Page 49 of Casting Butterflies

“Given it’s dark Infernal taint, most likely.”

“How would he have found us?”

“Scrying. The pernicae. Dumb luck.”

“What are you planning to do? Gonna climb up the side of the train and race across the roof seeking him out?”

“You watch too many movies,” Misha snorted. “If Valefor is summoning a monster, then it’s better to keep the fight inside where the tight rooms and corridors will give me the advantage.” He put his hand on the door.

“Hold on. I’m not ready.” I still had to put on my pants, which had the legs inside out and refused to cooperate.

“I’ll handle this.”

“You don’t have to do this alone. I can help. Don’t forget I have magic.”

“That you’re still learning to wield. I’ll deal with whatever’s coming. Stay here.” After planting a kiss that stole my breath and curled my toes, Misha left. AKA exited into the corridor and closed the door, blocking my view.

Annoying and sexy all at once. I mean I did appreciate his alpha male, I’ll-Protect-You AKA slay literal monsters, but at the same time, twiddling my thumbs seemed like a waste.

Surely it wouldn’t hurt if I went for a peek just to make sure he didn’t need backup. At the same time, if he stood outside the door, I’d likely get chewed out if I popped my head out for a peek. Should I risk his wrath? I said yes. After all, we’d yet to have make-up sex.

I slid open the door and glanced out to find the hallway bare. No Misha. No one at all. Did I dare follow?

Not yet. I closed the door and instead gazed out the cabin window, seeing little of the passing countryside, seeing as how dawn had yet to make its appearance. It wouldn’t be long now before the sky lightened, and shortly after that, we’d be arriving in Moscow.

The train continued to chug along, making me wonder if Misha could have been mistaken. He’d claimed to sense magic. Seemed to think I should have too. Could I detect it? I closed my eyes and tried to focus on anything out of the ordinary, which, given my life over the past few days, covered more than I’d imagined. I heard and felt the vibrating hum of the train as it rolled along the track. In that meditative state, I cast out my senses and, to my surprise, encountered a wisping blob of darkness that emanated heat.

Well shit. My eyes flashed open. That must be what Misha had felt, but what did it mean? Did Rasputin unleash a new threat meant to capture me? Was he trying to derail the train? Whatever that wicked wizard planned wouldn’t be good. Pity my mega monster butterfly failed to get rid of the shadow elf. Rasputin was back, probably pissed, definitely determined. Would this be my life? Eternally hunted until I could rid myself of the spirit and magic nestled within?

A chill went through me at the thought of never having peace in my life again. I hugged my upper body, which would be why I had no hands to brace myself when the train screeched to an abrupt halt.

Losing my balance, I hit the bed and fell face first on the mattress for a soft landing. Had stopping the train been Rasputin’s doing?

I flopped from the bed and stuck my head out the door for a peek to find other passengers doing the same while chattering in languages I didn’t understand. I saw no sign of Misha. Would he return to advise and guard, or should I seek him out? What if I went the wrong way looking, and he returned to the cabin to find me gone?

Argh. Maybe I’d wait a few minutes before heading out to hunt my lover.

I closed the cabin door and returned to the window, seeing nothing outside, the darkness too profound. No wonder I almost pissed myself and screamed when a very ugly face pressed itself to the glass.

And I mean hideous. Greenish-gray-hued flesh that managed to be wrinkled and jowly at the same time. Tiny nubby horns protruded from its forehead. Four fingers tipped in claws scraped against the glass. Definitely not your run-of-the-mill animal but rather something out of a horror movie. I took a step back when it began slamming its head against the window, over and over, unheeding of the fact its skin split open and bled.

The repetitive smacking created a crack in the glass that spread as it kept pummeling. Was the goblin-like monster after me specifically? Didn’t matter. Given its determination to get inside probably best I vacate the cabin. With more calm than I felt, I smartly snared my belt bag with the cash Cedric filched but left our other luggage behind. If we survived, we could always return for our clothes.

I exited into the corridor to find chaos as other people exited their rooms as well. Judging by the high pitch of their voices, and the fear on some faces, the little monsters hadn’t chosen to attack just my window. However, the fact they didn’t discriminate targets didn’t make me safe.

Where the hell was Misha? So much for protecting me. And where the heck had Cedric gotten to for that matter? Figured danger would hit and they’d both go missing. Unfair of me, I know; however, being alone against unknown peril made me petty. Then again, I’d been arguing I could take care of myself. Maybe I could prove myself so they’d stop coddling me.

The hallway got quickly crowded with people, fear leading to shoving and short tempers. Some of the braver men weaved their way to the exits at the far ends of the car. They headed outside. Courageous or foolish? Judging by the screams that swiftly followed, the latter.

The high-pitched tenor of them being injured and dying didn’t help the mood of those who remained inside. Panic filled the air, a contagious emotion that had some choosing to return to their cabins and sliding the doors shut. Some idiots, who really shouldn’t procreate due to their lack of common sense, chose to head outdoors, which, as you guessed, led to more horrendous screams.

In better news, as people chose to barricade in their cabins or die outside, the traffic in the hall eased enough I could see down to the far end of the car and thus noticed the little greenish-gray fucker that entered, its mouth smeared in red, its eyes scanning those who remained in the hall—all of them shrieking, I might add, at the sight of the monster.

My first impression of it being a goblin remained. The movies had apparently gotten their appearance right, although they hadn’t managed to do justice to the stench that wafted the length of the hall. The fucker hissed at the people closest to it, several of whom did the sign of the cross. Ah yes, because prayer would totally convince it to go away.

Not.

The woman who dropped to her knees, hands clasped, eyes closed, lips moving? She died first, neck torn out. Unfortunately for her, God hadn’t answered her fervent prayer.