Chapter3
We hit the harbor with a whine of the engine dying, and everyone’s energy seemed to spike.On another yacht, there were a few Deadies lumbering around with no real concept of time or space in the distance.A dead body was bobbing in the waves—when we nudged it with the boat, its pale, bloated hands began scrabbling at the metal hull of the ship we were on.
“Diaz, Mercury!”Eddie said, rushing out to meet two vampires I’d never seen before.“You two are definitely getting a promotion!”
The three Flames of Hell members all hugged and slapped each other’s backs.
“We gotta move,” Diaz said.He was the squatter of the two, built like a brick, or a dwarf.
“We passed a gym on the way here.An undead Crossfit group is heading this way,” Mercury said.“They move pretty fast.”
“Glynfelda’s riding with me,” Eddie said.“Let’s move!”
The survivors all scooted, scraped, scurried, or sloped up the loading ramp to the moving truck.It did not look comfortable in there.Brother Al spoke with my doppelganger, who remained quiet and sulky in the corner.I sighed.From a distance, I realized just how terrible my dress was.Then again.I had been captured in a merman citadel for the better part of the last week.And why was my ass so flat from this angle?
In truth, Glynfelda was a smart broad.I explained the situation as the boat docked, and she agreed to do a minor illusion charm to swap our appearances.No matter what, she’d be in the back of the moving truck.She even gave me something useful.
“What is this?”I asked.“A tarot card?”
“Yes,” she said.“There’s not time for more than this.Just hold onto it and tap it if Eddie needs some assistance.”
“What do you mean tap in?”I asked.
“Close your eyes.Breathe.Feel your soul reach into the card.Pull out what’s there.It’s simple, really.”
“That doesn’t sound simple, it sounds complicated,” I said.
“You’ll get it,” doppelganger Stacey said to me suddenly.
“That’s so weird,” we both said at once.
I slidone geriatric leg over the back of Eddie’s bike.
“Hang on,” I said.“Not used to this.Oh, my hips…”
“There’s still time to get in the van,” Eddie said.
“No,” I said.“Let’s just go already!”
“Mercury, Diaz,” Eddie said.He banged on the cargo truck’s driver side door.Another gang member honked from behind the wheel.Vic leered out at us from the passenger seat, hands in the casting position.“We’re headed to Hartshome.This truck must be protected at all costs!”
“Got it, boss,” Mercury said.
“On it!”Diaz said.
The van started to life with a diesel sound, rumbling down the street.Mercury and Diaz followed close behind.Eddie revved his bike engine.It started even as a group of athletic undead in spandex burst from the next corner.A pale, scrawny human was running in front of them.
“You’ve got to help me!”he sobbed.
“Jesus,” Eddie snapped.He kicked on the throttle, and the engine revved.“Let’s go!”
“You have to save him,” I snapped.
“Stacey, don’t do this,” Eddie said.
The man was gasping.Only about a hundred yards away now…
“I can grab him,” I said.“Just stay here until he gets closer…”
