“How do you know that?” Morgan’s voice raised a notch at the surety on Sophie’s face.
The others stood. Jackson moved closer to Lilli, standing next to her like an avenging angel. She could almost see him as Michael, the archangel, with the curly hair and sword. She got the impression that he would die to protect Lilli. By the end of the night, he might get the chance.
A scream echoed off the walls in Sophie’s mind.
She darted out the door before she had time to think. The librarian’s fear choked her. She had to help.
“Sophie, wait!” Lilli called after her.
Sophie hoped Lilli wouldn’t follow. Her breath came in quick, harsh pants as she forced her feet to move down the darkened hallway. The librarian’s emotions were shards of agony that dug deep into Sophie’s skull. She fought something off, and whatever it was, it scared the hell out of her. Sophie stopped behind a row of bookcases and shut her eyes to gather her courage. Her body shook from the horror raging through her mind.
The librarian didn’t scream again.
Using every ounce of her will, Sophie stepped out from behind the bookcases. The lights flickered, and for a moment she couldn’t see.
When her eyes focused, her heart skipped a beat. The librarian lay on the floor in a puddle of dark blood. A metallic smell reached her, and Sophie’s stomach churned.
She skidded to a halt and knelt beside the woman. The librarian’s eyes were closed, and her breath came in shallow gasps. Blood bubbled and streamed through the jagged marks on her chest.
“Sophie? Sophie!” Lilli came around the bookcases. She paused when she located Sophie and the librarian.
Sophie tried to put pressure on the wound, but it was too large. Both her hands barely covered the width of the claw marks. She couldn’t think too much about the fact that whatever did this was still around. The sinister darkness still lurked in her mind. She heard Lilli’s footsteps halt beside her.
“Is she?” Lilli’s eyes filled with tears.
Sophie shook her head. “Can you heal her?”
Lilli’s eyes hardened with determination. “I can try.” She brushed Sophie’s hands out of the way and placed her own over the gaping wound. It gurgled as a warm, golden light shone from Lilli and spiraled into the gash.
Something teased the edge of Sophie’s senses. She cocked her head to the side like she was listening to someone speak across the room. The pressure in her mind thickened.
Whatever attacked the librarian was coming. Sophie opened her mouth to warn Lilli.
Icy fingers wrapped in her hair and jerked her up. Fetid breath hit the back of her neck.
“Guardian,” it hissed.
Chapter Two
THAT ONE WORD evoked feelings in Sophie that she didn’t understand. Fear, hope, survival.
The fingers tightened in her hair. The man’s thoughts crowded in on hers and overcame her own. She knew one thing. He wasn’t human.
A shadow blanketed his mind. Terror screamed through her blood. It was darker than anything she’d ever known.
“Sophie!”
Sophie heard Tristan’s shout but couldn’t see him. Out of the corner of her eye she saw a black wolf stalking around the bookcases. It stopped in front of her. When it growled, the hair on its back stood on end. Muscles rippled underneath the fur as it crouched. Sophie thought it was beautiful.
“She is mine.”
Sophie’s stomach twisted. The voice was cold and dead, as if he’d been created out of the darkness she felt in his mind.
The wolf leaped. The man shrieked in pain. The fingers loosened their hold on her hair, and she saw her chance. She shoved away and fell to her knees.
“Tristan, be careful!” Jackson yelled as he and Aidan ran into the room.
Sophie stared in wonder, watching the black wolf viciously bite the man’s leg.
Tristan was the wolf?
“She’s healed.”
Sophie snapped her head to the side and saw Lilli sit back. Her body swayed. Sophie noticed the pasty color to her skin. “Lilli.”
“I’m fine.” Lilli leaned against one of the tables for support.
The wolf yelped, the sound piercing her ears. Sophie watched the man shake him off. He kicked the wolf so hard it slid across the room, and blood smeared the floor. The wolf hit a bookcase and rammed to a stop.
Three deep slashes ran down the wolf’s abdomen. The blood spurted with each heartbeat. Sophie’s heart dropped.
The thought that Tristan could change into a wolf didn’t shock her at the moment. Neither did the fact that the man had claws the size of machetes instead of fingers It might later, she thought, if they got out of this alive.
The creature, because there was no way she could think of it as a man, took a step toward them. His lips curled back in a predatory smile.
Jackson waved a hand and several chairs lifted off the floor. They shot like missiles and hit the man in the chest. The force knocked him over a table and wood flew.
“Tristan.” Sophie ran to him, almost slipping in a puddle of his blood. She steadied herself and hopped over the falling wood before kneeling down beside him. Fur receded back into tanned flesh. Green-yellow eyes grew stormy again.
“Lilli!” Sophie glanced over her shoulder at her friend. Lilli was already crawling to them. Lilli’s pasty skin shocked her. Instantly, she was torn. Could she ask her best friend to save Tristan, even if it weakened her to the point of exhaustion?
“I’ll take care of him.” Lilli nodded to her. “Go help the others. They’ll need you.”
Sophie bobbed her head. She glanced at Tristan one more time, and her heart stuttered. His clenched jaw and ashen color frightened her. A wry smile flirted on his lips. “We’re not so different.”
Sophie managed a smile.
“Go!” Lilli shoved softly at her shoulder.
By the time Sophie made it back to Aidan and Jackson, they were staring at the unmoving body of the creature. “Is he dead?”
“I don’t think so. By the way, Jackson, how’d you do that?”
“Does it matter right now?” Jackson’s face was alight with a warrior’s tenseness. His eyes never moved from the body.
“If that guy gets back up, I’ll show you what I can do.”
“Wait, you too?” Sophie stared at Aidan. She had a gut feeling that the fact that they all had supernatural gifts wasn’t a coincidence. “Where’s Morgan?”
“She…I don’t know.” Aidan furrowed his brows.
The shock of his worry swallowed Sophie and almost covered the tickle at the back of her neck. “Look out!” A blast of light filled the room, and heat warmed the side of her face. She dove at Aidan and Jackson. Her body collided with theirs. They landed on the floor in a heap of limbs, elbows and knees covering her.
Sophie drove her elbow into Aidan’s ribs, trying to get up. He sucked in a gasp and coughed.
Jackson reached down a hand.
“Thanks.” Sophie allowed him to pull her up. She looked to where they’d stood.
Smoke curled around the edges of a hole in the wall. Paint peeled down, charred and gray, revealing the sheetrock behind.
“What the hell?” Aidan glanced over Sophie’s shoulder. His lips were tight and his entire body was rigid.
Sophie turned to see what caused his reaction and her eyes widened. The creature stood over the ruined table, looking as if he’d grown several feet in a matter of seconds. Scales rippled on his flesh, up his neck and over his face. When he opened his eyes, they glowed red with blood lust. Two wicked-looking fangs gleamed in the flickering light. Leathery wings sprouted from his back and flapped twice, ripping the blue shirt he wore.
“Okay, something tells me he’s not human,” Sophie murmured. She backed up a few steps.
“Really? What makes you think that?”
“Shut up, Aidan.” Morgan’s voice hovered around them.
“Princess?” Aidan spun in a circle. His frown turned quizzical when he f
ailed to locate her.
Sophie glanced around. She felt Morgan’s essence, so she knew the girl was close. “Morgan?”
“Where are you?” Jackson looked around.
“Right here.”
Sophie raised her eyebrows. “Seriously.”
The air around them shimmered, and then Morgan stood next to them. Her hair fluttered as if she’d been bathed in a light breeze.
“Why would someone as hot as you want to be invisible?” Aidan winked at Morgan. She glared at him before shimmering out of sight.
“He’s licking his lips,” Jackson murmured. He braced his feet shoulder width apart and prepared for the next attack.
Sophie knew then his parents should’ve named him Michael. If ever there was someone who reminded her of the archangel, it was Jackson. “Aidan, what are you doing?” she asked as he walked toward the creature. She reached out her hand, but he shook it off.
He paused a few paces in front of the scaly man-thing. The air stirred, becoming hotter. Within seconds, Aidan’s hands were on fire.
“Wow.” Jackson stepped in front of Sophie to block her from the creature’s eyesight.
“That we should have expected.” Sophie moved around him to see what was going on. Jackson grimaced at her. It was nice that he was trying to protect her, but she wanted to see what was happening.
“Please tell me it’s not because you think Aidan’s hot,” Morgan’s voice drifted to her left.
Sophie’s lips turned up in a wry grin. “No.”
“Thank God.”
Aidan jerked his hands, and the fire formed into balls of flames. They lifted off and sped toward the creature. The smell of burnt flesh and scales permeated the room as the fireballs struck it in the chest.
It stumbled back a few feet and shrieked.
When it found its balance, it unerringly located Aidan. Once it had its prey locked on, the creature cocked its head to the side.
Chapter Three
“DOES IT DIE?” Panic bubbled in Sophie’s chest. The creature stared at Aidan.
“Why are we waiting around to find out?” Morgan’s voice echoed off the walls of the empty library.
“What are you worried about?” Jackson fisted his hands. “It can’t even see you.”
Out of the corner of her eye, Sophie saw Tristan sitting with his back against a wall. Lilli leaned against him, her skin nearly translucent. Lilli’s weakness reached out and swirled at Sophie. It didn’t seem like her friend had enough energy to move.
The creature grabbed Aidan by the neck and lifted him off the floor.
“Stop it.” Sophie’s heart hammered in her chest. The creature pinned her with its gaze.
Tasty. A voice hissed into her mind, preceding a darkness so horrifying she almost fell to her knees. The creature realized it didn’t want Aidan anymore and hurled him into a row of bookcases, which fell to the floor like dominoes.
The creature advanced with his claws outstretched. Fear threatened to suffocate Sophie. A woman’s laughter echoed in her mind the closer it got. God, it’s tall, Sophie thought. She had to crane her neck back to see it fully. Her legs wouldn’t listen to her mind’s command to move, and her vision shifted to the premonition from the night before. Chains clinked together in the distance, and heat blasted her.
“Get away from her!” Books flew out of thin air.
The shrill voice knocked Sophie out of her trance. She backpedaled fast. Books continued to fly. “Morgan?”
The air shimmered next to Sophie. “Don’t think this changes anything. I still think you’re a freak.”
“Whatever.” Thank God Morgan had broken her trance. Who knows what could’ve happened had the creature reached her. Aidan lay on top of one of the bookcases. Blood ran down his face and dripped onto his black clothes. “We have to get to Aidan.”
“I don’t see that going well.” Morgan solidified and stood over Sophie.
The creature growled low in its throat. Its wings spread wide, blocking Aidan from their view, and its scales undulated in excitement. It prepared to pounce, red eyes locked on Sophie.
This is it, she thought. The end. I’m going to be attacked by a scaly man-thing eager to eat my flesh.
The creature launched.
She shut her eyes, not wanting its ugly face to be the last thing she saw.
“Sophie!” Lilli’s voice shattered Sophie’s fear.
Gunshots echoed through the library. Bullets tore into scales, halting the creature’s flight, and sending it back several feet. The creature roared in anger, white smoke billowing from the wounds. Another shot nailed it between the eyes.
At the sound of the final shot, Sophie’s eyes snapped open.
The creature staggered back, hit the wall, and slid to the floor. It morphed to human form.
“It’s dead, Demetri.”
Thoughts galloped through Sophie’s mind. One would barely end before another began, coming so close together she was sure it was all one continuous stream. She couldn’t stop staring at the body. It took a second to tear her gaze away from the creature and turn her face to the entrance. Another jolt of shock ran though her when she saw Professor Whittaker and a security guard standing beside each other. They both lowered their guns. Sophie was sure she’d seen the security guard around campus.
“I didn’t think they’d attempt an attack so soon after we got them together.” Whittaker tucked the gun into her jacket. She stepped over the bookcases with precise movements.
Demetri, the security guard, walked to the body and examined it. He moved with warrior-like grace, silent and stealthy. In Sophie’s shock, she seemed to notice random things about him. He was tall with short, dark hair and darker eyes.
“What are you talking about?” Morgan shimmered back into visibility next to Aidan. He struggled to sit up, and the cut above his eye bled harder.
Jackson went straight to Lilli and put an arm around her shoulders. He helped her walk over to Aidan and Morgan, keeping her close to his side. Tristan helped Sophie stand before they, too, joined the others.
Professor Whittaker smiled and gave them a nod of approval.
Police sirens wailed in the distance.
“I called the police, so we have to make this quick. I’ll slip you instructions in class Friday.” Whittaker saw their disbelieving faces. “Trust me, you’ll want to hear what we have to tell you.”
Demetri came up behind them. When he spoke, Sophie started. “Do not tell the police what happened here.”
“Like they’d believe us anyway.” Aidan glanced at the wreckage of the library. He paled. “What was that thing?”
“Tell the police that Demetri ran in as he heard you scream, Sophie. Demetri shot the man when he aimed at you.” Whittaker pulled out the gun and wiped it clean with something that smelled strongly of chemicals, then wrapped the dead creature’s newly human fingers around it.
“How do you want me to explain this?” Aidan gestured to his cut.
Demetri looked Aidan over. “You tried to stop the man, but he was too tough for you.”
Aidan’s smile slipped. “The thing had scales. How do you fight that?”
“Enough questions. The police are here.”
Professor Whittaker snuck out the back, and Sophie watched her go with dread. She had a hard time reconciling the sunny professor with the gun-toting woman who shot down a creature without blinking.
Demetri yelled out to the police that the threat had been cancelled, and the police ran in, shouting for them to put their hands on their heads. Sophie complied, terrified of being arrested, even though she knew she hadn’t done anything wrong.
A few of the officers patted Sophie and the others down while the rest searched the library. When the library was secured the police shouted, “Clear!” and allowed them to drop their hands.
A pretty detective tucked her gun into its holster. She surveyed the mess in the room and the unmoving body before giving orders to the other officers.
Sophie peered sidelong at their attacker. The man didn’t stir, and still she shivered. She remembered what the creature had projected into her mind.
Tasty.
Tristan moved closer. He didn’t put his arm around Sophie, as Jackson did Lilli, but his presence helped just the same. It made her strong enough to stave off the thoughts and essences streaming from the cops.
“Split them up so we can question them,” the pretty detective said. “And have the paramedics get in here.” She motioned to Aidan. “We need to get that head wound bandaged.”
Sophie followed a tall, lanky guy in glasses to a recently upturned table close to the charred sheetrock. He pulled a chair out for her and waited until she sat before walking off.
She stared at her shaking hands in disbelief. Even when she and Lilli had gotten lost in the woods when they were younger, her body hadn’t reacted like this. Her legs started bouncing rapidly, and she grit her teeth together. She didn’t like that she couldn’t control herself.
The officers examined the body, and Sophie could tell they didn’t see anything scaly or creature-like about it. The paramedics evaluated Aidan and the librarian, who was still unconscious. Sophie watched them load the woman onto a stretcher and then roll her out of the library.
Seconds later, the college dean marched in. She caught sight of the body and halted. Sophie thought she saw the woman’s lower lip tremble, but when the dean looked at Sophie, her eyes were full of determination.
“What’s your name?” Dean West asked.
Sophie recited her name and waited for the dean to speak again. She was a short, pudgy woman with a kind, sharp eyes. Her graying hair was cut short and framed her face, making her seem like everyone’s favorite grandma, but that didn’t mean Sophie was going to spill her guts to her.
“Are you okay, Ms. Lawrence?”
“Yes.” Sophie’s mind reeled. Images and thoughts flashed through her head. She couldn’t keep her gaze from straying to where Tristan sat, head in his hands. It took everything she had to not go and put her arms around him. He looked tired, and she imagined he was in shock, just like her.
Awakening Page 2
