Page 27 of Kiss the Dawn (Order of Helsing #4)

M y call to Micah was met with a dead tone.

The number had been cut off.

Micah was in the wind. Running from me, from the truth, and the repercussions that would come. He’d taken me from my home and given me a life free of constraints. I didn’t hate him. I couldn’t. I just…I needed to understand how he fit into my Order parents’ death, and if it was indeed murder like the investigation was suggesting. I needed to tell him I forgave him, and I understood, and that I’d fight for him, not against him, but all those things would have to wait until he found a way to contact me, which he undoubtedly would.

He was my mentor and friend, and now I knew he’d been my mother’s lover, I was going to forget I’d ever had a crush on him.

I filled the team in on my eventful afternoon over supper at the Boar’s Head a block away before catching a taxi to Henry’s place for our meeting.

There was a lot to digest, and we agreed we’d do it at our morning catch-up once we’d all had a chance to sleep on it.

I dragged myself from my thoughts as I climbed Henry’s porch. I’d come pretty much straight from the office in Order uniform, sword at my back because even though it no longer channeled blessed power, it could still stab and cut. But as I waited for him to answer, I couldn’t help but wonder if I should have changed into something casual. Reminding him that I was a protector, that I should have protected Agatha, might not be the best idea.

But it was too late now.

I went to knock on the door and noticed the note pinned to it.

Just come in, it’s open. I’m in the study and might not hear the door.

I guess you could afford to leave such an invitation when you lived in a fancy part of town. Only a fool would try to break in when there were cameras all over the place.

I pushed the door open and poked my head in. “Henry?” Music drifted into the entrance hall. “Hello?” I stepped inside and closed the door .

A soft click sounded, and then a whirring sound filled the hall.

I spun to find a sheet of metal coming down over the entrance and bars slipping over the windows.

“What the fuck?” Panic choked off my words as I threw myself at the door, missing the handle by a moment as the sheet cut me off from the wood.

The clatter and whirr ended, leaving me trapped.

I ran across the hall and into a sitting room to find the windows there barred too.

Static filled the air followed by Henry’s voice. “Thank you for having the decency to come tonight, Orina. Agatha said that you were an honorable person, and she was right. It’s the only reason that you’re still alive because I know that you would have tried to save her. That you genuinely feel guilty, but I can’t let the crime go unanswered.”

“What do you?—”

“Ezekiel needs to pay for taking her from me.”

“Henry, what have you?—”

“He needs to suffer like she suffered. He needs to feel pain.”

“You can’t kill him. You know that?—”

“I’ve done my research, and I know he can’t be killed, but he isn’t immune to magic. I’ve commissioned the perfect magical trap. Once he steps into it, he’ll be in a purgatory of pain for eternity. You’re here so you can’t interfere. You won’t make it to guard duty tonight. You’ll stay here until the deed is done. Don’t bother trying to call anyone; I’ve ensured that you’ll have no reception here. The doors will open at dawn. I know that there will be consequences for my actions tonight, but frankly, I don’t care.”

More static was followed by silence.

“Henry! Henry, fucking hell!” But he didn’t reply, and the more I thought it over, the more it became obvious that I must have just listened to a pre-recorded message.

Think, Orina. Ezekiel was out tonight at a tour…but maybe there was no tour. Maybe Henry had arranged it all to get him to a location so he could attack him. No, it would be okay. Godor was with him. Ezekiel was powerful. It would be okay. He’d be okay.

But what if he wasn’t? Henry had said that the trap was magical, that all Ezekiel needed to do was step in it, which meant there would be no big attack for him to see coming. Oh God.

I checked my phone, and there was no reception just as Henry had promised. Even if there had been, who would I call? The team and Hemlock were in Old Town. Kaster! I could text him, and if there was a flare in reception, then he’d get the message.

I quickly typed out a message letting him know that Ezekiel was in danger and to stop him from going to Innovation Corp. I explained there was a magical trap. I didn’t bother telling him about my predicament because I wasn’t in any danger, and I needed the focus to be on Ezekiel .

I sent the message, then checked my watch. Ezekiel’s tour was at nine, and it was now eight. I had an hour to get to Innovation. If I ran, I’d make it in thirty minutes.

I had to find a way out.

There had to be a weakness somewhere.

I took a breath, centered myself, and then began an inspection of the house, only to conclude that there was no exit. Every window was barred, and all the doors were covered in metal sheeting. The mechanism to override it could be anywhere.

Eight-twenty.

My message to Kaster still hadn’t been delivered.

Time was running out. If I didn’t get out in the next ten minutes, then I might not make it to him.

I squeezed my eyes closed against the image of Ezekiel falling into a trap. Of him being in pain again. He’d suffered enough, paid for sins he hadn’t even committed a hundred-fold. He’d been stripped of his humanity, made into a monster, but he’d clawed his way back, and now…now Henry was going to throw him back in the pit?

A fire burned in my chest. No. No, I wouldn’t allow it.

He didn’t deserve to be hurt again. My upper arm tingled and grew hot, and I reached for my sword on instinct, fingers curling around the hilt with familiar assurance before the rush of warmth down my arm registered. My heart swelled as power bloomed and lit up my sword.

How…how was this possible?

Fuck it, I wasn’t about to question it. It was a closely guarded secret among the Order blessed that a blessed blade infused with power could cut through most anything. Even metal bars.

I ran for the nearest window and swung at the bars, slicing horizontally. The blade glowed, cutting through the metal like butter to reveal the window. I smashed the glass, then crashed out onto the lawn, barely feeling the jagged bite of fractured shards.

Ezekiel, I’m coming.