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I smell a whiff of Leland coming from the car and my instincts tell me to stay calm. There is something wrong here. He isn’t one of ours, he is Emerson’s, and I need to play dumb right now.
“No thanks,” I say, trying to keep the nerves at bay.
“What are you doing out here, all by yourself?”
Fuck.
I need to lie.
“I’m not alone,” I say lightly. “A few of us are going swimming, you’re just in time if you’d care to join.”
“Oh I think you’re very much alone.” His face turns dark quickly, and from either side of me, multiple vampires come clamoring out of the forest.
Shit.
I drop down and dodge the first one that lunges for me, trying to remember Chandra’s training. I use movement to avoid being hit and to position myself better to attack.
But I am still a novice, and I’m outnumbered.
The next assailant throws himself at my midsection, tackling me to the ground. Kicking him off me, I bring my elbow around and swing it hard at the next attacker. Behind me, someone brings their arm across my chest, gripping my shoulder, their other arm yanking me off balance by my neck.
Sputtering, I send my hands behind me, digging my claws into flesh and ripping with all my strength.
A feeling like the one that overcame me the night I killed Spencer sweeps into my body. Rage is a pale word compared to it. It is wild and raw, and I embrace it without question, desperate to do whatever is necessary to save myself and return home.
Red.
My vision sharpens, my senses seem to go into overdrive, movements become more precise, and fear evaporates from my body.
Lethal.
I will rip, tear, and destroy anyone I can touch.
I will sink my teeth into their necks and mangle them.
That little voice that has been inside me, encouraging all of the violence, is driving. It is like I am stuck watching a movie in first person with no control again. It terrifies me.
The vampire that holds me releases his grip out of pain. I clasp his arm and maneuver behind him, hearing it break with a satisfying crunch. He screams, and I enjoy it.
Two more came barreling at me. I duck the bigger one and drop down, then use my new angle to send a fist into the smaller one’s gut, sending him flying from me. He crashes into a tree, and I hear something break.
I hope it’s his fucking spine.
The big guy isn’t done.
He is ready for me to dodge this time, and unfortunately, he manages to latch his arms on me. We tumble to the ground, rolling. I am nothing but claws and teeth, trying to find purchase on any flesh I can like a feral cat. We stop, and he is on top of me, pinning my arms down so I will stop clawing at him.
I still have my legs.
Rocking my hips back, I hook a foot around his neck, and the other comes around to join it. I lock them together and this angle to flip him off me, but he has achieved his goal. The ones not currently recovering from injuries circle me now.
Where the fuck did they all come from? I know they will be smart this time, and will all make a move together.
Fuck.
I snarl and slash at each one as they come near, trying to reach out to Oz through our connection. I’m not sure if I am near enough that he can hear me, but I pray that he can.
Someone rips at my hair, distracting me long enough that my hands go up to free myself, and a second vampire dives into me, forcing me to the ground. I struggle against the vampire on top of me, but another is right behind him, taking my wrists and clamping chains to them. I kick out to no avail, and the one with missing parts of his face repeatedly kicks me in my gut.
