Thief: X (21 page)

“This isn’t helping.” Father Thomas shouted and I looked up with Adram in a head lock. We both looked at each other and laughed,

“Do you have a computer?” I smiled. Hitting Adram always helped my mood.

“Of course, in my study.” We all followed him and I looked at the box that sat on his desk, “I said I had a computer, I didn’t say I used it.” It looked like something from the nineties.

I sat down and turned it on. It sounded like a hamster was being strangled in the back,

“What are you doing?” Adram peered over my shoulder. Somewhere along Adram had picked up a pair of Father Thomas’ glasses and they were balancing on the end of his nose,

“I can’t call him. What if he’s hiding somewhere watching and my bloody phone rings?”

“Hummm I see, one dead cowboy,”

“Exactly but I can find my phone. You know how many times I’ve lost it.”

“I swear if your head was loose you’d lose that too.” I glared at him, “Sorry, I forgot Clockwork took your head.” I was getting that back too. The computer screen beeped, “How ironic.” Adram snorted,

“Where are they?” Sister Succubus said,

“The British Museum.” Everything had gone full circle.

“We better get going then.” Wolfie smiled and I swivelled on my chair,

“This is the last chance to back out. I’d understand.” Sister Succubus pulled her habit off,

“The name’s Margot and that’s Bernie. I thought you’d want to know our names if we’re going into battle together.” I’d never asked their names before and I nodded,

“If we get out of this alive I’ll talk to the pack leader of Havensbrook. I’m sure he’ll welcome you.” I said to Wolfie,

“And you’re quite welcome to stay in this parish with me Margot. If you’d like that?” Father Thomas added,

“Maybe.” She smiled.

“I’m gonna need to pick up some fire power. I’m going to repay Clockwork by knocking very loudly on the front door.”

“About that…” Adram was fanning the smoke that was drifting from his feet, “…When the wards went down, so did your portal. It’ll take a couple of days to open again. Don’t look at me like that Xan! You insisted that if the wards went down, it was best that the portal locked so your weapons couldn’t be used against you.” Of course he was right,

“I need something other than pointy fingers.” I sighed. Father Thomas bit his lip, “What do you have?”

“I’m not sure I should show you.”

“You excommunicated me!” I yelled and he sighed again,

“Ok, follow me but don’t take it personally.” We all followed him back down into the cave but this time we went deeper.

As I walked, I wondered what he meant about me not taking it personally. Everything he’d done I’d taken personally but he must think this was a big deal. The strip lighting disappeared and was replaced by old gas light fittings. Father Tomas stopped and turned them on. They glared to life and so did the solid silver door. It looked like it belonged to a bank vault and it felt strange. It wasn’t just silver; it was a mixture of metals that was enough to keep most supernatural things out. I placed my hand on the cave wall and could feel the lead lining. Whatever Father Thomas had in there was seriously protected.

He looked at me and I’m sure he said a little prayer to himself as he opened the door. If I had time I could have probably broken the combination but that would wait for another time. A waft of stale air hit my nose and I peered inside. My jaw dropped. Weapons were staked from floor to ceiling. It put my own stash to shame. Rifles, semi-automatics, Glocks, rocket launchers, machine guns, there were so many. There was even enough C4 to bring a small fortress down,

“Why does a priest need all this firepower?” I said frowning. Father Thomas was visibly sweating,

“It’s a last resort. The Watchers would always be the last line of defence.” He pushed his glasses back up his nose. The more I looked around the more I found. Globes of hellfire sat humming, the amount of silver in the room was making my head throb and then it clicked,

“It’s a last resort to stop Cain.” Deep down it should have pleased me but it didn’t, “And me?” Father Thomas nodded. “I thought you could call down the Wrath of God?”

“Death can only hold Cain for so long. He could destroy the world and we have to be ready.” I really wanted to punch Father Thomas but there was no point when he was right,

“I don’t have time for this discussion.” Which was true but I would come back and beat the truth out of him if I had to.

I grabbed a bag and started loading it up. Clockwork was seriously going to regret messing with me. I smiled as I opened a box,

“Are they Cubans?” Father Thomas nodded, “Why keep them down here?” I also spotted a shelf full of hard liquor,

“Well, we decided if we were all going down in a blaze of glory we may as well have a drink and a smoke.” Father Thomas shrugged,

“Good idea.” I laughed stuffing a Cuban in my pocket. I filled up a hip flask with vodka and added liquid sin to it, making sure I gave it a good shake.

“I’m not sure I have any clothes to fit you though? You can’t fight in that surely?” Father Thomas looked me up and down. I suppose he was right.

I pulled a pair of black jeans from a shelf and tried them on. Of course they were too short on me. I grabbed a knife and cut the legs turning them into a pair of shorts. My tank top would have to do but I did opt for a pair of boots. Sometimes it was a bonus having man feet. Father Thomas was still looking at me,

“I like to be able to move when I fight. Do you ever stop judging?” I started strapping weapons to me and finally I was finished. I hadn’t even noticed Sister Succubus doing the same. She looked so beautiful with her nun stuff off but that was the nature of a succubus.

We were sisters in arms. Both of us needing sin to survive and I had no idea how she was coping without the supply.

“How are we getting there?” Adram piped up.

“I have an idea.” I grinned. Let the games begin.

It appeared no one liked my idea. We were standing in the graveyard and everyone was looking at me like I’d gone mad,
that
had happened years ago.

“We can’t ride a cat! The filthy thing gave me fleas.” Adram was whining,

“You’re not riding or have you forgot, you can poof into anywhere?” I poked him in the chest,

“Not everywhere and I’m not riding that flea ball.”

“If you don’t shut up I’ll let Smidge eat you.” I picked up Smidge and she head bumped me, “That stupid clown has mom and Cam, can you get us there fast?” She purred and jumped out of my arms.

Cerberus was looking puzzled, “You can stay how you are until we get there.” She gave a little yap and snuggled into Wolfie’s arms.

There was a flash of magic and bones cracking. Smidge was no longer my sweet little cat, instead stood a gigantic, majestic griffin. I heard Adram shriek and disappear. Apparently, a beast with an eagle’s head and wings with a lion’s body wasn’t his thing.

“I think the three of us can get on…maybe?” Smidge was still head bumping me but her head was so big I was holding onto her neck,

“Four.” Father Thomas smiled, holding his bible to his chest, “I want to help.”

“The rocket launcher strapped to my back will help, you not so much. The last time you tried to help I got excommunicated.”

“Are you ever going to forgive me?” There was hope in his eyes,

“Nope.” I did a run and jump onto Smidge’s back and Sister Succubus threw my bag of weapons to me. It nearly knocked me off Smidge, God she was strong.

All I could hear in my ear was Wolfie growling all the way there, muttering how her wolf wanted to eat the griffin. Good luck with that. Smidge landed on a nearby rooftop and the moment my feet hit the ground I kissed it,

“Ever so ladylike as usual.” I looked up to see Adram. For once he was wearing black and looked completely normal for a demon, “Thought you might need these.” He handed me a pair of binoculars and that was when I realised his black combat suit was covered in glitter,

“Is that glitter, seriously? We’re going into battle not a rave!”

“Isn’t it fabulous?” He did a little turn and laughed.

“I give up.” I moved to the edge of the roof and assessed. The fact I wasn’t doing this alone was starting to grate on me. I could literally feel them breathing down my neck.

“What do you see?” Sister Succubus grinned. She was looking forward to this and my demon approved of her eagerness,

“Twelve elves patrolling the grounds.” I switched the binoculars to thermal imaging and winced, “There’s a pile of bodies on the ground floor and it looks like the girls are tied to poles.”

“That’ll be the totem poles.” Adram interrupted,

“Don’t go all tourist Adram and I swear if you raid the souvenir shop I’ll disown you.”

“There’s bad news isn’t there?” Father Thomas stuttered,

“Trackers, lots and lots of trackers. I think I stumbled into this thanks to Dorian. I must send him my thanks for that. Maybe a bouquet of grenades?”

“I hate trackers.” Adram twitched.

“You and Sister…Margot, take care of the elves. Cerberus and Smidge can help if they want to. I’m going in to kill everything that comes near me. Bernie you’re welcome to sink your teeth into anything you want to. Your priority is to get the girls out before Clockwork can drain them dry. I’m going straight for him. Marshall’s in there somewhere so try not to kill him.”

“And how are you getting in there?” Father Thomas thought he was being clever but he wasn’t,

“I’m walking through the front gates and nothing is gonna stop me.” I patted my bag of goodies, “Better get the party started then.” I grinned.

We all clambered down the fire escape like a mob of homeless people. Well, homeless people with guns and a bazooka strapped to their backs.

I stood waiting at the gates for someone to spot me. Sister Succubus and Adram were making their way around to the front as I waited. Wolfie was in the shadows with Smidge and Cerberus.

“Who are you?” An elf walked in front of me and looked puzzled at my bazooka,

“Avon calling!” I smiled as darkness surrounded him and heard the crunch of bones. Margot was very, very hungry,

“Now what? The perimeter’s clear.” Sister Succubus wiped a little blood from her lips.

I took out a cigar, used a knife to slice the end and lit it, “Now I knock.” I pulled the bazooka from my back and aimed,

“Shit!” Sister Succubus dove behind me as I pulled the trigger. If this didn’t get Clockwork’s attention I don’t know what would.

The explosion rocked the building and the door blew in. Trackers crawled out. There were even more than when they attacked my house. It was a good job I had a cure for it. I unzipped my bag and held on to the strap. The bag fell to the floor with the ammunition and I smiled at the feel of the chain gun in my hands,

“Jesus Christ!” Apparently, Father Thomas hadn’t seen me pack this little gem. The second I pulled the trigger, the familiar hum of the bullets firing from the chamber gave me tingles. Tracker blood splattered and yet the onslaught continued. There was no way I wasn’t getting through that door.

I pushed forward until the bullets ran dry. The chamber spun and steamed. Tracker bodies piled at my feet beginning to rot and melt. I took a long drag on my cigar and waited. Yes, I was definitely getting paranoid. After thirty seconds no more trackers had scurried out of the hole I’d blasted so I moved forward,

“Find the girls and my family. That’s your job now.” I told Father Thomas and Sister Succubus. Wolfie and Adram should be inside by now as most of the attack force had tried to storm me.

I dropped the chain gun and un-holstered the semis strapped to my thighs. The second I walked through the ruined door a few straggling trackers decided to pounce. This time I’d been expecting the attack and my silver bullets made short work out of them.

I had no idea where Clockwork was getting all the bodies from, as a pile of corpses were stacked in a gruesome pile that reminded me of how this all started.

“You should be dead.” I expected to see Clockwork but a random, normal looking man walked from the shadows. He was dressed in scruffy jeans and a hoodie. There was nothing special about him, the average Joe, with brown hair, brown eyes. My inner demon recognised his. What was another sin eater doing here? I was analyzing him when more walked forward. I take it back, why were twenty sin eaters here? I knew I probably wasn’t the only one but seeing this many all at once was concerning and they were all men.

“And you are?” I flicked my cigar ash,

“You may as well put your guns down because they won’t work with us. We’re just like you.” He smiled thinking he’d made a valid point,

“Not quite and I’m all out of second chances.” If they didn’t move their arses they’d die.

They took my response as the threat I intended and all at once they drew katanas, “Did you guys practice that? Have you ever thought about auditioning for Britain’s Got Talent? Although katanas are a bit cliché, don’t you think?” I don’t think they appreciated my sarcasm when Mr. Average Joe started swinging towards me, “You know I’m pissed right?”

“You can’t win! Stand with us. The Vatican has held us back; all we needed is a leader and he’ll be our God.” He yelled.

I threw the semis on the floor and dived, kicking him in the legs but it didn’t take him down. Instead, he swung again and I saw the glint of the katana aiming for my heart. No one had told him that wouldn’t work but out of instinct, my hands elongated turning into silver blades. I blocked his attack and while he looked at me stunned I took his head,

“Like I said, I’M PISSED!” I yelled. The silver spread through my body until I was completely protected by skintight silver armor. That was new but that picture was making more and more sense. Cain was the armor. If the leaves from the tree of knowledge could hold this much power, imagine what the tree itself could do? It wasn’t just a reflex, I knew
exactly
what I could do.

I sliced and diced until I was panting. There was shock and horror as I took each sin eater down but I
had
warned them. They thought they were invincible because their wounds healed instantly but I didn’t give them time. Twenty heads. I’d taken twenty heads and I felt nothing. They should have been my kin, not dead like this. Oh well. I could see Adram and Wolfie taking out a tracker but I moved on. My job was to kill Clockwork. Nothing else was a priority anymore, not even a rescue attempt.

I calmed myself, letting my armor and blades fade away. Clockwork had made sure this time that he wouldn’t be disturbed. I must have really upset him when I stumbled on this the first time around. All I had to do now was find him. He wasn’t on the ground floor.

Darkness called to me as I started to climb the stairs to the upper level. Each step felt like I was walking through tar until I couldn’t move anymore. Tendrils of darkness wrapped themselves around my body, creeping higher, consuming me. I tried to pull away but I felt like I was drowning. I tilted my head up, as my lungs were being drown in darkness. What the hell was this?

“Get out of her head! Her dreams are mine.” A flash of light appeared in the darkness and I saw Cain holding a spider by its pincers, “Your body is still weak Librarian, don’t make me kill you. Of course if you continue with this dream weave I’ll have no choice.” To prove his point he pulled off a pincer and the Librarian screeched, “Alexandra will you let your cowboy wake you up.”

The darkness rushed from my body and I collapsed into Marshall’s arms. That was one hell of a dream,

“You ok?” Green eyes looked down at me. I was so happy to see Marshall I was actually smiling like an idiot,

“Yeah and the Librarian’s about,”

“That freaky spider thing?” He said and I nodded, “I wondered what was crawling out the window just now but it was moving too fast.” Cain had saved my arse again. I just wondered how long it would take him to blackmail me with it.

Marshall helped me up and I brushed myself down, “Have you found your daughter?”

“She’s out with the others. I’ll need to thank Adram if I get outta this alive.”

“You’re not going after Clockwork, he’s mine.” Plus, for some reason I didn’t want Marshall getting hurt,

“No way. I’ve traveled thousands of miles to put this asshole away.”

“You know I’m killing him, don’t you?” I slid my finger across my neck to illustrate my point, “He’s not going to prison because I’m sending him to Hell, where he belongs.”

Marshall looked at me and I could see the internal battle raging inside him. He was a good guy at heart and there was a moral dilemma brewing, “Ok.” He muttered. The sin of his acceptance washed over me.

The place was already steeped with sin but Marshall’s had a bitter taste. I wasn’t him and I wasn’t guilty, I was a demon.

“He’s in the basement; he was using the poles as a conductor and he’s not come back up so I don’t think there was anyone left up here to tell him. Why are you smoking a cigar?”

“It’s a Cuban.” I shrugged, “You don’t have to do this. I’m going down there and I’m killing him in cold blood.” I pressed the call button on the elevator and waited,

“You’re using the elevator?”

“I doubt he’ll expect me. He’s probably got my head on a spike down there laughing to himself because he thinks I’m dead.” The door pinged open and we both sighed, “Let’s get this done then.”

It felt like forever going down one floor and it didn’t help when Marshall pushed the stop button. I was about to argue when he flicked my cigar on the flour and kissed me. I was shocked, appalled, angry and I wrapped my arms around his neck. I wanted it to last but I had to push him away,

“That was…not the time.” Was I being heartless? Probably but I needed to focus. Having my libido surging me into sex in a lift was not the right time and a little cliché. “Are you blushing?” I teased,

“I thought…”

“Yes but not now.” I picked up my cigar before he thought about kissing me again and then I pulled out a stun grenade,

“The kiss wasn’t that bad, was it?” He laughed. I pushed the stop button again and the doors opened,

“Nah, this is a little, personal present for Clockwork.” I pulled the pin and threw it at Clockwork’s back.

The bastard caught it and laughed. It exploded in his hand and didn’t stun anything.

“I have to say I’m surprised. It appears we’re both hardier than we look.” A laughing clown was a seriously disturbing sight, “Do you like what I did with your head?” My head was sitting in a jar, looking back at me. My nose looked huge.

Mom and Cam were unconscious on the floor tied to each other. It was probably best because I really didn’t want them to see how brutal I could be,

“Yeah, I want that back.” I said nodding at the jar but then I was suddenly dizzy and had to grip onto Marshall.

My eyes started to itch and Clockwork began to vibrate. The pain in my head made me fall to my knees. Whatever Clockwork was doing made me feel like my head was exploding. Then knowledge hit me. Clockwork wasn’t doing this to me, those damn gauntlets were. In that moment, I wanted to burn the tree of knowledge to its roots.