Lost in Time (Blue Bloods 6)

“Yeah,” he said, resigned. maybe with Mimi he wouldn’t have to stand in the crowd forever.

“This looks like as good a place to start as any. God knows Kingsley loved a nightclub,” she said. “Just need to get that devil bitch to notice me.” Mimi stuck two fingers into her mouth and let out a huge, piercing whistle.

Everyone turned to look at them, including the stuck-up demon, who looked them both up and down for what seemed like an eternity. For a moment, Oliver felt small and unworthy and fourteen years old again, trying to sneak into moomba and failing. But in the end, the she-demon flicked her tail in their direction.

Mimi preened. The crowd parted like the Red Sea, the bouncers collected them, and just like that, they were delivered inside.

TWENTY-ONE

Dream House

In the spring of the next year, Charles bought a media company and planned his takeover of the airwaves, which would include a competitor to the current twenty-four hour cable news channel, a fifth network, and multiple radio and newspaper holdings. He aimed to direct the global conversation, and influence Red Blood culture through its most insidious mech-anism for communications. He was buying himself a pulpit.

The Fifth Avenue town house was almost ready, and Allegra spent most of her time with decorators, debating wall colors, window treatments, and furniture. They planned to keep a few of their things from the mansion on Riverside. Cordelia had promised them the chesterfield and the silver as bonding gifts, but Allegra was looking forward to a fresh start. There were those who believed that buying furniture was a bourgeois practice. In certain circles, only inherited furniture was deemed appropriate, but Allegra disagreed. While tradition was well and good, she wanted everything in the new house to be light and new, with nothing that hinted of the heavy bag-gage, or held too many memories of the past.

There were some traditions she did keep, however. Since Egypt, when they had ruled as menes and meni, their union was sealed by the bride moving her possessions to her new home. The movers would take care of the heavy stuff, but Allegra planned to bring a few items on her own: her jewelry box, the little crystal vase of oil, a cup of rice, and a flagon of water, to bring luck to their new home.

That afternoon, Allegra stood in the soon-to-be finished living room.

Charles walked in. “I didn’t know you were here.”

“I just wanted to check on the wallpaper. I was worried it might be too bright for the room, but I think it’s fine.”

“It looks lovely,” he said.

“You like it?”

“Very much.” He nodded.

“Good,” she said.

Charles smiled at her. “I’m glad to see you happy.”

“I am happy,” Allegra said.

If she said it enough, maybe she would believe it.

TWENTY-TWO

Blood Sick

“You’ve been quiet all evening,” Jack said, when they returned to their room after their lengthy Schuyler nodded and sat at the edge of the bed, kicking off her shoes and taking off her earrings. She was still digesting everything Mahrus had told them about the systemic extinction of the Covens. Rio, Paris, Kiev, Shanghai, Amman, and Cairo were no more, or had gone undergro

und. New York was barely hanging on—one of the few remaining safe havens left—and who knew how long it would continue to survive. They had to find Catherine and secure the gate before the rest of the Silver Bloods were able to burst through from the other side.

Jack saw her distress and put a hand on her shoulder.

“Don’t give up hope. It is a bleak time in our history, but I have faith that we will find a way to stop this evil and that we will survive.”

Schuyler nodded. She had to think of a way to reach Catherine. Where was she hiding? She was in the city, Schuyler knew; even Mahrus had agreed that her theory was solid. The Nephilim activity was strongest here. This was the place.

Schuyler had to find a way to draw her out.

“Don’t you think it’s strange?” she asked Jack suddenly.

“If it’s easier to keep the demons out of this world by obliterating the paths entirely, like Kingsley did when he released the subvertio, why did Michael create the gates instead?”

“He must have had a good reason. The law of Creation mandates that that which was made by the Almighty should not be unmade. The Gates of Hell have kept this world safe for centuries. Michael put his strength into their foundation. They have been weakened because he has been weakened,” Jack said thoughtfully.