Shattered Circle

CHAPTER FIFTY-THREE

Goliath slid into the backseat of the waiting limo and shut the door.

Beside him, Menessos said, “She is not far.” The car pulled away from the curb, tires squealing. “She is hiding in Mall B, near a tree.”

“Only four blocks away? Why are we bothering to drive?” Goliath wanted to tell Menessos about the protrepticus, about hearing Samson’s voice, but there was no time. “What’s the plan?”

“You get out at the corner of the mall, the car will take me closer to where she is hiding, and I confront her directly. The car waits while I try peaceably to get her to return, distracting her while you approach from another direction. You grab Beverley.”

“Count on it.”

When the car slowed to make the turn, Goliath exited, rolling into the street from a quickly opened and shut door without the car actually stopping. The late hour meant traffic was practically nonexistent. Menessos would be counting on Ailo to detect the car arriving, slowing near her.

It was a good plan.

But.

If he could slay the shabbubitu and safely remove Beverley from harm, he would.

Crouched, Goliath hurried in the direction opposite that of the limousine, circling around to enter Mall B by a pedestrian path.

Malls A, B, and C were large landscaped areas, green oases open to the public. Mall B had the most trees. It also had a medium-height wall to reduce traffic noise from the nearby Shoreway.

In moments, he could hear Menessos’s voice. He was pleading with Ailo to return to the haven. Near a tree, Goliath leapt over the wall and landed silently on the grass inside, keeping his body aligned with the tree’s trunk.

As he assessed the situation, he noticed Menessos was remaining on the far side of the wall. Ailo was near the wall, with her back against some kind of stone monument shaped like a large square about three feet high and ten feet across. There were stone benches on three sides, and a tree on the other. There was considerable open space between them.

He started forward.

He was fifteen yards away from them when he saw a dark shadow racing ahead of him on the ground. He dived to the side and felt a razor-like talon scrape his ear.

The huge owl screeched and flapped her wings, raising up into the sky.

Goliath had hit the ground and started to roll as he saw Ailo come running into the open, screaming to the sky, “Take us, Liyliy! Don’t leave! Take us!”

In her arms, Ailo cradled Beverley, who was mummy-wrapped in gray silk.

A glance at the sky revealed the large bird had circled around and was lining up for another flying dive. Her outstretched talons were open, ready to grab.

There’s no fucking way she’s going to pick them both up and fly out of here.

Lurching onto his feet, Goliath was racing forward before he was fully upright. From the corner of his eye he saw Menessos leap over the wall and hit the ground running as well.

Ailo turned and lifted one arm out, ready for the owl to grasp her. She had her other arm locked tight around Beverley. When she saw the two vampires advancing on her, a stripe of gray fabric fluttered out and wrapped tight around Beverley’s neck. “Stay back or I’ll wring her little neck!” Ailo cried.

“Ailo, no!” Menessos shouted.

Goliath sped up.