The Spiritglass Charade (Stoker & Holmes 2)

“You know I’m right. She’s got to have help—”

“That woman is beyond ’elp, an’ ye know it. But I’ll do as ye ask—I’ll get the Adler woman and Olympia out into the sun, where they’ll be safe—well, unless Adler’s been turned—but then I’ll be back.” He glanced at the small window. “’Ere. That’s the best way. Opens right into the dawn.”

I wasn’t certain I could do it. . . . I grasped two of the bars and began to pull. I knew I was strong, but I didn’t know if I had enough. I felt the iron rods give, just a little . . . or maybe it was my imagination. Still, I pulled.

“Move.” Pix shoved me out of the way. I swung back toward him, but he held up a hand. “Jus’ wait.” A small light flared in his hands. “Move,” he said more fiercely, lobbing the light at the window.

Boom!

A cloud of smoke exploded into the chamber as Pix shoved me toward the hallway door. I stumbled out into the corridor, looking back to see that not only were the bars gone, but the window had gotten significantly larger. Fresh air, tinged with the gray of dawn, streamed into the room. Mina bumped into me as she staggered into the hall.

With a smooth movement, Pix hoisted Miss Adler over his shoulder. Olympia stood by, blinking owlishly, the pale light of dawn filtering over her pale blond hair.

She was probably wishing for a piece of paper to make notes.

Hearing shouts in the distance, I bolted the chamber door to give Pix a few more seconds to escape. Then I rushed down the hall, checking every door to see if Willa was behind it. I had no idea where I was or the layout of the building, and after a short time, I was completely confused.

“This way,” Mina hissed, grabbing my arm. She yanked me down a hallway that seemed familiar. Despite her pale face and the renewed shine of blood at her neck, she seemed clear-minded. She led me around a corner, and we found ourselves facing the open door of a parlor. It was a large warm, red space with low gas lamps and a roaring fire on one wall. The chamber was empty and oddly silent.

“Where did they all go?” Mina whispered. “They were all here hours ago. The place has become deserted.”

“I don’t know, but if we’re going to find Willa—” I stopped, for I heard a noise behind me.

Mina turned. “Willa!”

Her throat and dress were covered with blood. She looked pale, but there was lucidity in her eyes. As bad as she appeared, she looked much better than poor Miss Adler.

She flew toward Mina. “Oh, thank heavens you’re here. They brought me here, and I thought—”

“You’re going to be all right. We’re taking you home now.”

“No!” The defiant order resounded in the empty chamber.

I turned to see a group of boys, ranging in ages from nine to fourteen. They stood in a cluster, with one boy in front. He had honey-blond hair and a handsome face. He must have been Robby Ashton, boy vampire.

“You’ll not take Willa,” he said. “You’ll not take her from me!”

“Come now, Willa,” Mina was saying. Her expression was anxious, and she gripped the girl’s arm tightly. “You need to come with us. Everything’s going to be just find.”

“Robby needs to come home. I promised Mother I’d help him—”

“You promised your mother you’d help him get to her, to find her. To find your mother so they can rest in peace together.” Mina’s voice was odd: slow, steady, and very careful. As if she walked some dangerous line. “Robby can’t come home with you, Willa. . . .”

The group of boys had moved into the chamber, forming a half-circle at the entrance. They were a motley crew . . . and from the blazingly cold chill at the back of my neck, it also seemed Mina was correct: All or most of them were UnDead.

“Take her out of here,” I ordered Mina, watching the gang carefully. They might have been boys of ten or eleven, but each was more dangerous than a grown man with a weapon.

I was facing an army. I gripped a stake in my hand and pulled the silver cross out from behind my shirt.

“No!” Robby’s voice was shrill and agonized, and he reared back a little. His companions edged closer around him, despite the deterrent of my cross. Some of them flared red eyes and revealed fangs. Others, the ones who were still mortal, brandished knives.

Still watching the boys, I eased down to pull two vials from my boot. “Mina.” I tossed one to her. “Now get her out of here. I’ll take care of this.”

I gave her credit: She did her best. Mina tried to pull Willa with her, but the other woman dug her heels in. “I can’t leave him. I can’t leave Robby!”

“You must! Do you not see?” Mina struggled with her, but the blond girl fought back, crying. “He’s no longer your brother. He’s lost to you.”

“Willa stays with me! I’m not going to let her leave again,” Robby roared. His eyes flared red, and his lips curled back to show long, lethal fangs.

In one swift move, the boy flew across the room toward Willa and Mina.

I vaulted forward, stake in hand, and crashed into him in midair. We tumbled to the floor, his sharp nails clawing at me viciously, his mouth in a horrible rictus of fury and desperation.

“You can’t have her! She’s my sister!” He was filled with horrible strength, violent and desperate—a match even for me. He drew blood from my face, my throat, and I fought to keep hold of the stake, crushed between Robby’s torso and mine. We rolled on the ground as Willa screamed and cried for him and Mina held her back. The other boys gathered around, randomly kicking me as I twisted and rolled with the lunatic boy.

From the corner of my eye, I saw Mina’s arm move sharply toward the crowd. A rush of water sparkled through the air, then splashed onto them. Without pause, she did it a second time and more holy water sprinkled onto their sensitive skin.

Robby slammed his head into mine, smashing into my cheek. The pain gave me a rush of furious strength and I bucked and twisted, whipping his head against the ground.

I pulled free and leapt to my feet. Robby surged up after me, mouth stretched with malevolence. But it was too late. Before he was even upright, I had the stake ready and drove it home as he lunged, right through his heart.

Robby screamed, high and terrified . . . then exploded into ash.

I staggered away, savage satisfaction blasting through me as I looked around for the next victim. What was that—two so far today? One yesterday in Spitalfields—