Page 8 of The Sinner and the Gunslinger
“Did anyone listen to a word I said?” Her brown eyes blaze with aggravation.
Wesley stands to her side, arms folded, suit crumpled.
“Bloody hell, enough of this wallowing,” he tells his team. “We don’t have time for egos and self-pity. Yes, we’ve suffered losses—from both teams. Yes, things aren’t what you thought.” His tone softens as he focuses on the Saint. “I know it’s a hard pill to swallow, Dom, but your God is still here. He’s still the one you put your faith in. It’s the institution here on earth that’s messed up.”
Interesting that he didn’t address the priest first. Dominic gesticulates and shoots rapid-fire Italian I can’t quite understand.
Wesley purses his lips, then opens the gospel to a page and writes a passage on the chalkboard. When he’s done, he adjusts his spectacles and points at the board with his chalk.
Five relics of the divine borne by
Five sinners of saints to mend
Five heralding horses
He says, “One thing Thea and I learned on our journey was that nuances in the prophecy can be misinterpreted, but some words will not change.” He circles the words: five, relics, divine, sinners, saints, and heralding horses. Then adjusts his glasses before addressing us. “It’s undoubtedly clear five relics will be the key to stopping the horsemen. We’ve seen what Thea’s staff can do and that it will only allowherto harness its powers. And it’s clear the Sinners and Saints must work together to locate the remaining four relics.”
“Do we know which relics?” The Rev asks as she adjusts her habit around her wrinkled face.
“That’s one of the unclear parts,” Wesley confirms.
“But,” Thea adds, her eyes hopeful, “more words have appeared on blank pages. We’re working hard to translate. In the meantime, I suggest we all get involved with researching known holy relics and—”
“Wait just a goddamned minute,” I growl. “Is no one going to talk about the fact these men wanted to dismantle us a week ago? Are we just going to sweep that under the rug, hold hands, and sing ‘Kumbaya’ because the book tells us to?”
“Will youSinnerskeep killing men because they’re in your way?” the priest asks.
“If the shoe fits...” Mercy mutters. But he doesn’t cower. His eyes rake up and down Mercy. My hand twitches for a weapon, but he loses the anger in his eyes as he answers.
“Non uccidere.Thou shalt not kill,” is all he says. Silence expands in the room.
A mix of fury, guilt, shame, and defiance churns in my gut. How dare he? There isn’t a single drop of blood spilled in the name of the Sisterhood that isn’t rotten. The men we kill are rapists, murderers, and disgusting, corrupt souls. Mercy slams her palms on the table, stands slowly, and leans toward him. Her copper hair falls like a waterfall around her face, but her expression is fierce as she growls through clenched teeth, “God can suck my white, freckled—”
Thwack!
The Reverend Mother’s cane slams on the table. Mercy flashes a guilty look and then sits without a word. But she holds the hate as she glares at the priest.
Father Angelotti turns a deep crimson around his neck and ears. I can’t tell if it’s anger or a blush. Mercy’s not wearing her usual revealing clothes today. Hasn’t since Prue died. She’s just in modest black workout attire. So maybe the priest’s reaction is anger... but when I give him a second glance, his eyes are unfocused, and his fingertips tap the table irritably.
He’s probably thinking of a creative penance for her. Our resident priest ran away a week ago, so if Father Angelotti doesn’t fill the gap, we’ll have to find another priest willing to take a vow of silence and come to the Sisterhood.
The Rev softens her gaze toward Father and removes her cane before sitting her old body back down with a wince. She straightens her habit with gnarled fingers, clutches her rosary beads, then sighs loudly so no one mistakes her exasperation.
“No, Father Angelotti,” she says. “The Hildegard Sisterhood has suspended all Sinner missions until the Lilith threat is over—not just here, but around the world at our other chapters.”
“And then?” he asks.
“We might all be dead by then.” She harrumphs. “There’s no point arguing hypotheticals, but I can promise you that my girls will work openly with your boys. Andwewill not keep secrets. We expect the same respect from your team.”
“Si.”The priest gives a curt nod, but from the clench in his square jaw and the hardness in his eyes, it’s clear he has reservations. “We will put aside our differences for the soul of the world.”
“What about the Monsignor?” Dominic’s accented baritone rumbles from the base of his throat. “We will send him home for a burial, yes?”
My brows lift. That’s the most I’ve heard him speak.
“Considering the changing nature of Mary’s gospel,” Wesley says, his expression grim. “It’s better that we bury him here alongside Prudence and keep this information to ourselves. At least until we understand more about the holy relics we’re hunting.”
Dominic abruptly stands, buttons his Versace jacket, and walks out. Father Angelotti gives Wesley an unreadable look and leaves.
