Page 15 of Samhain Savior

My hand trembled as I stroked the cork stopper with my thumb, careful to keep the vial sealed up tight. White phosphorus was no joke, but when it was mixed with Holy Water and oxygen, it transformed into more than a weapon.

It became my last hope for salvation.

“Please don’t hurt me.”

“I do love it when they beg,” the first one said with a low chuckle, and I was done.

Pulling the vial out, I lifted my head, offering a sarcastic smile as I stared into the black shadows, estimating where I thought his condescending voice was coming from.

“Please,” I spat, any desperation I had felt now turned to angry resolve. “I’m begging you tofuck off.”

Then I tossed the vial, hopped the fence, and ran as the night exploded behind me.

Chapter six

Archer

Pain seared my skin as the explosion detonated where the witch had been standing, lighting up the dark like hell’s own heart.

“Motherfucker,” Vine hissed, his own burned face coming into view as my shadows receded. “What the fuck was that?”

It was a valid question; demons were impervious to fire, but whatever she had thrown at us had definitely done some damage. Grabbing Vine by the back of the neck, I hauled him toward me, peering at the rapidly fading pockmarks spattered across his skin. Leaning close, I sniffed, my nose wrinkling in disgust when I caught the scent.

“Holy water.”

“That bitch hit us with exploding holy water?” His golden eyes darkened with rage. “I’m not even gonna eat her soul. I’m gonna piss on it.”

“Wait,” I hissed, stopping him as he moved to follow her. Tilting my head to the side, I reached out with all my senses, closing my eyes and allowing my power to do the heavy lifting. “Something’s different.”

Shewas different.

The other Order witches we’d tracked had all had a sour scent, their binding and corruption rotting them from the inside out. But this witch didn’t smell tainted.

She smelled divine.

“She’s getting away,” Corson drawled, his gaze following the witch as she ran, her blond head disappearing around the back of the church as she fled into the night.

But I wasn’t worried. Taking another deep breath, I inhaled her scent again, the soft notes of sage and lavender oil lighting up my insides.

No, she wasn’t going to get far, not when I could follow her scent across time itself.

“Grab the bag,” I ordered, my feet already taking me toward where she’d disappeared. “Mal? Secure the area, then follow us.” Mal cawed an affirmative, then launched himself skyward, settling in the high, naked branches ofa nearby tree. Looking to the others, I nodded. “Let’s see where she’s gone.”

I chuckled when I realized she hadn’t gone far at all. No, the crafty little witch had circled around the front of the church and gone inside.

How delightfully quaint.

Pushing my way through the yellow police tape, I climbed the stairs and headed through the double doors, pushing them open slowly, the iron hinges squealing softly in the quiet night. Inside, the church was dark, still closed pending completion of the investigation into the murder of Father Phips. The only light came from the streetlights outside, glowing through the double rows of stained-glass windows that lined both sides of the Nave. There was a small cluster of prayer candles to the right of the Narthex, but they were dark and cold with no parishioners coming to light them.

But that didn’t matter, because I didn’t need light to follow her.

Looking around, I could see where the church had been ransacked, a few of the pews overturned and hymnals ripped apart, their pages carelessly strewn about.

Bastards. The disrespect pissed me off.

My footsteps echoed across the vaulted ceiling as I made my way down the checkered aisle, the sound snapping likegunshots in the quiet. To one side, I could see where the office had been raided, and I shook my head. I hated that they’d been in here, touching and defiling places they had no business defiling.

They’d pay. I’d make themallpay.