Chapter 55
Darlington wasn’t sure what he had expected, but he hadn’t counted on needing to dampen the sound of the bells.
When the first chime struck, they were still inside the chapel, staring at the closed door to the staircase. It began as the ordinary pealing of a bell to mark the midnight hour, but then the sound seemed to warp and stretch, shaking the air around it.
“Someone’s going to come running,” Turner said. “Those bells aren’t supposed to toll this late.”
And they weren’t supposed to sound like the deep, reverberating groan of a leviathan tossing in its sleep.
“Come on,” he said.
The noise was less harrowing outside the tower, but it still vibrated against his teeth and raised the hair on his arms.
Turner glanced at his watch. “Keep your phones on and stay in communication. If anyone approaches you, tell them campus security has already been contacted and maintenance is working on a fix.” Then he stopped, still staring at his wrist. “Look at this.”
They gathered around, peering at the watch face in the circle of streetlight. The second hand was bouncing off the twelve, as if refusing to turn the hour.
“Posts,” Darlington said.
Whatever ritual had begun with the chiming of midnight would end when the final bell struck. All they could do to keep Alex safe was make sure the magic remained undisturbed.
Their only real advantage in defending the tower was that there was a single exterior point of entry.
They’d agreed Darlington would stay close to that door, a final line of protection.
Turner, Dawes, and Tripp would be stationed just outside the entrance to the courtyard.
Dawes’s obfuscation and repulsion spells would keep any curious students or staff at bay, but if anyone did approach, Turner’s badge should steer them away.
“I am in position, over.”
“Tripp,” Turner grumbled, “it’s an open line. You don’t have to say over.”
“Heard. I have eyes on two possible hostiles approaching the Old Campus gate.”
“Are they approaching us?” Turner asked.
“Negatory.”
“I swear to all that is holy, if you don’t stop this Call of Duty bullshit, I’m going to arrest you.”
“Stay off comms,” Darlington said. “Both of you.”
Darlington saw two men in yellow windbreakers entering the courtyard from the Saybrook side.
“Campus security is on scene,” he said.
“On my way,” Turner replied.
Darlington lifted his hand in greeting. The repulsion spell should have kept them away, but it was possible their orders and curiosity had helped them push past it.
“Are you a student?” one of the windbreakers asked.
“I am. I’m just waiting for a friend. Then that weird sound started.”
“It’s late.”
“She’s going through a rough time.”
Turner strode over, looking all business in his suit. “New Haven PD. Thanks for the assist, gentlemen, but we have uniforms up there already.”
“Who called PD?”
“The dean.”
“Her first call should be to us.”
Turner held up his hands. “I hear you. But it looks like a maintenance issue anyway, no intruders, no vandals.”
“Can I get your badge number? Just to clear paper?”
“Of course.”
But before Turner could even reach for it, a stun gun was crackling against his neck. Turner toppled. Darlington felt the same jolt as the second guard lunged. But a little electricity was nothing to a demon.
The guard’s eyes widened as Darlington’s horns emerged. The guard struck with the stun gun again. Darlington seized it, still buzzing, and crushed it in his hand.
“What the hell?” the guard squeaked, trying to back away.
Darlington grabbed him by his windbreaker and shook him. “Who sent you?”
“No one, you fucking freak! Let go of me! Call for backup!”
But the other guard wasn’t calling anyone. He was running away.
Darlington picked up the first guard’s stun gun. “Tell me what you’re doing here.”
“Investigating a noise complaint.”
He flipped the switch. “Last chance.”
“Our lord will strike you down. He is powerful. He is—”
“Let me guess, eternal?”
Darlington shoved the stun gun against the guard’s neck, unnerved by how satisfying it was to see him shudder and flop.
He cast him down on the ground. Turner was already pushing to his feet, trying to shake off the effects.
“You okay?” Darlington asked.
“Incoming!” shouted Dawes.
“Go,” Turner said, reaching for his handcuffs to subdue the remaining guard.
“Do not leave this door,” Darlington said then bolted for the entrance to the college.
“It’s Reiter,” Dawes panted. “He brought his familiars.”
The vampire was standing in the middle of the street.
“Turner, are you hearing this? Block off the Saybrook entrance so they have to come through the Branford courtyard.”
“I’ve already got a professor on site who I do not believe is here in his official capacity.”
“Don’t let him into the tower.”
Reiter looked like a sliver of ice in his white suit, his pale hair gleaming.
“Shit,” said Tripp. “Should I start wearing suits?”
“Come to do your prince’s bidding?” Darlington asked.
“He’s your prince too, I believe.”
“Not anymore.”
“You may be surprised. But you’ve misread my intentions. I’ve lived free too long to accept servitude again. That’s why I’m going make sure the door to hell stays shut.”
Then Darlington understood. This was why he’d wanted Alex to find the armor, why he’d been so eager to help, not to serve Golgarot but to destroy him. And murder Alex in the process. “He wants to disrupt the ritual.”
Reiter winked. “Two birds with one stone.”
“By all means, try to cross the salt line. I’ll drag you all the way to the water and we’ll see how you like another swim.”
“I think not,” said Reiter. He turned to Tripp. “You’re very new—and practically starving. If you survive long enough and feed well enough, you may acquire many useful skills. But not … just … yet.”
Reiter launched himself into the air.