Page 66 of Skulk of Foxes
‘Because having a conversation about animated vampire ducks was helping matters?’ he enquired.
I sighed. ‘You’re right. Let’s stop this tomfoolery and just take the idiot down. Can you manage with your arm?’
Morgan grinned. ‘Believe me, it’ll be a pleasure.’
‘What are you whispering about?’ Dave said. ‘I don’t like it when people talk behind my back.’
‘You take the left side,’ I said to Morgan, ‘I’ll take the right.’
He nodded. ‘Three, two—’
There was a shout from inside the house. ‘Opulus!’ I heard Timmons shout. ‘No!’
There was a loud crash and then the front door was flung open. Standing there, his entire body alight, was the unmistakable figure of the grieving Fey. Even his hair seemed to be on fire. He ran towards Dave and leapt on top of him.
Dave shouted and tried to wriggle free but flames were already licking at his clothes. He squealed and choked as Opulus stopped moving and collapsed. Morgan and I sprinted forward and rolled the burning body of the Fey from Dave.
Dave staggered to his feet. I jumped at him again, trying to put out the flames. He pushed me away but it was a wasted effort. He fell to his knees, his skin blackened and the sickening stench of burning flesh ripe in the air. Then he fell forward. It appeared that Rubus had just created another victim.
Morgan checked Opulus and shook his head grimly. Make that two victims. Lunaria thought Rubus was fragile; I knew that he was a monster. My shoulders sagged with the pointlessness of it all. Why on earth had Rubus taken it upon himself to attack Julie of all people? It didn’t make any sense. He liked her; I’d have gone so far as to describe him as an ardent fan. What the hell was going on?
The werewolves had created a sort of human ladder. They barely glanced in Dave or Opulus’s direction as they helped Finn, Julie and Timmons clamber down from the high window.
Julie’s face was pure white. ‘They came at me in my house,’ she whispered. ‘I’m supposed to be safe there.’
Monroe’s mouth flattened. ‘I’m starting to think nowhere in this city is safe,’ he muttered.
I looked around. ‘Where’s Artemesia?’ My chest felt tight. Was she still inside, in that burning building?
‘She went off to her lab,’ Finn said. ‘We couldn’t stop her. She said she had to get some books and she didn’t care if anyone of us tried to get in her way.’
That was something then; at least she was alright. For the moment. I gestured helplessly at Morgan. ‘What now?’
He swallowed, his expression tight. ‘Nothing has really changed. We have the sphere and we still have to see it destroyed.’ He drew it out gingerly before passing it to me. ‘Keep it safe, Mads. We’ll contact Liung and set up the meet.’
I took the sphere with some reluctance, shoving it into my pocket for now. ‘And in the meantime? Before we get hold of him?’
Morgan ran a tired hand through his hair. ‘We find Arty and pray that she’s found a way to let off some magical steam. It’s probably just as well she ran back to her lab, even though I expressly told her not to. If she hasn’t found a way out of all this, the city might be lost for good no matter what we do.’
Julie and Timmons gave tiny whimpers; Finn just looked grim. As if by unspoken agreement, some of the werewolves went to their sides. ‘Don’t worry,’ one said, patting Julie on the arm. ‘If all else fails, you can come and live with us in Scotland. We’ll accept your petition this time.’
I glanced at Monroe, half expecting him to argue, but he just looked tired. He nodded tersely. ‘Lead the way to this Arty fellow. I, for one, can’t wait to get out of this shithole.’
Chapter Nineteen
Because Morgan was Fey, his broken arm would heal quickly; I only hoped it would be quickly enough. We were marching quickly towards the denouement of our chaotic plans and if he wasn’t fully fit it would be that much harder to succeed.
Even though we were in the relative safety of Artemesia’s little apothecary lab, the mood was downbeat. Every time we turned around, it seemed as if there were another disaster and another death to deal with. Although we were within touching distance of putting down Rubus’s plans for good, the future still appeared bleak. The continued mess of magic was barely being kept in check; rioting and looting in the city seemed to be increasing, despite the continuing evacuations and ever-growing army presence.
‘You know what I think I should get?’ I said to no one in particular. ‘A hat. In the stories, the Madhatter always wears a fabulous hat. I reckon I could get an impressive one. I wouldn’t even have to pay for it, I could just smash a few windows of select boutiques and take my pick.’ I patted the top of my head thoughtfully. ‘Something tall and large. I could hide all manner of helpful objects inside it.’
Morgan offered a faint smile but I could tell his heart wasn’t in it.
‘We could all get hats,’ I continued. ‘It’d be like Ascot but for the apocalypse instead. Dressing for death,’ I proclaimed. ‘It’ll be an internet sensation.’
‘Except,’ Jodie said, ‘there will no longer be any internet.’
Monroe sniffed. ‘I do not dress for death. You know why?’
