Page 36 of Helsing: Demon Slayer
An alien machine that resembled nothing more than a stainless-steel dragonfly perched on the highway in front of them, blocking both lanes. As she watched, one of its bubble-like glass eyes lifted upward to reveal a well-built blond man with a chiseled jaw who looked like he should walk a fashion runway instead of an airport one. He stepped out and was joined by a severe-looking woman wearing sunglasses and black clothing from the other side of the weird vehicle. She carried a large black weapon across her body and scanned the highway and mountains around them.
“The calvary is here!” said the driver. “I don’t know how they got here so fast.”
The medic looked at him, relief easing the tight muscles in his jaw. “Never look a gift horse in the mouth.”
“Never, dude.”
Dianne felt Ryan relax a fraction, though his visage still showed him on high alert.
“Who is that?” she asked.
He looked at her. She saw a hint of wonder in his gaze. “Willem. He works for the Kastriotis. Looks like he can get you out of here to safety.”
A violent mix of emotions cascaded through Dianne, so tangled she had no idea what they included beyond relief and disappointment.
“What about you?” she asked, emotion clogging her throat. “What about Germaine? Whatever that is, it doesn’t look big enough to take all of us.”
Ryan looked at Dianne, his hazel eyes as hard as granite. Something flickered there that she didn’t catch. Instead of answering her, his gaze lasered over her face.
He lifted his chin to indicate her cheek, which burned as if etched by acid. “Did she hurt you anywhere else?”
Dianne shook her head. “No.” Germaine’s bloody fingers invaded her memory. “What about your side? There’s so much blood on her hand from when she attacked you.”
“Just a scratch,” he said. “Nothing a bar or three of WiseHerb's finest artisanal chocolate won’t fix. Don’t worry. I only need half a miracle.”
Before Dianne could push against that characterization, the one named Willem engaged the liftgate on the Range Rover and arrowed a no-nonsense look at them. His survey took in the three of them, including Germaine, who’d slumped against the sidewall, unconscious finally.
He locked gazes with Ryan. “Thedaemonwon’t be subdued long. More are coming.”
“I know,” said Ryan as Dianne said, “Wait! What does that mean? Moredaemons?Here?”
The black-haired woman, who’d taken up a position not far from the SUV’s rear, tensed as she looked back toward the little whirlybird. “Boss,” she said, “They’re here.”
The air around them seemed to electrify, and the sky darkened as if a massive storm approached. A mighty wind buffeted the corridor of the highway caught between low mountains and the coastal plain. The armed woman’s long black hair swirled around her head, but nothing else moved. Ethereal blue light sprang around her and her companion in an awe-inspiring halo. A faint answering gleam rose along Ryan’s skin, matching Dianne’s tunic, which still glowed.
Against the palpable dread threatening to smother them a cavernous voice echoed inside Dianne’s head.You’re mine. You’ve been mine for a long time, Little Girl.
Darting a terrified look at Germaine, she saw her friend’s unnatural gaze fixed on her, malevolence burning the air between them.
Ryan had no intention of meeting his fate crouched inside the rear storage area of an armored luxury SUV. He’d been a Ranger precisely because he needed to face whatever enemy came his way in the open and standing, if possible, not skulking in a tin can.
He wriggled his way to the edge of the vehicle and set his feet on the ground, ignoring the excruciating pain in his side that made it hard to breathe.
“I will take her,” said Willem, reaching for Dianne.
Ryan narrowed his eyes and stared at the much shorter—and lighter—Elioud, an architect by training and now Miró’s right hand in R&D. He might have the advantage of angel blood, but Ryan had a few tricks up his sleeve that would more than compensate in a matchup.
“I misspoke. I defer to you,” said Willem, a gleam of amusement flashing in his gaze. He turned back to his companion. “Marta, now.”
Ryan glanced at Dianne, whose pale face belied her brave silence. “Put your hands around my neck.”
She obeyed without comment.
Cradling her, he braced his thighs against the Range Rover, clenched his jaw, and stood. As he did, Marta activated a harmonic shield that drew on the energies of their modified SUV as well as the prototype helo, turning them into nodes in a larger defensive system.
And not a moment too soon.
A maelstrom of discordant energy slammed into the shield, disgorging a mass ofdaemons, whose gleaming eyes and sharp incisors were the stuff of nightmares and hallucinations. They immediately threw themselves against the shield, completely surrounding the Kastrioti crew and blocking out what little sunlight had remained.
