Black Howl by Christina Henry Page B

going to scope out the action,” Beezle said, and flew off in the direction of Samiel. It was a good thing Samielcouldn’t hear or else Beezle would probably drive him insane with suggestions for how best to conquer the approaching horde.
    Nathaniel and Gabriel headed off on their appointed tasks and I turned to Jude. He stared at the screaming cubs. He looked like he wasn’t sure if he was going to be sick or tear somebody’s head off.
    “Jude, take a couple of cubs and head up into the tunnel. Try to get them to respond to you.”
    He turned on me with a snarl. “I want to rip the limbs off the demons that did this to our cubs, not play nursemaid.”
    “Will you stop arguing about every freaking thing?” I shouted. “They know you. We’re going to need the older kids to walk if we want to get out of here, so JUST DO WHAT I SAY! Nathaniel and I will fly them up to you.”
    Jude huffed out an angry breath, then grabbed a couple of kids and bounded up to the tunnel.
    I picked up two of the smaller children and they both began to scream. It broke my heart to hear such little ones in so much pain.
    “Shh, shh,” I tried to soothe as I flew up to the tunnel. “It’s going to be all right.”
    I handed them to Jude, who looked grim. I couldn’t blame him. The cubs were all still screaming their heads off. We had a lot of tunnel to cover to return to the portal, and I had no idea how we would do it with almost two dozen damaged kids.
    As I flew back to the cavern I heard the sounds of demons crying out, and the air was filled with the smells of ozone and cinnamon. The fine hairs on the back of my neck stood up as the energy of magic filled the cavern.
    Samiel and Gabriel were throwing spells faster than Icould see. I didn’t want to think about how many demons had to be in that passage beyond the cavern.
    I approached the last cubs. Nathaniel was carrying three or four at a go and there were only these two remaining. One of them was perhaps four years old, and the other looked about eight.
    As soon as I separated them from the machines the younger child began to scream like the others. The older child, however, got up and walked away from the chair, toward the cavern wall. His eyes were blank and staring but he didn’t seem to comprehend what was before him.
    “Hey!” I called after him. I was cradling the little one, who had to weigh at least forty pounds, in my right arm. I touched the older child on the shoulder with my free hand and he cried out as if I’d burned him.
    “Can’t stop—sorry red—gotta go!” he shouted.
    I stared at him. The boy walked into the cavern wall face-first, bounced off and walked into it again. Just like the ghost I’d found. Just like all the ghosts that J.B. had told me were popping up all over the city.
    “Umm, are you just going to stand there contemplating the mysteries of life or are you going to stop that kid from breaking his nose?” Beezle asked.
    I shook my head, coming out of my reverie, and looked around. Nathaniel had gone to help Gabriel and Samiel, and Jude had his hands full with the cubs.
    “Get those cameras,” I said to Beezle as I stepped forward and lifted the older boy away from the wall.
    The younger child in my right arm was screaming in my ear and it made it hard for me to think. I flew the cubs toward Jude.
    “Why?” Beezle called after me. “Don’t you think you have greater priorities right now?”
    “Just do it!” I shouted over my shoulder. “Why does everything I say have to be questioned?”
    I handed the last two children to Jude. The older boy was mumbling something under his breath. I leaned closer so I could hear what he said.
    “I am the scream—I am the scream—I am the scream…”
    My eyes widened.
    “What is it?” asked Jude.
    I shook my head. There was no time to explain. “Start herding the kids toward the portal as best you can. I’m going to see if we can’t close off entry to the cave on the other