
Fang tilted her head. “No promises.”
The same sharp static filled their ears. The metal floor pulsed with chaos. Howls filled the air. The Turned were coming.
“You have your knife? Good,” Fang growled. “Remember: eyes, temple, basis cranii.”
“What was that last one?”
“Base of the skull,” Fang said, and she leapt over the tide of rot. She landed a kick to one Turned and stabbed the other’s head. Both dropped. Her blades flew into the eyes and temples of the next two, sending them to the floor. Her body twisted in the air, daggers flashing, skulls cracking, blood spurting.
Coyle turned. More ghouls were shambling along the walkway behind them.
“I’ll take these back here,” she said.
“Forever grateful, Coyle,” Fang replied. “This time, get a better grip on the knife.”
Coyle rolled her eyes, swung into the ghoul’s forehead and yanked it out. Then she stabbed another, and another, and another. Her arms burned, but she found her rhythm, and soon the small squad was silent at her feet. She turned to see Fang walking away from a fresh pile of dead.
“There are four engines. Two above and two below. I’ll take the upper section first. That means you need you to keep an eye out for more of those ghouls while I work, understand?”
“Well, yes, but—”
“Good.” Fang snapped out a rod and pointed it above. A cable shot out from its end and pulled her high into the dark. She was gone.
“I knew something like this would happen,” Coyle growled. “Sherlyn, remind me not to work with vampires anymore.”
She jogged toward the lower engine room, but not before another wave of ghouls came around the corner. She sighed.
“Oh, come on, then. How many of you things did he make?”
Chapter 29
Starboard ballroom
Dawn’s Edge
“Where are they?” Moreci asked, slipping his pocket watch inside his waistcoat.
Cavin turned aside and spoke into his radio headset for a brief moment before answering. “Coyle was last seen heading aft, away from her team. None of us know why.”
“She’s headed to the engine rooms,” Moreci said. “She’s planning on shutting the engines down, though there’s no way she could do that by herself.” Moreci paced around the ballroom. His mind searched for answers to the new questions forming in his mind.
“And Veiul?” Moreci asked.
“She’s hasn’t been seen yet,” Cavin said. “Reports are she mixed in with the passengers, presumably on her way to stop Coyle.” His shoulders slouched and his chin dropped.
“What else? Out with it,” Moreci said, and looked at his pocket watch again.
“One of the reports—unconfirmed reports, sir—is that Fang was seen leaving the theater,” Cavin said. “Possibly.”
Moreci blinked. “Fang?”
“Yes, sir.”
“How in...” Moreci looked out the window, unsure of this new information. Finally, he shook his head. “Coyle and Fang. Coyle and Fang. I shouldn’t be worried. Two women against all of us. I won’t worry. When do we land?” Moreci asked.
“Within hours, sir.”
“How is Quolo?”
“Oh, splendid! The remaining crew in the cargo hold have either been destroyed or Turned.” His smile was wide.
“Excellent! Now—”
There was a sudden lurch, and the ship leaned gently.
“What?” Cavin said and looked outside at the tilting horizon.
“The engines,” Moreci said. “One of them has been disabled. Get our other operative on that immediately.”
Cavin nodded and adjusted his radio.
***
The stench of hot metal and ozone filled the communications room. Sparks shot out sporadically from the jumble of wires and machinery. The massive radio antenna array had not been just disabled but completely destroyed.
“How on earth did this happen?” Chief Sykes said.
Bolt shrugged. “I’m not sure, but as I said earlier, I can fix anything.”
The floor shuddered and tilted enough that the men had to adjust their stance.
“What was that? Were we hit?” Bolt frowned.
“No. It feels as though one of the engines died.” Sykes squinted at Bolt. “What in blazes have we gotten ourselves into?”
Bolt held a finger up and pressed the radio receiver against his ear.
“How are you getting communications? Who’s talking to you?” Chief Sykes asked.
Bolt looked at the tangled mess. “This won’t be fixed for a while. I have other business to attend to.”
Chief Sykes turned around. “What business? What are you talking about?”
Bolt slammed his fist into the back of the Chief’s neck, sending him to the floor with a clatter. Another punch to the older man’s head, and he was still.
“Chief’s out,” Bolt said into the radio. “What’s the next objective, sir?” After listening for a short time, he reconnected wires, and the lights flickered back on. Then he turned and headed off to the engine rooms.
Chapter 30
Lower engine platforms
Dawn’s Edge
Crimson
