No! Two twined figures. The crackle of static between Peter and Martin. Had Martin somehow marked this man as his? He spoke the truth. The thing could clearly see the glowing runes, devise its meaning, as Peter could clearly see the demon. “This man is mine.”
Martin rolled and came up in front of the horror. Monster at his front, Peter at his back. Without turning, Martin snapped, “Leave here. As fast as you can. Don’t look back.”
“What of you?”
Calm settled over Martin. “He’s met his match.” Once Peter left, Martin could deal with the problem at hand. Did Peter recognize Martin’s voice? “Go!” The sooner Peter left, the better.
Soon Martin would seek his lover, explain. Swear him to secrecy.
If Peter even let Martin inside the tavern again after discovering the truth.
Peter sidled around the creature, pausing at the mouth of the alley. Martin couldn’t make out the words for the roaring in his ears.
“Go!” Martin breathed a sigh of relief when Peter rounded the corner, footsteps pounding away.
Good. Now to focus on the task at hand.
The demon was no weak mewling creature like some of Martin’s lesser kills. This being tracked his steps. An older one.
Harder to kill.
Glowing eyes approached. Two demons?
One shifted to Martin’s right, the other to the left.
“Ah, hunter, our master will be pleased when we bring you back.”
Bring you back?
Martin tossed the knife from one hand to the other and back again. Weight balanced on the balls of his feet, he watched, searching for bunched muscles or other signs of attack.
Two? He’d dealt with two before, but only with Dmitri’s help. Where were the priests?
Even footfalls sounded behind him. A wave of relief swept over Martin. Dmitri.
“Good eve to you, Martin.” Dmitri’s voice remained calm, as though merely exchanging a pleasant greeting on the street.
Martin inclined his head without taking his eyes from the predators of the night. “Father.”
Voice unnervingly serene, Dmitri asked, “Shall we dance?”
“Love to.” Martin turned, putting himself back-to-back with his mentor.
“This is none of your affair, Dmitri,” the first demon hissed. “You don’t want to anger the master.”
The demon knew the priest’s name?
“Your master can do to himself things followers of the Father won’t speak of,” Dmitri replied.
“You mean he can go fuck himself?” Martin asked.
“Thatiswhat I said,” Dmitri shot back.
The second demon lunged. Martin danced away. He returned his knife to his belt and yanked his sword from the scabbard between his shoulder blades.
“Fond of your head?” he asked his adversary.
The thing swiped with long claws. Martin ducked. A second later, he felt the sting. The claws brushed his skin, not enough to cut deeply but enough to draw blood.
