authorities are advising citizens to avoid the inner city at night, as this is when the bulk of the attacks have been taking place. I’m Dean Jones bringing you the afternoon news. We’ll be back at six with an update.”
“Well, shit.” Finn blew out a frustrated breath.
“Do you think we should turn back? The announcer said the accident happened around Renfrew Avenue. That’s close to St. Peter’s, isn’t it?”
Finn ran his teeth over his bottom lip, deciding. “No, we’re almost there. No point turning back. We’ll have to be in and out quick though, buy as many bottles of holy water as we can and get the feck out of there. There’s a little shop to the left just as you go inside that’s run by nuns. They sell funeral cards and rosaries and the like. If I remember correctly, they normally have holy water for sale, too.” He stopped then, glancing at me then Rita. “There’s a small chance we could get caught up in some fighting. I’m presuming you two will be able to defend yourselves?”
Rita patted the brown leather satchel at her side. “I came prepared. I’ve got a few potions in here that will drive away any nutty humans.”
“Well, I’ve got nothing,” I said. “Though it seems my magic always comes out when I’m threatened. If all else fails I guess I’ll resort to using these,” I said, humorously holding up my fists.
Finn frowned, keeping one hand on the steering wheel while he reached into the glove compartment with the other. I watched as he pulled out a narrow, rectangular leather box and dropped it into my lap. “Little present for you.”
I opened the box and found a vintage barber’s razor sitting inside. It was folded in half and had a carved wooden handle. I stared at Finn. “Is this for me?”
He kept his eyes trained on the road as he nodded. “Be careful with it. I wasn’t going to give it to you so soon. I’d been hoping to train you first, but desperate times call for desperate measures.”
As he spoke, I glanced out the window and saw a woman giving her boyfriend a whack across the face with her handbag. I couldn’t decide if they were having a regular domestic or if the chaos mist had gotten into them.
I focused back on the blade in my hand and flicked it open, holding it away from my body. “This is so cool, but I’m not sure I need it. As I said, I’ve got my magic to keep me safe.”
Finn’s expression turned serious. “That’s all well and good, but you need real fighting skills, too. What if you’re standing face to face with a hungry vamp or a crazed human and your magic doesn’t come to you? You’ll be glad to have something tangible to use as a weapon then, you mark my words.”
Touched by the gesture, I muttered a grateful, “Thanks,” and on instinct leaned forward and kissed him on the cheek. “This has to be the most thoughtful yet disturbing gift anyone’s ever gotten for me,” I said.
Finn coughed and smiled, and I swear I caught a hint of a blush on his cheeks. “You’re welcome. I’ll teach you how to use it properly soon. You’ve got the look of a woman who’d be good with a blade. Just try not to use it unless absolutely necessary for now, okay?”
“Okay,” I replied, grinning and imagining myself being able to use it like a pro someday. I’d be so kickarse.
“Well, that’s just lovely, did you not bother getting anything for me?” Rita asked teasingly.
Finn glanced at her in his middle mirror. “You don’t need any of the weapons I could give you. You’ve got a better chance of staying alive than any of us, witchy-pants.”
She seemed appeased by this. “That’s true.” A pause. “Don’t call me that again.”
Finn chuckled and pulled into a free parking spot. “We’ll have to get out and walk from here. There’s too much traffic.”
He handed an empty backpack to each of us for carrying the bottles of holy water, and Rita pulled hers on over her leather satchel. I was curious to know what potions she was hiding in there.
As we walked the short distance to the church, I felt a frenetic energy in the air, putting me on edge. The chaos mist had a firm grip on the city now. I could sense it, and I didn’t like it one bit.