Page 65 of Cry of the Firebird

"Get dressed, and let's go find the others. They have to be after Anya and Yvan," Izrayl said and helped her to her feet.

Katya quickly dragged on her jeans, weapon holsters, jacket, and boots. She slung her bag over her shoulder and met Izrayl in the corridor.

"I thought it would take Vasilli a lot longer to send his cronies," he muttered. "You can bet your ass he's has gone straight to Ladislav."

Katya couldn't hold back her shiver. "Let's just pray that Ladislav himself doesn't come after us."

"Iampraying. I hope Trajan is awake because we are about to have a fight on our hands." As they neared Trajan's sleeper, he emerged disheveled and tense.

"Can you feel it?" he asked Izrayl, and thevolk krovinodded. "Wake Yvan and Cerise. I'll get Anya." He hurried a couple of doors down and knocked politely before entering. He came out carrying her bag as Anya shrugged on her heavy fur-lined coat.

Yvan stumbled out sleepily from his room further up the aisle. "What's going on? The firebird is panicking."

"My magic is flaring strangely too," Anya said.

"Trouble is what's going on," Katya replied. "Get your gear, prince." Yvan went back into his room just as Cerise appeared, moving through the carriages with fury and blood on her face.

"What happened?" Izrayl demanded.

"Some bastard jumped me when I was sneaking a cigarette. I managed to throw the prick from the train, but there are at least six others," she growled, holding a handkerchief to her bloody nose. "He was carrying this."

Cerise produced a phone with the case engraved with the Darkness's insignia, a sword with a snarling black dragon wrapped around it.

"Fuck, so the Darkness is onto us already. There must've been cameras at the last train station that picked us up, which means they are going to have all our faces now. Who knows how many others will be waiting for us at the next stop? We are going to have to jump and find a back way to Paris," Katya said matter-of-factly. She re-adjusted her weapons so nothing would hurt her when she rolled.

"Hold onto me," Trajan said to Anya, pulling her close. "I'll heal faster than you if we land rough."

"Good idea. I'd rather you break some bones than Anya," Yvan added, taking off his coat and shirt. The firebird was moving on his chest, its long, fiery wings stretching down his arms. Anya watched it for a moment then blushed as she looked away. Katya didn't. Yvan had a hot body, and it had been a while since she saw some skin. Yvan rolled his shoulders, and feathers started to push through his skin like silken spikes. He bit back a groan, and Anya took a step toward him.

"Yvan..." Anya's voice was tight with concern.

"I'm fine, Anya," he replied, his dark eyes flashing gold and red. "Hold close to Trajan."

"Are you going to be okay by yourself, little hunter, or would you like a strapping man to hang on to as well?" Izrayl asked.

"If you can find me one, I wouldn't mind hanging onto him. I'll make do on my own. I wouldn't have suggested jumping if I didn't think I could do it easily."

"You had better go before I push you out," he retorted.

"Please, Trajan, be a dear and get the door," Cerise said over the top of their bickering.

Trajan slid the doors open, and as he turned for Anya, something swung itself through, claws outstretched. Katya fired three shots, and the creature collapsed on the carriage floor. Black blood oozed from the bullet holes, and Katya squeezed the fourth bullet into its head.

"What the hell is that?" Anya asked, gripping tighter to Trajan's coat.

Katya looked down at it thoughtfully. "I'm not sure. It doesn't like silver, though."

It was man-shaped but was utterly hairless. Its skin was a pale gray, and instead of hands, it had claws like a bird and a mouthful of sharp fanged teeth.

"Its body is the Darkness's problem now. We have to go before their companions arrive."

Without waiting for them, Katya strode purposely to the door and jumped out of it. She hit the ground harder than she expected, rolling three times before the long grass stopped her completely. She looked up in time to see Yvan glide through the air for a moment and land gracefully. The golden feathers were melting back into his skin like they had never been there to begin with.

Izrayl's cursing brought Katya's attention to a blackberry bush. She tried not to laugh while he ripped himself free, his shoulder hanging at an odd angle.

"Is it broken?" Katya asked as she straightened her holsters.

"It's dislocated," he said gruffly.

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