Page 15 of Sin of the Saints

Chapter Nine

Bartimaeus

“You can’t be here,” I growl at the demoness.

“I know that,angel. And if you’ve got half a brain, you must know that if I’m here that means I had no other choice.” She crosses her arms over her chest and her dark aura shifts. I hear her gasp as my burning touch causes her pain.

“If you’ve infiltrated the holiest of holies to seek vengeance, know that you won’t leave this place alive.” It’s not a threat, it’s a promise.

“If I return empty-handed I’m as good as dead in my world, so I had no choice.”

I hold my breath. “Who sent you?”

“Belle—” Every subsequent word she says is wiped away and blurred, and my guts twist up.

Belle.

Belle.

Belle.

She’s alive. She hasn’t disappeared.

“Are you even listening to me?” Her voice grows harsh, there’s still honest concern in her. Concern. The demoness is concerned for me.

“Did Lilith not awaken? Belle…” Her name rolling off my tongue almost kills me.

“She did.”

“Then how—”

She shamelessly interrupts me. “You weren’t listening to a word that came out of my mouth! I just told you, Belle and Lilith are the same entity. And she’s in danger—”

I don’t stick around to listen to her, instead leaping to my closet and pulling out clean clothes. I strip naked and run into the washroom to clean the sweat off me. After a brief shower I get dressed and return to my room. I feel Valentina’s gaze scouring me.

“What?” I bark.

“Ah… I-I… do all angels look like you?”

I’m aware of the shirt stretching over my muscles, which threaten to tear the cotton fabric, and the jeans that press tightly against my waist. I know I look completely normal, as a guardian angel should – minus the wings. I don’t deserve them because of my sins, according to the Pope. I shrug, having no intent to answer her.

“How do we get to her?”

“You’d better start praying, angel, it won’t be simple. Impossible, more like.”

“Libretto, he…” I clear my throat. Damn, this is hard. “Did he do something to her?” It’s been so long.

“She’s tough and he knows it. She’s changed, you might not recognize her, but she can’t use her powers and we’re running out of time. He must be furious that I’ve disappeared, and I have no doubt he saw us on camera when she urged me to run.”

“Fuck,” I swear and shut my eyes tight. I can’t imagine what he’s done to her. The worst scenarios are playing out in my mind and I shake my head violently to drive them away. I have to be focused. For her. I press my ear to the door of my room and listen. The hallway is empty. “How did you get here?” I ask her.

“I borrowed one of the cars from the castle parking lot. With the money they’ve got I’m sure no one will miss it,” she mockingly answers.

“That’s good. You did good, Valentina.” Did I just compliment a demon? That’s so fucked-up, but this is my life now if I mean to head out and rescue the Queen of the Damned. A betrayal that will never be forgiven. “We have a four-hour drive ahead of us, but the roads are empty at night, that works in our favor.”

I go to the dresser by my bed, seeking it with my hands extending forward, and from the drawer I pull out my two Desert Eagle handguns, giving one to Valentina.

“It’s heavy, but its bullets are heavier and they’re better-suited for the targets we’ll be hunting. You know how to use a gun?”

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