This glance left me vulnerable though, and she lunged for me again, but this time she wasn’t fast enough. I side-stepped her attack and spun around fast, putting as much force into my swing as I could manage. I aimed for the neck. At the time, I hadn’t thought about it, but I realized later I did exactly what I’d been taught to do.
The blade stuck midway through her neck, and she was shrieking so loudly I was sure I was going to lose my hearing. Black liquid stampeded out of her wound, landing on my face and hands. I yanked the sword back out and swung it again, completely decapitating her. She fell silent.
I fell to my hands and knees. I’d never been in shock before, but I was pretty sure this was it. Everything seemed to slow down, and I couldn’t even really process what had just happened. It was all just a blur. A strong surge of what felt like pure energy ripped through me, so potent I almost vomited. I realized then that I was trembling.
Then my body went completely rigid.
Because that’s when I heard Nelly scream.
Chapter Ten
I jumped up so fast I dropped my weapon. My stomach dropped, too. Cold sweat broke over me. Scooping up the sword, I raced out of my bedroom and down the hall. My heart thundered in my chest, and every instinct told me to run in the opposite direction. I wanted to go sit in a closet and curl up into a ball—but no, I had to find Nelly.
When I reached the living room, a silent scream ripped up my throat. The living room looked as if it had been swept by a small tornado. Pieces of broken furniture lay scattered everywhere. My mother had a silver sword too, and she was currently fending off two more monsters. Nelly huddled in a corner, cowering from another one closing in on her.
It was all so surreal, so much to take in. It was as if I had walked onto the set of some horror movie and forgotten my next line. Only this was no movie. I was rooted to where I stood. I couldn’t move, couldn’t react. Until my mother snapped me back to grim reality.
“Little help here, Lex?” she said. She was calm and focused, and I knew that she was in warrior mode now. She was also losing her battle.
Talking to me had made the creature approaching Nelly stop and turn to face me. By this point, I was already charging toward her, my body insisting I do what my brain couldn’t seem to figure out. Before we collided, I brought my sword up swiftly between us, slicing her body in a vertical line. That horrible black blood spilled out, sprays and rivers of darkness gushing to open air. The creature shrieked that ear-piercing sound, and I used the time to spin around and throw all of my weight into my next swing. My blade went through her neck without any hesitation. I didn’t think I could replicate that move if I tried.
Another surge of energy racked me. I rocked back on my heels and my eyelids fluttered. It was a magnificent feeling—a terrifyingly awful, magnificent feeling that ended much too quickly for my approval. By the time I regained control over myself, I saw that my mother had taken down one of her attackers, shifting the odds in her favor. I moved to help her, but she gritted out, “No! Get Nelly out of here!”
I hesitated. I was confident she could handle her opponent, but what if more showed up?
As if on cue, three more creatures charged through the open doorway. Again, they were all women, or I guess female would be a more accurate word.
My mother decapitated her attacker and now stood in between the three new ones and Nelly and I. “Alexa! Get. Her. Out. Of. Here.”
Again, I hesitated. I could help her; I knew I could. But could I do that and protect Nelly at the same time? I had no idea. However, I did know I had very little time to decide.
My mother met my eyes for only the briefest of moments, but a whole conversation seemed to pass between us. Everything she’d ever taught or told me came slamming back into me with a force that almost made me dizzy. This was Nelly we were talking about. My little sister. My little sister’s life on the line. Really, there was no choice at all.
I picked up two heavy bookends from the mantel beside me. I threw them as hard as I could at the bay window behind Nelly. She ducked, even though they weren’t going to hit her, and I rushed over and jerked her to her feet. A couple of strong kicks at the glass cleared the remaining shards so that we could squeeze through.
I shoved Nelly through and glanced back at my mother, who was gallantly managing to keep all three creatures from reaching us. The way she fought was amazing—the most deadly, beautiful thing I’d ever seen. Her blade sliced through the air with the precision of a well-oiled machine. That’s when two more creatures rushed in, coming from seemingly nowhere.
My heart stopped. She was good, but I doubted even she could take on five of them at once. A jumble of options came tumbling through my mind as I stood there, trying to decide what to do.
I could send Nelly ahead of me and help my mother fight, but that would leave Nelly unprotected. And I was unsure if she even knew where to go, and I was sure that if she encountered one of those creatures by herself, her chances of surviving were pretty much zero. I could keep her here with me and help my mother fight, but again, that would put Nelly at risk. Or, I could run. I could take Nelly and run.
I made my decision less than a heartbeat later. I only hoped I was making the right one.
Squeezing out of the window, I found Nelly waiting for me. The sky spat thin bullets of rain and the wind whipped her hair around her face. Her hazel eyes were round and filled with shock, but there was also understanding in them. I had made the decision, and she trusted me, though it must have been heartbreaking for her, too.
So, for the second time in just as many days, I breathed, “Run,
Nell. We have to run.”
Once again, we did.
Chapter Eleven
We raced through the forest, making enough noise to rival a stampede. At least, that’s what it felt like. I cringed at the sound of every crushed leaf and snapped twig. The rain and wind had me blinking my eyes and gritting my teeth. I’d never been so afraid in my entire life.
My fear allowed my body to run, but it seized my mind so that I couldn’t really think any coherent thoughts beyond: run, Run, RUN. Nelly was running right in front of me, and we stumbled into each other a few times, scraping our skin in various places as we smashed through the trees.
I’m not sure how long we had been running. It felt like hours, although it couldn’t have been that long because we hadn’t yet reached our destination, when I heard it.
A low hissing sound and the crunch of leaves as something approached us.
Something approaching fast.
I barely had time to process these thoughts before it tackled me. I hit the ground hard enough to blur my vision. Pain shot through my head. For the second time that night, raw, unadulterated panic threatened to seize control.
The creature that had knocked me down was now on top of me. I could smell her sugary, rotting smell so strongly that bile surged into my throat. I swung my fists as hard and as fast as I could. It was like trying to shake off an enormous insect, that same feeling you get when a wasp lands on your hand. Only this was that feeling amplified by a million. I couldn’t get her off me fast enough.
One of my blows connected hard with the side of her head, and the creature jerked up. I delivered one more strong blow, and she was off me, lifted by the force of it, reminding me of Riley and my mother. My mother. Whom I had just left to die.
I pushed those thoughts aside, trying to focus on the task at hand. Afraid that if I didn’t, I might lose control and give in to the fear and anger that seemed to be stewing in my blood. I’d grieve later. First, I had to get Nelly to safety.
The damned thing leapt to her feet, and I scrambled to get on my feet before she regained her bearings. We stood across from each other, her stance mirroring my own. Part of me wondered what she was waiting for; all of the others had simply charged me. Was she afraid?
Looking into her soulless black eyes, I realized that she was not afraid. If I thought my mother was incapable of feeling fear
, I clearly had never encountered a creature such as this. I got the feeling any emotion at all was beyond this thing’s capability. She was simply calculating her next move.
I clenched my fists to keep them from trembling. I wished I hadn’t dropped my sword. It seemed to lend me strength. But, I knew this: I had to either kill this monster, or she would kill me. And, if I died, Nelly was sure to follow. That could not be allowed to happen.
Easier said than done.
I had stood like this facing my mother many times in our training, but this was nothing like pairing off with her. This was like dancing with the Devil. Every time she moved, I moved. Every time I shifted, she’d shift. Round and round we went.
She grew tired of this first, rushing me when I hadn’t been expecting it and landing a painful blow to my head. The force of it knocked me down and, once again, my vision dimmed. I landed in a patch of mud and roots and sticks. A few screws must have knocked loose, because I made a quick decision and hoped it wasn’t as stupid as it sounded in my head.
I played dead.
Okay, not dead—but I pretended I’d been knocked out. This was a risky choice because I had to rely on my other senses to alert me when she got near me. If she got near me. For all I knew, she might turn on Nelly.
I didn’t get the chance to test my idea, though, because then that terrible shriek sounded in my ears like cutlery on plates. I shot up from my position on the ground. Nelly was standing nearby with her right arm wrapped around her belly and her left thumb thrust into her mouth. Whipping my head to the right, I saw that someone else was fighting with the creature. Someone I had not expected to see.
Jackson.
Jack was keeping his opponent occupied, but not for long. He was losing the battle fast. I rushed from behind, scooped my sword up from the ground, and swung it hard at her neck. She fell silent.
I doubled over, trying to catch my breath, that strong surge of energy possessing me once again. Swiping some of the creature’s black blood from my lips, I said, “Jackson… what… the… hell —?”
Nelly tugged at my arm. “Not now. We have to keep going.”
Jackson tilted his head to the side, like a dog does when it’s listening to something no one else can hear. “She’s right. More are coming.” He glanced around, eyes skipping rapidly over the headless thing at our feet. “Where do we go from here?”
It was difficult to think. I was delirious with adrenaline, sweeping my eyes frantically over the forest, trying to find something familiar. To my immense relief, I spotted one of the markers my mother had pointed out to me yesterday.
My God, how could that have just been yesterday?
“This way,” I said, waving my hand to my left.
We took off in that direction, and all too soon I got the discomfiting feeling that the sharks were catching up. It was the distinct feeling of being hunted, of running for our lives.
Nelly must have felt it too. “How far is the creek?” She panted.
“Not too much farther… I think,” I said. I wasn’t sure, but the creek had been one of the markers my mother had pointed out, so I hoped I was right.
“Good. They can’t cross over running water.”
“What—?” I began, cutting myself short when that unmistakable on-edge feeling kicked up a notch. The hunters were closing in fast.
“Run, as fast as you can. It should be just up ahead,” I shouted.
“It is,” said Jackson. “I can hear the water.”
We tore through the forest with the creatures right on our heels. I wasn’t sure how many were chasing us because I couldn’t risk glancing back, but by the sound of it, there were at least three.
Nelly reached the creek first and promptly hopped over, with Jackson and me following seconds later. I snuck a look behind me just in time to see two of the things slam right into what seemed like an invisible wall. I didn’t have time to ponder this, so I kept running, giving the others directions as needed.
At last, we reached the clearing, and I felt a wave of relief flood through me. Jackson and Nelly started to slow down, but I urged them forward. “No.” I paused, struggling to catch my breath. “I think there is an opening in the hillside. Follow me.”
I hadn’t heard anything following us since we crossed the creek, but I didn’t want to take the chance of standing still. Sure enough, there was a small space among the undergrowth, beckoning us inside the hill. The opening appeared big enough for one person to slide through at a time. It was hard to see, due to the fact that the sun had completely disappeared, but like I said, my night vision had always been pretty good.
Slipping inside, I had to crouch for a few feet, the ceiling gradually growing taller as I moved in farther. I came to what must have been a larger part of the cave, but couldn’t really tell because I’d lost what little light the moon and stars had offered outside. Even I can’t see in complete darkness.
I was just beginning to panic over my loss of sight when a small light popped on behind me. I turned to see Jack holding up his cell phone. Snatching it out of his hand, I held it out in front of me. Just as I’d thought, this part of the cave was much bigger than the opening. In fact, judging by the outside, it shouldn’t even be able to fit in here.
Glancing around, I spotted what looked like battery-operated camping lanterns. I rushed over to them, and using the phone’s light, was able to flip the switch on one of them, then the others. Light illuminated the cavern, revealing a room of hard-packed dirt on all sides.
Fearing that the light could be seen from outside, I found a neatly stacked pile of large logs near the cave’s entrance and began stacking them in front of it. Jackson and Nelly joined in my efforts, and soon, we had the cave’s entrance reasonably sealed off.
Nelly and Jack collapsed to the ground. I considered doing the same, but decided I needed to search our hiding spot first. Those logs and lanterns had been placed there purposely, undoubtedly by my mother, and I was pretty sure she had left other things for us as well.
A brief search led me to two backpacks and a plastic bag containing blankets. I tossed the blankets over to the others and rifled through the backpacks.
They contained a few items I’d expected: nonperishable food, water, two pairs of jeans, two sweatshirts and a case of long, sturdy matches.
They also contained a few things I hadn’t been expecting: a thick bundle of cash, four pints of frozen blood wrapped in cold packets, and a folded piece of paper with my name scrawled across it. Body trembling, I took a seat on the floor by the others, who were now sprawled out on the ground, and unfolded the note.
Dear Alexa,
I was hoping you would never have to read this, but the fact that you are means my greatest fear has come true. I know you must be confused and afraid about what has happened, and I regret that I wasn’t able to share these secrets with you earlier. The fact that you are reading this also means you have survived, however, and I can honestly say I expected no less. I know you will do what you must to protect your sister. I cannot tell you how important this task is, and I can only hope I have prepared you adequately for what is now ahead of you.
There are some things you must know. First, the Lamia cannot travel in the daylight; the sun is deadly to them. Use this to your advantage and try your best to only travel during the day. Second, the Lamia are not the only ones you have to worry about, so be wary of everyone you meet. Everyone has an ulterior motive. Third, trust your instincts. They are powerful and may be the only thing that can save you. Finally, trust Nelly. No matter what information you may gather, know that she loves you and would willingly trade her life for yours. You are family, sisters, and despite what others may say¸ you know this to be true.
Be careful, Alexa. For both yours and Nelly’s sake.
-Mom
P.S. Be strong and believe that you did what you had to.
There was also a phone number scrawled at the bottom of it. I looked it over and decided it wasn’t one I recognized. Gl
ancing up, I saw that both Nelly and Jack were staring at me. Folding the note, I stuffed it into my pocket.
None of us spoke for a long time. I wasn’t sure what to say. I couldn’t even begin to process what had happened tonight, and I realized I must still be in shock. My thoughts kept shifting back to my mother and her words in the letter, trying to make sense of things that made no sense at all. I felt completely numb, like I should be crying or screaming, but my body didn’t understand the commands.
I’d left her. I’d left her to die, and now that I had time to think, I couldn’t help but feel as if there was something else I could’ve done. I felt like a coward. Like I deserved to have one of those creatures bring me my death.
At the same time, I was questioning my sanity. Hoping that maybe this was some sort of dream, and I would wake up tomorrow to find that none of this had actually happened.
“What now?” It was Nelly who snapped me out of my thoughts. Her voice was small and nearly inaudible behind the left thumb she had stuffed in her mouth. “What do we do now?”
She was shivering, her face was streaked with tears. For the first time in my life, I felt ashamed for not crying. I had always seen it as a sign of weakness and refused to let others see me in that rare state.
But now, everything was different. We’d just been dropped into some sort of nightmare, and we had more than likely just lost the only parent we’d ever known. I should be ashamed. I should be crying.
Scooting over to Nelly, I drew her into my arms and let her sob into my shoulder as I stroked her hair. If not for myself, at least I could be strong for her. “Shh, it’s okay. Everything is going to be okay,” I whispered. “We just have to wait. We just have to wait until the sun rises.”
Dangerous Lovers Page 4
