Hellfire

Chapter Sixty-Three

Lucius' bat clutched at me, empty of him and nestled against my heart, while Eva's was more alert with her soft presence - watching for trouble and trying to spy any of few demons that still held Morrigan's consciousness. I did catch some in the corner of my eye, but they were sleeping from trees and lampposts, uninterested in watching or eating anything. That was a relief. She couldn't see where I was going.

The city felt so different compared to early. It was warmer, less oppressed, less terrifying, without Morrigan's claws dug into it. Still, the city was gorged. I marched passed people out on the town, following the scents of magic and trying my best to ignore that pit of worry of how empty Bath felt. Magic was barely anywhere. I spied no sorcerers, no beasts, no witches. Everyone had either fled, hidden or was dead, leaving Bath a wasteland. I just hoped those Lamia sisters were still around though – I needed them.

Eventually I found the entrance to Murian Street and it hadn't moved since Morrigan had hunted down its cobbled path. Once it had drifted with various scents of magic and glowing lights of life, however now it was drab and gloomy and a hint of old blood emanated from it - a sense of emptiness.

I stared at it, stroking Lucius' bat to soothe myself as death radiated from the entrance, fully aware of just how many had died by the amount of times I had been sent to grab bones from the dead left there. I just had to hope the lamia sisters weren't amongst them.

I sucked in the stagnant air and stepped towards the entry way, only to freeze when my name was cried out.

'Susan!'

I barely had time to turn and check it was Ella before she'd barrelled into me, gripping me tight as if I was anchoring her somehow, but I was shoving her away and looking at her in horror. It really was Ella. She was smiling goofily, her big eyes bright and wild. I didn't care if Morrigan was now under Lucius' control, she wasn't to be near me.

'Why're you here?' I demanded with hushed tones. 'Get away. Now!'

'She's not on her own.' Mo announced, her voice slightly muffled from the cigarette in her mouth.

I didn't fail to notice the little fox flickering into view either. My heart caught in my chest at the sight of Elliot.

'Elliot!' I roared out.

He danced forward, flowing into view in a vibrant shade of red, and hopped about in front of me. 'Susan!' He cried out with joy at the sight of me.

'Why're you still in this city?' I demanded, furious a child chose to stay and no one had dragged him out.

He didn't seem to mind my temper and simply wiggled his tail and flapped his ears. 'Lucius gave the job to me. He said I was to keep the Bullards and Ella safe. I keep them hidden.'

'Nothing stays hidden from her!'

He tilted his head. 'Well, not hidden hidden, just enough that she won't notice them.' He sat down and puffed up his chest. 'I'm getting good at befuddling noses, you know. Even Doc says so and he's got a very good nose.'

'He's been helpful. He's our little alarm. He can hear and smell thing we can't, so tells us when danger is close by or about safe routes to take if it gets too close. He keeps the demons from seeing us, or anyone that might try trade Ella in for their own life.' Mo grunted. 'Tabitha was worried about people ousting Alistair and Ella so spread the rumours Ella had fled, killed any that posed a risk and Elliot here makes sure no one sees her.'

His fur rippled a brighter, more vicious shade of red as pride emanated from him.

'And Tabitha did order him to leave but he kept squirming his way back.' Ella said gently. 'He's very brave.'