threat could grow.
CHAPTER XXII
Dance with the Devil
The Peregrine found it difficult to get into the hotel. A number of frightened Germans were pushing their way out of the building, many of them screaming things about demons and death. Max knew where they were coming from, for he could feel it, too. It was like someone had left the back door to the house standing wide open… and something dark and scary had scrambled into the kitchen.
“Max. I’m not sure we’re up for this.”
The Peregrine had managed to get both himself and Evelyn to the foot of the stairs, the ones that led up to the second floor. It was there that Trench would be… Max could sense it. He was holding Evelyn’s hand, a pistol in the other. “What do you mean?”
“You’re hurt. I’m half naked. And we’re about to fight the devil. Doesn’t that sound wrong to you?”
“I don’t see any alternative. If Trench and this monster get free of this place, we might never get close enough to strike again!”
“But shouldn’t we call for help? Those friends of yours you mentioned… or even the damned Vatican! This isn’t the kind of thing you, me and some pistols are going to solve!”
Max leaned in close and kissed her, letting the moment linger as long as possible. When they parted, both of them had quickened their breathing. “I won’t ask you to come with me,” he whispered. “But I can’t stand back and let them leave this place. I think this demon is only going to grow stronger the longer he’s here.”
Evelyn smiled softly, shaking her head. “A few days ago, my biggest concern was whether or not I was ever going to become a star. Now I’m seriously discussing heading off to face Lucifer himself. You certainly make a girl feel special.”
“Stay here.”
“No.”
“But…”
Evelyn put a finger over his lips. “We die together or we live together. End of discussion.”
The Peregrine nodded quickly. “Alright.”
Together they ascended the stairs, the oppressive nature of their surroundings growing stronger with every step. Evelyn couldn’t stop herself from trembling as they approached the last room on the second floor. The door was made of strong black wood but it was bending outwards as if a great weight were pressing against it.
“Is your father still here?” she asked, for he had told her of the ghost’s recent visit.
Max glanced at her as he reloaded his gun. “No. Why?”
“Just wondering if I’d get to see him real soon. You know… as in, we’ll all be dead.”
“I didn’t know you were such a pessimist.”
“I’m full of surprises.”
The Peregrine shook his head, impressed that she kept her sense of humor at times like this. He kicked in the door and it splintered into a thousand pieces. Flame shot out from the interior of the room, driving both Max and Evelyn away from the entry way.
Jacob Trench—or rather, something wearing his skin—stepped into view. Max could tell that he was no longer the same man, for his eyes now seemed illuminated from within. “The Peregrine. That’s what you call yourself, isn’t it?”
Max leveled his pistol at Trench’s chest. “You did it, didn’t you? You released that thing.”
“That… thing… is now me. Trench and I are one.” He looked at Evelyn, who stood just behind the Peregrine. “Run, little girl. I can sense you want to.”
Evelyn swallowed hard, raised her own gun… and fired. The bullet struck Trench in the shoulder, but he looked no more bothered than if he had been buzzed by a gnat.
“Is that the best you can do?” the devil asked. “Because I’ve suffered a lot more pain than that. Let me show you.” He raised a hand, clenching it into a fist.
Immediately, Evelyn screamed. It felt like her heart was being squeezed into a bloody pulp. She clutched at her chest, falling to the floor in spasms of agony.
The Peregrine threw himself at Trench, knocking him back into the burning room. The smoke was growing thick here,
CHAPTER XXII
Dance with the Devil
The Peregrine found it difficult to get into the hotel. A number of frightened Germans were pushing their way out of the building, many of them screaming things about demons and death. Max knew where they were coming from, for he could feel it, too. It was like someone had left the back door to the house standing wide open… and something dark and scary had scrambled into the kitchen.
“Max. I’m not sure we’re up for this.”
The Peregrine had managed to get both himself and Evelyn to the foot of the stairs, the ones that led up to the second floor. It was there that Trench would be… Max could sense it. He was holding Evelyn’s hand, a pistol in the other. “What do you mean?”
“You’re hurt. I’m half naked. And we’re about to fight the devil. Doesn’t that sound wrong to you?”
“I don’t see any alternative. If Trench and this monster get free of this place, we might never get close enough to strike again!”
“But shouldn’t we call for help? Those friends of yours you mentioned… or even the damned Vatican! This isn’t the kind of thing you, me and some pistols are going to solve!”
Max leaned in close and kissed her, letting the moment linger as long as possible. When they parted, both of them had quickened their breathing. “I won’t ask you to come with me,” he whispered. “But I can’t stand back and let them leave this place. I think this demon is only going to grow stronger the longer he’s here.”
Evelyn smiled softly, shaking her head. “A few days ago, my biggest concern was whether or not I was ever going to become a star. Now I’m seriously discussing heading off to face Lucifer himself. You certainly make a girl feel special.”
“Stay here.”
“No.”
“But…”
Evelyn put a finger over his lips. “We die together or we live together. End of discussion.”
The Peregrine nodded quickly. “Alright.”
Together they ascended the stairs, the oppressive nature of their surroundings growing stronger with every step. Evelyn couldn’t stop herself from trembling as they approached the last room on the second floor. The door was made of strong black wood but it was bending outwards as if a great weight were pressing against it.
“Is your father still here?” she asked, for he had told her of the ghost’s recent visit.
Max glanced at her as he reloaded his gun. “No. Why?”
“Just wondering if I’d get to see him real soon. You know… as in, we’ll all be dead.”
“I didn’t know you were such a pessimist.”
“I’m full of surprises.”
The Peregrine shook his head, impressed that she kept her sense of humor at times like this. He kicked in the door and it splintered into a thousand pieces. Flame shot out from the interior of the room, driving both Max and Evelyn away from the entry way.
Jacob Trench—or rather, something wearing his skin—stepped into view. Max could tell that he was no longer the same man, for his eyes now seemed illuminated from within. “The Peregrine. That’s what you call yourself, isn’t it?”
Max leveled his pistol at Trench’s chest. “You did it, didn’t you? You released that thing.”
“That… thing… is now me. Trench and I are one.” He looked at Evelyn, who stood just behind the Peregrine. “Run, little girl. I can sense you want to.”
Evelyn swallowed hard, raised her own gun… and fired. The bullet struck Trench in the shoulder, but he looked no more bothered than if he had been buzzed by a gnat.
“Is that the best you can do?” the devil asked. “Because I’ve suffered a lot more pain than that. Let me show you.” He raised a hand, clenching it into a fist.
Immediately, Evelyn screamed. It felt like her heart was being squeezed into a bloody pulp. She clutched at her chest, falling to the floor in spasms of agony.
The Peregrine threw himself at Trench, knocking him back into the burning room. The smoke was growing thick here,
Similar Books
