“Not if we kill you first,” the redhead taunted.
The only other male elbowed Sly and said, “Let me chop off his head.” He swung the ax, but the sides of the coffin were high, and the ax broke. The blade flew off and bounced against the wall.
Vorigan chuckled, folded his hands behind his head and crossed his ankles. “Well, I guess I’m safe just laying here and laughing at your incompetence.”
“Not really,” said the young Asian chick. “I feel a sneeze coming on.”
“Hang on,” the other women shouted. She poured something powdery on him.
“You’re going to cover me in germs and saliva spray, on top of whatever this green crap is? That’s disgusting, but not fatal.”
“No. That’s not the way I… I…” She took deep breaths after each attempt to finish her sentence. Like she was about to—
“Chooooo!” Fire roared out of her mouth and nostrils.
The pain he felt in his chest was nothing compared to the harsh sting that spread from his head to his neck and shoulders, then down the length of his body.
Suddenly he smelled charred flesh mixed with burning wood.Fuck.
Sly crossed his arms. “Shall I try again and make it a merciful death?”
Vorigan sighed in defeat. “Whatever.”
Sly took the ax handle from his friend and drove the wooden stake straight through Malvant’s heart.
Sly excused himself as soon as Gwyneth had emptied the fire extinguisher’s foam into what was left of the coffin and the last curl of smoke had dissipated. The others followed.
“Where are ya’ll goin’?”
“To find Morgaine.”
“She ain’t home? I thought that’s where she’d go if she managed to escape.”
Sly shrugged. “Apparently, she panicked, got disoriented and ran in the wrong direction. Or maybe she was so afraid of his following her home, she purposely went the other way. At any rate, she’s lost.”
Gwyneth smirked. “Knowin’ my cousin, it were a little bit of both.”
“Well, I’ve got to go find her. She’s wandering around the city somewhere, trying hard not to lose it.”
“Do you want any help?” Lily asked.
Sly shook his head. “I know this city inside out. All she has to do is describe the area and I’ll find her. Why don’t you give me a minute and I’ll demonstrate?”
The others seemed interested, well, all except Nathan, but that was his default. So Sly closed his eyes and concentrated.Morgaine? Can hear me, babe?
“Yes, I’m here.”
Have you found a landmark or street signs or anything you can describe to me?
“I’m outside a bus station. It’s on St. James Street.”
That’s almost all the way downtown. How did you get there?
“I bolted—and ran—and ran—and walked—and pooped out here.”
Sly laughed. He turned to his companions and said, “I know right where she is. We’ll see you in a few hours.”
Nathan exclaimed, “A few hours? How far did she get?”
