“The First Crusade was envisioned as an armed pilgrimage, and no crusader could consider his journey complete unless he had prayed as a pilgrim at the Holy Sepulchre. This is where it gets a little hairy. During my great-great times infinity grandfather’s pilgrimage, he came upon something under the basilica of the Holy Sepulchre. It was a book. A Bible.”

“So you’re Bible savers?” I looked at Jared in disbelief. “Cool? I guess?”

“We’re not talking about the Holy Bible, here, Nigh,” Kim said. “You’ve seen it.”

“Shax’s bible?” I asked.

Kim nodded. “It was kept safely hidden away in the cistern under the basilica, which is where it was rumored that the mother of Hadrian found the true cross and the tomb of Christ.”

“Isn’t that pretty much sacrilegious? The Bible of Hell being kept under what was thought to be the tomb of Jesus Christ?” I said.

Kim rubbed her temples. I had clearly asked a question she’d answered a thousand times. “The Holy presence there kept Shax and his legions from finding it. My grandfather didn’t know that. He removed the book, and after learning of its importance, he vowed to keep it safe. That vow, and the book, has cursed our family for generations.”

“Curses seem to be the popular thing around here,” I grumbled.

Kim glanced at Jared.

“I’m sorry,” I said, laughing without humor, “this is all a little far-fetched. Even for me, and I’ve seen Shax.”

The room grew cold, and Jared and Claire immediately extended their necks, looking to the ceiling. Jared pulled me closer to him, and Claire sat on the other side of me, lightly touching my knee.

The lights flickered, and even with Jared’s and Claire’s warm bodies on each side of me, I shook from the cold. The dim fluorescent lights created an eerie glow to the air we exhaled, now warmer than the air in the room.

“What’s happening?” I whispered.

“For the fiftieth time, Nina, stay calm,” Claire said, her voice even. “Nothing will happen to you while we’re here. This is just what happens when there’s a higher concentration of them than normal.”

“Higher concentration?” I asked.

Kim looked above her. “Oh there’s probably an army or two around...or one really strong one.”

I shivered. “Which is worse?”

“One,” Claire whispered, her eyes unfocused. She was relying on her senses, creating a thoughtful, confused expression on her face.

Kim returned her attention to me. Her demeanor was baffling. She had always been relaxed, and at times aloof, but it was hard to believe she could remain that way with so many Others around. Every part of me wanted to run screaming down the hall.