Belly of the Beast

Chapter 24

Shit just hit the fan.

I sent Christoph the text as soon as I got home from Trinity. The magisters were meeting to decide their next move now that the necromancer had made himself known and made demands. The cube in exchange for the cure. Not a promising scenario, especially since I had not endeared myself to every domus magister.

Of course, I had to bring Sylvie into the loop, which meant telling her about the church mission after the fact. "I don't know whether to be angry or relieved you didn't tell me," she grumped.

"You would have worried the whole time and there was nothing you could do about it."

"It's a best friend's job to worry. So... Now that you're back to square one, how is this going to play out? Will you give old hooknose the cube?"

"Hooknose?"

"Yeah. It's too hard to say Zentho... whatever it is."

"Just call him Dmitry. The magisters will be here any minute to talk about the freak show at the church, but I think they're still talking about getting the hive involved."

"So, they're using the demons for help on this one?"

"Most likely."

"Christoph?"

"Yep."

"I'll bet Vincent doesn't like that."

"Vincent doesn't have a choice. Christoph is the only demon we can trust. But I won't say the same for Hadria. I think she should be left out of it, and I'll argue my point with the magisters if I have to."

"Are you suggesting Christoph help you behind Hadria's back? That's a big ask, Reese."

"It's just an option. I've got another idea."

Voices carried outside the front door, and Bonnie and Clyde dismounted from their perches as Vincent walked in with Louis Cromwell, the magister who still hadn't unclenched his ass and warmed up to me. Charleton and Sergio Lassiter arrived behind them. Sergio did like me.

"I gotta go, Sylvie. The troops are here and I need to put out beverages. I'll let you know how it goes."

"Don't leave me hanging too long. I'm not getting inside information from Colin anymore, so you're my only connection to the lifestyles of the rich and winged."

"Are you and Colin still on hiatus?"

"Yes, ever since I agreed to go out with Ellis. He said it might be easier to make a clean break so we wouldn't torture ourselves."

I remembered seeing Colin's fingers entwined with Claudette's inside the church. Was he giving it a go with Claudette because he felt tortured? "I wish I could kiss it and make it better."

"You don't have to wait until I break up with a guy to kiss me, you know that. Catch ya later, sweetie."

As soon as I hung up with Sylvie, a pair of burly arms pulled me in for a hug. It was Sergio, who had decided to extend his greeting past a handshake. This didn't surprise me. He had a new grand baby to gloat about.

"How are you, Reese? Feeling well, I hope."

"I'm hanging in there. How is Adam? I heard he was injured in the skirmish."

"He's a little dazed from the adamantium, but he'll be fine. You've heard about our little Jillian, I'm sure? She has the sweetest manner."

"I'm very happy for you and your family, Sergio."

He beamed at me as he patted my shoulder. "She will be the perfect playmate for your young one. We are all eager to welcome another gollum into the fold. I just hope this unpleasantness hasn't put too much stress on you."