7

Brooklyn Mercury took pills before falling asleep, so he didn't see the self-explosion, he only saw the consequences.

There was a huge hole next to him, his head was hanging down.

Brooklyn stared down in fright, screamed in horror and began to pull himself up on his hands to regain his balance.

The heart is pounding painfully against the tight rib cage, breathing can not even out in any way.

Now Brooke is scared...

— Mercury, get up!— someone is shouting.

Brooklyn looks up.

— Follow me, Mercury.— says the orderly, pointing a gun at him.

— You know you can't kill death with a gun.—Brooklyn says, trying to hide his fear right away.— And you don't even have enough enchanted bullets for me!—

— My bullets are made of divine steel.— says the orderly.— They'll kill a bastard like you soundly.—

Brooklyn snorted loudly and stood up.

— And what will you do?—he asked in a drawl.—There are a lot of cracks, will you throw me down?—

— Why throw it off? The management will kill everyone who was sitting here anyway!—

The corridor floats before his eyes.

It seems that a sick head has been pretty badly hit ...

The skull seems to be shaking from weightless, but terribly painful blows in the aftermath.

Brooke stops.

Now either he will do it, or his...

His life is more precious to him than his mind...

Darkness floats out from behind the curls of the brain, Brooklyn squeezes the orderly's hair and hits his head against the wall.

The crunch of bones turns out to be so loud that it drowns out the pulse beating in the head.

Brooklyn manages to intercept his hand when he continuously hits the orderly with his face against the wall.

He noticed one hand, but completely lost sight of the other...

A shot.

***

— Jack, I'm not going to change my mind!—Clarissa took out her bag of elixirs.— If you don't give me back my crystal, I

I'll break all our medicines! Every single one of them!—

— Clarissa, don't be an even bigger fool than you are now!— Consuella entered the bunker.— If you go there, I will immediately

I'll leave.—

— Well, leave!—Clary tried to snatch the crystal from Jack's hands.

— Jack, give it to her.—Joel said suddenly.

— And what difference does it make to you?!—Cassidy asked crazily.

— You're going to lose her...—Gabriel said.

Jack hiccuped Clarissa a crystal and she immediately began to draw a teleportation rune.

A flash flashed.

— What do you think it is...—Jack began in surprise.

— I'm not sure, but apparently her husband is very dear to her. Clarissa will lose herself if she loses what is dear to her...—

— You're smart for a ghost, Joel Gabriel...—Consuella said.—And you love Clarissa, too...—

Joel sighed.

He wouldn't even have words to describe how much he values her...

***

Clarissa Fallen materialized very close to the gate and immediately she had to dodge a stone that could crack her skull open.

Shrapnel hit the cheek, but these were smaller wounds.

The slaps from the stones stunned the witch at almost every step.

Clary couldn't even explain why she still needed Brooklyn.

But she explain... When she realizes it herself.

Almost falling into the pit, Clarissa saw blood splatters on the wall.

— Stop, who are you?— a man in the mantle of the orderly Eterna Tartarus pointed a gun at her.

— I'm Clarissa Fallen, where is my husband?—Clary moved a little closer to the wall.

—No one will notice in such a commotion, Clarissa!— the finger shifted on the trigger.— You have to be a complete fool to constantly

run...—

He didn't even have time to shoot - a crazed something, plastered with human guts, jumped on him and tear by teeth his vocal cords.

Clarissa felt her eyes darken.

Suddenly the monster turned to her...

— Clarissa!—His voice was a little muffled now, but Clary recognized it.

— Brooke!— she cried out with a sigh of relief.

Brooklyn jumped up and hugged her to him.

— I was looking for you...—Clarissa whispered.

— And I splattered your jacket with scraps.—Brooklyn smiled.

— You're like this now... Normal...— Claire felt something familiar, something warm awakening in her soul...

At the gate, she suddenly hugged Brooklyn to her and kissed him.

— Let it stay it in the Hell...— she said.— And will return only if resurrected ... —

***

From teleportation through the gate, Clarissa's eyes hurt a little.

— Oh, Clary, your eyes are bleeding again!—Julie said, startled.

When she saw the man at the witch's back, she rushed back like a rubber ball.

—Don't be afraid of Brooke, Julie... My husband bites very rarely... Brooklyn, this is Jack, Julie, Joel and Consuella.The last one, you,

you probably remember. I quickly found Brooke... So, Consuella, will you help now? —

***

— Become ice, Clarissa, if you want to fight fire. And when the ice captures you, you must return to the fire...— Consuella

led Clarissa to the lake.

— Am I supposed to swim? I can't swim!—Fallen wailed in fright.— The Inquisitors drowned me! —

— You shouldn't swim, you should be water. Look with water, breathe with water... Be water...—Consuella pushed Clary in the chest.

The icy embrace of water took Claire Fallen.

In fright, the girl opened her mouth to scream, but water got there too.

Brooklyn watched it from a tree, it was quite comfortable on a thick branch.

— Is there another place?— Joel flew up to him through the air.— I'm tired of flitting around like a genie.—

— Yes, of course, sit down.—Brooklyn shifted.— By the way, you're the first one who still found the courage to come up and talk to me. Do you want a beer? After shoddy medicines, I can drink the ocean!—

— Yes.—Joel took the bottle from the cooler bag that Clary had given to Brooke.

—Has Clarissa been drowned yet?— Jack got in between them.

— Are you all going to get here now? The branch is made of wood, not metal!—Brook said.— I even regret that I can't bite now! —

— Okay, okay, I'm leaving.—Jack began to slide backwards.

Clarissa suddenly stopped being afraid.

Maybe Brooke's presence here was the reason.

Claire Fallen absorbed as much of the cold water as she could and focused on him.

— Come on, Clary...—Brook whispered, stroking the wedding ring on his finger.

Consuella jumped away from the lake herself when she saw a crust of ice covering the water.

— Yes!—Jack clapped his hands for joy.

— How? How can this happen in an hour?—Consuella bulged in fright.

The thick ice began to disperse in steam and at the moment when it became thinner, a fist pierced it.

Clarissa, as soon as she appeared on the surface, hurried to at least be near the shore.

— Well, did I pass the test?—she asked, trying to catch her breath after the water.

**

Consuella left them after about half an hour, showing them how to use a witch-hunting machine.

— And I still like her. She's cute...—Clarissa said, looking after him.

— Yeah, she is very cute...—Jack shivered.— Like a monster from nightmares... I understand why Brooklyn doesn't like her...—

Clarissa burst out laughing.

Her low laugh startled Joel a little.

— Why... What are we going to do now?—he asked, startled.

— First we go to the bunker, and you, Julie, take your husband to the house.—Jack looked around.— You never know who walks the streets, not visible to the eye...—

Going into the bunker, Clarissa removed the tarpaulin from a pile of whole chairs and blew the dust away with a light breeze.

— Clary, can I sleep in the house?—Julie asked, coming in last.

—Don't ask me, ask Jack. He's our big boss, a thimble of angels, and I just sew my arms and legs back on. I'm a nurse on this long adventure...—Clary sighed.

— At least you're the big boss now.—Jack objected.— After all, the archangel gave you this task. And witches are your profile. But thanks for the "big boss"! —

— Then... Joel, you're not sleeping, are you? Or can you stay awake?—Clarissa asked.— Are you going to guard the house in order to avoid attacks on Julie and Logan? —

— And how are you then?—The red-haired man asked.—I may not sleep at all, but I'm supposed to be guarding you. How are you going to stay here completely unprotected?—

— Why without protection? Consuella said the bunker was charmed. And, besides, there's Brooke. He's strong when his roof flies off.—Clary smiled.—I'll be protected like Fort Knox! And now let's turn on the radar! I can't wait to see how it works...—

The redhead followed her to the strange device while Clary turned it on with buttons and levers.

Joel rubbed his eyes.

— So... So what should I do?—he asked.

— Become transparent, turn into a sparkling ball again.—Clarissa said.

The lights began to sparkle brightly, Joel felt himself being sucked into a shining funnel.

— Claaaary!— he shouted, disappearing.

The map that Brooklyn drew and that Clary printed out at the motel was attached with magnets to a huge metal screen.

Jack winced. One of the angelic signs on his chest began to burn.

With his patience, the scream does not come out immediately.

The air rings from the radar.

— Jack, there must be light blood here!—Clarissa said loudly.— Come here and prick your finger!

Cassidy approached and pressed his finger to a large glass needle.

A new pain was layered on top of the first, and together they mixed into an incredible disgusting cocktail.

The glass turned red and hemoglobin liquid rolled down the hollow inside of the glass needle.

On top of Brooklyn's drawing, a grid with the marks of all the witches in the human world resembled the vessels in the hospital pictures.

Also the tiny inscriptions under each dot were names.

— Will it work the same way?—Brooklyn asked.

— I sincerely hope that this thing won't destroy your portals, I love the easy ways!—Clarissa took the paper off the screen.

Joel resumed his human form.

— Oh... I feel bad...—redhead muttered indistinctly.

Brooke helped the guy to stand on his feet and sat him down on the sofa.

Clarissa pressed on one of the marks and Brooklyn breathed a sigh of relief when he saw that the portal was still working.

— What's wrong with Joel?—Clary turned around.

— The batteries in the ghost engine began to run out.—Brooklyn said, looking at the guy.— Let's go up to the house, I'll cook something?—

— Are you cooking?—Julie blurted out in surprise.

— Yes. And besides, we've been here more than an hour after Consuella left!—Mercury looked at the clock on the wall.

— Time in the bunker and outside it flows differently. I noticed it when we first came in here. Not a bad quality, although sometimes infuriating. It is impossible to calculate exactly how time will go...—Clary smiled.

Julie immediately ran outside.

Talking about the passage of time scared her a lot.

But so far, the stench of Mustang exhaust has not even dissipated in the air yet.

It took about five minutes outside the bunker...

when Julie came back in, Clarissa was laying out sleeping bags.

—Are you sure you'd rather sleep in the house at night?—Clarissa asked.— There will be something noisy every second...—

—Can you bring Logan here? And why did I want to be one of you so much?— Julie Morales ran into the house, slamming the door.

— Follow her.—Jack said.

Clary sighed and ran after Julie.

Morales was smoking by the window, flicking ash onto Consuella's fluffy carpet.

— What? I can feel in your voice how you constantly count all my shortcomings! Yes, I am a converted witch! Yes, my husband is a man! I don't like you either, but I'm not constantly counting flaws!—

The cigarette fell on the carpet and went out.

Clary suddenly took two steps forward.

— Julie... My heart died a long time ago, so I can't properly show some people how dear they are to me. You don't really like me, but you joined the attack outside the motel. You had a lot of chances to escape, but you stayed. Only real friends do that... I'm sorry for what a bastard I am! —

Clary hugged her friend, it even seemed that Julie wanted to jump away first.

— I understand everything perfectly.Morales said.— Even though I dislike you, you are a very strong person. And don't apologize for your character. I know how life forges us...—

***

Brooklyn was humming something in Swedish, standing at the stove.

— Cute pinafore.—Clarissa smiled as she approached.— What will you treat us with?—

— Meatballs with lingonberry sauce. And disgusting sharp potato slices. What, Consuella doesn't eat normal food? There's only minced meat, berries and potatoes, already washed and seasoned!— Brooklyn was indignant, waving a wooden spoon.

— And before she ate sauerkraut and dried meat.—

At the table with everyone, Clary had a feeling that was only next to Joel.

Warmth and kindness... How strange...

***

After dinner and a long workout, everyone went to bed.

After thinking about how to look for witches, we stopped at one plan and went to bed.

When a witch is found, they will offer her a fight against the fire that is always burning.

If you're lucky, you'll need to return to the bunker with her.

Two witches against thirty-three is a very unequal battle.

Brooklyn felt his sleeping bag move.

The man started and immediately turned around.

— It's me...—Clarissa smiled.— I still remember how you smell...—

Brooke covered her hand with his.

— What happened to us?"What is it?" —he asked with a sigh.

—You let supernatural antimatter into you, and the angels got me, that's what...—

Clary felt such an unusual calm...

— I felt very bad without you...— that's how the witch found the strength to hug her husband.— Brooke...—

Brooklyn sang softly in Swedish. It was a lullaby about wolves.

It was so carefree, as if there had never been all these battles ...

***

— Hey! It's time to get up!— Jack began to shake everyone.

Brook cursed in Swedish and opened his eyes.

— I thought I was dreaming all this after all...—Mercury sighed.— Why so early?—

— Working hours haven't started yet, so we need to act. You need to choose a witch and act right now.—Jack slung his bag over his shoulder.—Wake Clarissa up and fasten my holster in the back. I can't hook the belt.—

Brook suddenly pulled both ends of the belt. Jack swayed violently from this.

— Be careful!—Cassidy's eyes bulged.— Are you crazy? You almost broke my back!—

Brook smiled.

— Am I crazy?—he asked with a sneer.

Clarissa yawned.

— And you don't need to wake me up, I'm not sleeping.— she smiled, stretching.— Yes, yes, let's get up.—

Logan wasn't sleeping. Apparently, the experience of recent nightmares still deprived him of sleep.

—I'm going to wake Julie up.— he said, picking up his hunting knife from the table.

—Logan, you're not coming with us.—Clarissa said, following Jack into the house.— I will try to take you to the bunker and you will sit there until we arrive. There is such a ritual in Consuella's old records.—

— Are you sure?—Cassidy squinted.

—If it doesn't work out, Logan just won't be able to come in.—Clarissa took the guy's hand.— Come on.—

— Do I have to sit out while my wife does all the work? No, I don't agree!—Engelfort twitched.

He tried to pull his hand out of Clary's, but she pulled him harder.

— You are not suitable for such battles, so you have to sit out! If I bite you right now, you'll lose your mind. But in the future you can be on equal terms.—

The portal to the basement smelled of smoke.

Clarissa handed him the bottle.

— When the last drop goes into your stomach, step on the steps. Right at this very second!—

Logan quickly began to swallow the contents of the small bottle.

Bitterly, unpleasantly, with difficulty in the throat climbs.

It's about to go back, it seems.

Logan swallows everything instantly, steps on the first step.

— Good... Just great! Now he's accepted you. He recognized you, you just need to get to the door!—Clarissa tugged on his arm, and Logan barely restrains himself from nausea.

The power of the portal spreads through the body with an unpleasant tingling.

— Well, there!—Clarissa said.—Now that we're gone, you're going to sit here and wait for us. The main thing - do not try to go out, you will regret it. You don't even have to close the doors. You can bring a book or a TV here so that it won't be boring...—

— Guys, breakfast is ready!—Brooklyn shouted from above.— It is necessary to throw it into yourself in five minutes, so Jack said! —

— Well, let's go?—Clary asked.

— Apparently, we need to go...—Logan sighed.

The omelet that Brooklyn cooked, it would be nice not to eat, but to exhibit in a museum instead of a painting.

— We eat as quickly as possible, but without the risk of choking.—Brooklyn said.

— But I don't need to hurry, do I?Logan asked.

— If anything, you can go down to the bunker with a plate.—Brooklyn said, pouring chili sauce over the scrambled eggs.— There's a green container over there, I've prepared a snack for you during our absence.—

— Huh, mother hen.—Clarissa laughed.

— With all due respect, my dear, I ask you not to allow such barbs.—Brooklyn put his plate in the sink.— Are you all done? —

— Wait a minute...—Joel popped the last piece of omelet into his mouth and gulped down his coffee.— That's it now!—

Brooklyn and Jack put on the jackets with shell sleeves that they found in the bunker, Clarissa waved off the offer.

— I don't want to put myself in armor, it's boring to kill.— she said.

Brooklyn smiled.

— Centuries pass, but some things even time will not change...—