Phantoms In Philadelphia Read Online Free

stumbled back, red quickly seeping into his dirty
shirt.
    Hunching down, I started to load my pistol with
shaking hands. Inwardly I was cursing myself for not bringing Jack
along. I was not afraid so much as worried. I only had two pistols,
and I knew not how many men were outside.
    A twig snapped. I looked up.
    A giant no less than seven feet tall stood inside
the temple. Fear slammed through me, leaving me gaping and
panicked.
    He was not looking at me; did not even sense my
presence as he walked toward Pierre. Pierre was terrified; I could
see it in his eyes, but he remained where he was. The giant snapped
his sausage fingers and four men rushed into the temple, ran onto
the platform, and grabbed Pierre. In my shock, I did not react, did
not move as they carried him from the room ignoring all of his
shouts and curses. I heard a door slam outside, and a whip snap
followed by hooves moving away.
    The giant raised his large paws in the air looking
toward the stained glass dome while his voice spouted an
incantation.
    His voice was deep, almost scratchy
sounding. I could only hear a few of the rhythmic words he was
saying, but it was enough to know he was speaking Greek. He said
the words gods of thunder and
lightning . He stepped up on the platform,
and it creaked under his weight. Both of his hands reached out, and
he gently picked up the black shape and placed it in a gold bag
that was covered in the same kind of symbols that were engraved on
the shape.
    My mind was traveling fast trying to form a plan. I
could not let him leave with that shape, but I could not take him
on by myself. He looked like it would take more than the shots in
my pistols to stop him.
    He did not look to the right or the left as he moved
away from the platform, but at the door he stopped. I held my
breath, not moving, not blinking; my palms sweating. My heart hurt
from the rapidity of the beatings. If he looked to his right, he
would see me. His head tilted to the side, as if he were listening
for something. I was sure he could hear the beating of my heart.
After a long moment, he ducked his head and went out of the
temple.
    I let out a silent breath and leaned over, my arms
resting on the dirty floor. Breathing in and out, I tried to slow
the too fast pace of my heart. I had seen many unusual people in my
years as a Phantom, but that man’s height, and build was a new
frightening sight for me.
    When I heard a horse whinny, I rose and moved to the
door. He was riding away atop the largest horse I had ever laid
eyes on, but it would have had to be large to carry the boulder
upon its back.
    “You,” a soft voice called out, and I turned.
Jeremiah’s hand was raised above his stomach. I went to him,
dropping down to kneel beside him.
    “Must retrieve box,” he said with
his black eyes staring directly into my eyes. “ Must ...retrieve...box.”
    “The black box? You want me to go after the giant
and get the box back?”
    Jeremiah nodded.
    “What do I do with the box once I have it? Whom do I
give it to?”
    Jeremiah tried to reach into his coat, but his hands
were trembling. I reached into his coat gently, feeling around for
a pocket. My fingers touched a piece of paper, so I pulled it out,
placing it in his hand. His fingers closed around it, and his eyes
slid closed, as if he were relieved to touch it.
    He took my hand, pressing the paper against my palm.
“Ma belle.”
    I flinched. What did the black box have to do with
Ma belle? I tried to question Jeremiah further, but I could not
rouse him again. I laid my ear against his chest, and I could hear
his heart beating faintly. A twig snapped to my right, and I
turned, raising my loaded pistol.

Chapter 2

    Jack
     
    W ould you
mind lowering the pistol, Raven?” I asked as I stood in the doorway
to the building that I now knew was some kind of temple.
    Bess sagged forward and lowered the pistol. She was
relieved, but then she scowled at me, and I knew what was
coming.
    “You went through my