Hellfire

Chapter Fifty-Nine

I didn't know what to expect but 'window shopping' wasn't it.

Morrigan was drifting through the city like an eerily tall ghost coated in blood. It was late. All bars and restaurants were now closed, leaving only the clubbers too drunk and high prowling the streets, stumbling, cackling or collapsed on a curb. She'd pause in front of one, snatch at their chin with her massive, frostbitten hands and observe them, before she sighed miserably and moved on.

So far, no one else had died.

So far.

I moved behind her, my cap pulled low and my bare feet hissing against the trail of frost she left behind. I felt some fluttering of magic of sorcerers nearby, but Lucius' bats were doing a good job of warding off anyone who would come in her way. I focused them on the beasts. She didn't seem to like them at all by how she nearly slaughtered Doc for simply existing.

My heart pulsed when I thought of the big wolf, my nose wiggling and my eyes flashing with silver flames. I had to give Alistair time to heal him and get him somewhere safe. He had to survive.

The bat that clung to me, nestled over my heart with its ear against my chest, buried itself deeper against me. I felt Lucius a little more in that one, which gave me some comfort and strength to keep my temper from flaring too badly. He was listening, watching, his mind kissing against mine, flashing brief images of his thick teeth and the tension knotted in him. I just hoped he wouldn't dive in to save me. It would just give everything away.

'So, where are the good bones?' Morrigan asked curiously, although I wasn't sure if it was aimed at me. She often spoke, not really expecting an answer. I'd learn if I did, she'd ignore me or, worst, crash a flaring headache to throb in my head. This time however, she looked to me with those dead eyes.

It had been an order.

I froze up and swallowed the embers trying to fly free from my mouth. What do I do? I wasn't going to hand her anything or anyone. The city was Lucius' and I guarded it.

Morrigan frowned her beautiful mouth with disappointment that I wasn't launching into action for her. 'What is it you fetch for my son?'

I give him my throat or breast, but he loves my thigh best.

'He gets his own.' I said instead, not entirely lying. 'He's a grown man. He doesn't need me to fetch him his blood.'

Her dead eyes narrowed, not missing my slight. 'You serve him.'

'I act as his blade. I roam the city when he can't and clean up criminals not worth his time. I'm not his maid.'

Frost was beginning to spiral over her, her lips thinning and height stealthily increasing. I felt her anger, despite her face being unmoving. It was pressing around me - crushing me - freezing me. Then, Lucius' bat thickened with frost, his mind brushed against mine, flashing teeth and flexing muscle beneath a sheen of frost, and she stopped. Her height slunk away, her ice receded, and she stared through me for a moment, her mind lost and eyes blinking. Then her focus snapped onto me and made my spine shiver with hellfire. She'd done this a couple of time. It was like Lucius was resetting her mind and burying her back into her subconsciousness.

'I want bones.' She announced and set off again, drifting through the city with silent steps. 'The best this meagre city can offer.'

'Just follow her for now.' Lucius breathed into me lightly.

'What if she wants to kill?'

'I'll prevent her if I can.'

I shivered with outrage, hellfire rushing up and forcing me to coat myself in his frost, but Lucius breathed calm into me, exposing his frustrations.