My Soul to Take

by C. J. Archer

  I was a little surprised when Jack made no comment. So, I noticed, was Hannah. "Quin is needed here, to monitor de Mordaunt," I said.

  "I do not need monitoring," de Mordaunt snapped.

  "And Jack may also be needed if things go wrong. Tommy and Bollard too."

  "I wasn't thinking of the dumb one going," Myer muttered.

  Bollard didn't flicker an eyelid, but August Langley rolled himself forward and pointed at Myer's chest. "You're going. You're the one who gave the book to the administrators for safekeeping, you must retrieve it."

  "He's right." Quin gave a firm nod of his head. "They might not release it to anyone else."

  "It's decided," Hannah said before Myer could think of further excuses.

  "Wait!" Myer's fingers dug into the leather arms of his chair. "Once I have the book, then what? You're simply going to give it to her?"

  "In exchange for Sylvia, yes. Then de Mordaunt can take it off her again and send her back."

  Myer's eyes narrowed. "How will he do that?"

  "The exact plan will be drawn up while you're retrieving the book."

  Myer groaned and sank even further into the armchair.

  Bollard touched his master's shoulder and signed something. Langley nodded and Bollard left the room. "He's going to fetch the parchment." The parchment, torn from the book many years ago, had three spells written on it: one to open the portal, one to summon Quin, and another to close the portal. The book itself had further incantations to perform the same tasks but without it, the parchment was our only resource.

  "I won't go." Myer pouted. "You can't force me."

  "Yes we can," Tommy growled. "I can and I will."

  "You? With your useless arm?"

  Tommy grabbed Myer by his tie and hauled him out of the chair. He made it look easy, as if Myer weighed nothing. Myer was a little taller, and Tommy dragged him down so that they were face to face. For a moment I thought he would smash his forehead into Myer's nose, as Quin had done to de Mordaunt on the train, but he didn't. "I don't need two arms to hold a knife or a gun. One will kill you as good as two." He shoved Myer toward the door.

  Myer stumbled, and Jack caught him. "He's right," Jack said, helping the hapless Myer to regain his balance. "It would be wrong of us to force him."

  De Mordaunt muttered something under his breath and rolled his eyes to the ceiling.

  Tommy turned on his friend with such ferocity and determination on his face that Jack took a step back. "He has to go! We need that book!"

  Jack put up his hands and shook his head. "It would be a low act to push him through when he so vehemently doesn't want to go. I'd feel rotten about it."

  "I wouldn't."

  Hannah scrambled to her feet. Like me, perhaps she thought they would come to blows over it. Myer slunk away from both men, trying to make himself invisible between the display cabinet and door. Quin edged toward Tommy and Jack—preparing to intervene? Whose side was he on? It wasn't clear from his expression what he thought about forcing Myer to retrieve the book.

  I saw my opportunity and seized it. "I agree with Jack. I wouldn't feel right sending Myer through. I'll go."

  "No!" came an explosion of voices. I think the only one who didn't speak was de Mordaunt. He seemed to find our squabbling amusing and watched with a smirk on his thin lips.

  "Why not? Jack, Bollard and Tommy must remain here to help if necessary, Mr. Langley is immobile, and Hannah…might be with child."

  At least that got everyone looking at Hannah and not me. She flattened her palm to her stomach. "How did you know? We haven't told anyone yet."

  An awkward round of congratulations followed. It didn't save me from receiving one of Quin's most quelling looks. I tilted my chin at him. I wouldn't be intimidated into backing down.

  "I am the logical choice to go through," I told them. "Besides, I'm rather curious about other realms." Purgatory in particular, but I didn't tell them that. I didn't want Quin suspecting anything.

  "You're not going," he said coldly. "Do not make me lock you in your room for safety."

  "You said yourself that it's not dangerous. Myer wasn't captured, he was helped."

  "Something could go wrong. If the demons who see you land are not the understanding sort, you could come to harm. There are all kinds there, as there are here."

  "I am going, Quin. I want to."

  "You are not. That's final." He gripped my shoulders and dipped his head to peer into my eyes. "I forbid it, Cara."

  I clicked my tongue, but before I could respond, Jack cut in. "He's right. Besides, I want to go."

  "You most certainly will not!" Hannah stamped her fist on her hip. "You are a husband now, and almost a father. You cannot put yourself in danger."

  Quin let my shoulders go. "He'll not be in danger."

  It was my turn to stamp my fist on my hip. "You just said that I would be! How is it different for him?"

  "He's half demon. He can use his fire to protect himself and show them his ancestry." He slapped Jack on the back. "It's decided."

  "It is not!" Hannah grabbed Jack's hand and dragged him into the corner. Their discussion was heated but not audible. I knew Hannah had won when Jack sighed and lowered his head.

  They returned to us, hand in hand. "Myer, you have to go," Jack said. "There's no way around it."

  "What? No!" he cried.

  Another round of arguing ensued, after which nothing was decided. I gave up and sat down again, frustrated to the back teeth. It seemed I would have to go through while no one was looking. I wondered how easily I could get the parchment off Bollard. And how easy it would be to slip away from Quin. He was already watching me like a caged hawk eyeing its prey. I doubted I could just walk out without him noticing.

  I squirmed. Ordinarily I would enjoy being the object of his attention, but this time I wished only to be invisible. Perhaps later, when darkness came, I could pretend to need the privy and go down to the ruins instead.

  The rest of the day was a trying experience. Everyone took it in turns to attempt to convince Myer to go, but he wouldn't budge. Indeed, he stormed off at one point and locked himself in the library. Langley shouted at him frequently, his booming voice echoing around the big empty house. Hannah and Jack alternately bickered and made up, doing so quietly, away from the rest of us. Tommy paced around the sitting room while Quin did the opposite; he simply remained standing by the fireplace, watching me. He did not sit, unlike de Mordaunt who sprawled in the armchair, either brooding or snoozing.

  The room felt confining, the tension as taut as a bowstring. It wouldn't be long before something—someone—snapped. Thank goodness Mrs. Moore announced that dinner would be served early. Either she had decided we needed a distraction, or Hannah had spoken to the housekeeper earlier and arranged it.

  "Jack, fetch Myer," Langley said as Bollard wheeled him out.

  I caught up to Hannah. "Poor Mrs. Moore having to cook for all of us without any help."

  "Cook prepared pies and some salads before leaving," she said. "Mrs. Moore simply had to place the pies in the oven. But you're right, we've asked a lot of her. She's a good woman."

  I looped my arm through hers. "I'm sorry I broke your wonderful news. It was wicked of me. Can you forgive me?"

  She hugged my arm and despite everything, smiled. "Of course I can, since you were merely guessing."

  I laughed. "Was it that obvious?"

  "Perhaps not to everyone." She glanced at Quin, walking behind us. "I agree with him. You can't go. But nor can Jack."

  I sighed. "We'll simply have to keep working on Myer then."

  We sat at the dining table and waited for the others. Myer arrived within minutes, but Jack wasn't with him and he didn't know where he'd gone. Hannah's anxiety grew until she could stand it no longer.

  "I'm going to find him," she declared.

  "I'm here," he said, finally walking in. He gave his wife a kiss on the top of her head then sat next to her. The housekeeper bustled in
after him. "Mrs. Moore and I took food to the basement door."

  Myer pointed a serving spoon at Jack. "They will have to open the door to retrieve it. Why not use the opportunity to snatch Edith then?"

  "She gets Sylvia to open the door and retrieve the food."

  De Mordaunt bit into a leg of chicken but that didn't stop him from talking. "Even better." He hadn't bothered to use his knife and fork. At least Quin had quickly learned to copy our habits when he'd arrived, and tried cutlery. De Mordaunt didn't seem to care to learn modern manners. "We use the opportunity to remove the hostage and strike the demon."

  "No! We do nothing to endanger Sylvia. Unless we can be sure Edith is not near her at the time, we leave them alone."

  "This is intolerable," Tommy muttered, dragging his hand through his hair. It was already terribly messy from a long day of worrying.

  "Agreed," Jack said. "Myer. Do not force us to throw you through the portal."

  Myer gulped. "Y-you wouldn't."

  Hannah held up her hands for silence. "Please, let's eat dinner and discuss it again afterwards."

  Her request did nothing to vanquish the tension. We all ate quickly to get the infernal meal over with. Instead of returning immediately to the sitting room, Hannah pleaded a headache and retired to her room. Jack went with her, promising to return soon, and Myer requested to be assigned to a bedroom. Langley refused. He wasn't letting Myer retreat anywhere yet. I wasn't sure how effective a tired and irritated man would be in another realm, but I kept quiet.

  "Excuse me too," I said to those remaining. "I'm going to freshen up."

  "Have Mrs. Moore show you to your usual room," Langley said. "I must apologize for our lack of manners today, Cara. We're out of sorts."

  "She gets an apology and a room." Myer crossed his arms and settled into the armchair. "Bollard, bring me brandy and a cigar."

  "There'll be no smoking in here," Langley said as I left the sitting room. "Sylvia says it makes the furnishings smell."

  "Then why can't I go to the smoking room?"

  "We need to stay together."

  "The women aren't here any longer, man! Let's all go."

  I hurried down the corridor toward the stairs. Quin caught up to me before I reached them. He took my hand and led me into the music room. The sun had slipped behind the horizon and daylight succumbed to the shadows in the small room. It wasn't so dark that I couldn't clearly see that he was angry with me, and worried.

  He shut the door and gently pushed me back against it. His hands rested lightly on my hips, his mouth hovered near mine. I thought he was going to kiss me. I was wrong.

  "I know why you want to be the one to go through the portal, Cara. But I will not allow it. Not when you're doing it for me."

  "It's not just for you," I muttered.

  "I meant what I said; it's too dangerous." He kissed me lightly on the lips then drew me away from the door. "I need to return and watch de Mordaunt. I don't trust him."

  "Quin…we cannot go on like this."

  "I know. We will force Myer, one way or another." He kissed my forehead. "Go and get some rest. I suspect the night will be a long one."

  He let me go and I watched him leave, letting him think that I'd been referring to the hostage situation. In reality, I'd meant our situation, as a couple. I couldn't continue like this anymore. I would do anything to have Quin with me, and risk much. What did I have to lose?

  ***

  My plan relied on getting the parchment off Bollard. He'd tucked into his inside jacket pocket, where I hoped it still remained. After changing into a more somber gray dress with white trim, I returned to the sitting room. Tempers were as frayed as I expected them to be.

  All the men were there and they were arguing. Well, all of them except Quin, who stood like a statue near the door, and de Mordaunt, who seemed to find the whole thing amusing. Even Bollard loomed over Myer, as if trying to intimidate him.

  "It would be criminal of you to force me!" Myer shouted.

  "Being a criminal is something you know all too well," Jack growled.

  Langley wheeled himself over. "It would be criminal of you to let Sylvia perish—" He cut himself off with a heavy swallow. Bollard rested a hand on his shoulder.

  I approached them, preparing to angle myself close to Bollard, but Quin intercepted me. His bleak gaze told me he knew what I was trying to do. I turned away, no longer able look at him.

  "Enough!" Tommy shouted. "This is a farce!" He stormed off, bumping into Bollard so hard that the giant mute lost his balance and fell backward. Tommy caught him with his one arm, but couldn't hold him. They tumbled to the floor together. With a grunt, Tommy picked himself up and walked out.

  Jack helped Bollard up and frowned at his friend's retreating back. He went to follow but Langley put up his hand. "Let him go," he said. "He needs some fresh air to calm down."

  Quin and I moved to the window and watched Tommy make his way across the lawn. When he was some feet away from the house, he glanced over his shoulder, then broke into a run.

  I gasped. "He's going down to the abbey! But he doesn't have the parchment."

  Bollard patted down his jacket while Quin and Jack ran from the room. They didn't get to see the servant's dismay when he realized the parchment was gone.

  I groaned. "He picked your pocket, didn't he?"

  Bollard's lips flattened and he nodded.

  "It's not your fault," Langley said. "He was raised a thief. Yet another reason why I never wanted him in this family to begin with."

  I picked up my skirts and strode past them. "Perhaps if you hadn't been so intent on excluding him, none of this would have happened. Sylvia would have been kept safe by Tommy if he were here watching over her." Perhaps it was unfair, as nobody could have foreseen this, but I was tired and angry and worried. I was in no mood for Langley's pomposity, especially when Tommy had been the only one willing to take action.

  I ran from the house, my skirts bunched in my fists. Both Myer and de Mordaunt followed. With their longer legs both outstripped me, and I was the last to arrive at the abbey ruins. I stopped at the edge of the fallen stones as a strong wind smacked into me. My skirts flapped and my hair was torn from its pins. I pushed it out of my eyes to get a better view.

  The portal was already open and I arrived just in time to see Jack leap through the swirling, gaping hole in the air. Nobody stopped him. Tommy was missing. The other men stood in a semi-circle, watching the intense, local storm. The eye began to close as someone—Myer, I think—chanted the spell to close it.

  But no, Quin's lips moved too, and I could hear his voice whereas I couldn't hear Myer's. Strange that he would whisper the chant when he must know that Quin was already closing the portal.

  "What's going on?" Hannah ran up to me, dressed only in her nightshirt and house slippers, her wrap in her hand. Her curly red hair streamed behind her. "Cara?" She stopped at my side, searching the group of men. Her breaths came short and hard, and I worried that she'd over-exerted herself. I put my arm around her waist and, as if my action confirmed her fears, she burst into tears. "Jack!" she shouted. "Jack!"

  I held her tighter as she strained to move forward. "He's already gone through, and you are not going after him." I didn't think she would endanger the baby's life like that, but I said it anyway. "He'll be all right. I think Tommy already went through and Jack followed. They're together, and you heard Quin say that the demons aren't as hostile to strangers as we are to them. They'll be all right."

  My babbling didn't seem to help. She buried her face in my shoulder and sobbed. I held her and glanced at Quin, but he wasn't watching us. He advanced on Myer, his sword in his hand, his face a picture of fury.

  De Mordaunt drew his sword too, but he wasn't watching the other two. He kept his eye on the portal, now almost closed. Just then a creature was spat out, blocking Quin's path to Myer. Its lips peeled back and saliva dripped from its fangs, globules landing on its body fur. It leapt at Quin, but he dodged th
e creature and raised his sword to strike. It was then that I saw Myer, his lips still moving, edging away from the scene. He clutched something in his hand…

  Oh my God. He held an amulet and was chanting an incantation. He had summoned the demon and was now controlling it.

  I clutched Hannah harder, too afraid to watch but too afraid not to. My heart beat madly in my chest and a cold sweat broke out on my brow.

  Hannah lifted her head and wiped her cheeks. "There's only one and both Quin and de Mordaunt are excellent swordsmen. They'll get it."

  Even as she spoke, Quin and de Mordaunt prepared to strike. But another demon—then two more—jumped through the portal before it closed completely. The men, caught by surprise, had to put up their blades in defense as the three demons descended on them at once. The fourth turned yellow eyes on Hannah and me. We stumbled backward, still holding hands, then turned and fled toward the house.

  It was hopeless. A demon could easily outrun us, yet there was nothing more we could do. Quin and de Mordaunt were outnumbered. Jack and Tommy were gone. Bollard and Langley were in the house.

  And Hannah and I were exposed and unarmed.

  CHAPTER 14

  We made it to the edge of the manicured lawn, further than we should have. Bollard approached from the house, jogging rather than sprinting, the revolver in his hand not raised to shoot. Hannah and I turned to look back at the abbey.

  It was difficult to see details in the moonlight, but the scene down by the abbey was definitely one of calmness. There were no shouts or screams of agony. The hunched, wolf-like figures of the demons stood placidly, not attempting to claw anyone's skin off. Although Quin and de Mordaunt did not attack them, their weapons were still drawn, their swords raised, ready to strike.

  Bollard signed for us to stay where we were, and he continued past. Hannah and I took a moment to catch our breaths before either of us could speak.

  "What happened?" she asked. "Not that I'm complaining about the lack of bloodshed."

  "I think the demons are being controlled. By Myer, I assume. He summoned them so only he can control them."

  "That man is a fool and a danger to others. Does he honestly think he can use those demons to capture Edith? With Sylvia as hostage?"