Page 111 of Nightshade

Frowning, I glanced back at what had to be the cutest bird I’d ever seen, almost cartoonish, with its wide black eyes and oversized beak. “Dangerous? It’s so adorable, though.”

“Yes. That is its nature. Between its adorable appearance and it’s alluring song, it makes for the perfect predator.” He ran his thumb across his bottom lip, eyeing me up and down. “In some ways, it reminds me of you.”

On a chuckle, I crossed my arms. “Wait. Did you just inadvertently call me adorable?”

As the corner of his lip lifted for a smile, a loud screech echoed from deep inside the forest, a sound far less pleasant than that of the bird, and his smile twisted to something more serious. My spine snapped to attention on recognizing it, my pulse hammering with fear.

“I’ll ask you to return to the cathedral with the dogs, Miss Ravenshaw.”

“You’re not coming with me?”

“No.”

“I’ll get help.”

“That won’t be necessary.” He didn’t seem drunk, or impaired, despite his words.

“If one of those creatures is back there, trust me, you’re going to need the help.”

“Trust me when I tell you that I don’t.” He jerked his head, unclasping the cuffs of his sleeves as if a plan was already set into motion. “Now go. Do not return to this meadow.”

“Okay, fine. If that’s what you wish.”

“It is most certainly what I wish.”

36

Jericho

At the edge of the trees, I removed my jacket and button-down, hellbent on not destroying yet another good shirt. The celestial steel dagger I’d had for years sat tucked in its holster at my hip. I’d have preferred my newly-purchased sword, but it wasn’t exactly a casual weapon.

Daylight waned, the crepuscular sky darkening by the minute. Cold air brushed over my skin, scarcely felt beneath my numb exterior. A genetic advantage of my kind. It’d been nice to have Cerberus accompanying me, but more important was ensuring that Farryn returned safely to the cathedral.

A noise within the dark woods drew my attention toward the white, birch pillars, which stood quiet and undisturbed. Yet, I knew something lurked within. I could feel its darkness move through me like cold steel. I flexed my shoulder blades, expanding the wings from my back to their full span. Once opened, I leapt upward, taking flight into a calm, evening sky, and peered down at the forest below. From that height, I could see movement on the ground. A black figure sweeping through the trees, as if desperate to hide.

I cut low, slicing through the air toward it, and the sound of its harrowing screech echoed below. The narrow trench of forest, flanked by mountains at either side, made for the perfect trap. Looking ahead showed the cliff, where it was undoubtedly headed. Deep below the glassy, black surface of the sea lay the entrance to the The Vale. The portal between planes.

I forced speed from my wings, forging ahead of it, and touched down in a small clearing along its path. There, I waited for it to emerge from the woods, blade poised.

In the fading light, a figure stirred at the trunks of the trees, prowling back and forth like a caged animal. Steep rocks at either side ensured there was no other path available, but it was doubtful he was looking for another way out.

A streak of black zipped past me, swiping out at my arm. I grunted and swiveled around, striking out to slice its flesh with the tip of my blade. Not enough to kill, but to wound the beast. The chasing sound of agony told me I’d hit the mark.

Another streak. More pain on my opposite flank. This time, I managed to stab at its shoulder.

Still, no more than a simple flesh wound, as I didn’t intend to send it to Ex Nihilo quite yet. The beast barreled toward me again. That time, I concentrated on it, giving off a silent command to the air around us, which grew thicker, more dense. The molecules turned visible, bouncing into one another in slow motion. The creature froze midstride, but continued to snap its teeth and hiss in warning. Hands behind my back, I circled it freely, knowing it would not move until I willed it so.

Manipulating air wasn’t something I particularly enjoyed, as it used up quite a bit of energy, but it was the only way to perform my examinations without killing it.

Across the creature’s back was the smeared dark ichor that oozed from two bloody stumps where I imagined wings once protruded. The grooves in the bone gave the impression the wings had been hacked away. Veins appeared and disappeared beneath its mottled skin. The bones of its hands and arms contorted in a way that looked painful. Black, onyx eyes widened with my nearing proximity.

“Show yourself,” I commanded. “If you wish to be free, show yourself to me.”

More hissing and snapping of its jaw.

“It is not my intent to harm you. Only to know what you are.”

The creature stilled at that, its black, bulbous eyes shrinking, while its chest contracted with rapid breaths. Its eyelids closed, and seconds later, a black swirling pattern appeared across its skin. The moment its sigil appeared, I let out a breath of hopelessness and despair.