Gideon's Promise (Sons of Judgment Book 2) (13 page)

Gravel crunched beneath his feet as he wove his way along the tracks. The fine hairs along the back of his neck prickled. At his sides, his fingers flexed. His gaze swung over the boxes. Graffiti marked several with gang symbols. A few were open and the faint glow of trash can fires flickered in the darkness. Gideon raised his face to the breeze and inhaled deep the smell of grease, sweat, and urine and ... there it was. The subtle scent. It was nearly masked by sadness and despair. But there was no mistaking it.

Angelic blade clasped tightly in his hand, he set out, quick and silent. His ears strained for even the slightest change in his surroundings. He was vaguely aware of Valkyrie and Magnus still in the alley he’d left behind. He considered getting them. Then, just as quickly, pushed the thought aside as he rounded the last train and came to his destination.

The smell was strong there. It claimed the air, leaving no doubt in his mind as he pushed up along the side and crept to the wide, sliding door.

Light spilled from the thin crack. Something inside scuffled. Gideon swung his weight up onto the footrest, grasped the iron railing along the side with his free hand, and heaved open the door.

The thing rolled loudly on its tracks and struck the end with a resounding bang that rattled the car. But it was drowned by the thump of his boots as he leapt inside, braced for an attack.

The cabin was empty, except for the barrel of fire casting orange fingers of light across the rusted walls. A heavy coat of filth and grime coated the floor, disturbed in some areas where it was apparent that someone had been there at some point. Recently, from what Gideon could tell as he moved deeper into the musty space.

He tapped the flat length of his blade once against his thigh and moved to peer down into the barrel. The heat of the fire washed against his face, hot and suffocating. He peered through the flames at the bits of charred wood and pieces of plastic. He was still studying the hypnotic dance when Magnus entered the car.

“Find anything?”

Gideon shook his head. “No, but I think this was where they were staying.” He glanced at his brother. “Their smell is strongest here.”

Magnus moved away from him to survey the room. A moment later, Valkyrie appeared in the doorway, hands braced on either side of the iron frame. Her blue eyes swept over the space.

“There were three of them,” she announced, pushing forward. She moved to the right end of the cabin and stopped where the dirt had been most disrupted. “Three individual spots.”

Gideon moved to stand next to her. Magnus did the same to her other side. They all looked down at the area she pointed at. Three rectangular marks were etched into the dirt, as though three bodies had lain there, side by side.

“I think we need another talk with our guests,” Valkyrie muttered, turning on her heel and marching out of the car.

Magnus and Gideon exchanged glances.

“They were here recently,” Gideon said. He jerked a nod towards the barrel. “They replenished the fire not too long ago.”

“So what tipped them off that we were coming?”

Gideon shook his head. “I don’t know, but I have a feeling they haven’t gone too far.”

Magnus inhaled deeply, took another look around the cabin and exhaled. “I want another word with Micah. I don’t trust him.”

“I’ll do another sweep of the area,” Gideon added. “I’ll see you back at the house.”

Magnus frowned. “We should stay together.”

“They’ll be long gone by the time we come back.” He grinned and punched his brother in the arm. “Are you worried about me, little brother?”

As expected, Magnus bared his teeth. “Douche. Just watch your back.”

With a shove, Magnus turned and disappeared after Valkyrie.

Gideon, stowing away his blade, put out the fire before leaving the train to follow the very faint scent still lingering in the night.

Every creature had an individual scent, a distinct odor that marked them as non-human. The creature he was tracking now smelled like a very old house that hadn’t been lived in for ages. It was faint, so they weren’t very old, but it was there.

Gideon followed it all the way to the harbor where the smell vanished entirely under the overpowering stench of fish, sewage, sweat, stale beer and mold and fog. The pale fingers rose off the water’s surface and wound around lamp posts, casting shimmering halos in the darkness. Somewhere in the distance, a fog horn blared, interrupting the soft whisper of the water lapping against the docks and the low creak of cargo ships.

Gideon cursed.

If someone had ran that way, they were probably hidden somewhere in the hundreds of shipment containers piled sky high all around him. Whoever they were, they were clever; with their scent concealed, he’d never find them.

Suppressing the urge to kick something, he left the waterfront and made his way back, hoping that Magnus got something out of Micah.

“They’re gone,” Octavian told him the moment Gideon returned to Final Judgment.

“What do you mean they’re gone?” Gideon roared. “Where’d they go?”

“Mom went to check on Cara and the room was empty. They must have climbed through the window,” Octavian said. “Magnus has gone after them. Reggie and Valkyrie are searching the grounds.”

“This is bullshit!” he raged, kicking a chair. The leg snapped off and the whole thing tipped and crashed to the ground. “Why wasn’t anyone watching them?”

“Because they weren’t prisoners,” Octavian shot back.

“Not ... they attacked me!” Gideon exclaimed.

The doors opened and Magnus stomped in, looking as irate as Gideon felt.

“They vanished,” he muttered. “Like fucking ghosts.” He caught sight of Gideon. “Any luck on—”

Gideon shook his head. “Nothing. They ran for the harbor. I lost their scent.”

Magnus expelled a series of cuss words that would have horrified their mother. “Can someone explain to me how they escaped in the first place?”

The doors leading into the kitchen swung open and Riley hurried out, followed by their father, Imogen, and their mother.

“They jimmied the window open and slid down the side of the house,” their father said, possibly having heard Magnus’ shouting.

“The side of...” Magnus broke off with a look of someone about to break a fist through a wall. “Has anyone but me seen the size of this place? How does one exactly slide down it?”

Gideon had to agree with his brother. It was ridiculous. Laughable even.

“Nothing’s impossible if you’re determined,” their father rationalized.

“But why wasn’t someone watching them?” Magnus exclaimed. His gaze swung from Octavian to their father, but the accusation in his eyes were clear. This was Octavian’s fault. “What were you doing?”

The anger was brilliant in Octavian’s gaze, bright and livid like a forest fire. His shoulders stiffened, but his voice was firm and even when he spoke.

“I was dealing with things here.”

“Here?” Magnus swept an exaggerated over the room. “Here where? What was here that needed your attention more than our prisoners?” He didn’t wait for a response, didn’t wait for their brother to confirm what they all already knew. “Riley.”

Not then, not afterwards would Gideon have blamed Octavian for taking a swing at Magnus. He knew he would have if someone said Valkyrie’s name in a manner that left no doubt it was an insult.

“Don’t bring her into this, Magnus,” Octavian warned slowly.

“You’re pathetic,” Magnus snarled.

“Magnus, that is enough!” their mother scolded. “That is no way to talk to your brother.”

“It’s fine,” Octavian said to her, but kept his gaze on Magnus. “I don’t expect him to understand—”

“Understand what?” Magnus exclaimed. “Ever since you’ve imprinted, you’ve been chasing after Riley like a lost puppy. You hole yourself up in this place, protecting a creature that can snap your neck with her bare hands. It’s disgusting how—”

No one saw the punch coming. Not even Magnus, who was hardcoded with ninja reflexes. His head snapped back and he staggered on his feet. Blood spattered from his mouth and stained the front of his coat.

“Octavian!”

Octavian ignored Riley’s shout of horror and closed the space between himself and Magnus, grabbed their brother’s lapel and hauled him upright.

“Don’t you ever call my wife a creature,” he said in a low, but very frightening voice. “I’ll beat the shit out of you.” He relinquished Magnus and took a step back. Gideon suspected it was because Octavian couldn’t trust himself not to follow through and pop Magnus a second time. “And as it happens, I’ve been putting a chart together.”

Slanting Magnus a sharp glower, Octavian moved to the far, corner table where a series of charts lay overtop. Gideon didn’t bother following. He needed a damn drink and made his way to the bar while the others, minus Magnus, circled the table.

“What is this, Octavian?” their mother asked.

“I’m making a list of everyone that took a side during the war,” he said. “Riley gave me the idea.” He slanted Magnus another sharp glance before continuing. “There are a few I need help remembering, but...” He shifted several of the pages aside. “I was able to put into columns those that joined the angels and those who joined the demons and those who went into hiding.”

While they pored over the notes, Gideon had already downed three glasses of whiskey and was about to pour himself a forth when Valkyrie and Reggie burst through the doors and joined the group.

“Anything?” their father asked.

Reggie shook his head.

Valkyrie moved to a nearby table, far enough away to be from the others so as not to be too close, but close enough to hear the conversation. She sat and drew out the dagger from her boot. She flicked it absently between her fingers. To an observer, she would appear bored and nonchalant, but Gideon knew better. Every rigid line stiffening her back and shoulders spoke of unease; this wasn’t a girl used to unity and the north was nothing if not united. Her confusion was almost amusing.

“The marcats joined the demons.” Reggie pointed to something on the chart.

“I’m sure it was the angels,” their mother urged.

“No, they were unclaimed.” Octavian rapped the page with his pencil.

“Have you checked the archives?” their father asked.

Octavian cast an almost fearful glance in their mother’s direction. “No, but only because I wanted to live.”

“There’s an archive?” Riley had joined Gideon at the bar, away from the others.

Gideon swirled the drink in his tumbler and laughed. “No.” He pushed away from the counter, took a sip and set his glass down. “It’s a book Mom put together with information on all the creatures on all sides of the veil.”

“How come I’ve never seen this handy-dandy book?”

“Because Mom safe guards it like a Faberge egg.” He downed the rest of his whiskey. “It took her the better part of eight centuries to get it just right.”

“I’m forbidden to even cast a glance in its direction.” Reggie joined Riley at the counter. “Mom’s words.”

Gideon’s snicker was muffled by the clink of bottle neck touching tumbler rim.

“Why?” Riley turned to Reggie. “What did you do?”

Reggie squinted at her. “What makes you think I did something?”

“It’s the face,” Gideon said. “It’s just too hideous to be considered innocent.”

Reggie flipped him off before turning back to Riley. “I breathed on it wrong.”

Riley blinked, her eyes widened. “Sorry?”

Gideon raised the glass to his mouth only to have it snatched away by Reggie who downed the shot himself.

“Hey! Asshole!”

Reggie grinned and set the glass down. He slid it across the bar back towards Gideon. “Yum.”

Restraining the urge to provoke his mother’s wrath by pitching the glass at Reggie’s head, Gideon poured himself two fingers, but kept a firm grip on it. He even turned his body away to take the shot himself.

“So where is this book now?” Riley cut in. “I want to see it.”

Gideon and Reggie both laughed.

“Only if you have a death wish,” Reggie sobered enough to say.

“Not even Octavian would be able to save you,” Gideon added.

Riley narrowed her eyes. “Didn’t you hear? I’m the strongest creature here.”

Reggie grimaced. Gideon snorted in his drink. Riley looked at both of them and grinned.

“Would you believe it if I said Magnus wasn’t always such a hard ass?” Reggie offered in what he probably thought was a comforting tone.

Riley arched an eyebrow. “No, I wouldn’t believe you.”

“It’s true.” Gideon fastened the cap back on the bottle and stowed it away beneath the counter. “There was a time he rescued kittens from trees and helped blind people cross the road.”

“Oh well, when you say it like that...” Riley chuckled.

“Honestly, though,” Reggie insisted. “It’s only the last few centuries that he’s been so ... crabby.”

The three of them glanced across the room to where Magnus stood, poring over the charts. His face was bunched in concentration. The scowl twisted the scars marring his cheek.

“What happened?” Riley wondered.

“Don’t know,” Reggie said. “He never told anyone. I think it’s a girl.”

Gideon snorted. “A girl?”

“It could have been,” Reggie said defensively.

“Not Magnus,” Gideon said. “Magnus doesn’t fall for a pretty face. He’s not built like that.”

“What then?” Riley pressed.

Gideon inhaled deeply. “It’s that place, isn’t it? No one ever comes back normal when they go down there.”

“Down where?”

“He means the market,” Reggie supplied. “I’ve been there loads of times with him. I feel fine.”

“
That
,” Gideon said pointedly, “is debatable. Also, Magnus doesn’t take you to the actually bad places.”

“What’s the market?” Riley prodded.

“What are you three doing way over here in the corner?” Their father moved over to them with a slight smile on his face.

“Just telling Riley stories,” Gideon said offhandedly. “She wants to see the
book
.”

Liam chuckled. “No one’s really allowed to see it,” he told Riley. “Kyaerin’s a bit protective.”

“Told you,” Gideon and Reggie said simultaneously.