Page 26 of The Sinner and the Gunslinger
I drop to give her a quick pat. “Good girl.”
She preens under my attention and then shoots back to Wes, scampering up his body and settling around his neck. He stands behind Thea as she listens intently to the story. When Leila is done, The Reverend Mother plants her gnarled hands on the table and tries to leverage herself up to standing.
I rush to her side to help her stand. I swear she’s getting older by the day. She smiles briefly at me and leans heavily on my hand and her cane.
“Thank you, child.” To the other Sinners, she says, “Raven, Tawny, check on the nuns. I’ll be right behind you.”
“Got it.” They dash away.
We watch as Thea presses her angelic staff to the fallen nun’s sternum. The wooden length glows a warm color as it sweeps over her body. I remember that feeling seeping into me when Thea healed me. It was like seeing God. Pure, heavenly, rapturous joy obliterated every bad thing in my body. But it didn’t last. The instant the healing was over, all my doubts crept in and stayed.
The Reverend Mother clutches the rosary beads at her belt and slides her watery gaze to me. “This war sickness is taking longer than we thought to clear. We must stop Asmodeus. Will you help us, Mr. Cohen?”
“Of course.”
“Good.” She pats me on the arm. “I’m glad to hear that. Thea and Wesley can explain what we need you to do.”
My eyes narrow. That sounds awfully like they’ve been talking about me. But after what Wes revealed earlier, I shouldn’t be surprised.
The Reverend Mother leaves us, hobbling downstairs, her cane slamming heavily with each step.
I shuffle closer to the table. Wesley stands next to me as Leila pins the sister down. Thea’s magic is making her convulse. It’s not a pretty sight, this healing. It was never this bad for me. But here—it’s ugly.
Thudding on the stairs announces the arrival of my missing team members. Dom and Cisco stride into the room, their eyes hard and focused. Their concern gives me hope. Despite what Wes fears about Cisco siding with the Vatican, I see the compassion in his eyes and hope it rules over his loyalty to the people signing our paychecks.
“Again?” Cisco asks, frowning as Mercy squeezes past him to get closer to the nun.
Her long copper hair drips all down her pink silk robe, sticking it to her skin. Must have come straight from the shower.
Wes replies over Mercy’s head to our priest. “The cycle keeps repeating. Thea can’t leave this sanctuary until the nuns are all completely healed.”
“Or Asmodeus is dead,” I add. We assume.
The wooden staff flares brightly, then fades as Sister Agnes’s eyes flutter open.
“Did it happen again?” Her voice trembles, and she wipes her pale face with clammy hands.
Mercy squeezes Agnes’s hand. “Yes, love, but you’re okay now.”
“No one got hurt,” Leila says as Raven rejoins the group.
“Everyone else is fine,” Raven confirms.
“Hear that?” Mercy pats Agnes’s hand. “Nothing to worry about. I’ll take you back to your room.”
“Oh, my!” Sister Agnes tries to slide off the table but stumbles.
Leila and I simultaneously reach for her, but Raven tugs us away. “You two need to stay. I had a vision that involves you.” She looks to Dom, frowns, then slides her gaze to Cisco. “Father, if you can help Mercy bring Sister Agnes to her room, I think she’ll like that.”
“Of course,” he replies. His tone is dry toward them, but then he takes Agnes’s other side and says warmly, “I’ll stay as long as you need, Sister.”
“I’ve got you first,” Mercy insists, a narrowed glance at the priest.
“Oh, it’s really not necessary—” Her eyes widen, and tears form. “I’mtalking... I... Lord forgive me, I’ve broken my vow again.”
“The Lord will understand.” Cisco’s smooth voice leaves no room for confusion. “You take the time you need,Sorella.”
Mercy and Cisco escort the trembling woman downstairs. Dom, Wes, and I are left with Leila, Raven, and Thea. I glance warily at Raven and find she’s already staring at me with an indecipherable look. A shiver runs down my spine, and I resist the urge to draw my weapon like a security blanket. I have the sense this short Latino woman with dark, rainbow-tipped hair is a chameleon.
