“I saw the Shining Lands,” the woman whispered, staring at the ceiling.
“Janea, who did this?” Barbara asked.
“They were so… beautiful,” Janea replied and then her eyes closed.
Her pulse was strong but the dancer was out of it. Even a few slaps couldn’t wake her. Unconscious, maybe a coma, maybe sleep. But alive, by all that was blessed.
Barbara looked at Janea and shook her head. After a moment she dragged her through the nearest open door. There were various… accoutrements set up in the room and a large St. Andrew’s cross by one wall. She finally realized why Janea had been reticent about explaining its purpose when she saw the shackles attached to it. But it gave her an idea.
The door closed with a thump as she left. Let him get in through that. On the other hand, it was going to be a job for anyone to get in.
“What’s going on?” Sadie asked as Baron came around the building.
“A b-bunch of n-naked people j-just ran into the l-lobby screaming about s-somebody fighting on th-the third floor,” Baron said.
“I wonder what that was all about?” Leo said, looking through the door. “Somebody might need help…”
“Ah, there you are,” the man said, coming around the corner behind Baron. “I was hoping someone would be out here.”
“There was someone fighting on the third floor,” Leo said, nodding at him. “Are you okay, sir? You look a bit…”
“With the power of the priestess, I only need ten more,” the man said, opening up his long coat and revealing a vest of moonstones. “You will be three. Sorry about this,” he added to Baron who was looking at him open mouthed. “You were always helpful. If a tad boring.”
“What are you doing out here?” Barb snapped as she came out the side door. Larry, Eric and Angie were standing outside in the snow.
“Angie’s smoking,” Larry snapped right back. “And the rest of us are avoiding being in a restaurant that’s been taken over by slope-brow, red-neck science-fiction fans.”
“People are dead on the third floor of this building,” Barbara growled, drawing her weapon and dropping the magazine. “Did anyone come out here?” She dropped the round out of the chamber and then dropped another one in.
“No,” Eric said, looking at the gun wide-eyed. “You’re not supposed to have one of those…”
“Shut. Up.” Barb ground out. She pointed the weapon off to the side and dropped the hammer. But it just clicked. She took the other round and dropped it in, and that one fired. “Damn!”
“What was that in aid of?” Larry asked.
“Get into the restaurant,” Barbara snapped. “Now! Or so help me God I will put a bullet in your head. If I see you wandering around, you will be terminated without prejudice. Do I make myself clear?”
“You’re joking,” Angie said, starting to laugh and then stopping at the look on Barb’s face.
“There is a killer running around,” Barb said. “I don’t know who it is. It may be you. You are present, here, when a killing has just occurred up there,” she added, pointing up. “Make up your own mind.”
“You can’t just go killing people…” Larry said.
“Stop me,” Barbara said, pointing the weapon at his head. “One. Two…”
“We’re going,” Eric said, grabbing Larry’s arm. “Come on.”
Barb was marching them down the corridor when she felt the wave of evil sweep over her.
“Okay, it’s probably not you,” she said, pushing them. “In which case, you’re targets. Now run!”
She passed them, despite their lumbering run, and turned towards the north side of the hotel. As before, the power appeared, spiked, and then disappeared, just as she reached the back of the hotel and burst out into the open.
Sadie, Leo and Baron were sprawled by the back door, with Duncan bent over them.
“Freeze!” she shouted, pointing the weapon at his head. She suddenly realized she’d never seen him with his jacket off. If it was lined with silk, it would mask anything he had under it.
“They’re dead,” he said, looking over his shoulder at her.
“I know that,” she said, still keeping the .45 pointed at his head. “Pull out your piece and put it on the ground. Now.”
“They’re just fucking dead,” Duncan repeated, softly, then turned to the side and vomited on the ground.
“I said, draw your piece and put it on the ground,” Barbara repeated, sharply.
“You got it,” Duncan replied, wiping his mouth, then drawing his weapon and setting it in the snow. “Who did this?”
“I’m trying to decide if it was you,” Barb admitted.
“Well, decide quick,” Duncan snapped, standing up slowly. “Because in a second I’m going to pick up that piece and go hunting myself.”
“Guns don’t work,” Barbara said, lowering her weapon and pointing it at the ground. “Janea’s bullets had been tampered with, somehow. They wouldn’t fire.”
“I take it you’ve decided I’m not the killer?” Duncan asked, turning around.
“Open your coat,” Barb answered, shifting her feet into a cat stance.
“What? It’s freezing!”
“Open your coat,” Barbara repeated.
Duncan looked at her and shook his head but he unbuttoned the coat and pulled it wide.
“What are you looking for?” he asked.
“I’m not sure,” Barb admitted, frowning.
“Can I c-close it now?” Duncan asked, teeth chattering.
“Go ahead,” Barbara said. “Then turn around and spread your arms and legs.”
“Oh, good, I’m going to get a pat down from a beautiful blonde,” Duncan replied, but he turned.
Barbara patted him down, looking for hidden gemstones. He had a lighter and a folding knife, but his only jewelry was his wedding ring.
“What was that all about?” Duncan asked.
“The killer has to be carrying moonstones,” Barb said. “Probably a lot. You don’t have any. So you’re probably not the killer. Now get in the restaurant. Let me hunt. I know what I’m doing, okay?”
“Well, I’m going to go brief the cooler Wharf Rats on what’s really going on,” Duncan said. “And get them to help me move these three. They shouldn’t be just left here. Guns don’t work. Okay. There will be something that will.”
“Do that,” Barbara said, nodding. “I have to go find this guy before he kills again.”
“Oh, it’s you,” Larry said as the man walked up through the snow. He, Eric and Bob had come back out into the atrium when they couldn’t stand the sight, or sound, of the Wharf Rats’ continuing party. “One of your minions was running around babbling about someone being killed.”
“My minion?” the man asked, blandly.
“The blonde, Barb I think her name is,” Eric said, frowning. “She’s one of your type.”
“She’s no minion of mine,” the man said, smiling in great humor. “Quite the opposite. She’s trying very hard to stop me.”
“What?” Bob asked, uneasily.
“I said she’s trying to stop me, you liberal moron,” the man replied, unbuttoning his jacket. “She wants to stop me from raising the power to call my demon. But she’s just about too late.”
“Holy…” Larry said as the glowing gems on the vest were revealed.
“No, quite the opposite,” the man said, waving a hand. The three were instantly held immobile, only their eyes moving. “Quite unholy…” he said as he drew the knife.