Bloody Lover | Piper McLean

CHAPTER 17 : Almost freezing to death

EARLANA & PIPER

Piper felt as if she had slept for only a few seconds, but when Earlana gently shook her awake, night was falling.

"We're here," she told her, with a small smile.

Piper rubbed her sleepy eyes. They were above a town perched on a cliff, overlooking a river. The surrounding plains were dotted with snow, but the town glistened in the winter sunset and exuded a warm atmosphere. The buildings were huddled behind high ramparts, as in a medieval town. Earlana had never seen anything so ancient. And there was even a real castle in the center of town, the Latina assumed it was a castle, with red brick walls and a square tower topped by a pointed green-gabled roof.

"Tell me we're in Quebec City and not Santa's workshop," Leo said.

"We're definitely in Quebec City," confirmed Piper. "One of the oldest cities in North America. Founded around 1600, right ?"

Earlana raised an eyebrow.

"Your dad made a movie about this too ?" Piper grimaced at Leo who was making a face, which he was used to, but with her new hyper-sophisticated makeup, the effect wasn't the same.

"I do read sometimes, you know ?" The pretty girl said. "It's not because Aphrodite claimed me, that I've got nothing left in my skull."

"Damn, hermosa, no one said anything. I'm pretty sure you are supposed to be the brain of this whole operation," Earlana chuckled, winking at the daughter of Aphrodite.

"So, if you know so much, what's this castle ?"

"A hotel, I think."

"No ?" laughed Leo, "No way !"

But as they drew closer, he saw that Piper was right again. The grand entrance was full of doormen, valets and hunters carrying luggage. Luxurious black carriages threaded their way down the aisle. People dressed in elegant suits and winter coats hurried toward the building to escape the cold.

"Does the North Wind live at the hotel ?" asked Leo.

"Look, guys," interrupted Jason. "We've got company."

Leo looked down and saw what Jason meant. Two winged creatures were flying from the top of the tower - angry angels, armed with wicked swords.

Clearly, Festus didn't like the newcomers. He came to a halt in mid-air, flapping his wings, stabbing his talons and letting out a throaty growl that Leo immediately recognized. He was about to spit fire.

"Calm down, big guy," whispered the boy, who had a feeling the angels wouldn't appreciate being roasted.

"I don't like it," said Jason.

"Those guys look like storm spirits," Earlana added, in a bitter tone.

At first, Leo thought the same thing, but when the angels got closer, he saw that they had far more body than the venti. Apart from their ice-white hair and purple feathered wings, they looked like ordinary teenagers. They wielded swords with jagged edges like stalactites and looked enough alike to be brothers, but certainly not twins.

One was built like an ox and sported a red field hockey jersey, baggy jogging pants and black leather cleats. It was clear that this guy had been in too many fights: both eyes were black and when he opened his mouth, several teeth were missing.

The other looked like he'd stepped straight off the cover of some old rock vinyl records: Journey, maybe, or Hall & Oates, or some even cheesier band. His snow-white hair was cut footballer-style in the '80s: short and puffy on the top and sides, long in the back. He wore pointy leather shoes, far too tight a pair of designer pants and an abominable silk shirt that was wide open across the chest. He might have thought he looked like a love god, but he must have weighed forty-five kilos and was covered in acne.