I can run.
She clutched the leg tightly. Jake rose from examination of the old man's body, his face pale.
'Well, if she used a knife to create this mess, there's certainly no immediate evidence of it.' He ran a hand through his hair. 'The police are going to love this.'
'We have to stop her, Jake, not the cops.' She motioned towards the two bodies. 'They won't understand what they're dealing with.'
'Nikki, we're not even sure what we're dealing with.'
She shrugged. If the sight of these bodies didn't convince him, nothing would.
'We still have to find something holding Monica's vibes.'
'We'd better be out of this house before the cops and Trevgard get here,' Jake muttered sourly. 'Or there will be hell to pay.'
'Especially when he discovers his precious little daughter has become a vicious killer.'
'There's no direct evidence that it's Monica, Nik. Remember that.' He motioned her out the door. 'If I recall rightly, the bedrooms are situated at the other end of the house.'
She followed him back down the stairs, glad to be free of the room and the nauseous smell of death.
Can you stop her?
Only if you want me to sacrifice Trevgard. He's cruising up the driveway.
Jake touched her arm, and she started.
'You all right?'
She licked her lips and nodded. 'Monica's heading our way.'
He didn't question her certainty, which was just as well. How could she possibly explain her connection to Michael, when in all the time Jake had known her, she'd never been able to do more than read a fleeting word or emotion?
'If the kid comes near us, I'll blow her head off,' Jake warned, drawing his handgun.
'The police will just love that.' And there was every possibility that Jake would never even see her. Not if what Michael said about her speed was true.
'To hell with the police. The girl's a nut.'
'Thought you said there was no direct evidence that she's the culprit?'
He quirked an eyebrow at her. 'I did. That doesn't mean I believe she's innocent.'
If what she had heard about the teenager on the streets of late were to be believed, Monica hadn't been innocent for a very long time.
The flashlight beam was faint, barely penetrating the shadows. She turned on the lights as they went through each room, knowing the time to worry about discovery had passed. Trevgard would know something was wrong; the guard and the open gates were the giveaway there. And Monica would sense them regardless. At least the light banished the shadows, made the house appear less threatening.
They made their way quickly through the house and up another flight of stairs. Nikki entered the first bedroom. It had to be Monica's—she couldn't imagine Trevgard surrounded by flowery wallpaper.
She couldn't. Not till she found something to track Monica with.
She ignored him. Her palm tingled when she walked past the bed. Kneeling, she looked underneath.
Something glinted in the darkness. Reaching out, she grabbed the locket from its bed of dust. Then she rose and glanced across at Jake.
'I've got what we need, but Monica's in the house.'
'Then let's go.' He raised his gun and led the way back into the hall.
She cut Michael from her mind and spun. A slender figure materialized behind her. Their gazes met, and Nikki stepped back. Monica's face was bloody, her mouth a thin line of rage. But her eyes were the most frightening. The bright blue depths had lost all hint of humanity.
Jake cursed and fired the gun. Faster than the wind, faster than any bullet, Monica winked out of existence.
Only to reappear behind Jake.
'Look out!' Nikki screamed, and blasted him with kinetic energy, thrusting him out of Monica's way.
The gun fired as he fell, the bullet smashing a mirror down the far end of the hall.
The teenager shrieked and lashed out at Nikki. The blow smashed her sideways. She hit the wall hard, her breath leaving in one gigantic whoosh. Blinking back tears, she shook her head and struggled into a sitting position.
Monica leaped at her. Cursing loudly, Nikki hit out with the chair leg. The teenager twisted away from the blow and threw up her arms to protect her face. The jagged edges tore into her arm. Screaming in fury, Monica leaped again. Her weight hit like a ton of bricks, pinning Nikki to the spot. Razor sharp teeth gleamed brightly in the darkness; her breath was fetid, full of death. Gagging, Nikki grabbed the teenager's arms, desperately holding the twisting, snarling girl away from her neck. Energy burned through her body. The bolt hit Monica and flung her away. As agile as a cat, she landed on her feet and surged forward again.
Nikki scrambled out of her way and reached for another kinetic lance. But the girl stopped, eyes suddenly distant. It was almost as if she was listening to someone.
With another snarl of rage, Monica turned and threw herself at Jake. They went down in a heavy tangle of arms and legs.
Nikki hit the teenager with another kinetic lance, forcing her down the stairs, away from Jake. Monica snarled, then winked out of existence.
Alarm ran through Nikki. She spun, leaping for the stake she'd dropped near the wall. She hit the carpet and rolled, gathering the stake and slashing upwards in one fluid movement. Her blow met with emerging flesh.
The wood speared Monica's abdomen. Her face twisted in agony, and she melted again from sight. The bloody stake fell free to the floor. Nikki grabbed it, then turned and ran to Jake.
'I'm all right,' he muttered. 'She slashed my arm open, that's all. Let's get the hell out of here.'
She grabbed his good arm and helped him up. The air around them burned with fury. Monica was still nearby, watching their retreat.
But she didn't attack. It was an ominous sign that Jasper had something else in mind for them.
Chapter Seven
Nikki leaned against the front of Jake's car, lightly massaging her temples. Her headache was back with a vengeance, thanks to the long hours of questioning. And still the police didn't believe her. It was evident from the look in their eyes, the tone in their voices. They just couldn't accept a sixteen-year-old girl would be capable of
