Seventh Seal - Jacquelyn Faye Page 0,87

fit all five of them in your mouth at once' joke when it's your turn." Mother huffed and handed the glove to Candace.

"Remind me to slap both of them with the glove when we're done," I whispered to Chief.

"Make sure it isn't empty when you do."

"A glove full of water might hurt."

"Water? I was going to tell you to fill it with sand," Chief said with a throaty chuckle.

A shriek pierced the otherwise quiet. Yuki took a couple of strides forward and peered at the mountain. "Uh??hat mountain is surrounded by angels."

"What? Where?" I stood next to her, putting my hand on her shoulder. That was the first words she'd spoken since we'd left.

"Flying around the mountain," she answered curtly.

"You can see that far?"

"You could too if you'd try. But it just goes to show you, you do need us." She humphed and walked away.

Pissed off I was going to go off on my own again?

Lord forbid you ask for help instead of leaving us to pick up your pieces.

Yep. She was pissed. Not that I could blame her. I'd done exactly what I'd promised I'd never do again.

I'm not too happy with you, either. Dar wasn't angry, more disappointed. I felt it more than heard it.

Nor I. Shea seconded. Technically, he thirded, but the list of people who were pissed at me was usually pretty long.

I'm not angry. Just confused.

Thanks, Ellis.

You are welcome.

Jimmy cuffed me in the back of the head. "So, what are we going to do?" He motioned toward the angels.

"Hide if we can and try our best to be sneaky bastards."

It took nearly four more hours and two gloves of water before we were close enough to make out the details of the mountain that wasn't a mountain. It was a giant castle carved from stone. It might have been a mountain at one time, but Mephistopheles had made it into a big ass fortress.

"Two in front of the door and another twelve circling overhead like righteous buzzards. Think there's a back door?" Chief asked as quietly as possible. Even whispering, I was watching the angels warily. Who knew how good their hearing was.

"Doubt it. Wouldn't be much of a fortress. I don't see any sewer grates either. Think we only have one option."

Master?

I looked over at Dar.

I have an idea.

What?

He shimmered for a moment before growing two feet, gaining rows of razor like teeth, and sprouting a pair of wings. I stared at him in disbelief.

I thought you could only assume a form of something you've consumed?

I can't.

You mean?

He shrugged.

That's disgusting.

Tell me about it. I had indigestion for a month. Can you conjure some chains? He stared at me hopefully.

I can.

Then you are now my prisoners.

Only when I, and everybody else, was shackled behind him did I realize how stupid of a plan it was. This never works out well in the movies.

You watch too many movies.

From the rocks where we'd hidden, we marched as Dar dragged us along in tow. The angels circling above us continued to do so, keeping their distance, but focusing their attention on us below, slowing their lazy spirals.

At least they're not attacking, Dar said proudly.

They're a couple of hundred feet above us. Let's see how well we do with the two guarding the door.

"They do not appear to be arch angels, at least," Candace whispered behind me.

"No, they don't." The arch angel in the town square had been more human looking in its beauty. The two ahead had the same shark-like grimace as Dar. It was a shame he hadn't munched on one of their more powerful cousins.

When we made it to a short distance away, they came to life and crossed their spears, barring entry. One of them said something in a language I'd never heard before and hoped to never hear again.

Dar answered in English. "The child of Aodh."

Both angels tilted their heads and took a step forward, keeping their spears crossed and muttering something else.

"They are confused. Lady Belenus didn't say anything about more prisoners. Tell him to say, 'Vicna nao Belenii mith vorath.'"

I relayed Candy's message to Dar, who repeated it. It would have been so much easier if Candace had telepathy, too. I sucked at repeating things. I needed to pick up a copy of Angel as a Second Language for the store.

"How do you know what they're saying or what to say?" I whispered my question to Candace.

"I do not know. I am just grateful I do."

The guards uncrossed their spears and stepped