Page 13 of A City of Smoke and Demons
Jem’s mouth was turned down, irritation clear in every line of his face.
‘Someone paid me a visit yesterday morning,’ Ezra said. Jem’s eyebrows lifted speculatively. ‘The good Father Bertram Blackwood came to see me. I’d had my arse kicked, so I thought I’d imagined the whole thing, to be honest.’
‘What?!’
Ezra blinked. Jem never shouted, yet here he was, red-faced, in the morning cold, his chest heaving and shock scrawled across his features.
‘TheChurchknows where you are?’
‘Yes, and I haven’t begun to try and work out how,’ Ezra rubbed his face. He pressed against the bruise on his jaw and winced, even as some part of him enjoyed the dull ache. ‘He asked me to find a death witch, but wasn’t willing to share why.’ He paused. ‘This could change things, Jem. Give me my life back, but …’
‘But?’
‘The King exiled the witches and had us murder the rest of them, and the Crown and the Church have been in bed together for hundreds of years. So why would the Church now be goingbehind the Crown’s back? The last thing I want is to stick my neck out only for it to end up on someone else’s chopping block. What do I do? Have you heard anything about the Church needing a death witch?’
Jem was silent for a long moment, until he sighed. ‘If Blackwood has asked you personally, it’s because it’s important. Blackwood doesn’t do anything unless it’s for the Church. The man breathes for God and God alone.’ He nodded, as if confirming it with himself. ‘You should do it.’
Ezra narrowed his eyes. ‘Besides making good with God, which I don’t need to do, by the way, what other reason do I have to do this?’
‘Do you remember all those times I stood you up when we were supposed to get a drink after work?’
The question took Ezra by surprise. ‘Family issues, I believe you said.’
Jem nodded. ‘Did you ever wonder what those issues were?’
‘All the time, but I always figured you’d tell me if it was important enough. What’s going on, Jem?’
Jem sighed, raking his hand through his dark hair. ‘Have you ever heard of the Order of the Dawn?’
Ezra stared at him for a moment, and then groaned. ‘Please don’t tell me this is some sort of secret society filled with strange old men in robes? Because it sounds like it could be.’
‘Ezra,’ Jem began, irritated. Ezra was going to enjoy this.
‘Do you have a secret headquarters? Code names? A uniform?’ He nudged Jem with his shoulder, and his friend gave him an exasperated look. ‘Tell me you have a secret knock at least.’
‘The Order of the Dawn is an arm of the Church. We hunt demons, Ez.’
Ezra’s eyebrows lifted. ‘Demons? As in the scary servants of the Fallen One?’
Jem rolled his eyes. ‘Yes, Ezra. Those demons. What other sort are there?’
Ezra was lost for words.
Jem chuckled uncharacteristically. ‘I think this is the first time you’ve been silent since I’ve known you.’ He kicked at an errant stone, sending it skittering away. ‘Demonic activity has been increasing lately. There are more of Asmael’s Familiars than ever before, as well.’
‘Familiars,’ Ezra murmured. The woman with the flickering face flashed before his eyes.
‘They’re human, but—’ Jem began.
‘I’ve seen one,’ Ezra admitted. ‘At the fight. A woman. I thought I was hallucinating.’
Jem grabbed him around the upper arm. ‘Yousawa Familiar?’
‘Yes, and considering no one ran screaming from the club, I’m certain I’m the only one who did. Then Maddog Pierce, of all fucking people, told me what she was,’ Ezra pulled his arm free.
Jem was shaking his head. ‘You shouldn’t be able to see them. No one except members of the Order can see them.’
Ezra straightened his coat. ‘Well, I did, and I’m not a member of your little club.’ He gave Jem a curious look. ‘Is Maddog in your club?’
