Page 107 of Bones

When it came into focus, I still saw the dark basement on the left side. On the right, though, two suited men stood in a nasty kitchen. Dishes were piled high, all of them caked in moldy food and crawling insects. Rodents scurried by, but the men didn’t notice.

Not even when a massive rat went over one of their feet.

I hadn’t been cognizant, but I somehow knew the scrawny guy was the one who’d taken us.

My suspicion was confirmed when the bigger man shoved him and shouted, “What the fuck do you think you’re doing? Your assignment was to watch them.Watch. That’s all.”

“Iwaswatching. But all of a sudden, the one the boss wants was just standing there.” Weasley guy shuddered. “Weirdo eyes totally blank like she was dead. It was my chance to fulfill my destiny.”

“So you decided to try to take all of them?”

Our kidnapper’s chest was puffed out as he gripped his lapels and bragged, “There was notry. I grabbed the one, and the rest followed. They must’ve known they had no chance against me.”

“A and Z are not gonna be happy about this. We need all eight.Together.”

Togethertogethertogether.

Scrawny shrugged. “So we’re halfway there.”

The angry one took out his phone. “I already called the boss to tell him we have her. He’s sending help.”

“What do you meanwe?”

“Well, we’re both here. You’ll need me in case those devil spawns call in demons or—” His words cut off, turning into a gurgle. His sharp inhale was a wet squelch as his lungs flooded with blood. It traveled up to pour from his mouth. He stumbled, knocking filth from the counters before falling to the stained linoleum.

Roaches, rats, and who knew what else descended instantly on the warm feast barely clinging to life.

Our kidnapper pointed his bloody dagger down at the prone body. “You think you can treat me like I’m stupid and then try to take credit for my service?Iam God’s servant against evil.Iam mankind’s protector.Iam the one who apprehended Satan’s jezebels. The honor and the glory and the accolades are for me and me alone.”

Then, like he hadn’t just murdered someone from his own side of the perilous game, he tucked the dagger into the sheath at the waistband of his dress slacks and began whistling the theme song to a sitcom from the eighties.

My partial view of the kitchen faded to just the basement.

What the hell was that?

“Aurora, if you don’t answer us, I’m waterboarding you in that hot water tank,” Juno threatened, shaking my shoulders. “And I can already tell it’s rusty as hell.”

“I’m fine, I’m fine.” I grabbed her arms to stop the shaking, but I kept hold of her even when she was done. That feeling of gratitude and friendship went through me again. If it weren’t for the dagger-wielding murderer headed our way, I might’ve hugged her.

“Two smudgy auras turned to one,” Lilith frantically whispered to fill me in.

“I know. He killed his buddy. I’ll explain later, but he’s coming.” I took a shaky breath and pushed my shoulders back. For the first time since my accident, I didn’t feel alone. And I also didn’t feel like a coward. “He wants me. As soon as he takes me upstairs, find a way to get free.”

“If you think we’re handing you over without a fight, you’re out of your mind.”

“But he has a knife.”

“And I have magicks.” She held her arms. “What kind of thundercunt brings a knife to a magicks fight?”

“But if he’s warded?—”

“We’ll figure it out,” Juno said.

“Together,” Lilith added as she stepped next to her.

Togethertogethertogether.

“What they said,” Denny agreed, taking her place on the other side.

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