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Gun’s eyes shone with relief. “She’s usually best avoided due to her sour nature, but I will happily subject myself to all manner of negative talk if she manages to remove the ghoul currently pressing down on my solar plexus.”
Josie tore the ghoul off Gunther and cast the creature aside like he weighed no more than a pebble. The vampire was stronger than I realized. No wonder Kane relied on her.
Vaughn pulled a card from his pocket. Although I couldn’t see the face of it, based on the fireball now skimming over the grass toward the second ghoul, I guessed the suit had been Wands, the one associated with fire.
Two more fireballs followed in quick succession.
Three of Wands then.
The ghouls were surprisingly agile given their bulky size. I expected their movements to be slow and awkward. They couldn’t outrun magic though. The fireballs bounced off the ground at precisely the right moment and smashed into the ghoul. Howling in agony, the creature started to scamper away. The ghoul didn’t make it very far before it exploded in a cloud of fiery dust.
The stench of burnt hair assaulted my nostrils as Josie helped Gun to his feet. Dusting off his sleeves, he said, “I refuse to complain about the dirt. My life seems worth the exchange.”
“Thank you, Vaughn,” I said. It seemed polite to acknowledge his actions.
“How many more are there?” Vaughn asked.
“Just the three,” Camryn said, emerging from behind a headstone where I assume she’d decided to hide. Her shoes were back on her feet; I had a feeling the dirt on her bare skin became too much for her.
“Well, this has been the most exciting funeral I’ve ever been to,” Gunther said. “Can another one of us bite the dust soon?”
“Don’t jinx us.” Camryn shuddered, then pivoted to Vaughn. “I’m so glad you showed up.” She flashed the kind of smile that she usually reserved for her shamans after a cleanse. She must’ve been feeling exceptionally charitable tonight.
Vaughn seemed to appreciate the flattery. His shoulders straightened, and he averted his gaze. “Why did you two end up out here with no cards?” he asked.
“Because we follow the rules,” Camryn replied.
Vaughn snorted. “Some assassins you are. No wonder my kill record is so much higher.”
I glanced at Josie. “Kane said you were lurking. Did you see anything noteworthy?”
Her face remained stoic. “I don’t report to you.”
I wondered how much effort it took for her to resist me. “That’s true. It was only meant as a friendly inquiry.”
Her nostrils flared. “We’re not friends.”
“Fair enough.”
“Do we know yet what will happen to Diamond’s seat?” Vaughn asked.
I tacked on my own question. “How will the guild decide who gets the seat if Charles didn’t name a successor?”
“Gladiator-style fight to the death, I hope,” Gun said, appearing to cheer up at the thought. “I could sell tickets to an event like that and make a mint.”
“It’s going to be political,” Vaughn said with an air of confidence. “It could turn into a bloodbath.”
I had a sinking feeling he didn’t mean a metaphorical one.
Vaughn’s phone beeped. “This has been fun, but I need to get moving. I’ll see you at the next meeting.” He looked at Josie. “Can you drop me off?”
Josie gave him a curt nod. “I’m headed that way.”
The duo left as quickly as they arrived.
“Where’s he off to in such a hurry?” Gun asked.
Camryn rolled her eyes. “Like you need to ask.” She glanced at me. “Vaughn has a proclivity for unsavory establishments.”
