They were skinny but incredibly powerful and nimble. I’d always despised these persistent, hideous creatures that smelled of Hell and unleashed suffering on all those they encountered.
Grinding my teeth, I pulled more electricity from the earth and within myself before unleashing it on them. I’d love to rain bolts from above, but someone might see them and come looking for me.
I was sure Ivan had amsirah hunting for the female lightning bearer; I doubted any of them were this deep in the woods, but it wasn’t a chance I was willing to take, especially with Mouse so nearby. Even if they weren’t this deep in the woods, if someone saw lightning, they might come looking.
My lightning destroyed three more dogs as a fourth leapt toward me with its claws extended and jaws open to reveal the razor-sharp teeth within. A thick strand of drool dangled from its lower jaw.
I didn’t have enough time to throw lightning into its belly or to remove my bow and arrow. Turning, I sprinted away as I tried to put some distance between us, but Farley’s grunting told me I wasn’t as successful as I’d hoped.
The poltergeist, who I was sure had seen everything there was to see in these woods, sounded terrified. But then, it was a black dog that killed him; even though they couldn’t do anything to him now, he probably still had a whole lot of trauma over being devoured by a monster.
I sure wouldn’t have gotten over it and hopednotto experience it now.
CHAPTER SIXTY-FIVE
Ellery
Ahead of me,Mouse jumped onto a boulder and turned back. He waved his hands frantically at me as something crashed down behind me.
Dirt peppered my legs as claws raked my calves. I cried out, staggered, and nearly went down as blood spilled from the shredded flesh of my legs.
The black dog had missed pouncing on my back, but it had succeeded in slowing me down. Blood soaked what remained of my pants as every step sent shooting pains up my legs and into my hips and spine, but I couldn’t let that stop me.
If I stopped, I was dead.
“Oh shit. Oh shit,” Farley panted like he was the one whose lungs burned as he sprinted through the trees.
“Run!” I screamed at Mouse, who remained on the boulder. “Run, Mouse!”
He didn’t run; instead, to my horror, he leapt off the rock and raced back toward me.
NO!
I pulled my dagger free from my side. If I turned to fight this thing head-on, while I might be able to kill it, the others would be on me.
If I stopped, I could gather and aim my lightning at them. I’d kill some of them, but I didn’t know if I’d have enough time to slaughter them all, and if I didn’t, then I was dog food.
“Run!” I shouted at Mouse again when he was only a few feet away.
He stopped, and his gaze shot beyond me. Then, he turned and ran again. Following Mouse, I darted around a few large rocks and into an open area amazingly clear of debris.
On each side of me, rows of trees blurred as I raced past them. The black dog’s claws didn’t click as much through this clearer area, but they thudded loudly against the earth as, all together, they released an eerie howl that echoed through the darkening forest.
That howl caused the hair on my nape to rise as their excitement beat against me. I kept waiting for one of those things to sink its teeth into my leg and the following crunch of bone. I could hear the crack of it in my head as I kept running.
Without looking, I unleashed more lightning behind me. When nothing cried out, I knew I’d missed hitting anything, but hopefully, it had made them hesitate.
We were about halfway through the open area when something shot past my head. It was so close it skimmed my temple, and the wind created by its passing ruffled my hair.
I had no idea what had nearly taken me out, but one of the dogs yelped. Despite the fact it would probably seek to kill me too, I welcomed its help with the monsters hunting us.
“Holy shit!” Farley blurted. “Holy shit!”
I didn’t like that sound, and Ireallydidn’t like anything that could surprise Farley in these woods.
“Lery—”
Whatever Farley was about to say was cut off as the ground before Mouse opened. He skidded to a halt to avoid falling into the hole while something rose from it.
