I narrowed my eyes, glaring. Come on, you bastard. We don’t have time to play.
While Charles claimed to never read my mind, it seemed as though he heard me. His voice lifted into the air, beginning his eerie hymn.
I closed my palms over my pointed ears as I continued to watch, not wishing to be caught in the dark enthral of his song. I could hear the agonised screaming even with my muffled hearing, the other humans on the docks falling like flies. Dominoes being knocked over by an invisible force, one by one until no one was standing.
Charles sat up, turning his head. Even from this distance, we could see each other.
I could see his smirk at our win.
I let out a sigh, lowering my hands. If we weren’t being watched by our men, I would have given him a rude gesture.
My sources had been correct about there being only humans for this landing, as the Rippers were busy on the other side of town with the oily scumbag.
I had orchestrated this with a precision that even our enemies would appreciate when it was all said and done. If our enemies appreciated anything, it was when they were outmanoeuvred in a way that made them scramble.
Jack would be furious, and undoubtedly there would be repercussions.
My wings spread behind me, my mechanical one clicking as the gears shifted to allow its movement. I fixed my top hat and goggles, and then grinned as I stepped off the roof.
The wind caught my wings and I soared down. I watched as a human sprang up out of nowhere and ran towards Charles like a fool, but he didn’t make it far.
I landed right behind him, immediately grabbing his head and snapping his neck. The satisfying crunch edged the adrenaline running through me.
The body fell to the side, thumping as it hit the wooden planks. I turned, already moving towards the blimp.
Charles turned, scowling. “He must have been wearing ear plugs.”
“Sloppy, Charles,” I teased.
“No, no,” Charles said, the Irish lilt to his voice making me smile. “That was stunning. I serenaded them with my song—”
“Focus,” I growled.
I glanced up, seeing that several of our men had joined us. A few of them were with us as backup, while the rest wreaked havoc on the west side of London, keeping our enemies distracted.
I reached into my coat pocket, pulling out a watch. It was almost midnight now, and everything was right on time.
“They should be realizing they have been fucked by now,” I said. “We need to move fast. Get in, get the dove, and get the hell out of here.”
Charles gave me a fanged grin, shrugging as he withdrew two rayguns with golden gears that only turned when he was holding them. At their centre were clear glass bulbs with holstered electricity that was already buzzing to life.
He waved them at me, imitating gun noises. “Pew, pew.”
“Don’t point those at me,” I growled. “For fuck’s sake, be serious, Charles. Our men are watching.”
His eyes shifted to glance at the men in question, while the third eye on his forehead winked at me. “Go on, boss. I will stand guard.” He turned, planting his feet far apart and spreading his wings as if it would make a statement.
My eyes fell to his backside for a moment and then I let out a growl, tearing my gaze away.
Later, I reminded myself.
Shouts echoed, their panic making my heart thump with excitement. I let out a chuckle as I went to the door of the blimp that the humans were so desperately barring from the inside.
“Silly little humans,” I chuckled, amused.
I looked up, glancing at all the windows, and scowled.
Was that…blood on the glass?
No matter. I reached into my coat, pulling out one of the many bombs I carried with me. I leaned forward, sticking it on the door.
I could hear their panicked screams as they realised what I was about to do.
We might have more casualties than I had planned, but the chief of police owed me for rescuing him from his most recent mess. The bastard had fucked the mayor’s wife, and needless to say— that didn’t end well. We now had a new mayor, and a list of people to call favours on when needed.
Some could say I was generous. I certainly liked helping in times of need.
I smirked to myself, stepping back from the door to the blimp.
“James!” Charles barked.
I turned to look at him, raising a brow. Charles tilted his head, his three eyes burning with irritation as he gestured towards the road and buildings. Three creatures were headed our way, undoubtedly lackeys that Jack had sent.
“Morte will take care of them,” I said. “I’m sure their deaths will be swift.”
Charles raised a brow but didn’t argue, his guns still crackling and ready to go. Whenever he used those things, strands of his silver hair floated around him from the static energy.
It made him look like a madman.
I lifted the device in my clawed hand, clicking the button to the bomb.
It immediately exploded, shrapnel spewing out. Grey smoke surrounded me, followed by the screaming.
“Oh, I like that sound!” Charles exclaimed. “Reminds me of the courts when we’d have a feast of mortals.”
He did mean of mortals.
“Oh look, Morte has graced us with his presence.”
I glanced up, watching as Morte intercepted the group of monsters in a blur of darkness. One of the creatures managed to knock his top hat loose, but it was quickly placed back on his head by a shadowy tendril that came out of his cloak.
Charles made a face, looking back at me with a blank expression. “You let him have more fun than me.”
“Pout later,” I growled, going through the smoking doorway.
I ignored the coughing and groaning as I stepped inside. I heard other shouts, my antenna twitching as I felt the vibrations around me.
I stepped over the bodies, looking left and right for any sign of what I was searching for. I had grown used to carnage long ago, and only sighed in annoyance as I stepped through blood.
I’d make Charles clean my boots later.
Hell, maybe I’d have him lick it off.
The thought stuck with me as I went further in, looking through my goggles for the item we had come here for.
The dove. An item invented by a human that was able to turn any monster powerless, even creatures like Charles with their dark, raw magic. The rumour was that it had been sought out by the Rippers, brought all the way to London from New York City.
I couldn’t allow them to get their grubby claws on an item of power such as that. To be able to render another creature powerless meant that we would be able to finally overtake London, and turn the Rippers to dust.
Jack would come begging to me, fangs and all.
I went into the main cabin, looking around for any signs of the device, anything special. There were none.
The engines whined, the sounds of the aircraft whirling around me. It hummed with life, even though it was now a grave for the dead.
I scowled, making my way to a small room where cargo should have been stored. I looked inside, expecting to find cargo.
It was empty.
I went in, looking around the room with an annoyed grunt. Anger began to make my antenna tick, my jaw stiffening.
There weren’t even crates here, not even a speck of fucking dust.
“What the fuck,” I sneered.
A flash of anger worked through me and I tore through the blimp, checking every room. Every nook and cranny, even overturning some of the bodies.