Page 79 of Waifs And Strays
That wasn’t the speech all those people down there had been expecting and I could hear grumbles even from up here on the roof.
‘The rest of the world ignores us! The rest of the world passes us by while we focus on ourselves and not on making Coldstream the best, most powerful city in the country. We could be so much more! The right leader can bring us together. The right leader can show everyone else that we are a power to be reckoned with.’
‘Who’s the right leader?’ somebody in the crowd bellowed out. ‘Because it’s not you! It’s not a damned werewolf!’
There was a wave of amused titters but many were listening carefully, taking in Lorna’s words. I glanced to my left and spotted Thane’s bobbing head. Thank goodness for that bright ginger hair that made him so visible. He was elbowing his way through the mass of people, searching desperately for any sign of an Umbra witch.
‘You are correct!’ Lorna answered. ‘It’s not me. It would never be me.’
Yeah, yeah. Shewantedit to be her; she was going to use a damned demon to make it her. ‘I am going to bring somebody here who can make Coldstream powerful!’ she shouted.
I checked on Thane again. He’d stopped and seemed to be staring at something – or someone. He veered slightly left towards the fringes of the crowd. ‘Come on, Thane,’ I whispered. ‘Come on.’
‘I am going to bring the leader we deserve!’
Another voice sounded from the crowd. ‘Hurry up then!’
Lorna’s smile broadened. ‘As you wish.’
I clenched my jaw. For fuck’s sake, Thane, do something!
He’d reached a man in a dark cloak who was holding something. Thane punched him hard in the jaw and wrestled the thing from him. I recognised it immediately as a witch’s box used to contain all manner of magical material. That had to be what was powering the magic barrier that was protecting Lorna. Thane held it aloft, about to smash it to the ground.
I re-checked my position and my aim. Any second now. Any … second … now.
Thane hurled the box to the ground at the same time as Lorna dropped the flask. Blood gushed forth at her feet and I squeezed the trigger again, still aiming for her shoulder. This time the bullet found its target.
The barrier was broken. Lorna’s body jerked backwards and I exhaled with relief, but I’d relaxed too quickly. The blood that had come from at least one lone werewolf – and quite likely more – was spilling across the ground in front of Lorna’s feet. Shit.
A few people cried out in alarm probably more because of Lorna’s collapse than anything else they suspected was happening, although thick red smoke was already billowing forth as the magic of the blood and the day coalesced.
I peered past it and caught a brief glimpse of Lorna struggling to sit up. Her lips were moving as she muttered some final incantation that would seal the deal and summon a demon. I adjusted my sights. I’d shoot her in the head this time if that was what it took to stop her.
Then I saw Thane flying towards her. An instant later, he vanished as he was swallowed by the cloud of scarlet smoke. That was when the ground started to shake.
The crowd were more alarmed now and there were screams and cries as the building beneath me juddered and swayed violently. More and more of the red smoke filled the square and there was nothing I could do. I couldn’t see any targets, couldn’t see beyond the damned smoke and the fleeing people.
There was a loud crack, as if the air itself was splitting in two.
I focused on the thickest part of the smoke cloud. I doubted that my bullets would do much against a demon but I’d certainly try. Ihadto try.
A breeze picked up from the western side of the square, not particularly strong but enough to clear some of the smoke. I concentrated on my breathing. Even if Lorna were dead, I couldn’t allow a demon to take hold of Coldstream. This city wasn’t perfect, not by a long shot, but it didn’t deserve this. Itdidn’t deserve the chaos that a creature from the underworld would bring.
And then the smoke gusted upwards to reveal a tiny creature sitting in the pool of werewolf blood. My mouth dropped open and I lowered my gun.
Chapter
Thirty-Three
Although plenty of people had turned and run, once the earthquake was over and the red smoke had dissipated hundreds still remained. Some were curious, some afraid to move – and some were laughing.
‘Look! There’s our new leader! That’s who’s going to unite Coldstream and make us a world power to be reckoned with!’
‘Miaow!’
‘Who’s got kibble?’
‘How about a piece of string?’
