Part 58 (1/2)

Megan found strength. Twisting, she jabbed her fist into Gayle's stomach with all her might. Gayle screamed and fell.

Megan looked down at her, and wrenched the branch away. ”Guess what, b.i.t.c.h?” she said softly. ”You'll never touch him-in any way!”

She felt a whir of air behind her and spun around, the branch now raised as a weapon in her own hand.

It was only Mike Smith, handing her his coat to cover her nakedness. She smiled at him. White as a sheet, he tried to offer her a smile.

Sara, across from the bonfire, started to shriek, tear at her hair, and run into the woods. They wouldn't get far. A whir in the darkness, a flap of wings...

Those who ran would quickly be caught.

Theo Martin was raging that he was still a cop, and he'd see that they all rotted in jail. He didn't speak long, though, because Ragnor just shook his head in disgust, and went over to flatten him.

It was just the mop up. The main battle had been fought, and won. And now, since their friends had such unusual power, the end would be quick and clean.

But then...

There was a terrible cry of rage.

Martha had risen again. And she had retrieved the sacrificial blade. She went rus.h.i.+ng at Finn.

”Help him!” Megan shrieked, seeing that Lucian was striding around the pentagram on the ground, destroying it, and its power.

He'd never have time to reach Finn.

Yes, G.o.d, please! She thought. He was a vampire, he could reach Finn...

But he didn't need to. Finn was ready, kicking out and hitting Martha's arm.

They could all hear the crack of bone.

The knife flew up, and down. Finn caught it, and grabbed hold of Martha, bringing it to her throat.

But there he paused.

”No,” he said softly. ”You will not make a murderer out of me.”

He tossed Martha from him. And then, the copse was silent. Some of their enemies had run, and would be easily caught.A few were lying dazed or unconscious on the dirt of the forest.

Lucian had freed Morwenna, who had first dissolved into a flood of tears, and then risen in silence.

Finn turned to Megan. And he came across the forest floor, as he had in dreams. He reached the place by the altar where she stood. And he pulled her to him, gently, tenderly. They just stood there, holding one another.

She started to shake. Then she whispered softly.

”They saved us! A priest, and a pack of vampires, and a werewolf, and their wives!”

He pulled away from her, just barely. Enough to see her eyes.

”Dear Lord, yes, they helped. We wouldn't be alive without them. But you saved me, Megan. I heard your voice, when I could hear nothing else.”

She smiled, allowing herself to fall against him.

She was vaguely aware then of Morwenna, still shaking, wrapped in someone's huge coat, and walking, shaking still, until she stood over Joseph.

”You pathetic, jealous, d.i.c.khead, p.r.i.c.k!” she cried, and kicked her husband's fallen body. Megan thought that her cousin was going to collapse.

But she didn't. She lifted her head and turned toward me circle where Father Brindisi now stood in silence.

”I'm so sorry, Father Brindisi, please, please, forgive my language!” she said with dignity.

Father Brindisi grinned. ”G.o.d forgive me, Morwenna, but I was thinking along the exact same lines!”

They heard the sound of sirens in the night.

”Cops,” Mike Smith managed to say.

”You have mental power?” Finn asked him, grinning.

Mike shook his head. ”Cell phone. I thought it was time we called them.”

”And time a few of us slip away,” Lucian said. ”You are all right now, right?”

”I think,” Finn said. ”We'll all be all right-if the woods don't catch fire.”

Lucian turned, kicking dirt upon the bonfire. ”Help me,” he told Finn.

Finn joined him. It seemed, as the dirt flew up and fell upon the flames, that fog, not smoke, rose above it.

And for one terrible moment, Megan thought that she could see the burning eyes and horns of the demon, Bac-Dal, outlined there, in the fog.

More dirt fell upon the flames.

Smoke rose, and dispersed, and the fog was gone. An eerie sound seemed to rip through the night.

Something like a scream. A cry of pain and rage.

Fading, as the remnants of fire became nothing but ash.And then...

The strange shriek in the night was gone.

There was only the blare of the sirens heralding the police vehicles that were coming quickly now, roaring through the night.

Epilogue.

”Put your money where your mouth is!” Sean Canady told Finn.