“Good morning,” she greeted us, with a powerful smile. Then she dropped her gaze to the monster on the floor. “Another good job. Cage him.”
The four men behind her hurried in, carrying the enormous sides of the silver cage. They assembled it quickly and packed the monstrous sin into it before setting it on wheels. They were gone before I knew it, wheeling the overindulgent evil far away.
“Thank you for coming.” Delta marched forward and shook her hand.
“Thank you for completing your case in a more than timely manner. You can all expect payment early next week.” She turned to walk away.
Rage flashed through me. We deserved answers. I deserved answers.
I stood up and strode towards her before she could leave. “Sheila.”
She looked at me, and I thought I detected irritation.
“Yes?” She stopped, hands clasped in front of her.
“Where are you taking it?”
“That’s not something you need to worry about.” She shook her head, and her hair flicked over her shoulder.
“But—”
“I think you should all stay another night. On The Agency, of course. Recuperate before you come back home, and as always, please return your equipment and report any usage by Monday.” She turned on her heel, strode towards the door, and then she was gone.
She had what she wanted and left the mess down here for us to clean up.
I slumped against the table and rubbed my forehead. It just felt so anti-climactic. So wrong.
“Well,” Luka clapped his hands. “That’s that then.”
“How can she just leave all this?” I motioned to the lingering death.
“Sheila’s only interest is in the demons,” Delta said.
“And what about all the people of Bridgendale?” I said. “What about all those missing people? Surely she has a duty to them?” Anger boiled just below the surface.
“Ruby.” Delta stepped forward and squeezed my shoulder as he looked at me with sympathy. “Sheila runs The Agency. She’s interested in getting the demons away from the civilians. Nothing more. We’ve done that, so to her the case is as good as closed.”
“I think we should all get some rest,” Justin said. “It’s been a long night, and we’ve all seen enough death to last us a lifetime.”
“Okay.” I nodded.
Exhaustion rolled through my body in hot waves, and I couldn’t face the rooms beneath the church again.
We left through the small door at the end of the room and travelled up the passageway. It was a rough tunnel and looked like it had been carved from the bare earth. It could’ve been carved by the Devil himself and I would’ve walked it rather than face the basement again. Up and up we climbed. Delta led, Luka behind him, while Roan was at the rear. Vaughn was just behind me, and every now and then he reached out, his fingers grazing the small of my back.
Out in the street, I took a big breath of fresh air and wiped my brow. I felt like I could sleep for a week and shower for longer. We trudged along the path in the early morning chill, and judging by the way everyone walked, I could tell they were just as tired as I was. We were quiet, the weight of the night dragging heavy across the group’s shoulders. When we finally made it to the Traveller’s Rest, I could’ve cried with joy. Instead, I trudged up the steps with stone feet and waved a sort-of goodbye to the others as they headed to their rooms. Vaughn opened the door, and I flopped onto my bed. The mattress gave under my weary body, and I shut my eyes as the door closed.
An hour later, I still lay awake, the full weight of everything pressing down on my chest. My eyes stung, and salty tears leaked from my eyes.
“Ruby?” Vaughn whispered.
I sniffed and wiped my eyes, then turned over to face him. “Yeah?”
“Are you okay?” He lay on the bed, facing me. Dark circles ringed his eyes, and concern furrowed his brow.
I shook my head as more tears sprung. Vaughn hoisted himself up and came to my bed. I scooted over to make room, and as he wrapped me into his warmth and protection, I held on tight and closed my eyes, willing sleep to take me.
Chapter Forty-One
“The horrendous destruction and death that has touched Bridgendale will stay with us forever. Those who have lost loved ones will prepare for a tribute tonight. All are welcome to attend. The community centre will no longer be open and is set to be demolished in the coming months.” The news reported stared at the camera, her mouth set in a hard line and face pallid.
“That’s that, then,” Luka said.
A week had passed, and we were in the safety and comfort of Delta’s apartment. For the first time, I was grateful for the white that surrounded me.
Live in the light.
More and more, I was beginning to think that my life was destined to go to the dark side of hell.
“That’s Gluttony,” Delta said. “Sloth and Greed, we already have. Three out of seven.”
“Only four left,” Vaughn muttered.
“Has Sheila mentioned anything?” I asked Delta.
He shook his head. “She’s seen the news and knows the bodies have been found.”
I shrugged. “I don’t know about you, but I couldn’t have lived with myself if we’d just left things the way they were. There’s no way I could’ve continued on and forgot about all that.”
“Me neither.” Vaughn squeezed my hand.
“So what happens now?” Roan asked.
“Something that Gluttony said stuck with me.” Justin stared into space. “I keep mulling over it.”
“What’s that?” Luka asked.
Justin looked at me. “It said that until Ruby accepts who she is, she’ll remain a girl.”
“What do you think it meant?” Roan asked.
“I have no idea.” Justin shook his head.
“Neither do I,” I said.
“This is far from over,” Delta said. “The battle is done, but there’s so much more to come. And so many questions we need to answer. I think we need to start searching, together.”
Justin nodded.
“And let’s keep it under wraps,” Delta said. “For now.”
“Okay.” Justin stood up. “Let’s meet next week and start planning.”
Roan followed his lead, as did Luka.
“See you guys later.” Vaughn waved as they headed towards the door.
“I’ll see you out.” Delta followed them to the door.
All five of the guys had been a rock during the past week of hell. I hadn’t slept, and nightmares plagued me day and night. I kept seeing that room beneath the community centre, the blood dripping onto the floor, and worst of all, the dead eyes of the missing people.
“Are you okay?” Vaughn asked.
“I will be.” I sighed.
“We’ll figure this out, Ruby. Together.”
“I hope so, because I’m starting to doubt whether I’ll ever get any answers.”
“We’ll get you the answers you need and deserve.”
I mustered a smile. “Hey, do you think Tom will ever forgive you? He was so looking forward to that play.”
“I’ve already had three emails from him. He wants to switch venues, but I’m done with acting.”
“You did make a good Romeo.”
“Oh, really.” Vaughn grinned as he leaned forward, then pressed his lips to mine.
That was close enough to heaven.
Don’t miss Ruby’s next adventure in book 4
Available 2019
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About the Author
Alice lives and works in the North East of England with her partner and slightly ferocious cats. Alice has always enjoyed writing and as a child carried notebooks and wrote stories everywhere she went. She would be the girl in the corner scribbling away while everything went on around her. She writes all manner of fiction with a tendency to lean towards the dark side. Dreams and sleep-talking are currently a big source of inspiration and her debut novel, The Doors, is a young adult novel which originally came from a dream several years ago. Several of her short stories have been included in anthologies and she is always working on more. When she's not writing, she always has a book in her hand and will read from whatever genre suits her that day.
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Also By Alice J. Black
with Fire & Ice YA Books
Demon Hunter Series
A Shadowed Beginning
Amidst the Chaos
Tainted Souls
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Novels
The Doors
Tainted Souls Page 20
