A Web of Crimson by Alexander G R Gideon

Author:Alexander G R Gideon [Gideon, Alexander G R]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Falstaff Books
Published: 2020-04-07T22:00:00+00:00

Mathers gave his orders, and the disorganized mess of the Golden Dawn membership seemed to meld together into an entity with a single mind. Practitioners pulled supplies out of hidden niches and prepared the circle while Jones escorted us back outside the temple doors. He took a tile from the wall to reveal another hidden niche and produced two sets of plain white robes.

“Wear naught but these and the golden cord tied around your waist,” Jones instructed as he passed them to us.

“Do you mean for us to change here?” I asked, glancing at Elaine.

“You’ll find no changing rooms within the temple, and you cannot leave until we finish. Consider this a chance to get to know each other better.” Jones chuckled and headed back into the temple, closing the doors behind him.

“Never seen a naked woman before?” Elaine asked with a cheeky smile as she unfastened her dress.

“I just thought to protect your propriety, madam,” I replied, stripping off my coat and undoing the buttons of my waistcoat.

“To hell with propriety.” She shrugged out of her dress and it fell to the ground with the clank of hidden blades.

I studied her as I removed my shirt. Scars crisscrossed her torso and legs, and one rather nasty one ran diagonally between her breasts. I daresay half our military saw less combat during their careers than this woman, and though I hadn’t imagined her so muscular when undressed, I found it rather appealing.

She leaned over and pulled a belt of throwing knives from the folds of her dress and strapped it to her thigh. To the other, she fixed a long knife, Nepalese from the forward curve. A blade made for slicing throats. She unsheathed a throwing knife before donning her robe and used it to cut a small slit into each side to give her access to her blades. Clever.

“I finished my performance. You can get dressed now,” Elaine said with a smirk.

I blinked, realizing I only half removed my shirt before I stopped to watch. “Couldn’t help myself, love. Art deserves appreciation, after all.” I grinned back and stripped down. “Apologies that I can’t provide as much entertainment.”

“Oh, you provide plenty,” she said, her eyes tracing my skin.

“Then by all means, enjoy yourself.” I gave her a wink and a wiggle that made her laugh. I didn’t possess Elaine’s muscle tone, but my fondness of mountaineering left me fit, at least. I finished tying the golden cord around my waist when Jones opened the doors once more.

“All set?” he said, looking us over.

“I suppose,” I said, glancing at Elaine. She nodded.

“Right then, single file, Miss Simpson in front. Stop when you get to the circle. We shall open it for each of you in turn.” He gestured for us to follow him. “Off we go.”

He led us into the temple, across the marble floor, and toward the circle. Within it stood the remainder of the Order, silent and watchful. The flap of our bare feet and the soft flutter of the braziers the only sounds in the temple.

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