Free Book and Blade: Book One of the Hand of Perdition by Erik Lynd Page B

if you had to,” Christopher said.
    Despite whatever he was now, a part of him was very afraid. He wanted nothing more than to turn and run back to Hamlin. He looked around and realized they had come full circle. He could still see Hamlin by the car, but strangely everybody had disappeared. The last stragglers from the service had left, and even the cops Hamlin had stationed around the cemetery were suddenly gone.
    Rath stopped and turned to face him.
    "Well yes, I could. But no, I offer him as a gift to you, and all I ask in return is that you let me go. Just turn the other cheek and hunt others down."
    Christopher was only a little aware of what Rath was talking about, from talking with the Librarian, but he didn't want Rath to know how ignorant he truly was.
    "I thought I was just a puppy? Why are you worried about a puppy?" Christopher asked, amazed at his own bravery. Just a week ago he wouldn't have even considered speaking to this thing like he was. Being blessed by hell has a way of changing a guy, he guessed.
    "Even puppies can nip at your heels. Even puppies can annoy and pester. I have plans, and the last thing I need is you running around trying to interfere."
    "How do I know you aren't just going to lead me into a trap? Have Ambros and all his men just waiting for me?"
    "Oh, Ambros and all his men will be there," Rath laughed. "I said I would tell you how to find him, not that it would be easy. But remember, you have new special skills. For you it is possible to take him out."
    "Where is he?" Christopher asked.
    Rath stared at him as if judging him.
    "He has a house, under another name, just outside of town. This is the address," Rath said and slipped a piece of paper out of his coat, offering it to Christopher.
    He took it, careful not to touch Rath's skin. Even the thought of it made his flesh crawl. He slipped the paper into his pocket.
    "So, do we have a deal?" Rath asked.
    "I can't guarantee anything, not now," Christopher said. He just didn't know enough about what he had signed on for. He didn't really know who he was yet, and until he understood more that was the best he could do. There was a beast raging inside of him that wanted to destroy Rath, and Christopher had no idea if he could control it or if he even wanted to. Of course he could say none of this to this creature before him.
    "Tsk, tsk, puppy. You have more mettle than I had thought. Unfortunately, I now have to kill you."
    Rath's hand flew up before Christopher could move, spraying stinging blood into his face. Christopher's vision blurred and the ground tilted under his feet. He heard Hamlin cry out behind him as he pawed at this face trying to get the blood off of himself. He blinked rapidly, trying to wash the blood from his eyes.
    The earth under him rumbled. As his vision cleared, he could see what was causing the earth to vibrate. Rath was gone, but he had left something behind. The ground above the graves he had bled on was erupting, and creatures were clawing their way out. Corpses, Christopher realized, as the first arms and heads poked out of the holes.
    Half rotting bodies, desiccated leathery mummies, and insectile looking skeletons climbed out of the earth. They were all around him in the pattern that Rath had walked him just moments before.
    "What the fuck?" cried Hamlin from just over Christopher's shoulder. "What the fuck? How the fuck..."
    Hamlin was right, they were surrounded by them. Once again Christopher wished he had the Book and Weapon with him. Hamlin had his gun out, he shot two in the chest. The bullets knocked them back, but just like in the movies, they got right back up.
    Christopher let the anger and rage flow through his body. He did not have the weapon, but he was no longer defenseless. He could see the flow of power surround him like it had in his room the night before. It crackled across his body like lighting ready to strike.
    The nearest corpse grabbed his arm, its claw-like finger digging into his flesh