The Bleeding Tower

Chapter Twenty Three: Moving Gears

For the first time since meeting Toby and partaking in this strange quest, they weren't immediately beset with danger when getting on the plane. It had seemed to him that there would always be some demon or monster or assassin that just crouched in the dark to strike whenever the group did so much as take a step. But no, there was no danger here. For once, he could get in some breathing room. They weren't flying commercial, but on a private jet. White walls and brown carpet contrasting tastefully, sandy leather seats around a polished wooden table and four more that reclined and held up your feet like Lazy Boys closer to the head and the cockpit, and the small master bedroom in the back practically blew Tee away.

The Brautigans and their gunslinger didn't look to Toby like they were tired at all, but the second they reclined in their chairs, they went out like lightbulbs. Sitting at the table, and with their seatbelts on, Vall and her nephilim were the only ones awake when the plane took off. "Feels like we're finally making some headway," Toby sighed, holding his forehead.

"Did you think we wouldn't, dear?" Vall asked softly.

He looked ashamed at the question. "Honestly, I'm still a little grogged up from that succubus trick back in Bullhead City. For a moment I was just waiting for something to crash out of the sky and blow us up, or for some other demons to tear apart the wings. I was..."

"You were expecting the worst," she finished. "And that's not your fault. The magics and glammers my kind and our cousins possess is no different than any street drug, it will mess with your brain chemistry. In truth, I'm only sorry that we didn't arrive sooner."

"Do you still trust me?" he asked nakedly.

"With my life," she responded with a worrisome frown. "Tell me what's on your mind."

"I don't know if you saw, but whenever you did arrive, there were corpses of those snake people."

"The mutants, yes."

"Well, David and Chapli didn't kill them all. More than me, I think, but I did cut some of them down. Even used the pistol Tee gave me. But how I did that... Even now it's so scary."

It took her a moment, then she came to the answer at once. "Ward Number 8. You drew power from him."

It wasn't a question. He nodded somberly. "What is he?"

"He isn't someone you should have a covenant with," Vall answered. "I can appreciate your use of a resource such as your powers, especially in battle, but had I my way he wouldn't be involved in all of this."

"What about Tee?"

"The gunslinger, we can count on. He and the swordsman are similar in many ways, yet different entirely in the few that matter."

From a bulky gray backpack, he produced a bottle of Perrier and began to drink. The lilim held a hand and gripped it tight in an attempt to soothe him. He gripped hers and swallowed his water. "I love you," he said, all trust and all truth.

"Strength, my love," she smiled and met his eyes. "Truth be told, Stanley over there is actually quite the catch. If anything, I think we can come to utilize Tee's friends for this quest."

"Did you just call him sexy?" Toby made a face.

"No, I'm already dining off of the gunslinger," she smirked. "Quit being a teenager."

He covered half of his face with one hand. "Jesus pumpkin pie Christ, Vall."

She laughed casually. "What? A girl has to eat."

He covered the other half now and groaned up at the ceiling. "Oh my fucking lord."

Her laughter only increased. "You're such a prude."