Page 26 of Helsing: Demon Slayer (The Dragon’s Paladins #1)

“No buts,” said Olivia, injecting authority into her voice that Ryan had come to recognize as that of the zonje , the lady wife of a powerful zoti .

While not impossible to resist, it warned of dire consequences if the target did.

“Helsing is a former Army Ranger, little sis. That means he’s trained extensively for this kind of mission. If any human can do it, he can.”

Dianne started to object anyway. “Olivia, please,” she said, anguish twisting her voice. “You didn’t see what Germaine did to him.” She threw Ryan a tormented look that punched him in the gut. “I managed to get the bleeding to stop, but what happens when—not if—it starts again?”

Olivia relented at Dianne’s impassioned plea, softening her tone.

“Then all the more reason to get him to the safehouse, Di. There’s a triage center, and the housekeeper has emergency medical training.

If you care about what happens to Ryan, then make his job easier.

” She paused before adding, “I’m counting on you. ”

Ryan watched Dianne, whose open mouth showed how nonplussed her sister’s counterplea had left her.

Then he watched her straighten her spine, square her shoulders, and lift her chin.

He recognized the behavior. There always came a moment when an Army Ranger candidate had to step up and accept the call to duty. Only those who did merited the name of Ranger.

“Rangers lead the way,” he murmured to himself.

Dianne threw him a glance that told him she’d heard and understood the reference.

She shocked the hell out of him with her answer. “Hooah!” she said, not looking at him.

Ryan smiled to himself.

“That’s my soldier,” said Olivia, clear approval in her voice. “Find any vehicle still running. I assume you don’t have a working phone. Now that your GPS and comms are back online, I’ll be your eyes, ears, and all-round den leader. Demon Slayer, how copy?”

“Solid copy, Aerie Actual.”

“Good. It’s approximately five hours to the safehouse by car from your location. Be advised that you’ll have to slip through border control on your own.”

Ryan watched the surrounding pilgrims as they began to show signs of growing confusion and panic. Not a time to be armed with only a handgun and a combat knife wearing what amounted to a T-shirt and cargo pants. “Copy that” was all he said, however.

“Let me know when you’ve acquired a working vehicle, Demon Slayer. If nothing viable presents itself in the next hour, check in anyway. I should have an update for you on the safehouse and available assets in your area. Otherwise, conserve your comms battery.”

“Wilco.” Ryan stepped closer to Dianne, closing the gap between them.

“And Ryan? Stay frosty.” Olivia paused. When she spoke again, she addressed her new recruit: her sister. “Dianne, remember your mission, and try to stay off comms until we understand how they work better. See you both on the other side. Aerie Actual out.”

Ryan returned his gaze to Dianne, who watched him surveying the crowd. “Well, then, soldier , let’s acquire a vehicle before this peaceful gathering turns into a desperate mob.”

They moved away from the outside worship space toward the traffic circle in front of the church where buses and cars sat, the occupants standing next to open doors and talking amongst themselves.

Multiple people had cellphones to their ears, while others tried to start their vehicles and became increasingly frustrated.

Although the emotional temperature among the visitors remained low, it wasn’t stable and would degrade if the power didn’t return soon.

Olivia’s report made that seem very unlikely.

They needed to get out of here before the nice people got ugly.

Ryan took Dianne’s hand. Ignoring her protest, he led her to the street where he scanned the abandoned and unoccupied cars for an older one unlikely to have an electronic ignition.

There! An older model Opel sat a hundred meters down the two-lane highway that led into the center of Me?ugorje.

“With me,” he said.

“Yes sir ,” said Dianne, breathless from the quick strides he forced her to take.

Ryan ignored her sarcasm. He needed to push forward while the flare’s effects lasted. He wanted to be in Shkoder before the pain returned.

It was only after it had dissipated that he’d realized just how strong it had been.

The Opel sat unattended, parked against the curb as though the driver worked nearby. Ryan glanced around as he tested the driver-side door handle, on alert. No one appeared, angry and ready to assault him. The car was locked.

Ryan pulled his pack from his back and fished around for his stainless-steel water bottle, still heavy with water. Gripping it tightly, he looked at Dianne.

“You might want to stand back. There by the trunk is fine.”

Dianne didn’t pester him with any questions, simply nodded and moved to a safe distance.

Hefting the full metal container, Ryan aimed his blow at the corner of the driver’s side window above the handle, where the glass would be the weakest. It cracked, sending small pieces onto the pavement. He smashed the bottle a second time, widening the hole.

Ryan stuck the bottle into the backpack before using the bag itself to clear the jagged edges of the glass enough that he could reach in without cutting his hand.

He groped around until he found the lock button on the inside of the door.

Twenty seconds later, he’d unlocked and opened the door.

Thirty seconds after that, he’d popped the hood.

He shot a pointed glance at Dianne, who stood on the sidewalk watching his every move with a predatory focus. Good. He needed her fully present to help.

“Keep a lookout. Copy?”

She nodded. “Copy.”

Ryan grinned to himself. He’d take his wins where he could get them.

Pulling his combat knife from his pack, he slid into the Opel. He used the knife to pry the cover from the wiring harness under the steering column. Quickly he stripped the insulation from the power, ignition, and starter wires before twisting the power and ignition wires together.

“Hey,” he said to grab Dianne’s attention. She stood in the middle of the sidewalk, her gaze sweeping the area around them. At his call, she looked over. “I’ve hotwired the engine. I’ll need you to start it once I’ve jumped the battery.”

“Jumped the battery?” she asked, sounding confused. “How are you going to do that? There’s no Triple A around here or any other running vehicles as far as I can tell.”

“No need,” he said, sliding out of the driver’s seat. He felt the bandage loosen and whatever Dianne had pressed into the puncture wounds slip as he moved. “I’m fully charged at the moment. Here, get in.”

Confusion washed over Dianne’s face, but thankfully she didn’t question him again and slid into the driver’s seat after he stood up.

“See that stripped wire hanging down beneath the steering column? The yellow and black?”

“Affirmative.”

Now Ryan openly grinned at her. “You’re a natural, Markham. I’ll have to give you a proper call sign. How about Beauty Queen?”

Dianne scowled. “What do you want me to do with this wire exactly, Helsing ?”

Ryan’s grin faded a little. “When I give the go sign, touch the starter wire to the other two wires I twisted together. Those are the ignition and the power, so the car will start.”

“Aye, aye, captain,” she said, saluting.

Shaking his head while still smiling, Ryan went to the front of the car and opened the hood.

His invisible tactical gear, newly recharged by the geomagnetic flare, had the benefit of being electrified during hand-to-hand combat, making it painful for an opponent to hold onto him.

When the situation called for it, he could also tase a subject with his bare hands.

A situation such as a dead car battery.

Gripping the battery’s positive terminal, he directed a concentrated charge into the electrical reservoir.

Then he closed the circuit by placing his other hand on the car’s metal frame, which was grounded by its tires.

The only trick was not overcharging the battery, or he’d damage it, and they’d have to start over.

By the looks of the people around them, they couldn’t afford that delay.

Which was another issue. If he used the harmonic energy needed to jump the car quickly, he’d drain his replenished reservoir dangerously.

He chose the exigency of getting out of Dodge over keeping his tactical gear charged. The fight you won was the one you never got into in the first place.

After five minutes of intense electricity coursing through his hand into the battery, Dianne said, “The radio’s on!” She sounded excited. “And the dash lights.”

“Now’s the time to tap that starter wire to the power and ignition,” he said.

“Copy that.”

A minute later, they were driving down the street with Ryan negotiating a path between stalled vehicles that sometimes took their stolen car up onto the sidewalk.

As they made their way out of the small mountain town, Ryan saw more and more unhappy, frustrated people, many of whom began to shout and run after them.

“Lock your door,” he said to Dianne, whose wide-eyed stare was glued to the world around them. “And grab the Glock and an extra mag from my backpack.”

Dianne darted him a shocked look, but she complied with his order without question.

He took the gun from her and placed it in his lap for easy access. He shot a glance at her but kept driving. “Keep the clip. I’ll let you know when I need it.”

He switched the radio off. Its scratchy white noise boded nothing good for what they’d find beyond this secluded mountain holy site.

Time to call for ops support. “Aerie Actual, this is Demon Slayer. Over.”

Olivia responded so quickly it was clear she’d been waiting. “Go for Aerie Actual.”

“Acquired an older model Opel sedan with almost three-quarters of a tank of gas. Got any directions for me?”

“Take the next right onto R425a. You’ll be on that for seven klicks.

After that I’ll have to direct you through various turns.

It’s approximately a hundred-thirty klicks to the Montenegrin border.

Still no local assets to give you an escort, I ’ m afraid.

And I haven’t been able to raise the housekeeper in Shkoder. ”

“Once-in-a-lifetime solar tantrum, and everyone’s acting like it’s a snow day,” said Ryan. Dianne snorted next to him.

Ryan turned right onto the route heading south. Buses, trucks, and cars lined the highway as far as the eye could see. Sweaty people milled around them, some trudging along the edge of the road toward Me?ugorje. In the rearview, he caught a glimpse of a fight breaking out.

It’s started .

“By the way, Demon Slayer,” said Olivia, bringing him back to their situation. “Your system shows a rapid depletion of energy, almost like you atomized several daemon legions.”

“Not quite. Just defibrillated the dead battery.”

“Clever.”

“I aim to please, Aerie Actual.”

“Watch your power reserves, Helsing. We should be able to recharge you remotely once you reach the Albanian border, but until then, you’ll have to survive on your wits and brawn.”

“Good thing I have plenty of both,” he quipped, looking out of the corner of his eye at Dianne, who rolled her eyes.

What Ryan didn’t—and wouldn’t—say was that a sharp ache had returned in his side.

And blood once again seeped into the waist of his pants.