Coyle and Fang: Curse of Shadows (Coyle and Fang Adventure Series Book 1) Robert III (first color ebook reader txt) 📖

Uncertainty had a way of embedding itself into the noblest of intentions. After all, they were only trying to save a city full of people from being destroyed.

“When do we catch up to the Dawn’s Edge?” Vonteg asked.

“In just over twelve hours,” Treece said.

“And then?” Duone asked.

“And then we’ll go from there,” Treece said. “I have men working on transit between the train and the airship.”

“Can’t we use one of your gates onboard the train?” asked Quolo.

“Not at these speeds, no,” Treece said. “From airship to airship, it’s a strong possibility. But not from a high-speed train.”

“I wonder what we’ll be facing once we’re on board,” Bolt asked.

“I’m more concerned about how we’re getting there,” Quolo said.

“We should be more concerned about what’s ultimately required of us,” Treece said. “Do each of you understand, to the fullest extent, what your duty entails?” His eyes studied hers.

She looked away, thumbing her glass, still quite uncertain. Stopping a thief from stealing a valuable piece of art was one thing; stopping a vengeful madman from killing an entire city... She shook her head, staring at her glass.

“I guess we’ll find out in twelve hours,” Bolt said.

“We don’t have much time to dilly-dally,” Duone said. “We need to go over some basic combat guidelines and survival medicine just in case. We’ll get an early start, oh seven hundred hours. See you then.”

Coyle walked through the cars, full of mingling doubts. Tight knots gripped her upper back and her palms were damp from the inevitability of facing the unknown. And she had to face these unknowns with people who barely trusted her.

Hard drinks knocked on the door of her mind, inviting her to go numb, to relax, to forget the danger she was heading into.

Death waiting to clutch my hand.

She passed her room and nodded to Gibby, who smiled weakly. The girl was good-hearted, happy to have a job. Ah, youth! She remembered being naive like that. Part of her wished she had remained naive, and happy to have a simple job. Her job now was something she preferred not to think about. Why? Because... she wasn’t cut out for this. She had discovered plenty of evidence, but the entire ordeal has been much more involved than she could have imagined.

She wasn’t the one. Treece could find others who could do the job as well or better than she could. She’d learned who she was during this long exercise. She should have listened to her father: be smart, marry rich. Then she would actually get to enjoy being on a luxurious train heading east through the canyons of Utah. None of her current activities would be condoned by her doctor.

Health, yes. That was her ticket out of this mess. She would tell Treece tomorrow. No more chasing after certain death. She was done.

She passed through a lounge car and noticed a woman sitting at a small table studying a chessboard. Short dark hair, fair skin. Beautiful, dark-red evening dress with long sleeves. A small matching hat with a short, black veil covered her eyes and completed her outfit.

Coyle froze.

She clutched her purse, took a deep, quiet breath, and walked to the table.

“Does asking to play chess with a stranger make you that nervous?” Fang asked without taking her eyes off the board.

Coyle swallowed. “Is anyone sitting here?”

Fang shot her eyes up. Are you serious?

Coyle sat and stared at the chess pieces, sitting opposite the most dangerous woman in the world. Yet... yet deep inside, she knew Fang wasn’t a threat to her. She exhaled, and a strange, warm sensation washed over her. Her shoulders drooped, and she leaned back.

It felt as if she were meeting an old friend.

An automaton waiter approached.

“Whisky straight, Glenlivet,” Fang said.

“Lime. Scotch. And water—soda,” Coyle said.

The automaton contemplated for a moment before leaving.

“That’s quite the drink,” Fang said.

“I’m sorry,” Coyle said. “My mind has been a bit harried lately.”

They sat in silence, listening to the rhythmic tapping of the tracks and the light chatter around them. Coyle swallowed, still unsure of everything.

“Maybe if you moved a piece,” Fang said.

“I haven’t played in some time. And I think there are more serious things to talk about.”

“Move something, or those men in the corner will think you’re just staring at me.”

Coyle sighed, picked up the white knight and took Fang’s pawn.

“I don’t feel like I belong,” Coyle said. “I’m in constant fear of being accused of things I didn’t do or say. I’m doing my job exactly as they asked of me. Yet...” She shook her fists.

“Yet?”

“Yet it’s like I’m being punished for doing it so well.”

“Sounds familiar. They ask you to do a job, then they become frightened at just how well you do it.”

Coyle brushed a knuckle against her lips, studying Fang as a person, a woman. A peer, not a vampire.

“Yes,” Coyle said. “Frightened is the best word to describe their reactions.”

“Ignorance is what I would call it.”

“I read pages from a journal about you.”

“Do tell.”

“They locked you up in an iron box of some sort with a date to exterminate you.”

“Hmm. Looks like I missed another appointment.”

“Doesn’t that frighten you? Because it terrifies me to the point of paralysis, and my life isn’t even threatened. Treece’s team doubts my abilities and who I am as a person. They believe my moral compass is flawed. But you? These men are ready to kill you on sight without hesitation.”

Fang tilted her head, a subtle smile playing on her lips. She removed a pawn with a bishop. She stared at the board and spoke.

“Years ago, I was on assignment in Bangladesh—during the summer, I might add. Miserable wet heat, and I was constantly sopping wet. I’m glad it was only once. Anyway, our... objective wasn’t due to arrive for fourteen hours, so I had to find entertainment. I found a carnival taking place in a large village, and I watched from a rooftop. This man brought out a cage with a tiger inside, and he was warning the crowd to stay