Page 73 of Blood and Moonlight

“Simon!” I gasp. “I need Simon of Mesanus!”

A woman who isn’t Madame Emeline bares her teeth at me. “He’s not here.” She pulls her customer deeper into the shadowed entry and blocks me from coming in. The sickly-sweet scent of her perfume washes over me as she leans close and hisses, “Leave before I call the guard.”

She either can’t or won’t help me. Almost half a minute wasted. I pivot away and tear down the road. “Murder!” I scream as homes pass in a blur. “Murder! Come quickly! Help!”

The street ends at the temple, and I run around its curved walls and skid to a halt on the edge of a wide grassy area. A statue stands in the middle on a high pedestal, glowing gray in the starlight. Beneath it, a hulking silhouette slowly separates from a dark shape on the ground and rises to face me.

I may be about to die for the second time tonight. Even if I was skilled enough to fight a man his size, I’m paralyzed by the memory of what he’s already done to her—to me. I take a deep breath to scream, the only defense I have.

The bell in the spire tower behind me suddenly rings out, not in alarm but to call the religious to midnight prayers. I look up at it reflexively, and when I bring my eyes back to the man, he’s gone.

Gone where?

The temple itself is only a few yards away, and I dash to press my back against the stone wall, wanting a direction no one can come at me from. I look around wildly as ringing echoes off buildings, drowning all else out. Eventually, the sounds fade to where I feel safe enough to edge to where I can see the statue. The only shadow left is the one lying motionless in the grass. Without thinking, I push off the wall and run straight at it.

My feet have barely touched the grass when I’m tackled from behind.