Page 103 of A City of Smoke and Demons
His eyes touched on hers, then he looked away. ‘He promised to give my life purpose. When I think about that now, I realise how ridiculous it was to think someone could give me that.’
Analise finished her drink. ‘It’s not ridiculous. Everyone wants to feel that they’ve got something to offer.’
John stared at his hands for a long time, then cleared his throat nervously. ‘Would you come and see my mother? She respects the Daughters of Lilith greatly,’ he explained, then shook his head. ‘I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have asked.’
Analise could do this one thing. She may have changed but her respect for the dead and the dying hadn’t altered. She glanced around, spying Lira at the far end of the bar chatting to a woman with chestnut hair. ‘Can I bring my friend?’
‘The dark-haired woman?’ John followed Analise’s gaze. ‘Of course. I need to thank her for helping me after, well, after I became myself again.’
‘I won’t be a moment.’ Analise slid off her stool and weaved through bodies until she reached Lira’s side. The other woman moved away with a polite nod in Analise’s direction.
‘You made it further than the stairs this time. I’m impressed,’ Lira joked, lighting a cigarette. ‘There are people here, Analise.’
Analise grinned. ‘And, you’ll never guess who’s here—John, my Familiar.’ She nodded at the other end of the bar, where John was waiting. He lifted a hand and waved.
Lira’s eyes widened. ‘What’s he doing here?’
‘He came to find me. He says he remembers me after all. I guess he was in shock after being released.’ Analise told Lira what John asked of her. Somewhere behind them, a cheer went up. She guessed someone had won a hand of cards or whatever it was people did in a club.
Lira chewed her lip. ‘Well, I suppose it’s alright. But I don’t want you to go alone.’
‘Will you come? I’d ask Ezra, but—’ She gestured in the direction of the card tables. ‘He’s currently curating his fortune, by the looks of it.’
‘Or possibly losing it.’ Lira grinned. ‘No one beats my brother at cards. I’ll get our coats.’
John was waiting and as they approached the doors, Hernan eyed him suspiciously, before nodding politely at them as they left. John walked briskly, and Analise and Lira had to hurry to match his pace. He thanked them, talking as fast as he walked, telling them all about his sister and the children she’d had while he was trapped in his own head.
They slowed to let a group of men pass them. Blackcoln Road was as busy as usual—Analise smiled fondly. She’d missed being out on the streets at night, watching people go about their lives.
‘What exactly do you remember?’ Lira asked John. ‘I’m sorry, it’s … you’re the first we’ve ever brought back.’
John’s sigh was regretful. ‘There was always a voice in my head—his, Asmael’s—and I would try … It was like beating my hands against a window and not being able to get out. I was trapped inside myself. I had no choice, no say in any of it.’
They crossed Blackcoln Road once a carriage had trundled past, and Analise realised they were near her old lodging house. She stopped, looking up at the darkened window, John beside her.
‘I know this view well,’ he murmured. ‘You must have been terrified, seeing me down here looking up at you all the time.’
Analise shook her head. ‘I wasn’t, not really. I never felt you were going to hurt me.’
‘I wouldn’t have,’ he said quickly, then looked away. They kept walking, turning into another street. John led them around a corner, and they passed beneath a flickering lamp. They were the only people in the street; the sounds of Blackcoln Road were a long way away.
Lira stopped walking. ‘This isn’t the way we went last time.’
Analise frowned, turning to look at her. ‘What?’
‘This isn’t the way he took Tobias and I last time,’ Lira said in a low voice. Up ahead of them, John stopped. Slowly, he turned to face them and Analise gasped as he withdrew a pistol from the folds of his coat. There was no smile on his face now, and his blue eyes were cold.
‘What are you doing?’ she cried.
‘We don’t need her.’ John pointed the gun at Lira, and fired.
The bullet hit Lira in the chest, between her collarbone and her heart.
‘No!’ Analise screamed.
Lira fell to her knees. Analise knelt beside her, placing her trembling hand over the wound. Blood seeped between her fingers, hot and sticky. Lira’s breathing was ragged, eyes wide.
John grabbed Analise around the arm and hauled her to her feet.
