“Oooooooh sh—” Beth began, but I pushed her against the brick wall, right beside a dumpster.
“It’s okay. Jared and Chad will be here any minute,” I said. I turned, holding up my hands in a defensive pose.
The two shells approached me, the woman with a frightening smile, and knife in her hands.
“Chad!” Beth yelled. “We’re in the alley!”
“Help!” I called. I could still hear yelling from the sidewalk fight. It would be difficult for anyone to hear; not that any of them would come to our aid. I deduced that Jared was dealing with Shells of his own, or he would already have reached us. The Shells came closer, and I braced myself.
“Crap,” I said.
The woman lunged at me, and I dodged. I kicked, buckling her knee. Her head hit the brick cement wall just a few feet from Beth’s feet. Beth covered her mouth and let out a yelp. The bartender regained her feet, blood dripping from her hairline, and took a step toward Beth. I picked up a branch beside the dumpster and swung with both hands. The woman fell to the ground. The knife clanged against the asphalt.
Beth leaned over, picked up the knife, and held it in front of her, shaking. “Don’t go near her!” she said. “She’s pregnant!”
The man smiled, and spoke something inaudible once again. He ran at me, and I jumped over him, letting him careen at full speed into the brick wall. He stumbled back, and I attacked. My hands balled into fists, and I punched his face over and over, and then grabbed his leather jacket with both hands and threw him to the ground. He grabbed my ankle and yanked, knocking me off my feet, but within seconds, I was standing, my hands out and ready.
My senses were heightened again, signaling that more additional danger was coming, but it was too late. Someone burst out of the shadows and hooked an arm around my neck.
“Leave her alone!” Beth said, running at us with the knife.
I held out my hand, palm out. “Stay against the wall, Beth!”
She stopped mid-step, confused, and then I jerked my head back, hitting my assailant in the nose with my skull. I turned to see another man, this one skinnier and lanky, on the ground. Blood was spattered on his cheeks and forehead.
The larger man came at me with the branch. I used my forearm to hit it out of his hand, and then shoved the heel of my hand into his throat. In Claire-like fashion, I spun around, kicking him in the head. He fell to his knees. I reared back my hand and punched him with my fist in the jaw, knocking him out cold.
The skinny man kicked my back, and I fell to the ground, but caught myself before I fell flat.
“No! Nina!” Beth screamed.
I turned around, and threw every one of my limbs at him, kicking and punching. We were half way down the alley before he finally swung and punched me in the face. Half-surprised that he had landed a punch, half-amazed that it didn’t hurt, I paused. Taking advantage, the skinny man lunged at my middle. My motherly instincts kicked in, and rage welled up inside of me. I moved to the side, and his fist landed against the brick.
Seeing that he’d left his side open attack, I reacted, shoving my elbow into his throat, and then with one hand, I picked him up, and with all of my strength, I cried out, simultaneously throwing him against the opposite wall.
He rolled to the ground, and didn’t get up again.
Beth ran to my side and threw her arms around me. I could hear her heart thumping against her chest, and she could barely catch her breath.
Jared and Chad rounded the corner, both disheveled. Jared’s terrified expression melted into relief, and his shoulders fell.
Chad’s eyes were wide, his breath labored. “Beth!” he cried, jumping over the bodies in his way.
Beth released me and ran into Chad’s arms, immediately breaking into loud sobs. It was then that Chad noticed the limp bodies on the ground, and his eyes met mine. “What the hell happened?”
Beth held up her hand, palm out. “Don’t say it,” she said, sniffing. She wiped her nose and took a step toward me. “I love you, but please don’t tell me how you did all of that. I honestly don’t want to know.”
“Well, I do,” Chad said.
“It’s better that you don’t,” Jared said, shouldering past Chad. He reached for me, and I fell into him. “Every last one of them shelled. It took forever to get out the door.”
“It’s a shame, but we’re not going to that pub again,” Chad said, shaking his head. “It’s been taken over by misfits and criminals.”
“Where’s Claire and Ryan?” I asked.
Chad rolled his eyes. “Cleaning up. I think they’re enjoying themselves.”
We walked around the corner to find Claire standing alone, her arms crossed. Ryan grabbed a man twice his size and head-butted him.
“The PD will be here any minute,” Jared said.
“I know,” Claire said. “But I find him strangely attractive right now.”
Jared rolled his eyes and led me to the street, and Beth and Chad followed. When we reached the parking lot, Chad took a deep breath. His hands were trembling, as were Beth’s. I felt so sorry for them. They didn’t deserve to be dragged into our mess.
“Beth,” I said. I licked the blood from my bottom lip. “We’re going away.”
Her eyes shot up. “Again? But, you just got back.”
“I need you to cover for me at Titan. Work under Grant. We’ll be gone for the summer.”
Beth left Chad and wrapped her arms around my neck, squeezing me tight. “I just need to know one thing: Are you going to be okay?”
I smiled. “Yes.”
She nodded, taking a deep, cleansing breath, and straightened her shoulders. “I’ll take care of it.”
“I know you will.”
Chapter Sixteen
Direct Flight to Hell
My hands shook. The seat belt clanged as I tried to buckle it for the forth time. Claire was two feet away, stuffing her carry on in the overhead bin. Jared was outside, directing baggage and making doubly sure the preflight check had been carried out at least three times. Bex’s deep voice hummed from the back as he joked with Ryan. His nervous energy was evident in his tone, and even though he was trying to play it off, it was there.
The sun had set, and because of an earlier light summer rain, the tarmac glistened. Jared was pointing in every direction, answering questions, his expression severe. I was glad that he was able to burn off some of his anxiety by choreographing our departure.
“Oh, for Pete’s sake, Nina. Here,” Claire said, snapping my seat belt closed.
I sighed, and nodded in thanks, and she left me for Bex and Ryan. I rested my head against the seat and took a deep breath. My nerves seemed to take a back seat when I watched Jared work outside, so I tried to keep my concentration on the window.
A dark figure approached Jared. Kim. She was unhappy, and when I realized she would ride with us for the duration of the trip to Jerusalem, my anxiety level doubled. We had all abandoned her. She was left to fight alone, even after she was promised for some relief. She had helped us, and we turned a blind eye while she lost sleep and her uncle. I was afraid of what she would have to say to me. And she had plenty of time to either let me squirm, or call me out.
She held out her hand. With the abilities Bean had given me, I could hear her dry voice.
“The book.”
Jared put the Naissance de Demoniac in her grasp. “I know you don’t believe me, but I am sorry.”
“I believe you.” Her voice was tired. Any sign of the Kim we once knew was as nonexistent as our former life. She took the book and held it to her chest, and then pulled a cell phone from her pocket. As she walked to the steps of the plane, I heard her sigh.
