Chapter 58: Orcs

"Come on." Lanie pulled me after her.

"He has the book," I blurted out.

She stopped and turned. The sleeping demon in the middle of the floor disintegrated into yellow smoke which disappeared down through the cracks in the floor.

"What? Why did you have the book with you?" Her eyes narrowed. "You were going to give it to Isabell, weren't you?" She dropped my arm and pulled away.

"No! I swear. I promise, I wasn't. I was looking for you. I thought you might have been in the park, but on my way I got kidnapped."

She studied my face. I think she was deciding whether to trust me or not. "Fine." She finally said. "Let's get out of here."

I scooped up my fallen tote bag and watched her skip up the broken pieces of wood stairs until she reached the top. She moved with such grace and poise, I couldn't believe we were actually sisters. I clambered up behind her, falling twice and skinning my knees. She turned and offered her hand. Her grip was frim as she hoisted me up to the first secure step. Lanie gave me a grim smile, then turned and walked up the steps.

I followed her up and through the hallway. We passed a busy looking bar. I wondered how they hadn't heard all the noise from downstairs. Maybe it was some sort of spell or something. I would have to ask Lanie about it later. We went through the main entrance and stood in front of a row of motorcycles. A few men, and other creatures, stood lingering about. Some had cigarettes and some had drinks. I ducked behind Lanie. I was about to ask her what she thought we should do when she addressed one of them.

"Hey Ugly!"

One of the blue grey creatures turned to look at her.

"Yeah, I'm talking to you. Give me your bike."

"What the fuck did you just say to me, little girl?" The creature's friends stood behind him growing to their full height. The chains decorating the leather jackets clanked as they stepped forward.

"Lanie," I whispered from over her shoulder, "What are you doing?"

"Getting us a ride. Just chill out."

"I don't think that is how you do that."

"Shh... Just wait." She raised her voice to address the coming mob. "Come on fish face, what are you going to do about it? You gonna beat up a little girl?"

"You better watch your fucking mouth, you soft skinned whore."

"We're not scared of you, you squid sucking son of a lamprey."

"Lanie," I whispered, "I really am actually scared of these guys."

She ignored me. She stood tall as I cowered behind her. The blue grey mob of creatures surrounded us. I don't know what she had planned, but I couldn't see an escape.

"Why don't you show us how brave you really are? Get down on your knees," the leader ordered.

"Make me." Lanie leaned forward and spat. The spit hit the creatures' cheek and slid down his jaw.

The other creatures around him hooted and hollered.

"Oh, no she did not just do that."

"Boy, you got trouble on your hands."

The leader wiped the spit off his face with one shoulder slowly. His eyes glared at Lanie. She lifted her chin. "Do you want to breed with me, female?" He growled.

Lanie narrowed her eyes, but said nothing.

He lowered his voice. "You wouldn't live through it."

"Try me," she said in a low tone.

He seized the front of shirt and lifted her in the air. Lanie grabbed his wrists to keep from falling out of the shirt. I squawked and fell back on my ass. The creature swung his arm and slammed her down on the ground. Her breath caught. Blood bubbled up from her mouth as she gasped for breath. I scrambled forward, but the other creatures caught my arms.

"What are you doing?" My voice trembled as it squeaked out.

"I told you, you couldn't handle this," the leader shouted in her face as he bent over her.

A splatter of blood landed on his face as she spit on him again.

"You want more! You're pathetic! How could you want more?" He roared.

He lifted her by the arms with one hand, dangling her above the ground. Blood dripped down her chin as her she choked in air. He reached his free arm back in a swing, before it came down, a white winged blur snatched her up. It swooped overhead then dove between the creatures straight for me. I curled up into a ball, bracing for the worst. The next thing I knew, I was soaring through the air hauled over the back of an angel. He wasn't even dressed in shiny armor this time. I guess what I had said must have sunk in.

We flew over rooftops towards the center of the town. He lowered us down on a tall building, which was only five stories high, but that was tall for this town. Angie dropped me to my feet. He held Lanie cradled in his arms. The look on his face was one of deep concern as he looked down at her.

"What were you thinking?" He asked her.

Lanie swatted at his arm as she struggled for air. He released her, but kept his arm around her back as she swayed on her feet.

"I was thinking I needed to die to get your attention." She coughed and spat blood to the side.

"There are other ways."

"Not ways where you can interfere," she wheezed.

Angie went silent.

"What just happened?" I asked. I didn't want to intrude, but I was fairly confused.

"I..." Lanie started coughing. "I..." Blood splattered on the cement.

"She was an idiot like always and didn't have a plan. So she picked a fight with an Orc which is actually a mating ritual. If she had been an orc, then she would have been fine, but she wasn't so she got the shit kicked out of her."

It was also more words than I'd ever heard him say at once. "I see. Wait, can you say "shit"? That doesn't seem very angelic."

Angie rolled his eyes. He focused his attention back on Lanie. "Can you suck it up? Matei is about to do a summoning. You need to hurry."

"What?" I asked with exasperation.

Both of them ignored me.

"I figured. He has the book."

Angie's hand came out to Lanie's chin. He wiped a smear of blood away with his thumb. "Happy birthday," he whispered looking between the both of us. "I am sorry it can't really be a happy one. You need to combine your soul by tonight."

Lanie pushed his hand aside. "Whatever." She looked angry.

"Your soul? Who's soul?" I asked.

Lanie grabbed my arm. "Come on, Kira. We have stuff to do. I think it's time we met with our father."

I shot one more look back at Angie as Lanie hauled me away. I had a feeling Lanie knew something I didn't and whatever it was, it wasn't good new.