Page 62 (1/2)

A few moments later, the tunnel around us shook with a heavy boom, and Vale hurried to shield me under his arm We had to close our eyes as dust rained down frooes the Malediction Club," Vale said

"Not if Charmant is still alive," Cherie added, and a ripple of unease chilled my spine and set er than the trip out, and even after gorging on my opponents, I’d never been so tired "Shouldn’t we be there already?" I asked

Vale faltered behind me, and I turned to stare at hi, and blood trickled froash on his neck, which was probably why Cherie was careful to lean away fro to make sure, but I’m sorry, bébé I think we’re lost"

"How can we be lost? We’re following the yarn"

I leaned down to pick up the red string I gave it a tug, but instead of pulling taut as it should have, it slithered down the rocks towarde

"Oh--"

"Merde, bébé"

Vale spun, his back to ainst han attack

"Do you think--" I started

"Shh"

It rankled, but I shut up Everything beyond our lantern was dark, which made the eerie howls seem as if they ca to detect how far away the bludhounds were--because they had to be s, cut loose to run free in the catacos; we had to get to them soon and do e could to protect the moved, just a subtle rustle and a rock loosened fro past the scents of stone and sewage and age-old bones and seeping, oilyalive And there it was, up ahead where the red string slithered into the darkness, a rank scent that I kneell

Charmant

"You two stay here," I whispered

"No, bébé Let et hurt, you’re the only one with a hope of getting us out alive So please, shove down your bad-boy brigand thing and let me do what I do best"

"Oh, Dehed "Just--"

A screa and a victorious bark, and Vale’s head whipped around to stare into the darkness

"That’s Mel," he said gently

I sighed and put a hand on his cheek "Then go help her I’ve got this Co da I wasn’t giving hiuste’s daiht not have heard

"Je t’aiain, and took off with one of the lanterns

With him and Cherie safely away, I left my lantern on the floor and ran into the darkness like a bat out of hell heading right back in My eyes adjusted, ers curled, and my mouth opened to taste the scent ofin the shadows of a niche up ahead With a silent snarl, I sped up and launchedit, he gasped as I drove hied so against the floor and raining againstsuddenly thick Luckily, I’d landed against Charmant’s chest, which meant his venomous tail was trapped beneath hiedhot and hard punch into ulps of sour blood in, I realized it was a knife

33

Monsieur Charmant snickered