Page 14 (1/2)

Chapter Fourteen

Heart pounding, I ran back down the corridor I hit thethat reverberated from my arm to my toes Breath held, I slid to a stop as the unknown elf turned

Trent still stood beside the row of sinks, hunched under a claustrophobically s close to panic was in his eyes, quickly turning to his familiar cool dispassion, but I’d seen it, and I kneas glad to seeelf’s green aura trying to break through Trent’s circle flickered and went out

I put a hand on estured with the other at the man in his trendy windbreaker and utterly blank expression Trying to kill Trent on my watch? I don’t think so "If I can’t kill him, then neither can you," I said, and the assassin’s lips twitched

I as’s lines even before he threw a ball offorward, I flashed a circle into existence for the bare second I needed to deflect the green-hazed ever-after into the corner It hit the tiled wall and spread out, a gelatinous ooze s fro it must be a charm to break someone in half "You want to leave before I hurt you?"

Hunched, the elf backed up, trying to keep enough distance between us so that he could throw so forward, trying to get under the guns, so to speak Grasping him by the front of his windbreaker, I shoved hi aside his attempt to flood me with ever-after

"I said, you need to leave," I said, uniic brush across htened, the ht of black snakes unwinding froesture, lips asped as his hand contorted and I heard knuckles pop, and hazy black enveloped his fist

Alaric could flood into me

"Demon whore!" he shouted, clearly in pain as he threhatever it was atthe stall door and falling backward into the toilet even as htthey put in there Sprawled across the seat with reen aura only a handsbreadth fro for a way in It ild htto be sunshine and lollipops if it broketo his feet, shaking the pain frolealanced at the charladio," I started, and the nized the "bounce back" char himself at the door in his effort to flee

"Gladioelf skidded to a halt between Trent andas all his muscles seized Mouth open in a silent screaling wetly, he collapsed, his back scraping on the sticky floor

Horrified, I brokeat theunder the charm meant for me His lips moved as foam bubbled at the corners while he tried to speak the counterchar "Maybe you should have tried to killthat didn’t hurt so much" A soft pop sounded, and Trent’s face turned ashen I think the guy had just dislocated so, the , not thefor breath

"Maybe you should leave now," I suggested, and he rolled to his hands and knees Reaching for the sink, he pulled himself up Grime frolistened on his neck Panting, he looked to the door as it creaked open, becohtened

I looked as well, and a heavy spike of fear slid through s Ku’Sox "Daed over to stand by him "I told you I have this I do not need any help!"

Ku’Sox stood before the closed door in a blue-gray, trendy suit, his pale eyes glearaded, it seemed-eaten an executive on Hollywood Boulevard, maybe With one hand, he opened the door Music drifted in, along with muffled conversation and kitchen clatter The assassin didn’t need to be asked twice Soft shoes squeaking, he fled

"You’ll never make it in time," he said to Trent as he slipped past Ku’Sox

"Oh yeah?" I shouted as the door started to close "You don’t know nothing!"

Silence fell as the door clicked shut Crap

"As co?" Ku’Sox said, sly stork, in his beak a pixy fighting for life even as the demented demon tossed his head to shift hied Trent’s bubble to get hirih Stupid man

"Hey, hi, Ku’Sox," I said, s, okay? Al had you beat before I got there"

Instead of the expected threats, the deht it was you Al had slipped into," he said, blue eyes slitted "If it had been Newt, I ht have been hurt You are full of unexpected talentsRachel I can call you Rachel, can I not?"

He ca Trent’s bubble and slipping backhen Trent took it down There was a new caution in Ku’Sox, and that gave me hope, even as my palms started to sweat Dauessed," Ku’Sox said, sniffing as he took in his irew a shade narrower and his tan deepened "Even Al knows better than to let Newt hold his energy field Shemine, he frowned "This alliance with Al doesn’t bode well for your future I will take drastic measures if you persist in it It’s all in the early training I should know, having beentrained Get us young enough, and we can do anything Wait too long, and we never break our bad habits"

I took another step backward, teeth clenched I was going the wrong way, but this guy scared the peas out oftrained, and Trent’s not in any danger," I said, proud of the way o now He’s safe"

I had held Al’s energy field? I thought even as I looked for a way out of this I’d assumed it had been the other way around, buthis reflection as his suit broadened and he became wider across the shoulders The scent of carrion see is an excellent idea We shall start your rehabilitation right away"

"No, wait!" I said, my hands raised to fend him off, but it was too late and he wrapped an arm around my waist and tucked me under his arm "Watch it!" I cried out when my head almost hit a urinal as he spun I was still connected to a line, and I s in what could have been pain but what I was betting was pleasure Maybe it was both "More than adequate to get started," he said as he headed for the door Trent stood at the sink, helpless as Ku’Sox picked et it now It only looked like I was safe around deed to stop us for a half second "Still think you can find a way to control this? Then tell hiers burned as Ku’Sox yanked ot loud as we left theat hiet it back in spades

"I won’t let you ju it hard to breathe

He slowed as we entered the restaurant, seeh spirits "To the ever-after? Why would I want to go there e have the sun here?" he said, adjusting ht to make my breath huff out "Thereto pick you apart, find out howto be to raise properly, or if I’d be better off destroying you all in the woood "I’ rabbed a knife off a passing tray and hit his kidney hard enough, he

"I’ve tasted you," Ku’Sox said softly "You’re like me, only natural born With a mother and a father"

Even over the noise, I could detect his jealousy And as no one saying anything? Maybewomen out of the back was norrip

"Youfor the door "You ht not be I want to know before o, you freak!" I shouted, feet kicking as we started to pass tables, but everyone thought it was part of the show and only clapped Where is Trent? Washing his hands?

"I’asped in pain

Extendingwildly for Ivy Jenks Hell, even Vivian would be a help Orienting aze to our table "Pierce!" I shouted, and thethe two vamps in the corner Beside him, Vivian’s eyes widened "A little help here,it for them?

Pierce stood, his face ashen "Rachel!" he called, cutting through thea beat, the band shifted to "Love Lifts Us Up Where We Belong" and the crowd exploded into cheers I could understand their confusion Ku’Sox looked like an especially attractive billionaire, rescuing his woht over et a face full of pixy dust "Jenks, get Ivy!" I shouted between coughs, the ilimpsed Trent at the top of the kitchen corridor Focus blurry, I felt more than saw Ivy at the front of the restaurant in a puddle of light by the register, hands on her hips and looking svelte and refreshed

Finally I could see again, and I let out a little shriek, ducking when a black ball of ever-after arched toward us Pierce He’d thrown soht in the head, little pinpricks of his aura hitting me like sleet Ku’Sox stuan to fall The curse flashed through Ku’Sox, jerking hiswhen the son of a bitch shoved Pierce’s curse into me instead

I howled as the arc of electricity julione and I was panting, trying to breathe as I hung li?" Vivian shouted frooing to do anything against that?" Pierce yelled back, and the band started to falter-except for the drummer, lost in the throes of his passion

"Please don’t do that again," I slurred, head hanging Conversation huht a few uneasy whispers We passed another table, and I started to rally It was up to Ivy Magic wouldn’t do it-it had to be physical

"Thank you, God," I said as I heard her screa and hip bruised I looked up to see Ivy and Ku’Sox in a tangle on a table Shouts of protest rose high as glasses and plates hit the floor My phone was huo that was hitting et out of the way People were starting to scatter We had to do this fast, or the freak would start eating people

"Jenks!" I shouted, ducking under the table when a chair Ivy had thrown shattered nearthat ht be constrained to follow

Jenks hesitated inbetween Ivy and et the car!" I yelled, a little ding froit here!" The demon would follow him or not Either e’d have a quick way out of here when the shit quit hitting the fan

Leaving a burst of frustrated dust, Jenks darted froled face twisted up in indecision, but before he could say anything, Ivy yelled in pain We both looked to see her slide across the floor on her back until sla, she shook her head, trying to focus The drummer finally stopped, and in the sudden hush, she slurred, "I’m okay Get the freak of a demon"

That did it, and even as Ku’Sox draed to the doors in a panic In seconds, the eet out of the jaed to the rear Ku’Sox see his ar it all in as the fear rose and the noise grew louder

I jumped when Jenks landed on rabbed his ar him to the kitchen There had to be a back door Vivian and Pierce could take care of thenored it

"Nice going, Trent," I said as I yanked us to a halt to avoid a panicked waitress, her eyes black in fear "I had this under control until you called in Ku’Sox"

"Yeah, you stupid cookieto help, okay?"

"I didn’t call hinantly, and I would have laughed but it sounded too faic?" he said, and I stopped in the hallway, just outside the kitchen doors People were screa this way

"What, and end up dead?" I said, not having a probleer thanar the frantic people as ifthe herd "I can’t beat that! You freed a serial killer!"

Trent flinched, but I think it was from the explosion behind me more than from what I’d said I spun to the wave of heat ataura, I’d guess that Ku’Sox had deflected one of Pierce’s curses A table was burning with a green fla the ceiling A drop of it fell to the floor, and I felt ly screa In three seconds, thea second panic as people traet away

Okay Safety note Don’t step in the green fire

"Pierce!" I shouted The choking air s people!"

His long coat furling, he spun to me My face went cold There was no reht "He needs to die in flarily "Dethened my hold on the ley line when Ku’Sox started for Ivy, but the shrill sound of thepulled Ku’Sox’s attention like a siren’s song He shifted his focus and started for the screa people aside if they didn’tin the sound of the alarled his last The demon’s eyes widened in anticipation, and he flushed before plunging his hands into the slu forleeful enthusias hazed with a soft glow Holding it over his head, Ku’Sox squeezed his hands and a black, viscous substance oozed froers to fall into his ?

"Holy crap," I whispered, scared to death I looked across the restaurant to Pierce, seeing that he was as horrified as I was Beside hi to stop a soul-eating demon I hadn’t even known you could pull someone’s soul out like that

Both Vivian and I juh the sound of alar door alarm broke the sudden silence as everyone turned to the front where a huge bear of adust There was a rifle as big as he was in his thick hands "All right!" he said, and I nudged Trent to get the hell out of here "The cops are co You just clear out, and we’ll have no ht, but he clearly didn’t know this wasn’t your average brawl, supernatural or not "Get the car!" I all but hissed at Trent, and finally the ing alar Ivy stood slowly, able to focus again apparently She had a hand to the back of her head, and I hoped she was okay I didn’t dare otten me, and I was too chicken to remind him; maybe we could all just slink out of here real quiet like

"Stay with Trent, Jenks," I said, unable to look away from Ku’Sox, and the pixy dropped to hover in front of me

"Don’t make me leave," he said, his fear obvious

"What is thatacross the restaurant at the rifle, and when he ain At least the alarone quiet, and it was only people screaaze flicked to Jenks, and I felt a stab of shared fear "I don’t trust Trent We need the car Do this for me" My palot my back, Jenks," I said as he hesitated in frustration "Make sure Trent brings the car I’ on you"

"Da both pissed and scared as he darted through the swinging kitchen doors to follow Trent A silver sparkle dripped from his path, and I prayed Trent wouldn’t cross us Jenks would kill hi, I turned back to the restaurant Maybe I could salvage soer said as he cocked the rifle again

Maybe not

My shoulders slued a look with Ivy across the tables, knoas going to happen next We could do nothing but watch as Ku’Sox strode forward, his hand outstretched The Were shook his head in warning, grier I jerked as the bullet exploded the wall behind the de as the splinters of wood and plaster went everywhere

The un frory at all, but curious "Please make it fast, God," I whispered I couldn’t stop this I couldn’t stop it!

"It works like this?" Ku’Sox said, turning the gun around and blowing a hole in the man’s chest

I couldn’t tell if the noise or the color caister in a speckled red wash of thunderous noise People screamed, and the Were looked down at the hole in his chest in shock Red bubbles frothed from his lips as he tried to speak Then he dropped to his knees and fell forward into a puddle of his own broken insides

It was ugly, and I leaned against the wall as the rising fear hit unpowder and hot reed to help Trent, that I’d never, ever gone to the library two years ago looking for a way to do whatever it was I’d been hoping to do

I didn’t even remember any h, and I opened the fingers wreathed in blackness as his whispered Latin buzzed throughcurse I turned to the exits, seeing that everyone had gotten out but the few collapsed in fear "Vivian!" I shouted, seeing her not panicking, but not knohat to do, either "Get theone I don’t want him to see what I do next

"What a waste," Ku’Sox said as he looked at the rifle in his hands, then tossed it from him to clatter across a table "It killed you far too quickly" Scanning the nearby tables, he found a wo her five h," he said, and the woman shrieked as he plucked her from under the table "I’ll eat you instead," he said, and the wo hands as he pulled her closer, his jaw opening to fix on her throat

It was like a demented kiss, and the wo shriek of pain and fear-of shock at as happening And then he pulled her froap of flesh in the woh her head flopped at an i fros still working though her voice box was now inside Ku’Sox

I wanted to turn away, but I couldn’t I wanted to run, to leave it for someone else to deal with, but I couldn’t It was me or no one

"Oh my God," Vivian said, and I ju my arm I sed my bile down before I eic," I whispered