Page 104 of A City of Smoke and Demons
She spun to face him, magic in her fingertips, and gasped.
His face flickered, and her heart sank as his eyes slowly morphed from sky blue to black.
She hadn’t done anything.
‘He’s waiting.’
‘Analise,’ Lira groaned, trying to get to her feet. Her blouse was soaked in blood. Analise struggled in John’s grip, but he was inhumanly strong. He shook her, hard enough to rattle her brain in her skull.
‘Come with me or the next shot is between her eyes,’ he hissed, putting his face close to Analise’s.
‘I’m not leaving her here,’ Analise snarled. Magic curled around her hands.
‘If you try to use that magic of yours on me, I’ll shoot you,’ John warned, and Analise felt the muzzle of his pistol kiss her ribs through her coat. She had no choice but to let him lead heraway. As he dragged her around a corner, she caught a glimpse of Lira, still on her knees, bleeding into the night.
‘Where are you taking me?’ Analise demanded, but John wouldn’t answer her. His face flickered again, his skin slowly shifting from a healthy, living glow to the corpse-pale she was most accustomed to. His lips lost their colour, and his fingers on her arm grew icy enough that she could feel the chill of them through her coat.
‘I never freed you, did I?’ she asked, panting as they turned another corner. She flung her hand out, letting a wisp of magic free as she trailed her fingers along the brickwork of the building.
John glanced at her. ‘Your magic cannot stand against my master’s, no matter how much you might wish it. I chose him, you understand? Why would I let you take him from me?’
Analise swallowed, pulling against his arm, collapsing against a lamppost.
‘Get moving,’ the Familiar commanded.
‘Give me a moment,’ she snapped.
John tugged her away, tucking his arm in hers, pressing the gun against her ribs again. Wherever she could, Analise touched a wall, a lamppost, and a stationary carriage. She pretended to stumble and fell to her knees, making sure her hand brushed the pavement before the Familiar yanked her to her feet, and they continued on.
Come on, Ezra, she prayed silently.Please work it out.
‘You owe me,’ Ezra declared. Tobias glowered at him, his lips a thin line beneath the moustache, which only made Ezra’s gloating smile grow. ‘I won. Pay up.’
Tobias tossed a handful of money onto the table.
‘I will count that,’ Ezra told him, sliding the coins towards himself.
‘You can count, can you?’ Tobias muttered.
‘And sing as well. Want to hear a few bars?’ Ezra laughed at the look of horror on Tobias’ face. Beside him, Jem was smiling. The club was closing; as Hernan showed the last patrons the door, the burly redhead paused, his hand hovering over the lock. He peered out into the darkened street.
‘You slide the bolt, Hernan,’ Ezra teased. ‘In case you’ve forgotten how to lock a door.’
Rather than a scathing reply, Hernan’s ruddy face pulled into a frown. ‘They haven’t come back yet.’
‘Who?’ Jem asked as he collected the cards and returned them to the deck.
‘Your sister,’ Hernan answered. ‘She left with some man. I’d seen him before. He was one of the ones you brought back here.’ At their blank looks, Hernan rolled his eyes. ‘I’m not fucking stupid.’ He nodded at Ezra. ‘Your redhead went with them.’
Ezra shook his head. ‘Analise is upstairs in bed. And that is where I’m going. So, if you gentlemen will excuse me—’
‘She left with Lira,’ Hernan cut in firmly, coming over. ‘An hour ago, at least.’
‘Describe the man who was with them,’ Jem demanded, hands freezing on the cards.
As Hernan talked, Ezra realised the bouncer was describing John, but instead of feeling relieved, something cold slithered over him. He glanced towards the stairs.
‘She’s not up there,’ Hernan said.
