“Come. He’s gone, and it’s not safe for you here.”
Peter barely heard the wails or saw the burning skyline. Martin. That man. That… that… thing had taken Martin. “Where did he take Martin? Why?”
Peter gazed up and up at a pale white face, eyes shining like a cat’s in the dark. Long white hair spilled over broad shoulders.
The man holding him was totally naked, muscles sleek but well-defined.
Peter barely fared better. For a moment, an image of Martin flashed through his mind, how he’d looked at their first meeting, burned and broken.
“Who are you?” Peter tried to yank free. The unnerving man held tight.
“You may call me Father Dmitri for now.” He paused long enough to better grip Peter’s stumbling form. “The immediate answer is that he traded his life for ours. He doesn’t know what awaits him, nor that the runes you wear and my power would have saved us. The arrogant prick took advantage of Martin’s decency.”
This was a priest? This was what hid under layers of brown wool?
“Wait! Martin sacrificed himself for nothing?” The rough tones of Father Dmitri’s voice offered no reassurances. “Where did that… thing take him?”
“To another realm.”
Another realm? Was that a city? Another land? “We can’t leave him there.”
Father Dmitri skirted the body of a woman lying on the ground. A man lay slumped against a milliner’s shop. Both looked beyond any healing skills Peter might have. “We won’t. Now, no more talking until I get you to safety. The lower city definitely is not safe.”
They turned the corner. Glowing eyes emerged from the darkness. Father Dmitri backed up, shoving Peter behind him. “No matter what you see or hear, you must never say.”
Who would Peter tell? Who would believe him? All other witnesses appeared dead or well on their way.
Father Dmitri held up a hand.
Two of the hideous creatures stepped forward, one’s teeth dripping blood. “Oh, see who we have here. You can give him to us. He’s served his purpose.”
“You cannot have him.” Father Dmitri kept his body between the creatures and Peter.
“But he’s just a pitiful man. No more than a meal.”
By the Father. Peter froze, horror holding him in place.
“You did not hunt to feed this night. This… This“— Father Dmitri swept an arm out to indicate the city— “is an abomination. Killing for the sake of killing.”
One of the vile creatures snickered. “Today, tomorrow. What’s the difference? Once Thomoth fully wakes, we all die. Unless our master defeats it.”
Father Dmitri attempted to reason with these foul creatures. If Peter only had a sword…
The priest made a shoving motion with his hand. A ball of white light shot from his fingertips. The things shrieked, sinking back.
Grabbing Peter’s arm, Father Dmitri bolted. He must’ve been younger than Peter realized to keep up such a staggering pace.
They left the main street, loping steadily uphill to the high city. No flames here, no terrified screams. Lights spilled from the elegant Lady’s temple. Sounds of revelry cascaded from the doors and windows, so at odds with the carnage not so far away.
“This way.” Father Dmitri led Peter to the other side of the street, so dark it seemed to repel even the soft glow of street lights.
“What about them?” Peter pointed across the street.
“No matter how bold they’ve grown, the creatures will not tempt fate by coming closer to the Lady’s temple.” Father Dmitri gestured toward a door, not bothering to hide his nakedness.
Peter didn’t say more. He’d lost his tavern, his home… his lover. Was Addie okay? Please let her have been reasonable for once and run.
Father Dmitri guided him through the pitch-black interior without a single waver or without bumping into anything. At last, they came to a door. Letters in an unfamiliar language glowed around the doorframe. Father Dmitri placed his hand dead center of the door. He spoke a few words Peter didn’t recognize, even though he’d learned many languages during his lifetime.
