“I think you’re still human,” I said. “And that’s enough for him to use.”
There was silence, just the static hum of the anger between us. Then Virgil exhaled. It was the sound of a man fighting the urge to break something.
“She’s my blood,” he said finally, voice rougher now. “I can feel him circling her, Hellsing. I’ve seen it before. You think I can just sit here and do nothin’?”
“I ain’t askin’ you to do nothin’,” I said. “I’m askin’ you to stay alive. Stay where you are, stay protected. If Bael’s crawlin’ outta Hell again, he’s gonna come forbothof us. And I can’t fight him if I’m worried about covering your six too.”
He went quiet again. When he spoke, it was softer. “You really think you can keep her safe?”
“I’ll die trying,” I said. “You know I owe you that much.”
“Don’t say that” he hissed. “You die; she breaks. You understand me?”
“Yeah,” I said. “I understand.”
“Then listen to me, keep your circle tight, keep iron close. Bael’ll use anything he can from lust, fear, pain, anything to get to her. You feel him digging in again, you call me.”
“I will.”
The line went dead before I could say anything else.
I shoved the phone back into my cut and looked out toward the rain-soaked road. My hands were shaking, and I wasn’t sure if it was from the cold or from the way Bael’s laughter echoed faint in the back of my head.
She’s pretty when she’s scared,the fucker whispered.She looks just like her mother.
Dread consumed me as I realized he had found her.
That little witch takes hell as her playground and tells you nothing. What did you think, you could hide her forever? Keep her all to yourself?
I clenched my fists and swung a leg over my bike. “Watch me.”
The engine roared to life, thunder cracking overhead as I tore out of the Boneyard and back toward the city.
Whatever this demon thought he was gonna take, he’d have to go through me first.
And I was planning to send him back to hell when it came to that.
GRACE
Idon’t know what I expected when Peter said he was takin’ me to meetMother Mary, but it wasn’t this tiny soul food restaurant sandwiched between a bait shop and a voodoo supply store. The paint peeled in all the right ways, the smell of fried catfish made my stomach growl, and there was a portrait of the Virgin Mary hung up beside a neon beer sign.
She spotted us the second we walked through the door.
“Well, well well,” Mother Mary said, drawlin’ each word like it was syrup poured slow. She stood behind the counter in a leopard print dress, her graying hair wrapped in a bright purple scarf, gold hoops nearly big enough to use as bracelets. “If it ain’t my favorite bad boy walkin’ in like he owns the parish.”
Hellsing gave her that crooked smirk. “Evenin’, Mary.”
“Mmhmm,” she said, eyein’ me from head to toe. “And who’s this lil’ daffodil? Lawd, child, you brought me a girl with eyes that see straight through a soul.”
Peter cleared his throat, resting a hand, low on my back. The heat from the palm of his hand felt comforting. “Mary, this here’s Grace, Virgil’s daughter.”
“Well, it’s ‘bout damn time you brought a woman I don’t have to cast a spell on to get her gone.” She slapped a towel over hershoulder, then leaned across the counter with a wink. “Darlin’, you keep him close, y’hear? He might look all righteous now, but that man’s been settin’ hearts on fire since he was wearin’ combat boots and your daddy’s cross.”
I bit my lip, trying not to laugh. “I’ll do my best.”
“You better,” she said, flicking a dish towel in Hellsing’s direction. “If you so much as blink, I’ll sic my niece on him, and she ain’t afraid to ride a man into confession.”
Peter groaned. “Mary…”
