“What were you trying to do?” she yelled at Sam, hitting him in the arm. His face was red and sweat dripped from his brow as he panted.
“We wouldn’t have been able to close the door. Those things, whatever they are, were right behind us. They would’ve followed us into the house,” he paused a moment as if he were collecting himself. “Who in the Hell was that man? What’s happening here?” Sam commanded, his face still flushed.
The clawing and scratching on the opposite side of the door pulled Gabrielle’s attention, and she realized this plan wouldn’t work forever.
“Maybe we can talk about that another time. Right now, Sluagh monsters are trying to kill us!” she snapped as a wood splintering slam forced them away from the door for a brief second before they regained their footing.
With each slam of the door, the wood groaned louder. It was only a matter of time before the door gave way and the Sluagh forced their way into the kitchen.
“Morrigan! Where the Hell are you?” Gabrielle forced through gritted teeth as her feet slipped and her arms shook from exhaustion. “We have to think of something to do. When they break through this door, we’ll have no choice but to fight them. Are you ready for that?” Gabrielle asked Sam who nodded in response.
She looked around the room for options. Run into another part of the house? Try to hide upstairs? No! No more running. This room would be their final stand.
At that moment, a monster forced its claw through the door and groped at the air. Gabrielle and Sam screamed as they pressed harder on the door, trying to avoid the claw that tossed about in the air just above their heads.
A sudden flash of clarity erupted as Gabrielle remembered she was still holding the knife. She brought the blade up and slashed as hard a she could at the claw above them.
The bracelet burned on her wrist and the silver metal of the knife glowed as it severed a finger. Bile she assumed was the creature’s blood burst from the wound as it screamed and withdrew its remaining fingers from the hole.
The beating, banging, and clawing stopped, and the screams grew more and more faint. Gabrielle and Sam looked at one another, mirror images of confusion sprawled on their faces. They both looked to the gaping hole in the door above them as if it could reveal all answers.
Sam shook his head in disagreement, but Gabrielle pulled back from the door and looked out of the hole to see where the creatures had gone. Just as her head passed the edge of the hole, one creature forced its head through the void and snapped its vile teeth at Gabrielle, only missing her by inches.
The thing’s mouth came so close to her face she could feel its chilled and revolting breath on her cheek. She jumped backwards and let out a yelp. These things were a lot smarter than they looked.
Gabrielle raised her knife again and buried it into the forehead of the monster. It fell limp in the door, before it was pulled away and another one took its place, trying to force its way through. As the door gave way, Gabrielle threw herself against it. They were officially out of options.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
“They’re coming through!” Sam yelled over the roaring and screaming, his voice cold and calculating. The Sluagh had torn the door away and Gabrielle could see its talons clawing as it tried to rip away the remaining barrier between them.
It was like Sam wasn’t there and a machine had replaced him. Is this what soldiers are like on the battlefield? It made sense he would be calm under pressure, but Gabrielle couldn't see the calculating soldier behind that baby face and those soft eyes until now.
“We have to think of something. We’ve killed three. How many of them can there be?” Gabrielle yelled back in hopeless optimism. She looked at Sam, whose eyes had glassed over and the once baby blues appeared grey.
“Sam? Sam! Are you alright?” She asked as another strike bumped her away from the door. Sam looked at her and his face slackened. His eyes softened and a small, sad smile peaked at the corners of his mouth.
“When they come through, run! Do not look back. Just get as far away as you can. I can handle this.” Sam’s eyes were sad, yet determined.
“What are you talking about? I’m not leaving you. That’s not how this ends.” Panic bubbled up from the pit of her stomach, yet the more she got upset, the calmer Sam became.
“It’s alright. I’ve seen enough death and killing to know when it’s the end. I’ve made my peace with that. Like my friends used to say just before battle, ‘If you gonna die, die with yer boots on’. That’s how I’m going.” His expression was stern, his jaw set, and Gabrielle knew there was nothing she could do to convince him otherwise.
Another roar and Gabrielle was sent to the floor and Sam was tossed sideways and rolled to the table. The door had given its last bit of strength and with one, final hit it had broken away. Gabrielle crawled to Sam, who turned onto his side and rose to face the doorway.
As she peered into the void, only blackness returned her gaze. In the pit of the blackness stood one monster, looking right at her.
Gabrielle saw an iron pan sitting on the table next to her and grabbed it. Silence fell as they stared into the nothingness for a moment wondering, waiting for the lanky creatures to make the first move.
After a few moments, the first beast shambled into the kitchen. The first was followed by another and another as if they followed their leader in a single file line.
The yellow light from the lanterns illuminated their grotesque form as one-by-one, the four Sluagh pressed their way into the kitchen. Eight sunken eyes all locked onto the two as they made their way in.
It was in that moment Gabrielle realized how large the things were. Their leathery scalps towered above her and Sam, almost reaching the ceiling. Their claws now appeared twice the size they had in the field, and she could see tiny little razor points outlining each finger, like the teeth of a shark.
The four Sluagh paused and looked at their prey. The beast leading the pack slammed one of its claws on the counter top. It let out a deafening shriek as it severed the edge of the counter from its base.
“Well, don't you look like Hell itself?” Sam croaked. Gabrielle shot a glance from their certain fate to Sam, who finished his transformation from the young boy to a cold soldier. Gabrielle tightened her grip on the pan and prepared herself to fight.
“I don't suppose there’s any point in draggin’ this out. Now comes the killing. Just know, you may end me, but you won’t be doin’ it in one piece you ugly sons o’ bitches!” With that, Sam grabbed his revolver by the barrel and held it like a hammer.
A sudden calmness embraced Gabrielle, she could handle this. It wasn’t the first time she’d come in contact with monstrous beings. She squeezed the handle of the pan, her eyes narrowed to slits and her body poised to fight her way out of yet another attack.
Gabrielle brought her head down and looked at the Sluagh through the base of her brow. If this was how it would end, she would have it no other way.
“Die with your boots on,” Gabrielle mumbled under her breath. The monsters sent out a bellowing shriek. Gabrielle buzzed with electricity as she and Sam returned a Rebel yell of their own. With a flash, everything slowed down.
Gabrielle no longer heard the sounds of the monsters, all she saw was the center beast’s chest explode as it flew backwards towards the door. A brief look of horror spread across the others and then was replaced by rage. Gabrielle glanced at Sam silently asking him, “What the hell?”
She turned around, half expecting and half hoping to see Morrigan standing there, but to her surprise a large African man stood in the opposite doorway that led into the parlor. He held a shotgun in his hand with two smoking barrels and a look of unbridled bewilderment in his eyes.
His hands shook as he readied the gun for another attack, a mixture of shock and horror plastered on his face. Gabrielle recognized him from the field, Thompson. He was a slave Morrigan had freed.
His expression changed, his eyes becoming impossibly wide and Gabrielle looked back at
the monsters. Just as she turned, the animals reared and charged at them. She flinched and brought the pan up, prepared to swing it, as Sam rocked sideways to meet another.
Well I guess things can’t get any worse. At least three on three is a little better…
In perfect pattern, the remaining monsters broke from their group and attacked. The largest of the Sluagh ran at Thompson and the two collided. He brought the shotgun up to block its massive claw from gouging into his face, but the beast was much heavier and they went sprawling into the next room.
With the Sluagh’s attention elsewhere, Sam blitz-attacked the beast which stood only a few feet away from him. He brought the butt of his gun down on the fiend and the two danced across the kitchen and back to the doorway they’d entered. Gabrielle reached her hand toward Thompson just as the third Sluagh swung its long arm at her.
She saw the movement out of the corner of her eye and ducked at just the right moment. Gabrielle felt the breeze of the swing drift across the top of her head and knew she’d barely escaped in time. Its claws drug across the wall and left a large gauge as it tore a chunk free.
As Gabrielle came back up, she swung the pan in a motion reminiscent of pulling weeds. The pan smashed into the jaw of the monster, creating a spray of mucus-like blood that spattered the wall behind her.
Time slowed down as Gabrielle moved when the Sluagh grabbed at the surrounding air, blinded by pain and its own blood dripping into its eyes. It was like a choreographed dance. The Sluagh swinging and Gabrielle stepping just out of reach, her guard up to protect her face and her eyes narrowed in on her foe.
Whoosh, the sound of a hefty arm flying by her head and she brought one fist straight into the Sluagh’s ribs. Gabrielle’s eyes widened. Maybe she could really beat this thing. She waited for it to attack and then landed another punch, calculating its movements as she readied herself for the next.
Whoosh. Punch.
Whoosh. Punch.
The bracelet vibrated on her wrist and she knew it was helping her, perfecting her timing and giving her impossible strength. The monster swung more fervently as it shrieked again and again in pain. One swing met its mark as it brought the back of its claw against Gabrielle’s chest, knocking her backwards and causing her to land face-up on the kitchen table.
She coughed as a crippling pain erupted through her chest. She gasped for air and sucked in only enough to make her cough again. The taste of blood filled her mouth and small crimson droplets sprayed out into the air and then plunged back down onto her face.
She tried to roll to her side and another shooting pain burst in her ribs. A small surprised gasp escaped her lips, and she flopped onto her back again.
As she lay on the table trying to muster up the strength to pull herself to her feet, a large, black claw appeared at the edge of her vision. Pain erupted in her ribs as she rolled and screamed out as the meaty paw of the monster slammed down on the table, only centimeters from her blood-speckled face.
Another scream of pain burst from her lips as she gritted her teeth and forced herself into a standing position. As she searched the ground for another weapon a stinging pain racked down her spine as one of the Sluagh’s claws drug down her back and sliced into her.
Warm rivulets of blood flowed down her spine, soaking her white dress and dripping to the floor. She threw her head up towards the ceiling and fell forward towards the cold ground. In moments, the Sluagh was on top of her, slashing at her back and arms.
Gabrielle flipped herself around and with outstretched arms she held the Sluagh away from her as best she could. Saliva and blood dripped from the beast onto Gabrielle’s face, blinding her vision and seeping into the crevices of her mouth.
“Get off her ya ugly bastard!” Sam screamed as he speared the side of the animal, freeing its hold from Gabrielle and sending it crashing into the wall.
Gabrielle saw through her tears of pain that Sam had disoriented the Sluagh and was striking it with punches to the body and groin.
The Sluagh that Sam had been fighting only moments before came to its brother’s aid. It grabbed the soldier by the arm and threw him across the room and into the kitchen cabinets.
Gabrielle lay on the floor, her chest heaving and tears streaming down her face. She thought about what Arawn said about her parents and how she ruined their lives. She thought about what Morrigan said, that their lives should count for more than the journey.
Why can’t I help? Why do I always need someone to help me? Something happened in that moment of self-pity and loathing. In the dulling world, Gabrielle heard something that gave her strength.
CLICK.
Gabrielle felt her wrist vibrate more fiercely and the faded design glowed. A rush of electricity coursed through her body, her sore muscles tightened and blood rush to her face.
This wasn't the first time this happened, the bracelet had given her an extra boost when she fought the banshee in the kitchen of Versailles, but she still wasn't used to the feeling of immense power that raged through her.
It was like she all the spirits she’d freed; Aideen, Josephine and now Hazel, were all inside her mixing with her own spirit to make her stronger, faster, smarter.
Gabrielle clenched her jaw and pushed herself to a standing position. She grabbed the pan that now lay on the ground a few feet away from her and squeezed the familiar handle. Gabrielle would no longer fear the monsters, she’d become what the monsters would learn to fear.
She looked at her weapon with a look of shock and confusion, she was not clutching the iron pan that had been there a moment before, now she held a small hatchet. It was silver in color and adorned with the same markings as her bracelet.
A glow emanated from the weapon as she studied it, the same glow that was coming from her bracelet. Did the bracelet do this? She looked from the glinting edge of the blade and back to the Sluagh.
Gabrielle held one arm across her ribs as she ran at the Sluagh who were ripping into Sam as if they were children on Christmas morning and he was the present they’d been waiting for all year. She raised the hatchet high above her head and with a warrior’s call she brought it down on the back of the Sluagh’s neck.
The blade sliced through the monster's head as if it was warmed butter and it toppled into the hands of its brother. The second Sluagh dropped the severed head and, with a roar, turned its attention towards Gabrielle.
She smiled as it swung its claws at her, only for her to step backwards and out of its reach. Gabrielle backed away, leading the monster away from her friend and back to the center of the kitchen. Her chest swelled as she noticed the uncertainty and fear in its eyes.
Ever-so-slightly, Gabrielle gave the monster a nod, and with that the attack began again. The Sluagh charged her, swinging both of its arms in like it was trying to embrace her. Gabrielle moved and ducked again, forcing the creature to close its arms around itself.
As the Sluagh scurried past her, she reached out and sliced the side of its stomach with the hatchet. She turned to face the creature again and landed a kick right to the back of the beast’s legs, sending it sprawling to the floor.
“GET UP!” she shouted at the top of her lungs. She didn’t think the thing understood English, but it rose and turned to face her. The two stared at each other for a few moments before the Sluagh let out another ear-shattering scream and ran towards her.
Gabrielle didn’t move this time, she raised the hatchet and brought it down on the monster's arm, severing it. A thick yellow liquid spurted from the stump but it didn’t scream in pain. It stood in shock looking down at the arm that now lay on the ground in a pool of blood.
Gabrielle took this moment to jump onto its back and pull it to the ground. Rage coursed through her as she thought about the pain she’d brought to her mother, to her father, to Sam and to everyone she came into contact with. She kicked at the Sluagh’s head with all of that rage.
With tears streaming down her cheeks, she kicked and kicked until the Sluagh’s face w
as nothing but a puddle of ripped sinew and pulverized bone. Then she kicked some more, forgetting about the hatchet she still clutched in her hand.
When Gabrielle stood panting, unable to kick at the lifeless body of her opponent any more, she looked at Sam who was both horrified and impressed. Neither of them uttered a word, they stood in silence for a moment trying to make sense of what just happened.
The bracelet had given her the ability to fight off the monsters before, but it wasn’t like this. Maybe she was getting used to the powers of the bracelet and could use them more to her advantage, or maybe she’d become fed up with being attacked and her rage unlocked something new. It was probably both.
She let her eyes roll over Sam, assessing his wounds. He had a few deep cuts down his arms and a single slice through his bloodstained shirt, but other than that, he looked alright.
A slam came from the other room that sent a torrid realization through her. There was still another one. Gabrielle looked down at her hands and realized that at some point she’d dropped the hatchet.
She bent over and grabbed it before bringing her gaze back up to meet Sam’s. He nodded to her, not realizing the new glowing hatchet or not caring to question it, and picked up his revolver.
As they came into the next room, Gabrielle’s mouth dropped open and her eyes widened to nearly twice their size. Everything was destroyed.
Thompson stood at one side of the room, slightly bent with both arms out as if he were a wrestler preparing to strike. He looked comfortable in that pose, like he was used to fighting with his hands.
He was covered in deep gouges and it looked like one of his legs may have been broken by the way he avoided putting pressure on it. Yellow blood was dripping from several wounds on the Sluagh’s body, but it was facing away from Gabrielle so she couldn’t tell how hurt it was.
Gabrielle ran up behind the monster and brought the hatchet down onto its arm, severing it from its body. The creature screamed and turned to face her and Thompson plunged the severed arm into the Sluagh’s back, forcing it through its chest. With a gurgle, the final Sluagh fell to the floor, dead.
The Gabrielle Series Boxed Set Page 35
