I stopped next to him, looking down. A sturdy vine had grown along the side of the wall, so old and tough that we could use it like a ladder.
I dropped low and scrambled over the edge. Shouts sounded from down the road to my right.
It
had to be Rasla, coming our way down the street. Grey climbed alongside me, just as fast, and we reached the bottom seconds later.
“This way.” Grey sprinted away from the noise, and I followed. We hurried into the dark, losing ourselves amongst the winding streets of Guild City, until the shouts of Rasla and whoever he’d gathered on his side disappeared.
Finally safe, I leaned against a wall in an old, smelly alley. Panting, I turned to Grey. “That was too close.”
He nodded. “I’m going to have to find him and erase his memory, or he’ll cause problems for me in this timeline.”
“We’ll make it a priority.” I looked down the street, trying to get my bearings. “We need to go to the Haunted Hound. I think we’re close.’
“We are. This way.” He started down the alley, and I followed.
The streets were quiet, probably because people were home for dinner. It only took us a few minutes to reach the gate that would lead to the pub.
As we approached the gate, we kept our heads down. My shoulders relaxed when we disappeared into the darkness of the tunnel that would lead us to the Haunted Hound. We reached the portal, and the ether sucked us in, spinning us around and spitting us out in the back hallway at the pub.
I got my bearings and said, “Well, that was the most familiar thing we’ve done in a while.”
Grey cracked a slight smile. “You’ll like the Hound, then.”
We walked out of the dark hallway and into the main part of the pub. Happiness filled me at the sight. It was exactly the same as it was in the modern day. Same dark walls, low ceiling, small wooden tables, and fireplace.
“You’re right,” I said. “I’m still a fan.”
“Ready to get back to our time?” he asked.
“More ready every second.” I searched the Hound for any sight of the woman we sought.
Though there were quite a few people there, none of them were Evangeline. There were two living dogs by the fire, however, and I gasped.
“The ghost dogs are alive,” I whispered.
Grey nodded. “It’s called The Hound at this point, I believe. But when the dogs pass, they’ll stay on, and the bar’s name will change.”
I loved the idea of it.
But there was no time to dawdle. I looked toward the bar, unable to help the slight disappointment at the sight of the unfamiliar person there. It was silly. Of course Mac and Quinn weren’t working, no matter how similar the place looked. I was just longing for something certain and familiar.
Quickly, I strode to the bar, giving all the patrons one last look. They wore the usual attire of the period, which was the only thing different about the Hound, and I still didn't recognize anyone.
I could feel the bartender’s gaze on me as we approached, and I stopped in front of him and smiled. He was a burly man with a beard and beady eyes—nowhere near as charming or handsome as Quinn.
He gripped the rag in his hand and asked. “What can I get you?”
“I’m looking for a woman,” I said.
“Don’t snitch on my customers, I don’t.” His eyes flashed.
Grey joined me, catching the man’s gaze. His voice vibrated with power as he spoke. “You will help us find the woman we seek.”
The man grimaced briefly, but his eyes fogged with the power of Grey’s gift. He nodded jerkily.
“She looks like me,” I said. “And she should be here.”