by Richard Amos
Those black eyes blinked and rolled. Yuck. “Yes, there you are. First things first, I need to cut the head from your neck.”
“Oh, what mighty claws you have.” They bloody were, but I couldn’t resist having a go at mocking the ugly bastard.
“Yes, they are.” It clicked them open and shut.
“Did you not get that I wasn’t impressed?”
“Yeah, you dumb git,” Greg added. “Just like your sister.”
It surged forward, going for the kill. We dove out of the way in time. I landed on my face, getting a mouthful of wet sand. Without another thought, I rolled out of the way as a claw slammed into the spot I’d just occupied. That would’ve kebabed me for sure!
“The rewards will be great for your death!” it cried.
What bloody rewards were being offered for snuffing me out?
I was on my feet again. Damn, the thing was quick on those legs. The sand didn’t make for fun fleeing. I slipped, going into an awkward tumble.
Shit! It was on me! Right behind me. I spun as the claw came up, wide open, my neck ready to be snipped like the pruning of a rose bush.
Greg slammed his hammer into its body with the might of a giant. It roared and wobbled, faltering in its kill move. Seizing the moment, I grabbed the claw and the sparks singed the shell. The red was stained black, smoking in an instant. It backed off as Greg swung again. The beast snapped at the air with its other claw, desperate to get Greg. He was quick, getting in more blows. Its injured claw dragged on the ground, its eyes on me as it struggled to reach its other attacker.
“No,” it said, almost a whimper. “Death to you.”
I had an opening, but when to take it was the debate in my head. That other claw was fit and healthy. It could easily swing round and grab me. The thing knew I would try for its head, its eyes focused completely on me despite the pain it must be in.
Greg was hammering away, parrying with the claw. It was awesome to watch, or would have been if it weren’t for having to pay attention to not being killed.
My guardian in action.
Greg met my eyes then. He must have noticed what I was thinking because he swung the hammer at the healthy claw, sending shards of it into the air with an almighty crack.
This was it, my chance to pounce.
Kill …
Those eyes were still locked on me, but its claw had taken a nasty blow, followed by another one.
Blimey.
I shot forward, charging straight for the head, getting a nose full of its acrid stench. I couldn’t slip or falter. I just had to grab its head and it would be done.
Feed …
The claws were out of my mind, all I saw was the prize.
Kill …
My hands met its head, and it was over seconds later. I had killed another beast, and my body sang with the pleasure of it.
“Nice work,” Greg said.
“Sweet moves with that hammer,” I replied.
“Oh, my God!” someone screamed.
Chapter 19
A woman, some feet away, had collapsed to her knees. She’d been the screamer. Now her hands were over her mouth, her screams muffled.
Oh, bollocks.
My sparks had died, but she’d seen everything.
“What do we do?”
“I’ve hit SOS,” Greg said. “We need Dean.”
Against my better judgment, I approached her. The hands dropped, and an ear-busting scream tore from her throat.
I froze.
“Don’t come any closer!”
I lifted my arms, looking like I was showing her I wasn’t armed and dangerous. It didn’t work. She fell on her arse and squirmed in the sand, trying to back away.
She was drawing attention. People started coming down the beach.
“Hey!” one bloke cried, breaking into a jog. “What’s going on?”
“Call the police!” she shrieked.
“There’s no need.”
The man got to her, helping her up. He was built, a gym bunny, the fake tan clearly slapped on without a care in the world. Why the hell was he wearing a muscle T-shirt in this weather? Poser.
“What’d they do to you, hon?”
She was struggling for breath. “N-nothing … t-they … oh, my God … it was horrible.”
The man glared at me. “Maybe you should answer the question.”
Like I had an answer to give him. Oh, she just saw us fighting something called a beast, a race that’s plagued this city for the past three years. You’re lucky I killed it before it ripped those pecs out of your body. “She—”
“She what?”
“Back off,” Greg said, stepping in front of me. “This ain’t your business.”
The man let go of the woman, squaring up to Greg. “Something’s gone down here. Two men and a woman on beach. Makes me put two and two together.”
“You better watch your fucking mouth,” Greg said.
“They didn’t …” the woman tried. “I saw …”
“Saw what?”
Blue lights came down the Rainbow Mile. Crap! So, someone had called the old bill. This would be interesting if Dean didn’t get here quick.
“Get out of my face,” Greg said.
The man’s chest was all puffed out. “Make me, you prick.”
I hated men like him, wannabe vigilantes, trying to demonstrate their masculinity to an audience. He was showing off. I’d met men like him in bars when I’d been out partying with other models. God, stick a gorgeous woman in the mix and the men would strut around like peacocks, vying for the attention of the females. Some had even started on me before, trying to fight me for my ‘girlfriend’ if I happened to be out partying with a gorgeous woman. It was always fun putting them right and watching them deflate.
“I know you,” the man said. “Yeah, you’re the car man.” Still didn’t stop him getting out of Greg’s personal space.
“What of it?”
Oh, shit. Here it was, the moment of the throw down. I was ready for it, cracking my knuckles.
“Please …” the woman said, grabbing at the man. “They didn’t hurt me. But I did … I’m so scared.” She started to sob. The police sounded the car’s siren a little bit to let everyone know they were on the scene.
There was a proper gathering forming now. Small, but rife with concerned faces and whispering. With the scream that’d come from the woman, it was no surprise. She’d give banshees a run for their money in the volume stakes.
The woman glanced over her shoulder. “Police …”
At that moment, there was a flash of red and a burst of warm air blasted my face.
The man groaned and grabbed his head, staggering back. The woman did the same, yawning a little. In fact, the crowd that had formed echoed them.
“What am I doing on the beach?” the man asked, a confused expression replacing the formerly aggressive one.
“Dunno, mate,” Greg said.
I saw Dean and Naomi heading quickly toward us.
“It’s freezing,” the woman said. “I wish it was summer.” She huffed, though baffled, and turned on her heel, skulking off.
The small crowd dissipated. I heard a few people wonder why they were on the beach in this weather. That was good. It was better than the alternative.
The police car drove off.
“You two caused a stir,” Naomi said. “Had the Rainbow Mile talking.”
“Thanks, guys,” Greg said. “That was getting out of hand.”
“Did you feel it?” Nay said.
“What?” I asked.
“The distress. No, you wouldn’t. We both felt you were in need, like some weird thread we’re connected by was giving us its own SOS. It must be from the binding. How cool is that?”
“Yeah … cool.”
“Still gotta use the other SOS, though. Can’t be too careful.”
“What happened?” Dean asked, looking at me.
“Beast came out of the ground and we were seen fig
hting it,” I said. “That’s the crux of it.”
“What was it?” Naomi asked.
“Another one of those slug crabs,” Greg answered.
Her eyes went wide. “Really?”
“The brother of our prisoner,” Greg said.
“Was,” I said.
“I love having this guy around.” He slapped me on the back.
“Well done,” Dean said, his tone deep yet soft. “Another kill in the bag.”
“Thanks.” His eyes were too intense to linger on. I looked away. “And thanks for helping us out.” I looked at Naomi.
“We make a good duo,” Naomi said. “My magic carried his like blossom on the wind.”
“Is that what you’d call it?” Greg asked. He chuckled.
“I wouldn’t liken my magic to blossom,” Dean said.
“I was just being colorful.”
“I thought it was nice,” I said.
“You don’t need to creep up to her just because she’s a witch,” Greg said.
Dean laughed at that. It was as husky as his voice was.
“Dick heads. I’m glad to see all is well.”
“What were you doing on the beach anyway?” Dean asked.
I looked at Greg. He smiled gently. “Go on, Jakey. It’ll be best coming from you.”
So I did. Dean’s expression was unreadable when I was done.
“Interesting,” Naomi said. “I think we should check the houses out tonight, give ourselves some dark cover.”
“I agree,” Dean said. “All in black, make us harder to spot. It’ll rain tonight, so the moon shouldn’t light us up.”
As if through the power of suggestion, it started to spit with rain.
“Until my hands light up,” I added. “There could be more of those crab things, or others that want to have a go with me.”
“Of course,” Dean said. “Then the game changes.”
“We have ourselves another little case,” Greg said.
I looked over at the houses and shuddered.
Kill …
My phone pinged.
“The mansion,” Dean said. “The wards are being disturbed.”
Chapter 20
One thing I did know about my power was that my sparks didn’t interact with anything in my environment other than beastly things. It was a relief. If they had, sitting in the back of a car would be a horrendous experience.
I thanked the goddess in her wisdom to grant me such small mercies.
Another hyena beast was waiting outside the wards as we pulled up to the mansion. My sparks were blazing.
“Shit!”
We made short work of it.
Before we could get back in the car to drive through the gates, a black van roared up the road, screeching to a halt. The tires were smoking from the heavy stoppage.
“Now what?” Naomi said, sighing.
The windows of the van were tinted. The engine idled, whoever was inside was taking in the scene. My sparks flickered from faint to blazing, as if confused.
“Get out of the van!” Greg called.
I put two and two together. If a Gentry or a Regal beast could hide from my power, then they could also … play with it. Was that causing the flickers? Was I being mocked? Whatever was in the van, it was no lesser like the creature I’d just sent to Beast Hell.
The driver door opened, and the sound of whimpering came from within.
“What the hell?”
My three companions stepped in front of me, building a protective wall. The rain still fell in its pathetic spitting.
A man fell out of the vehicle onto his knees with a sickening thud. He cried out as he hit the asphalt. He was bleeding from his head, his shirt torn and hanging off a bruised body.
“Please …” he said sobbing, eyes to the ground. “Please … help me.”
A boot swung from behind the shield of the open door, cracking the guy in the back of the head. He fell forward, right onto his face. He screamed into the road. I saw the blood spurt from his nose and mouth. Shit, he’d probably smashed some teeth with the way he went down.
“Come show your fucking face!” I spat.
The van door slammed. Tires screeched and the vehicle tore off in a violent reverse, barely missing the man who still sobbed, as well as Greg’s car. It vanished from sight around the bend.
The white sparks blazed.
“Please …” the man whimpered.
“What happened?” Naomi asked, crouching down beside him.
“You … have to … help me …”
Something wasn’t right. Why was my power still active? I turned and saw nothing around but my companions and this man.
“We’ll help,” Naomi said. “We just have to get you inside.”
Greg was helping her get him to his feet. “Come on, mate. Up you get.”
“Please …”
“You’re okay now.”
I kept checking about me because something was close—it had to be.
“Jake?” Dean said. “What is it?”
I caught Naomi’s eye. She looked to my hands, then to me, then to the man she was helping. She let go.
“Nay?” Greg asked.
“Back away,” Naomi said.
Greg caught on then, noticing my still sparking hands.
A beast would’ve attacked by now. “Both of you step away right now.”
The man’s sobbing became hysterical. “P-please!”
I started to back up. “Something’s not right about him.”
As one, we all moved back, putting as much distance between him and us as we could.
“No!” He clawed at the ground, trying to get to his feet. He was so broken, so bloody terrified. “Please! I just want to go home! I didn’t even like her!”
“Who?” Greg called.
“The woman with the purple hair.”
My muscles tensed. “Was that who was in the van?”
He sniffed deep. “Yes. Please help me.”
“What did she do to you?”
“She … she …” He collapsed forward and began to convulse.
“Keep moving,” Greg said. “Faster, get away from this.”
My sparks were going crazy.
“P-p-please … PLEASE!” The man let out one final plea, his back bending back with a crack like the sound of gunfire. He stayed in his contorted position for some seconds before his body exploded. Blood and bone and insides sprayed out in a star of red and pink, splattering the wards and the road. Something came scuttling toward us.
Greg leapt in front of me. “Damn tricky bitch!”
There was more than one of the scuttlers—beetles the size of dinner plates with weird pink flowers growing out of their backs.
Dean was on one first, grabbing it by the flower. The plant reacted, spraying him right in the face with green mist.
“Fuck!” He dropped it, frantically wiping at his eyes. “Fuck!”
“Dean!” Naomi threw a vial at him. It popped and doused him in a continuous spray of water. He collapsed against the rock wall.
Greg roared and charged forward. Naomi threw another vial, fire blazing across the road.
A beetle was making a beeline right for me. It avoided Greg and the magic fire, flowers twitching, a hungry clicking noise coming from the obsidian beast.
I crouched a little, swallowing. This was such bollocks. I hated bugs of any kind, especially mutant ones with super daisies.
Feed …
It gathered speed, charging right for me. Within seconds it would have my foot or fill my face with green crap. The cold watery feeling came, a surge of energy completely out of my control. My bones trembled in anticipation. The flower was gonna spray. I could tell by the way it twitched.
It came up in a powerful burst, sheltering me in its dark bubble as the green spray puffed out of the pink petals. It struck my shield weakly. The beetle crashed into it, spinning away as if a giant finger had flicked it across a table.
If only I
had a giant boot infused with my killing touch rather than it all being in my hands.
The shield dropped, and I gasped at the suddenness, at the release of my body. For a life-saving trick, it wasn’t the most pleasant of experiences.
I shook my head, giving it a clear. Another beetle was on the charge. I had to be quick. Over it came, tearing up the distance between us on its creepy legs. There was no other choice—I had to drop and grab without getting perfumed. What the hell were these things?
The countdown started from three.
One. Two. Drop!
I went into a dive, hands outstretched. My fingers passed through the green, my skin erupting in a blazing sting. But my hands landed on the beast’s tiny head all the same.
I was quick about it.
Clutching my hand, I ran to my friends. Bloody hell, it hurt like a bastard. If it weren’t for all the white light and angry sparkies, I was pretty sure my hand would be a nice shade of tomato.
Another came at me. I worked through the increasing agony and got my healthy hand on it, which also got green-misted.
Bollocks.
One more kill came. After that, I was on my arse, putting myself in a stupidly vulnerable position.
I looked up to see Greg and Naomi had their weapons buried in two of the beasts, keeping them pinned. Another two were some distance away, clicking and hesitant.
I just needed a minute, hoping that the same healing thing would happen like it did when my nose had been smashed at the hospital.
“Come on, come on …” Any moment now those other two beetles would strike, slipping past my friends. I didn’t know if I could deal with them as efficiently as I could if my hands weren’t on fire from that crap that’d been sprayed at me. The gross little fuckers!
It came in a wave of vibrating bliss. I watched the green flood the white sparks, my body lighting up like a traffic light. The sensation was amazing, and my hands stopped screaming. Once the light was gone and my sparks back to normal, I got to my feet. I loved that healing stuff. Fingers crossed it would do its thing the next time I caught a cold.
I was ready.
“Jake! Get in the mansion!” Greg called.
Yeah, right.
I ran around Greg and Naomi, full of new energy and ready to kill. This time I did it with only one hand getting a dose of the bad stuff. Despite the small size of these things, their places of fog and essence were the same size as the bigger beasts.