Senseless

August 20, 1882 - Rosalie

I found him sitting on the steps outside of the Ballantyne. He was dressed nicely, marking that he'd attended at least a section of the show and had made his presence known to the guests. Leviathan Desmott was charming to the core and any time he was around, the coffers were bound to overflow. He put the visiting gentlemen at ease because they knew he was trustworthy, he would not go running off to their wives with a story to tell. Instead, he was all too pleased to help paint the picture to their lie. It is just a bit of cards after the play—Just a round of drinks with the boys. There is no need to worry, love. Don't wait up.

I nearly fell over from relief when I caught sight of him. "Levi!" I took the steps two at a time and nearly tackled him.

"Rosie?" He turned to look at me just as I reached him and grabbed his arm. "What on earth are you doing here? I thought you'd be on your way to the docks by now."

I pulled his arm, trying to get him to stand. "There's no time. You must go."

He stood and dusted off his suit. "Go where?"

"Merritt." I found that I was out of breath; I'd run a full tour of the Ballantyne before I'd come outside.

"Yes?" Levi's brow furrowed, "What about her?"

"Lucius has gone after her. You need to go now."

He pulled away from me and turned towards the street, his eyes searching for a carriage even as he said, "No, but she's safe. She's in a church. I assure you, Lucius couldn't get to her if he tried. She'd on holy ground."

I shook my head and shoved his shoulder, pushing him down the steps and towards the street. "Chester and Sebastian, they were drunk and going on about—"

His lips were a grim line. "I'm sure they don't know what they are talking about."

"Go and find out." I urged.

He met my eyes and ran a hand through his hair. "Lucius would have told me if he planned to go after her tonight."

"Not if he wanted to kill her himself."

Levi exhaled and gazed out over the city. It was dark, the only lights coming from the gas lamps and the moon up above.

I walked around in front of him and grabbed him by the arms, "Please go now."

There was a look on his face, a focus that even my shaking could not penetrate. "Do you smell that?"

Although my senses were not as well developed as a demon's, I still had a stronger range of my five senses than most humans did. I lifted my head and closed my eyes. "It smells like—"

"Fire." Levi took off down the steps and I followed. He found the first cab driver he could, "I need to get to Yates Avenue."

The man shook his head. "There's some fuss down that way, I'm not sure I can get through. A driver coming in from that way advised against it."

"What sort of fuss?" I said.

"House fire maybe."

Leviathan gripped the door of the carriage and forced a relaxed smiled. "A house fire? And you're certain it is a house?"

"A church." A driver from nearby called as he pulled his own carriage to a stop. "The church is on fire down on Yates Avenue. Carriages can't get through. I've only just come from that way."

Levi's entire body tensed. "How close can you get?"

"What?"

"How close?" He repeated, "How close can you get me to the fire?"