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And so did I. The distraction helped ease my worry over the fortune teller’s prediction. One of you will die. One of you will betray your friends. And one of you will know torture beyond imagining.
I didn’t know which one of the three predictions was worse.
She had to be wrong. I refused to believe even one of those three things could happen. She must have sensed our kind and wanted to poison our thoughts.
“Big scare?” Otis chuckled so loud, the other squirrels inching their way closer to Snow scurried away.
“Snow, put the creature down.” Zander’s voice turned stern as he pulled out his sword from within his wings. “We should go now.”
What happened to the relaxed Zander? Something had spooked him. My feathers bristled as I followed his line of vision. The fortune teller held a lantern and pointed at our direction, saying something to a handful of the demon soldiers in human form.
“In the air, now,” I ordered.
Demons couldn’t fly, and they held no bows.
The cloaks hindered us from unfurling our feathers, but we didn’t need to extend our wings to take flight. Just as the demons sprinted at us with spears and swords, we punched to the sky.
“That’s the golden-haired angel with dark strands,” one of the demons hollered. “She’s worth a hundred coins.”
Is that all? I’m worth a thousand at least. But … Your hair. Something happened to you. Something magical changed you. Who did this?” The lady had spoken nonsense, right?
We soared past villages and a patchwork of green fields. Then we descended toward an old red barn that was tucked away among some trees about one hundred feet from the No Man’s Pub.
We banked sharply before touching down and entered the barn. One of the horses neighed and Snow caressed the animal’s head as she calmed it with a low voice.
I’d wanted her on my team from the moment I heard about her gift. Anyone who loved animals and could speak to them must be an extra special being. And had a giant heart, right? Snow would never betray me.
Right?
I ordered myself to stop replaying the fortune teller’s words.
“Snow and Otis.” Zander glanced out the door, then focused back to the team. “You two stay here and keep watch. If by any chance the king’s soldiers arrive, do not take them on your own. Come get us.”
“And stay out of sight,” I stressed.
Ahead of me, Zander, Dawn, and Tank walked in a line toward the torch lights in the distance.
My heart pounded faster the closer we got to the raucous voices. I didn’t want to go inside but we had no choice. This visit with Gorgo better be worth the travel and time.
Zander shoved the doors open and we stopped at the center of the tavern. A group of demons in human form playing cards and eating peanuts halted, and a few vampires by the bar turned to face us. The bartender, a stout, bearded man, ignored us and poured ale into the tankards in front of the customers.
None of my feathers rattled in warning despite our company. They all looked like humans. But the vampires could not disguise their animalistic instincts. Three women were huddled over a human male at the back corner.
One drank blood from his neck, the other from his wrist, and the third vamp drank from … oh my. His breeches were down to his knees, and her teeth clamped on to his manhood as crimson liquid dripped at the corner of her mouth. That would be painful if he weren’t nearly drained and near death.
My fingers trembled and the urge to help the poor human came strong.
“No.” Zander grabbed my hand when I pivoted toward their direction. “Remember why you’re here. You can’t help everyone. And we don’t have time. Tank, go buy drinks and the rest of you follow me. We should sit and blend in.”
Zander guided us to the table in the back corner as we kept an eye out for Gorgo.
Nothing better go wrong with today’s meeting.
“Four ales, please.” Tank tossed coins on the counter, scattering peanut shells strewn over the surface.
The bartender, big as Tank, took the coins and frowned at him. A demon who didn’t like angels. No surprise there. He poured amber liquid from a clay jug into metal cups.
Tank came toward us and thumped the mugs down. The drinks spilled over the side and splashed foamy droplets on the already sticky table. Then he uncurled his fingers, releasing a handful of peanuts.
