Page 10 of Gargoyle Sentinel
“Lock dissolution.” She held up the potion. “Much more elegant than breaking it down.”
Malachi had never possessed the patience for magical doo-dads. Call him inelegant, but nothing was more satisfying than bashing through a barrier.
He grunted. “I suppose we should keep things on the quiet side.”
Before she could apply the potion, Malachi froze, grabbing both their arms, whispering, “Wait. Someone's coming.”
They ducked down as a tall figure in a long, dark coat approached the entrance on the opposite end of the alley. The mysterious figure moved with purpose, checking over their shoulder before slipping a key into the lock of another door, perhaps twenty feet from them. As they turned to push the door open, a shaft of moonlight illuminated their face.
Cassiel slapped a hand to her mouth before whispering, “Holy shit. That's Gideon."
Malachi’s blood ran cold, rage building in his body. Sure, they’d theorized there must be a Slayer who had turned, but Gideon was a Sentinel from the main Southwestern lair, one he’d fought alongside mere months ago.
“What’s he doing here?” Ronen shook his head. “Michael didn’t mention him being part of the mission.”
Malachi opened and closed his fists. “He’s not.” The pieces fell into place with sickening clarity. “He’s the fucking traitor.”
The crystal against Malachi's chest pulsed with renewed intensity, drawing him toward the direction of the betrayer. Danny was beyond that door, surrounded by darkness and malevolence.
“We follow him, but don’t shift yet. We don’t know what we’re walking into once we get inside, so we need to remain low-key. Cassiel, summon the others. Have them remain on alert, surround the building until we call them in for backup.”
Malachi’s body itched to shift, to tear Gideon apart limb from limb. But Danny’s safety came first. They waited until the door closed behind Gideon before moving forward, silent as shadows themselves.
Cassiel uncorked the vial she’d held up earlier and dripped the clear liquid around the lock while Ronen kept watch. The potion sizzled with a soft hiss, the metal dissolving like sugar in hot water.
“Ready?” Malachi wrapped his fingers around the hilt of his blade.
Ronen and Cassiel nodded, their weapons already drawn. With practiced precision, Malachi eased the door open, wincing at the slight creak of hinges. A narrow corridor stretched before them, dimly lit by emergency lights. The air was thick with the stench of shadow, like sulfur mixed with rotting flesh.
Malachi pressed forward, the crystal becoming like fire. He quickly grasped the burning stone in his palm before its deep blue glow gave their position away. Every fiber of his being screamed to rush ahead, but centuries of battle experience kept his movements controlled. The corridor led to a stairwell descending into darkness.
“They're close.” Cassiel wrinkled her nose. “A fuckton of them.”
Malachi nodded grimly. “Like plague rats.” The crystal urged him forward. They moved silently down the hallway, pastabandoned storage rooms and utility closets. The building’s public spaces seemed miles away from this forgotten underbelly.
The crystal’s pulse quickened, matching Malachi’s heartbeat. Danny was close. So close.
A faint sound reached their ears—chanting in an ancient language that made Malachi’s skin crawl. The words were familiar yet twisted, a corrupted version of the angelic tongue.
“Ritual magic,” Cassiel murmured. “They’re summoning all the powers of darkness.”
Ronen sneered. “Never thought I’d say this, but where’s Lucifer when you need him?”
Malachi huffed. “That useless bastard? Why do you think he has minions? He sits around on his sorry ass all day. Never met such a lazy fuck.”
Cassiel rolled her eyes. “Seriously. Every time he shows up at one of our council meetings, I want to bash his condescending face in. I still can’t believe Michael puts up with him.”
A muffled sound echoed from somewhere ahead, a pained groan that sent a jolt of fury through Malachi’s body.
“Danny,” he breathed, every muscle tensing.
Ronen placed a restraining hand on his arm. “Easy. We need to know what we’re walking into.”
The corridor opened into a larger space that appeared to be an old storage area for stage props and equipment. Dusty set pieces loomed like ghostly spectators as they crept forward. The chanting grew louder, emanating from behind a massive backdrop painted with a faded mountain scene.
Malachi signaled for them to fan out, taking the center position himself. The pain from the crystal only fueled his determination. Danny’s presence enveloped him. His mate was frightened, confused, but alive.
They rounded the backdrop, where they were met with a stone wall. Malachi ran his fingers along the cold surface,quickly discovering a seam that had to be the edge of a hidden entrance. He met Cassiel’s eyes and pointed at his discovery. She nodded, removing another vial with a purplish tint that gave off a faint light. With a flick of her wrist, she sprinkled several drops against the stone, and within moments, the barrier melted silently, as if it were wood and she’d immersed it in acid.
