Once Bitten (Shadow Guild: The Rebel 1)

Damn it.

I drew in a bracing breath, then reached out and touched his shoulder. A wave of disgusting energy flowed into me, making my stomach pitch. Sometimes, when I touched something with a particularly vile past, I could feel it. And this guy had a very vile past. I prayed I wouldn’t see Beatrix’s death.

Flashes of the recent murders ran through my mind…a club coming down on the first man’s head. A blade plunging into a chest. It made me ill. Cold chills raced over me, and my insides turned to snakes.

I swayed on my seat. The Devil gripped my shoulder, steadying me. I relaxed against his hand, absorbing his strength as I drew an unsteady breath.

The church…the church.

I had to see the church he’d been to.

But it was impossible to call up certain images or information. My gift showed me whatever it wanted, not whatever I wanted.

“The church, man.” The Devil’s words were harsh, and his magic flared in the air. “Think of the church.”

He knew what I was trying to do. I gave him a grateful smile.

A moment later, an image of the church flashed in my mind. Moderately sized, situated right in the middle of London. A small cemetery surrounded it, packed in between the tall buildings. But the building itself was unusual, with curving walls. I’d never seen a church shaped like that. Not here, at least.

Contact with the murderer was making me so woozy that it was nearly impossible to stay upright on the chair. I withdrew my hand from the man’s arm, sucking in some of the stale pub air.

“Is the abducted person still alive?” I demanded.

“Yes. He wanted her for a ceremony. Had to bring her alive for it.”

Her.

He’d abducted a woman.

“When will the ceremony be?” I asked.

“On the full moon,” the man said. “Midnight.”

“Tonight,” the Devil murmured.

“What does he want her for?” I demanded.

The man shrugged violently. “Why would I know?”

“Because you did the dirty work.”

“Just a job, lady.”

“Not just a job,” the Devil said, repeating my words. “What organ did you take from your last victim?”

Oh, that was a good question.

The man’s jaw clenched. Clearly, he didn’t want to answer.

“Tell me.” The Devil’s words were cold enough to freeze lava.

“The liver,” the murderer said.

“Why?” I asked.

“Because I was told to. Gave it to the creepy bloke, along with the woman.”

“What was the woman’s name?” I asked.