Gina returned with Father Vintaldi in tow.
“Is there something I can assist you with?” the priest asked.
“Father, we need to know about this area.” Lou pointed to the blueprints.
Father Vintaldi leaned over the table and studied them, then nodded. “Ah, yes, the old burial ground.”
“So it is holy ground.”
Father Vintaldi shook his head. “It is ancient ground, centuries old. The bodies once buried there were relocated to the new cemetery when the first church was built on this land in the 1700s.”
“Then there aren’t any bodies in that area.” Dalton looked down at the blueprint, then at Lou. “They might be there.”
Lou nodded. “It’s possible. And I do have a very strong feeling about the place.”
“It has lain untouched for a long time.” Father Vintaldi frowned. “Something about that place is evil. No one likes to go in there.”
“Evil?
“It is said that only the criminals were buried there. Without benefit of holy blessings. Vile, evil men who had been executed, as well as those who had been suspected of practicing the dark arts. They were buried without forgiveness.”
Angelique looked at Ryder. Without forgiveness. She knew what that meant.
“Of course, we eventually moved their remains to the new cemetery and provided them their absolution when we reburied them.”
“But the old burial ground had no consecrated graves, did it?” she asked.
Father Vintaldi shook his head. “No, it did not, I’m sorry to say.”
“What’s left in that area now, Father?” Michael asked.
“Just the empty graveyard and the old stone building that was once used as a holding place for the criminals. And for the executions.”
“Please, go on,” Michael said.
The priest nodded. “It is rumored the dark arts were practiced there, too. Rituals, worships of the devil, things that were forbidden.” Father Vintaldi crossed himself.
“That could be where they are,” Ryder said.
Lou nodded. “We need to get ready to go.”
“Time to weapon up.” Dalton turned and walked away, already heading for his laser.
As the hunters strapped on their holsters and loaded their weapons, Angelique felt a rush of adrenaline. She moved to Ryder’s side.
“You’re not leaving me here.” She didn’t care if she had to take them all on one by one. She wasn’t going to be left behind again. Too much was at stake.
His head shot up and he looked at her for a few seconds, then his lips curled in a knowing smile. “Not this time. Never again.” He lifted an extra holster out of his bag, along with a stash of weapons that he laid out on the table. “I hope you can shoot straight, darlin’, because you’re about to become a demon hunter.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
A few months ago, Ryder would have resented having Angie along on this hunt. Untrained, she would have been a hindrance to the team.
Now he was glad she walked by his side. He believed in her and her ability to handle anything that came up.
He scanned the area around them, since they were bringing up the rear. All darkness, trees, and bushes as they made their way along the path. Nothing going on-yet. But it was coming soon.
Angelique and Mandy were two steps ahead of him.
Ryder lay back and let Angelique and Mandy walk side by side, talking. Mandy was so damn tall she towered over Angie, yet they laughed together, Mandy pushing into Angie and Angie shoving back like a couple kids out playing. Despite the incongruity in their sizes, their heads were bent together, whispering. Angelique would look back at him, back at Mandy and they’d whisper again, then burst into silent giggles. Like teenagers.
He knew she was talking to Mandy about him, and he didn’t care. He liked seeing her relaxed, even though it could only be for a few moments. Bad shit was about to happen, and she knew it. She was blowing off some steam before the big event, trying to pretend it didn’t exist. That was okay. He’d done the same thing before a skirmish. Sometimes it was necessary to let it go, not get too wound up and let the tension build, otherwise you’d lose focus and be ready to explode when the big bad came.
Smart girl.
Angie’s battle was just about to begin. But she had him at her side, and he wasn’t about to let her go.
She’d win the battle, too. No matter what.
Angie stopped suddenly.
“We’re halting back here,” Ryder commed to Michael up front.
“Okay,” Michael commed back.
