The Devil Is a Gentleman (23 page)

“Sam,” I said. “What is it you’ve done exactly?”

He looked at me for long time before he spoke. “I believe I’ve chosen a side,” he said.

And the building began to crumble.

I don’t know how we got to the Deep Blue Sea, but we were just there, next to the bar. Janis was gone. The place was overwhelmingly quiet. Gage was still holding me in his lap, sitting on the ground. Sam was himself again, hunched over the bar, his flowing robe transformed back into his usual pinstriped suit. He was heaving, his breath ragged and painful-sounding.

Gage helped me to my feet. The floor was cold on my bare feet. Gage stood next to Sam, looking at him intently. “What have you done?” he said. Both Gage and Sam looked over at me. Sam’s face was drawn and sick-looking. His eyes were red-rimmed like he hadn’t slept in days and he had a gaunt look. Sam straightened up wearily, the mere act of standing seeming to be difficult for him. He looked at Gage and shook his head, a look of despair on his face.

“I had to,” he said.

I was becoming aware of a sensation, a twitching in my head. I lifted my head. It was familiar and I searched my brain as to why. “Natalie?” I said, remembering. Both men looked at me. The twitching stopped and there was silence for a long time. Gage suddenly stumbled, only barely catching himself on the bar. He looked at me strangely.

“Niki,” Gage said in an unnaturally high voice. I looked at Sam, but Sam was staring at Gage in confusion. “Niki,” said Gage, “help me.”

I frowned. “Natalie?” I said slowly.

“Yes, it’s me,” said the voice coming from Gage. His eyes were glazed over. “She took me, Niki. My new angel, he walked me right out of the vault, right through the walls. He took me right to her.”

“Who?” I said.

“E-li-za,” said Natalie, drawing the name out. “Her name is Eliza and she is not nice. I’m so weak, Niki. I can’t control anyone. They’ve done something to me. Please help me.”

Gage’s body gave a shudder and he fell to the ground. He shook his head, blinking furiously. I went to him, holding the jacket shut in front of me. “Are you all right?” I said.

“Jesus,” he said in his own voice. “What the hell was that? Something was in my head. In my goddamn head!”

I started to tell him, but the ground started shaking. I looked up at Sam. He was still hunched over the bar. He looked like he should have passed out already. He looked dully up at the shuddering of the ground. There was a sound like a large cannon. It sounded like it was right outside. “What is it, Sam?” I said.

He looked down at me slowly, like he’d forgotten I was there. He seemed surprised by my question. He raised his eyebrows. “A war,” he said. “Between Heaven and Hell. And we are right in the middle.”

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