Sarwat Chadda - Billi SanGreal 02 - Dark Goddess by Unknown

back. Someone's elbow hit her ribs, and Billi almost lashed out, her senses on hyperdrive. A man barged between Billi and Vasilisa, knocking Billi's grip free.
    "Billi!"
    Vasilisa screamed as she disappeared in a sudden surge of people heading to the escalator. Billi glanced back and forth. Arthur was gone.
    Bloody hell!
    "Out of the way!" Billi pushed a man aside, knocking the newspaper out of his hands.
    "Oi!"
    Billi snarled, then saw Vasilisa turning around and around in a wall of bodies. Billi broke through, and Vasilisa ran into her arms. It took a minute for Billi to calm down, her heart racing harder here in the station than when the werewolves had attacked. She couldn't lose Vasilisa. Billi used her sleeve to wipe the tears from Vasilisa's face. This time they walked side by side to the westbound platform.
    Arthur was waiting at the bottom of the steps. He put away his mobile.
    "Elaine will meet us at Heathrow with Vasilisa's passport. She'll take her."
    "You're not going?" Billi asked.
    "Not with the Polenitsy on a rampage."
    Together they emerged onto the crowded platform. HEATHROW—2 MINUTES.
    The train pulled in and they pushed on board. A couple of seats came free, so Billi and Vasilisa sat. Arthur stood in the center of the car a few paces away, keeping an eye on the doors.
    "We're okay," said Billi to herself as much as to Vasilisa, who still clutched her hand. People loomed over them, swaying from side to side as the train rattled through the tunnels. "Just sit tight."
    Billi flicked open her mobile to check the time, but instead stopped to look at the display screen. The photo of her and Kay shone brightly. Billi had transferred it from Kay's old mobile to hers. She knew she shouldn't have, but looking at him felt different now. Only a week ago his smile would have cut her; now she just felt its warmth—its support.
    Vasilisa looked up. "This is all my fault, isn't it?"
    "No. This is their fault. The Polenitsy." Billi wiped her damp hair away from her forehead. "Don't worry. I won't let them touch you."
    "You promise?"
    "Promise."
    Arthur pushed his way through the crowd. His eyes darted left and right, never dropping his guard. "Once Vasilisa's on her way, we'll set up at the Canterbury preceptory."
    Someone started shouting. Arthur jumped.
    "You two stick together," he ordered, and barged back down the car.
    Vasilisa tightened her small cold fingers around Billi's and looked up at her. "They're here," she said, her voice soft and infinitely sad. Tears welled in her eyes.
    Then the lights died.

 
Chapter 13

     
    CRIES RAND OUT. THE CAR WAS LIT BY SMALL SPOTS of pearly white as people used their mobiles to see, but all that was revealed were other stark faces rigid with fear. Billi tightened her hold on Vasilisa as the masses moved and people buffeted against each other. The air thickened with terror.
    "I can't breathe!"
    "Get out!"
    "It's a bomb!"
    "It's terrorists!"
    "Open the doors!"
    A scuffle broke out as people tried to barge their way through the interconnecting doors while those in the next carriage tried to do the same. The screams multiplied, and someone clawed at Billi's leg as they were knocked down.
    The first howl silenced the entire train.
    The second howl unleashed total chaos. The heaving mass of panicked passengers degenerated into pandemonium. They didn't know which way to run—the snarls and predatory growling seemed to be coming from all around. Billi heard the telltale slash of claws and the ripping of flesh, and someone's scream rose to an ear-splitting screech. Savage barks signaled the attack, then it was all tearing and biting. A black shape with a dripping snout loomedup, framed by the haze of cell phone lights. It peered down the carriage and saw them. It shook its ragged head, tossing bloody spittle across the ceiling.
    "
Deus vult
!" Arthur slammed into the beast. He smacked his forearm across its jaw and rammed his dagger into its throat. People around him screamed, and