I really wanted to ask him about his centurion getup, but I had to find Henry, see whether he was alive or dead . . . or somewhere in between. I stood. “Nah, man, get up. You don’t owe me anything.”
Cassius got to his feet, and raised his hand toward me in some kind of salute. “That is not the way of things.”
I didn’t have time to indulge him. But I did need to put one suspicion to bed. “Listen, if you want to do something for me, answer me just one question.”
“If I can . . .”
“You say you saw us get shot, and ran.” I watched his eyes closely as I asked, “Do you know what happened to Henry after he went down?”
He stared firmly back. “No, Jack, I do not.” “Did you see?—”
A flash of light erupted near St. Giles. The scent of ozone wafted down the alley. A moment later, something growled in the darkness beyond the light of the streetlamp. A hulking shadow hunched on four legs, its white eyes glinting in the darkness, staring my way. Cassius took a step toward it, placing himself between me and the creature, but its eyes never lost their focus on me.
The night got suddenly colder, my breath rising in plumes. Then my thoughts jumbled together for some reason, and I was suddenly angry at everyone and everything and didn’t know why.
The low, rumbling growl faded. A short silence. Then the creature charged me.
“Run!” Cassius shouted, the sound shaking me from my trancelike anger. I turned and raced toward Flitcroft Street, that strange adrenaline surging hot inside me again, my legs carrying me faster than I thought I could go. But I had a better handle on it now. And the burning warmth shooting down my veins felt almost good. The night flashed by, Cassius close behind me. Galloping feet pounded after us, closing. If I could just get to my flat before it caught up. Just the other end of the alley?—
The sound of Cassius’s running feet stopped. I looked back and saw him turn to confront the beast, help me escape.
I pulled up. I couldn’t let him fight this thing alone, and started back. The creature had the build of a Rottweiler, but was five feet tall at the withers. Its muscles rippled beneath short, black fur that had split open at its elbows, shoulders, and hocks. Its clawed paws were the size of rack toms. Its fangs as long as my bird finger. Drool seeped from its black lips. Barreling toward us, it growled, baring its yellow, glistening teeth.
Then it leapt at Cassius, knocking him to the ground. The centurion clamped his massive arms around its chest. As I ran up looking for a way to grab the beast, it whipped the centurion around and tore his neck open with that mouthful of teeth.
Cassius stopped moving.
The creature, reeking of blood and wet fur, raised its head and stared at me. Then came full on.
I turned and rushed down Flitcroft as fast as I could. Something, like the push of magnets facing opposite poles, passed over my skin right where Henry had stopped to do the mime-wall routine. Warm air swirled around me, and I stumbled forward onto my knees.
The creature’s heavy gallop was pounding close behind me. I turned to face it, just as it slammed up against the strangebarrier I’d passed through. It crumpled to the cobblestone alley, picked itself up, bounded at me again, and crashed against the barrier a second time.
I didn’t wait for it to make another charge. I hauled ass for the Iron Horse, hoping Henry was still alive, that he was there, and that he could explain what the hell was going on.
CHAPTER FOUR
Any light will reveal in a being’s shadow whether it is human, vestige, or some other state of being. Living flame, however, which is to say real fire, reveals emotion, health, and even wounds of the soul.
—Catalyst Folio
I racedaround the corner onto Manette Street, my head and chest pounding, the adrenaline or whatever it was I had brought back from the field of stones still surging hot inside me.
I sprinted for the Iron Horse door, braced myself, hit it full speed, and tumbled onto the floor. Then I scrambled around, shoved the door shut, and threw the bolt from my knees. When I turned to face the pub, Church, Lady, and Chuey were gaping at me slack-jawed.
Chuey stood. “Jack?”
“Henry!” I shouted. “Is he here? Is he okay?”
I jumped up and rushed past the curtain into the venue side. Empty. He could be in the rear office. I ducked back into the pub. My friends were all on their feet now, still staring my way.
“Easy, my boy,” said Church around his cigar. “We thought Henry was withyou.”
“Something happened,” I said. “Right outside Henry’s flat. I think he was shot. Then I think maybe I got shot. Whatever happened, I blacked out.
And when I woke, I ran into a guy dressed like a Roman centurion.” I stopped at the absurdity of what I was saying. My blood still seemed to be on fire, and the whole night kept jumbling in my head.
Lady tucked her needle into her hair bun. “Slow down, Jack.”
