Avian had to give the girl some credit—she didn’t lean over and throw up before passing out at the sight of his slice and dice with Bryn. She was just fine with that. It was the sight of him that did it to her.
Getting to his feet, Avian slid his sword into its scabbard and put his coat back on. Then he glanced down at his boots. One of those suck-mouth bastards had managed to strip away a good chunk of the sole. He’d have to get that fixed before he left town.
The scars on his back burned a bit less now, but he knew it was still too dangerous to go near her. “Cash!” he yelled. “Get out here.”
Cash appeared an instant later and took in Bryn’s mangled body with the same nonchalance he would have if there was some trash ready to be taken out. “I’ll take care of it,” he said. “Don’t worry.”
“Not him. Her.” He gestured to the girl lying inelegantly next to a pile of puke. “Can you put her up for a couple of hours? I just need some time to cool down.”
“Want me to take her home?”
“No. I’ll do it. She’s an Echo.”
Cash gazed at her. “Shiiiit. I’ve only met one of those before. I didn’t see it.”
“The last one I came across was Shelley. It’s been a while for me, too.”
The ache in Thirteen’s voice was a wound that still hadn’t healed, even after all this time. And Cash knew better than to bring up old memories.
“I’ll put her in the supply room. I’ve got an extra blanket in there. She’ll be fine.”
“Thanks. I’ll be back as soon as I can.”
~ ~ ~
He went to the roof of the church. Just like he always did when the fire inside got to be too much. Father Montgomery had invited him to come inside more than once, but the demon part of him really didn’t like that idea. The other side of him yearned for a higher connection. This was as close to a compromise as he was willing to make.
Perched among the roof eaves, Avian watched the clouds change and the sky lighten. He knew what he looked like fresh after a fight. More monster than man, it was enough to scare anyone away. A fact he often used to his advantage.
Eventually, the scars on his back would recede and his horns would retract. But the nubs never fully went away. Concentrating on the color of his eyes, he changed them so that any remaining red would be hidden by a glamour. He always chose brown to blend in. His skin repaired itself—the tiny rips and tears stitching back together. But he left the scar under his left ear.
It was the only thing he had to remember Shelley by.
When he was sure that everything was under control again, he made his way back to the Black Cadillac. It was closed, but Cash let him inside and gestured to the back room. “Sleeping like a baby. Never woke up.”
Avian leaned over the girl and touched her forehead. Like the other Revenants, he could read memories. He traced back through her day to see where she lived and recognized a building that used to be a printing place. She weighed nothing in his arms, so he left his motorcycle at the bar and carried her the couple of blocks there.
The building had a vacant look to it, and there wasn’t a lock on the door. Which wasn’t strictly necessary in this part of town but was stupid any way you looked at it. A string brushed the side of his face as he entered the empty room, and he pulled on it. A single bulb flared to life.
A sleeping bag in the corner, a rusty heater, and an open suitcase were obvious signs that someone was living there, but at best it could only be described as spartan. There was no bed, no kitchen. Not even a shower, from what he could see. The only thing she did seem to have an abundance of was plants. There were a bunch of dead ones lined up against the windows.
“You better hope one of those souls inside of you has a green thumb that you just haven’t tapped into yet, because it looks like you’re going to need it,” he said out loud.
She didn’t stir.
Dumping her onto the sleeping bag, he took another look around the grim space. Even the most basic room Mint had to offer at his hotel looked luxurious compared with this. Was this why she was at the bar? Trying to drown her sorrows over a troubled home life?
He almost felt a moment of pity for her, but then it passed. She was an Echo. She’d find someone else to manipulate into setting her up with something new. Echoes didn’t seem to have any trouble with things like that.
~ ~ ~
The sun was almost up, and Father Montgomery was waiting for him when Avian got back to the rectory, so they sat down for an early-morning cup of coffee.
“Were you out all night?” Father Montgomery asked. “I have your old cello in the church. Perhaps that might help?”
The priest could always tell when he’d had a busy evening.
“You know I haven’t played in years. I just went to a bar and ended up taking out some garbage.”
“Sounds like a normal evening for you, then.”
Father Montgomery knew what Avian did, was well aware of what was out there. But they never talked about the side of him that flared up at the end of the fight. The demon part Avian had struggled with for so long.
It had been. Except there was something that still bothered Avian. That nagging feeling in his gut. He glanced over at the priest. “A girl came by here the other night. She wanted to see you. It was late, though, and she left.”
“What did she look like?”
“I don’t know. You humans all look alike to me. She was younger, with brown hair. Lives in an abandoned building a couple of blocks from the bar. Has a bunch of plants.”
“Ah, yes.” Father Montgomery shook his head. “Her name is Cyn. She’s stopped by to see me a couple of times at the church. Likes to talk about her plants.”
“She came into the bar tonight too. Seems to be running from something.” Avian’s large hands wrapped around his coffee cup, overlapping each other. “You need to be careful, Father. She’s an Echo.”
Avian rarely called him that. It was usually Father Montgomery, or “priest.” But in that small, simple word his true feelings were revealed.
“Maybe she’s running from that and doesn’t realize it. Did you have the chance to . . . ?” Father Montgomery gestured to his forehead.
“Read her memories? Nothing beyond where she lives. She was incapacitated, so I just dropped her off.”
Father Montgomery frowned and gazed down into his drink. “I think she needs help. She hasn’t come right out and asked for it, but it’s there nonetheless.”
“I’m sure she’ll find someone else to give her what she wants. But it’s not going to be you.”
“You know my door is always open to those in need, Avian. As long as—”
“That doesn’t apply to Echos. I’ve told you before what they’re capable of.”
“Shelley was an Echo, and she didn’t take advantage.”
Avian’s grip tightened. “Shelley wasn’t like the others.”
Father Montgomery glanced up at the subtle shift in Avian’s tone. “You’re right, of course. But my vows require me to help my fellow man, and that’s something I take quite seriously.”
“Then let me put your mind at ease, Father.” Avian stood up. “This time I’ll take care of it.”