Jessa Slade - Seduced by Shadows

The end is nigh.

Ferris Archer braced his shoulders against the Chicago wind that whipped straight up to whistle around the balcony railing with savage glee. Never nigh enough.

Nigher, then. For some poor soul.

Dont pity the bastard, Zane, Archer said. Whoever he is, he could resist temptation.

Zane squatted in the shelter of the wall, arms wrapped around his knees. Like we could have?

Archer faced the dark lake. Despite all his years at these latitudes, hed still not gotten used to how night came so early in November and stayed so long.

At least the numbing chill anesthetized the memory of anything else.

The balcony door opened. The breath of warmth was snatched away in an instant.

Zane rose to meet the newcomer. Nothing yet, boss.

Archer lifted his chin by way of greeting. Niall.

Archer. Havent seen you around lately.

Any reason youve been looking?

Just wondering. In the glitter of city lights, Liam Nialls Black Irish eyes were as enigmatic as the inky mark that rayed out from his temple and down his cheek.

Still alive. At the mocking whisper in the back of his mind, Archer shoved his hands in his pockets. He edged past the two men to the opposite corner of the balcony. Still kicking.

If the news brought Niall any joy, it didnt show on his face, which echoed Archers own sentiments on the matter.

Zane cleared his throat. Whats that? Due north, this side of Division.

Archer had already seen the flicker near the raised train tracks, nothing like the strange fireworks that flamed in his dreams lately. Reflections from the L. Keep looking.

The burning dreams had hollowed him out, left him wanting, when he thought hed long ago lost touch with the feelingwith any feeling.

He didnt appreciate the reminder.

Zane gripped the rail. Have either of you actually seen one before?

Niall shook his head. Theyre usually drawn straight to their victims, who cant see them until its too late. And theyre rare. Thank God.

Archer coughed.

He felt Niall staring holes in the back of his head. By the way, nice trick, catching this crossing, Niall said. Bookies been tracking activity since you warned us. With no telltale genocides or pandemics or famine in the city, were lucky you detected it so early. He lifted one eyebrow.

Archer didnt miss the implied invitation to share how hed known. Since he couldnt answer, he said nothing.

As if mocking his reticence, an unearthly shimmer drew his gaze to the shadowed depths of the urban valleys. He stiffened. There. Toward the river.

My God, Zane whispered.

This time, Archer didnt scoff at invoking the Almighty.

Above the streets and buildings, an arch of vaporous luminescence unfolded in a slow ballet. Vortices of ghostly light pinwheeled out into the dark, highlighted in sprays of radiant sparks that caught, flared, and died.

Only the ceaseless hum of traffic and wind whining over concrete and steel accompanied the eerie sparkler. No screams. No sirens. The phantom lights played over the city, pulsing to an unknown heartbeat, unseen by human eyes.

Or merely human eyes.

Zane whistled. Well, now we know what an unbound demon escaped from hell looks like.

Like dragonfly wings glinting iridescent as the tiny predators hunted under a bright sun, fierce and lovely at once. The spectacle echoed through him as if someone were using his breastbone as a gong.

His whole body vibrated with the unheard note. He stiffened against it. Its going to draw every fucking djinni from Detroit to St. Louis.

Easy to follow, at least, Niall said. Get down there. Find whom its pursuing. Ill send a team to run interference in case things go badly.

A demon has breached the Veil, the only barrier between us and hell, to possess some poor bastards soul, Zane muttered. How exactly could it go goodly?

Archer didnt bother responding. Arm your people well. He headed for the balcony door. Every malice and feralis in the city is on the way to pay homage.

Niall crossed into his path. Bookie engineered a new demon shunt. Supposed to drain them twice as fast with half the mess. Want to give it a whirl?

Garbagemen shouldnt care about the mess. No point when theres always more of it. Archer slid past him, careful to make no contact. Unless Bookie has a way to send them back through the Veil forever? When Niall stayed silent, Archer shrugged. Maybe next time.

Zane fell into step behind him. If there is a next time. Did I mention the end is nigh?

So you keep promising. Archer didnt look backhed learned long ago never to do thatbut still the demon lights strummed his bones like a call to arms.

As ends of days went, this one looked promising, indeed.

Damn, Sera, you look like hell. And since when do you smoke?

Sera Littlejohn sighed and stubbed out the cigarette on the brick wall of the ambulance bay where shed come to find a little peace and quiet. The spinning red lights and scuttling EMTs had almost done the trick before Betsy showed up. One of your interns quitthird time this month, he saidand gave me the last of his pack.

Betsys eyes narrowed behind her John Lennon glasses. That drunk driver didnt finish the job, so youre finding another route to rendezvous with your maker?

Sera reached for the cane shed propped against the bricks. Good to see you too, Bets.

Chill, girl. Betsy laid a heavy hand on her shoulder. Sorry. I was just surprised to see you.

Supposed to be my first night back. Sera gripped the head of the cane, the ergonomic rubber cold under her fingers. She kept telling herself shed be rid of it soon. But Marions sending me home again, until Im stronger. Said I looked like death warmed over and I was scaring the patients.

Betsy snickered. Death warmed over. Youre a thanatologist.

Apparently last vigils should be presided over by someone a little perkier and better coiffed. Sera ran one hand over her simple blond braid. I told her my lipstick was in the glove compartment, and that ended up somewhere in the trunk.

Its been six months. You couldnt stop by the Cli nique counter while you learned to walk again? Betsy shook her head. For being in charge of end-of-life care, Marion has all the compassion of your average vulture.

She reached into the side pocket of Seras bag and snagged the cigarettes. Without looking behind her, she pitched them into the trash bin.

Sera raised her eyebrows. Luckily I have friends like you.

Lucky is right. Give me any more of that washed-out lip and Ill send you to Nutrition for a full workup. Betsy eyed her. You get any thinner, and when old Grim Reaper Man comes for your customers, hell think youre the ghost.

Not a fear of yours then, huh?

Funny. Were so busy tonight, if Death comes looking for me, Ill triage him with the kids puking up stale Halloween candy. I swear, that club drug making the rounds is a nightmare like you would not believe, and on top of that, weve got the full moon bringing out the crazies.

Sera glanced up, although the tall buildings shut out all but a narrow slice of night. With low-hanging clouds reflecting the city lights, the sky glowed a nacreous silver. I dont think the moons full tonight.

Betsy huffed. Might as well be. Everyones got that weird sparkle in their eyes, even the ones not whacked-out on solvo, or whatever theyre calling it.