Read Sarwat Chadda - Billi SanGreal 02 - Dark Goddess for Free Online

moaned through the loft void above.
    "Where?"
    "Away from here. You're not my family."
    "My dad will sort something out." Billi began straightening the bedsheets, doing anything to distract herself. She picked up a plastic garbage bag and shook its contents over the bed. Out fell a jumble of stuffed animals: elephants, tigers, and a few patched-up bears. Billi rummaged around the bottom of the bag and found something else, curved and solid. She pulled out the Russian doll. She'd first seen it last night in Vasilisa's bedroom.
    "That's mine," said the girl. She held out her hand for the doll. "Mum said she would protect me from them. But she couldn't."
    As Billi passed the doll to her, Vasilisa grabbed her wrist.
    "Don't leave," she whispered. "I'm scared. Please." Her fingernails dug into Billi's skin, and she clung on to her with desperate strength. Billi stood rigid, trapped in the girl's grip, her heart racing. Then she unhooked the girl's fingers and hurried to the door. She couldn't stay here any longer; she had to get to school.
    "I'm off now, but I'll look in again later." Billi fumbled for the doorhandle. "You'll be safe here."
    The girl didn't look around, but spoke so softly Billi wondered if she was actually talking to the doll.
    "Will I?"

 
Chapter 6

     
    "WHAT DO YOU THINK, PERCY?" Billi asked as she sat beside her godfather's gravestone. It had been a few weeks since she'd visited, and the grave needed tending.
    Percival. A poor soldier.
    That was all his epitaph said. Templars didn't need anything long or melodramatic. "The others send their regards." She flicked up the collar of her greatcoat and rewrapped her scarf around the bottom half of her face.
    The snow had fallen steadily all week, slowly covering London with a veil of white. Unfortunately, school was still open and Billi wasn't looking forward to her midnight patrol. Double thermals would be in order.
    "Oh, how's school? Same old, same old. You know me, too busy to hang out with the girls." That hadn't changed. Billi's reputation was already mud, but after Kay's death it had gotten even worse.
    According to the police, Kay's death had been an accident. He'd broken into a building site and fallen from a half-constructed skyscraper. Case closed.
    Nothing about the battle that had been fought against the Unholy, the dark angels that had tried to kill them and London's firstborn. Nothing about how Billi had slid a sword into Kay's chest, sacrificing him so millions might live.
    The nightmares had lasted for weeks. She couldn't close her eyes for seeing Kay's staring at her, wide and empty.
    At school people said Billi was bad luck—bad things happened around her. Kay was just an unfortunate soul who'd got too close. Best stay away.
    "We might have a new Oracle. Do ask Kay if he's got any advice." Billi carried on talking to Percy's grave. She wasn't looking forward to getting back home and having to deal with Vasilisa. Why couldn't they move her to Rowland's or Elaine's? The little girl unsettled things. Reminded Billi too much of Kay. A new Oracle. Would Vasilisa survive longer than the last one?
    "I'll come and visit Kay sometime, Percy. Tell him that. I promise I will." But not yet. She wasn't strong enough to go to Kay's grave.
    The icy wind picked up, and the hairs along Billi's nape stiffened. The air carried with it a strange thick smell, damp and cloying, like wet fur.
    Two women approached, winding their way through the maze of tombs and gravestones. One, a big girl with hair the color of flame, was wearing a T-shirt that revealed her wide muscular torso and long heavy arms. The other woman was gray-haired and had her hands tucked into the pockets of a hip-length woolen coat, embroidered with petroglyphs much like the ones Elaine had shown the Templars. They walked with a predator's confidence, their movements graceful and economic; a hunter's stride. Billi knew exactly what they were. But even if there had been any doubt, the eyes gave them