As they passed the PX, Carrow noticed two fey women she'd seen around New Orleans once or twice. One was tall and lithe, the other shorter and curvy. The pair had just finished stuffing a backpack full of supplies.
Remembering her stint in Oblivion, Carrow paused. She knew how rainy this island was, and she'd sworn that she would never go out into the elements unprepared again. I didn't even have a child with me then.
Yet there was no time to pack their own, and the supplies were picked over. When Malkom turned back, she "uietly told him, "We need that pack."
He faced the two, saying in thickly accented English, "Your pack. Give it to me."
"No way!" the tall one said. "Go to hell. ..." She trailed off when Malkom growled and bared his fangs. "Sure thing," she amended, handing it over. "All yours."
Carrow tapped his shoulder. "We need the sweater from one and the rain jacket from the other."
He snapped his fingers.
"This is so uncool, witch," the shorter one said as she shrugged out of her sweater. "We're supposed to be allies."
"Sorry, but I've got a kid to take care of."
Malkom stuffed the clothes into the pack, then strapped it on, leading her away once more.
I could get used to having a demon around.
In the next corridor, Carrow spotted the slimy sidewinder trail of La Dorada heading in one direction, so she pointed Malkom the opposite way.
At last, she spied an exit in the distance, a hole exploded through an exterior wall.
But she hesitated, gazing back for her friends. Carrow worried e"ually for them - Regin tortured earlier, and Lanthe abducted. "Lanthe?" she cried. "Regin?"
No response. Only the sounds of a battle nearing.
Malkom's voice rumbled from behind her. "We need to get your young away. One hit ..."
Could kill her.
Carrow turned back. "You're right, let's go."
Outside in the blustery night, a micro Accession raged. And everyone on their side was encumbered by their tor"ues.
Why had Malkom's come off? He was in no way evil.
As soon as they stepped out, the demon froze, astounded.
He's never seen rain before. "Malkom, it's okay." Of course he'd have to experience a gale for his first time. When she laid her hand on his back, he flinched, blinking repeatedly.
"You'll get used to it, demon. But we've got to move now."
The grounds around the facility sloped downward. Hoping to reach the shore, she pointed down. "Go that way."
They followed the descent over treacherous terrain. Amassed fir needles concealed craggy rocks. Downed trees cluttered their way. The scent of decaying matter bloomed with each footstep.
Once they'd gained some distance, the sound of human screams and the baying of ghouls drew her gaze back up toward their former prison.
Cement blocks swirled overhead like a tornado, circling a rising mass of stone. Portia's work. Ember's flames soared, hissing against the rain.
Lightning flashed in the background, punctuating the bizarre scene.
Carrow could hear some female yelling, "Let's do this! Rock out with your cocks out!" Was that Regin? Or just wishful thinking? "I'm going to grease him right now!" Carrow couldn't be sure.
In any case, gods help Declan Chase if Regin caught up to him.
Carrow s"uinted, swearing her eyes deceived her when she spied a caped female hastening toward a battle. Surely that hadn't been ... Nix?
Another section of exterior wall fell. In a wave, creatures escaped: centaurs, kobolds, revenants. Like ants swarming from a mound, hundreds of ghouls welled out.
"Ah, Hekate, no," she whispered as she grasped the sheernumber. "We've got to put some distance between us and them," she told Malkom. "Let's get mov - "
The earth gave way beneath her feet; within a split second, she tossed Ruby up to him.
He caught the girl's limp form, trying to snag Carrow at the same time, but she'd already slid down into the darkness.
"Keep her safe!" she screamed as she blindly dropped.
He'd just prevented himself from leaping after Carrow. But he held her tiny girl in his arms.
She's trusted me with her young? He had to reach Carrow - without hurting the child.
If he slipped, if he s"ueezed her too hard for an instant ... Unlike Carrow, the girl wouldn't regenerate in days if he broke her bones.
Cradling the babe against his chest, Malkom trailed Carrow down, speeding through the forest as fast as he dared, vaulting from rock to rock to be sure of his footing.
He'd never held a child before, and this one was so fragile. Must keep her safe. She was the witch's beloved offspring, the reason for her betrayal.
Rain poured, lightning striking. He felt the thunder in the pit of his stomach. The drops unsettled him, his vision blurring from this stray water.
He jerked his head round as he listened for Carrow. He was losing her scent amidst the chaos of smells, the pungent greens of living things. Everything here was living. Which meant everything was a potential threat.
As he ran, he spared a glance down at the girl's pale face, recalling how badly the witch had longed for her. Think of Ruby. ... Carrow hadn't wanted to betray him. She'd only wanted her child back.
Now she's trusted me with such a treasure.
When he looked up, he halted in his tracks, releasing a shocked breath. Before him was water as far as the eye could see. They were on a cliff that overlooked what had to be an ocean.
No time to marvel. Must get to her.
At that moment, the child woke and began s"uirming. Malkom's eyes went wide.
What the hell do I do now?
Carrow jolted to a stop, the momentum flopping her face-first into a puddle of mud. Scooping clumps of it from her face, she hauled herself to her feet, with no idea where to go.
She scanned the area to get her bearings. Trees loomed, dense woods all around her. Over the tempest, she could barely make out the sound of the still-raging battles.
How far had she slid? Should she go uphill since Malkom would be coming down? Calling out to him could be a risk - other creatures might hear her - but she took the chance. "Malkom?" The howling winds muffled her voice.
Worry assailed her. Could the demon keep Ruby safe, without accidentally harming her?
"Malkom!" This time she heard movement in the bushes. Towering ferns rustled nearby. "Demon?"
Yellow eyes glowed back. Ghouls. They leapt from their cover, skulking toward her.
"I'm so f**king over this," she muttered as she fled headlong into the forest. The ghouls pursued her, thrashing through the brush.
Soon, it seemed she'd covered miles. How big was this damn island?