"Don't do this, Larry. Don't get us killed for Raymond Stirling."
His cross spilled out in the open air. It glowed like Serephina's eyes. He just looked at me.
I sighed, and brought out my own cross. "This is a bad idea."
"I know," he said. "But I can't just watch."
I stared at his earnest face, and knew it was true. He couldn't just watch. I could have. I might not have enjoyed it, but I could have let it happen. More's the pity.
"What are you doing with your little holy objects?" Janos asked.
"Stopping this," I said.
"You want them dead, Anita."
"Not like this," I said.
"Would you have me let you use your gun and waste all this blood?"
He was offering to let me shoot them. I shook my head. "I don't think that's an option anymore."
"It was never an option," Larry said.
I let that go; no need to disillusion him. I walked towards Pallas and Bettina. Larry walked towards Ellie and Xavier, cross held outward to the length of its chain, as if that made it work better. Nothing wrong with a little dramatic gesture, but I'd have to clue him in that it didn't really help. But later.
The cross's glow grew until it was like wearing a 100-watt lightbulb na**d around your neck. I saw the world as a black circle outside the glow.
Xavier was on his feet facing Larry, but the others had crawled away from their prey, beaten by the light.
"Thank you, Ms. Blake," Stirling said. "Thank you." He grabbed my leg with his good hand, fawning over me. I fought an urge to shake him off.
"Thank Larry; I'd have let you die."
He didn't seem to hear me. He was nearly crying with relief, slobbering all over my Nikes.
"Back away from them, please." The voice was female and honey-thick.
I blinked over the glow of the cross and saw Kissa holding a gun. A revolver that looked like a Magnum; hard to tell in the glow. Whatever it was, it'd make a big hole.
"Move away from them, now."
"I thought Serephina didn't want me dead."
"Kissa will shoot your young friend."
I stopped in mid-breath and let it out. "If you kill him, I won't cooperate with whatever you have in mind for tonight."
"You misunderstand us, Anita," Janos said. "My master does not require your cooperation. Everything she wants from you can be taken by force."
I stared at him over the shining light. He had Jeff cuddled against him; most heartwarming.
"Take off your crosses and throw them far out into the trees," Janos said. He ran a gloved hand along both sides of Jeff's face, planting a kiss on his cheek.
"Now that we know you would give up your safety for both young men, we have one more hostage than is absolutely necessary." He put his hands on either side of Jeff's neck, just holding, not hurting, not yet.
"Take off your crosses and throw them into the woods. I will not ask a third time."
I stared at him. I didn't want to give up my cross. I glanced at Larry. He was still facing off against Xavier, his cross glowing bravely. Shit.