“What is it?”Delia said.“You look like someone just walked over your grave.”
As much as he would have liked to pretend all this wasn’t happening, he knew that wasn’t an option.So he read the message aloud.
Ty’s expression immediately darkened.“They’re monitoring our communications.”
“Which means they know exactly what we’re doing,” Pru said.However, her chin lifted, and it seemed clear she wasn’t about to let herself get bullied out of what needed to be done.
Caleb moved to the huge window that overlooked the city.In daylight, Vegas was much more subdued, the sun washing out the bright neon lights, but he knew the streets were choked with tourists nonetheless.And somewhere out there, demonic forces were weaving a web to trap all those unsuspecting people.
“We can’t stop,” he said at last.“Whatever they’re planning, it’s bigger than just one wedding.”
“But if we keep pushing and they escalate….”Delia’s words trailed off, and she made a frustrated gesture with one hand.
More than ever, Caleb wished he could go and take her in his arms.Instead, he turned back, feeling the unwelcome weight of leadership settling on his shoulders.He’d only wanted to make a new life here in the desert, far from his dark past, but it looked as if the universe wasn’t on board with him having a quiet existence.
“Then we’ll move fast and smart,” he said.“Pru, can you map out the most critical locations?”
She nodded and turned back to her laptop.
“Ty, what’s your range for detecting demonic activity?”
“Depends on the source strength,” the half angel replied.“For something this organized, probably within a few hundred yards.”
“Delia, I know this isn’t what you signed up for, but — ”
“You know I’m in,” she said, voice firm as she rose to face him.“This is my family they’re threatening.Besides, someone has to keep you guys from doing anything too stupid.”
Despite everything, he smiled.“All right, then.Let’s go hit ’em where it hurts.”
An hour later, Caleb was crouched behind a delivery truck in the parking lot of the Silver Bell Wedding Chapel, trying to get a read on the supernatural energy emanating from the building.The place looked normal enough from the outside — white stucco walls, a small bell tower, tasteful landscaping with lilies of the Nile and white marguerite daisies — but his demon senses screamed that something was very wrong.
The energy patterns were all off, twisted into configurations that made his skin crawl.Whatever was happening inside that building, it wasn’t natural.
His earpiece crackled as Ty came online.“I’m getting massive distortions from the north side of the chapel.Definitely demonic, but it’s not like anything I’ve encountered before.”
Pru had taken up a position across the street, hiding in some convenient shadows cast by an unoccupied bus stop.“Same here,” she said.“The electromagnetic readings are crazy.It’s like they’re using the building’s electrical system as some kind of amplifier.”
Caleb activated his throat mic.“Delia, what’s your status?”
“I’m in position by the main entrance,” came her whispered response.“And I’ve got company.Three figures in dark cloaks just went inside.Not exactly your standard attire for late May in Las Vegas.”
No, it wasn’t.Caleb pulled in a breath and said, “Okay, we’re going in.Ty, can you create a distraction on the north side?Something to draw their attention away from the main entrance?”
“Already on it.”
A few seconds later, the sound of shattering glass came from the opposite side of the building, followed by what Caleb thought was a small explosion.Emergency lighting flickered on inside, and he spied shadowy figures moving past the windows.
“Now,” he said into his mic, then moved toward the main entrance where Delia was waiting.
She fell into step beside him as they approached the front door.While they were prepping for this raid, she’d borrowed some of Pru’s clothes so she could get out of the work outfit she’d been wearing.Her face was a pale oval above the all-black ensemble.“Any idea what we’re walking into?”
“Nothing good,” he replied as he tested the door handle.Locked, but that had never been much of an obstacle for him.A small touch of demon-generated heat to the metal mechanism, and the lock clicked open.
They slipped inside and found themselves in a small foyer decorated with artificial flowers and inspirational quotes about love.The space felt normal enough — if a bit cheesy for his taste — but Caleb could already sense the wrongness emanating from deeper in the building.
“This way,” he whispered, following the pull of dark energy down a narrow hallway lined with framed wedding photos.The images looked innocent enough, but something about them made him feel vaguely sick to his stomach.Were the faces in the photos shifting when he wasn’t looking directly at them?
He couldn’t allow himself to get distracted, though, so he kept his gaze fixed forward on their destination.
