City of Halves by Lucy Inglis Page B

City. Five minutes later she panted to a halt near the Bank of England. Regan jogged to a halt beside her, not even puffing.
    â€˜How did you know where I was?’ she gasped.
    â€˜Saw you leave.’
    â€˜I was rumbled by some guy in a suit. But I got it.’ She pulled the crumpled printout from her bag. Regan took it. ‘Well?’ she asked, when he said nothing.
    â€˜Well done.’
    She grinned. ‘Look, there’s even a number on his medical bag.’
    Still looking at the page, he put his arm around her andhugged her against his side. Lily hugged him back, just for a second. He let her go and she stepped back, still panting, pushing her hair off her hot neck.
    â€˜So? What now?’ she asked. But Regan wasn’t looking at her, or the page. He was looking up at the roof of the Bank of England.
    He swore softly. Lily followed his gaze. For a long moment she saw nothing – then, at the edge of her vision, there was a metallic flicker. She watched, dumbfounded, as over the roofline of the building slunk a large silver dragon. It moved in short bursts, like speeded-up film footage, then froze, red barbed tongue tasting the air as its gold claws gripped the edge of the roof. It slithered jerkily again, climbing further up the parapet, staring down at them.
    The City carried on its business around Lily and Regan’s still forms. The buses roared as the lights changed.
    â€˜What is it?’
    Regan didn’t take his eyes off it. ‘One of the City dragons.’
    â€˜One? How many are there?’
    â€˜Seven.’
    â€˜There are seven of them?’ Lily’s voice rose in alarm.
    He nodded slowly, still looking up. ‘I’m hoping that only one of them is awake.’
    â€˜You see dat?’ a voice said behind them. ‘You see what I see?’
    Lily turned. Felix stood behind them, brush in his hand. Regan hadn’t taken his eyes off the roof. ‘I see it.’
    â€˜You kno’ what diss mean?’
    Regan said nothing.
    â€˜You kno’ what diss mean ?’ Felix repeated, almost shouting.
    â€˜Shut up .’ Regan turned on him.
    â€˜You naw tell me to shut me mouth,’ the street cleaner exclaimed. ‘Diss now waaaay bigger dan you and me. Diss now all Chaos .’ He made a huge circular motion with his brush in the air, almost knocking down a man rushing by.
    â€˜Watch it, mate!’
    Felix saluted him with the broom in a sarcastic flourish, turning back to Regan. ‘An’ last night I too busy wit’ some mighty strong hex to sekkle dem garbage from yesterday. Someting disturbing all my usual safe places.’
    Lily caught the lapel of Regan’s coat. ‘What does he mean?’
    â€˜He needs a crossroads, or a junction to place the bodies on while he binds the spirit.’
    Felix nodded. ‘Aye. An’ everywhere too busy last night, too open. Wit’ some strange feeling. It is comin’, I is sure of it now.’
    â€˜What’s coming?!’ Lily asked, exasperated with the riddles.
    â€˜Explen to de likkle jubee den.’ Felix sucked his teeth. ‘Explen how she gon’ get snapped like a tweeeg.’
    Regan turned, looking angry. ‘Don’t you say that.’
    â€˜I say only tru’. De Chaos War, it is here. An—’
    â€˜And if you don’t shut your mouth now, I will—’
    Felix squared up to him. ‘What you do? What you do to me? I Felix. I de Cleaner .’ With that, he nodded and began to walk away, pushing his cart with one hand and the brush with the other.
    Regan set off back the way they had come, with one last glance at the dragon. It crouched, staring down at the city through eyes like gold mirrored lenses, emotionless. It seemed to see everything, and nothing. Its barbed tongue flickered in and out.
    â€˜Hopefully it’ll stay around here for now.’
    Lily waited until they left the main road for a narrow, deserted