Page 14 (2/2)

A thin gleeful cackle ee depths I peeked out fro but darkness Where was the tech shift when you needed one?

Across from me at the next row of supports Jiers to his thuotiate He wanted e a lunatic who had already turned four people into s meat Okay I could do that

"Alright, Jereht "Give me the salamander and I won't cut your head off!"

Jiht he was laughing, but I couldn't be sure Unlike hiht vision

Jeremy's cackle reached a hysterical crescendo "Stupid bitch!"

Jim peeled hi Jereht, but even his sight failed in absolute darkness He had to hunt by sound, whichWhile Jim stalked Jeremy's melodious voice, Jeremy, in turn, stalked me

Nothing to worry about, just a homicidal pyrolass and intent on setting what's left of Atlanta on fire Thewas to keep the sala broke, my name would be more famous than Mrs O'Leary's cow

"Daood names to call me and the best you could come up with is bitch? Give me the salamander before you hurt yourself"

"Suck my dickwhore!"

A tiny spark flared into existence to the left ofboth the scaly outline of the salalass sphere hite-knuckled need The enchanted glass parted and belched the spark The air hit the tiny packet of energy and the spark exploded into a fireball

I ducked behind the support just as the fire sainst concrete Flames shot past on both sides ofmy nostrils

"That last fireball missed me by a mile You shoot blanks with your other salamander, too, Jeremy?"

"Eat shit and die!"

Jim had to be close to hi shit for brains! Can't you do anything right?"

I saw fla Above ed aniers The air in s turned to heat, and my eyes watered I pressed et any hotter, and then suddenly it was over

Screw this I jued in Jeremy's direction The salaht a flash of Jerelass It wilted as Jim's dark hands closed around Jeredoll liers

I dived for it, caught it three inches above the cement, and found arded , spiderweb-thin filaue slithered frolass in the reflection of my nose Hi, I love you, too

Gingerly I got to ed on er to please as an overly enthusiastic kitten arching her back for a stroke Visions of flaI sla her out of my mind Let's not

Jiround like a wet blanket The whites of his eyes stared at the ceiling froht by death in a moment of utter surprise No pulse check needed for this one Shit There goes the capture bonus

"You said it was a live-preferred bounty," IJereet paid, but we had just waved a third of the ood-bye

"It is" Ji Jeremy's back A thin metal shaft, tipped with three black feathers protruded from between Jereest its significance, I hit the deck, cradling the salaot there before me