Night World : The Chosen Chapter 13

Rashel knew she had to fail the guard before he could act a sound. The vampires mansion was onthe furthermostther cliffs, over feeling turn over sea rather than the harbor, and the music ought to succor dr sustain come out of the closetsidenoises- only if the superlative danger was still that they would be h eard before the girls could nourish out-of-door.She launched herself at the were animal, dribbleing a comportment snap kick to his chest. She could hear the air displace out as he fell keyst cardinal. Good. No breath for howling. She arrive with both knees on top of him.This is coin, she hissed, pressing the blade against his throat. Dont make a noise or Ill use it.He gl atomic number 18d at her. He had bushy hair and eye that were already half-animal.Is in that location anydead body on the boats? When he didnt answer, she touch the silver poke harder. Is there?He snarled a breathless No. His teeth were turning, too, spiking and leng thening.Dont change- Rash el began, provided at that snatch he fixed to kick in her off. He heaved once,violently.A snap of her wrist would scram plunged the silver blade into his throat even as she fell. Instead Rashelrolled backward in a somersault, tucking in her head and ending up on her mighty knee. thus, as thewerewolf jumped at her, she slammed the sheathed knife upwardly against his jaw.He fell back unconscious.Too bad, I wanted to select him around the client. Rashel looked shoreward, to con that Daphne, Annelise,and Nyala were on the pier with her. They were each belongings a rock or a piece of wood mazed from thejagged pilings of the wharf.They were loss to help me, Rashel thought. She felt oddly warmed by it.Okay, she give tongue to rapidly. Annelise and Keiko, with me. Everybody else, stay. Daphne, hold up watch.In a matter of minutes she and the ride girls had checked the boats and found devil with features theythought they could drawle and with fuel. Anne-lise had removed a couple of crucial engine pieces outof the others.Took out the impellers and the solenoids, she told Rashel mysteriously, holding out a grimy hand. Good. Lets set them adrift. Everybody else, get yourself on a boat. celebrate a place to sit fast and sit have. Rashel moved to the back of the group where Fayth had her arms around a couple of the girlswho looked scared of screen background out on the dark ocean. Come on, people. She meant to herd them in frontof her handle chickens.That was when it happened.Rashel had an instants warning-the faint crunch of sand on rock foundation her. And then something hit herwith incredible compress in the middle of the back. It knocked her start and sent her knife flying.Worse, it sent her mind reeling in shock. She hadnt been prepared. That instants warning hadnt beenenough-because she had already lost zanshin.She no longer had the gift of continuing mind. She had lost her item-by-item purpose. In the old days shed beenfixed on one thing-to obliterate the Night People. on that point had been no hesitation, no confusion. nevertheless this instant shed already faltered twice tonight, knocking the werewolves unconscious instead of killingthem. She was confused, uncertain. And, as a result, unprepared.And now Im dead, she thought. Her numbed mind was desperately trying to recover and come up witha strategy. barely there was a brutal snarling in her ear and a trail of longing pain down her back. Animal claws. in that location wasa wolf on top of her.Rudi had gotten loose.Rashel gathered herself and bucked to throw the wolf off. He slipped and she tried to roll out from netherhim, arms up to keep her throat protected. The werewolf was too heavy-and too sore. He goover her rolling body analogous a lumberjack on a log. His snarling muzzle kept darting for her throat in quicklunges. Rashel could square up his bushy coat keep goinging on end.She felt fire crosswise her ribs-his claws had torn through and through her s hirt. She ignored it. Her one thought was tokeep him a focus from her throat. Keeping an elbow up, she reached for the knife with her other hand.No good. She hadnt rolled far enough. Her fingertips tho missed the hilt.And Rudi the wolf was right in her face. totally(prenominal) she could see were sharp wet teeth, black gums, and blazingyellow eye. Her face was misted with live canine breath.Every snap of those jaws made a hollow glunk. Rashel only had one option left(a)-to block each lunge as itcame. But she couldnt keep that up forever. She was already tiring.Its over, she thought. The girls who might have helped her-Daphne and Nyala and Annelise were at thefar end of the wharf or on the boats. The other girls were undoubtedly too scared even to try. Rashel wasalone, and she was loss to ease up very soon. My own stupid fault, she thought dimly. Her arms wereshaking and bloodied. She was getting weaker fast. And the wolf knew. blush as she thought it, she missed a block.Her arm slipped sideways. Her throat was exposed. In subdued motion she sawing machine the jaws of the wolf plain-spokening wide, driving toward her. She saw the triumph in those yellow eyes. She knew, with a curioussense of re consecrateation, that the succeeding(a) thing she would feel was teeth ripping through her flesh. The oldest wayto die in the world.Im sorry, Daphne, she thought. Im sorry, Nyala. Please go and be safe.And then eachthing seemed to freeze.The wolf halt in midlunge, head jerking backward. Its eyes were wide and fixed. Its jaws were open entirely not moving. It looked as if it might howl.But it didnt. It collapsed in a hot shakiness heap on top of Rashel, legs stiff. Rashel scrambled out fromunder it automatically.And saw her knife sticking out of the base of its skull.Quinn was standing supra it.Are you all right?He was breathing quickly, but he looked calm. Moon cast down shone on his black hair.The entire world was huge and quivering and oddly bright. Ras hel still felt as if she were moving in slowmotion.She stared at Quinn, then looked toward the wharf.Girls were scattered all over, as if frozen in themiddle of running in different directions. Some were on the decks of the two remaining boats. Somewere heading toward her. Daphne and Nyala were only fifteen feet away, but they were both staring atQuinn and seemed riveted in place. Nyalas expression was one of horror, hate-and recognition.Waves hissed thinly against the dock.Think. like a shot specify, girl, Rashel told herself. She was in a state of the gothicst and most expanded instinct shed ever felt. Her hands were icy cold and she seemed to be floating-but her mind wasclear.Everything depended on how she handled the next few minutes.Why did you do that? she asked Quinn softly. At the same clip she shot Daphne the fastest and themost intense look of her life. It meant Go now. She leaded Daphne to understand.You just lost a guard, she went on, getting up slowly.Keep his eye s on you. Keep moving. Make him talk. non a very good one, Quinn said, looking with fastidious disgust at the heap of fur.Go, Daphne, run, Rashel thought. She knew the girls still had a chance. There were no other vampires coming down the path. That meant that Rudi had either been too angry to give a general alarm or tooscared. That was one good thing about werewolves-they acted on impulse.Quinn was the danger now.Why not a good one? she asked. Because he damaged the merchandise? She lift her torn shirtaway from her ribs.Quinn threw back his head and laughed. Something jerked in Rashels chest, but she used the moment tochange her position. She was right by the wolf now, with her left hand at the exact level of the knife.Thats right, Quinn said. A wild and cutting smile still played around his lips. He was presumptuous.You almost surrendered to the revile darkness there, Shelly. By the way, whered you get a silverknife?He doesnt know who I am, Rashel thought. She felt both relief and a strange underlying grief. He stillthought she was some girl from the club- maybe a vampire hunter, but not the vampire hunter. The onehed admitted was good.So hes unprepared. Hes off his guard.If I can kill him with one stroke, before he calls to the other vampires, the girls may get away.She glanced at the wharf again, deliberately, hoping to draw his gaze. But he didnt look behind him, andDaphne and the other stupid girls werent leaving.Refusing to go without her. IdiotsNow or never, Rashel thought.Well, anyway, she said, I conceptualize you saved my life. Thank you.Keeping her eyes down, she held out her hand.her right hand. Quinn looked surprised, then reached out automatically.With one smooth motion, like a snake uncoiling, Rashel attacked.Her right hand drove past his hand and clamped on his wrist. Her left hand plunged down to grab theknife. Her fingers closed on the hilt and pulled- and the sheath with its attached silver blade stayed in thewerewolfs neck.Just as she d planned. The knife itself came free, the real knife, the one made of wood.And then Quinn tried to throw her and her body responded automatically. She was moving withoutconscious direction, anticipating his attacks and blocking them even as he started to make them. Ittransformed the fight into a dance. Faster than thought, graceful as a lioness, she countered every movehe made.Zanshin to the max. She ended up straddling him with her knife at his throat.Now. Fast. End it.She didnt move.You have to, she told herself. Quick, before he calls the others. Before he knocks you out telepathically.He can do it, you know that.Then why isnt he trying?Quinn lay still, with the point of the wooden knife in the hollow of his throat, just where his dark collarparted. His throat was pale in the moonlight and his hair was black against the sand.Footsteps sounded behind Rashel. She heard rapid light breathing.Daphne, take the boats and go now. Leave me here. Do you understand? Rashel spoke every wor ddistinctly.But Rashel-Do it now Rashel put a force she hadnt known she had behind the words. She heard the quick intakeof Daphnes breath, then footsteps scampering off.All the while, she hadnt taken her eyes off Quinn.Like everything else, the green-black blade of her knife was stirred with moonlight. It seemed toshimmer almost liquidly. Lignum vitae, the Wood of Life. It would be death for him. One energy would putit through his throat. The next would stop his heart.Im sorry, Rashel whispered.She was. She was truly sorry that this had to be done. But there was no way out. It was for Nyala, forall the girls hed kidnapped and hunted and lured. It was to keep girls like them safe for the future.Youre a hunter, Rashel said softly, trying for steadiness. So am I. We both understand. This is theway it goes. Its kill or be killed. It all comes down to that in the end. She paused to breathe.Do you understand?Yes.If I dont stop you, youll be a danger forever.And I cant let that happen. I cant let you hurt anyone else. She was witting that she was shaking herhead meagrely in her attempt to explain to him. Her lungs ached and there were tears in her eyes. I cant.Quinn didnt speak. His eyes were black and bottomless. His hair was slightly mussed on his forehead,but he didnt show any other sign of just having been in a fight.Hes not going to struggle, Rashel enlightend. Then make it quick and merciful. No unavoidableness for him to feel the pain of wood through his throat. Sheswitched her grip on the knife, raising it over his chest. Holding it with both hands, self-collected above hisheart. One swift downward stroke and it would be over.For the prototypic time since she had killed a Night Person, she didnt say what she always said. She wasnt theCat right now this wasnt revenge for her. It was necessity.Im sorry, she whispered, and shut her eyes.He whispered, This kitten has claws.Rashels muscles locked.Her eyes opened.Go on, Quinn said. Do it. You should have do ne it the first time. His gaze was as sozzled as Fayths.She could see moonlight in his eyes.He didnt look wild, or bitter, or mocking. He only looked serious and a little tired.I should have realized it before-that you were the one in the cellar. I knew there was somethingabout you. I just couldnt figure out what. At least now Ive seen your face.Rashels arms wouldnt come down.What was wrong with her? Her resolve was draining away. Her square body was weak. She felt herselfbegin to tremble, and realized to her horror she couldnt stop it.Everything you said was true, he said. This is how it has to end.Yes. Something had swollen in Rashels throat and it hurt.The only other possibility is that I kill you. Better this way than that. He looked exhausted suddenly-orsick. He moody his head and shut his eyes.Yes, Rashel said numbly. He believed that?Besides, now that I have seen your face, I cant stand the sight of myself in your eyes. I know what youthink of me.Rashels arms dropped.But l imply. The blade pointed upward, between her own wrists. She sat there with her knuckles on hischest and stared at a scraggly wild raspberry bush growing out of the cliff.She had failed Nyala, and Nyalas sister, and countless other people. opposite humans. When it reallycounted, she was letting them all down.I cant kill you, she whispered. God help me, I cant. He shook his head once, eyes still shut. She was open to attack, but he didnt do anything.Then he looked at her. I told you before. Youre an idiot.Rashel hit him under the jaw the way shed hit the guard. The hilt of her dagger caught him squarely. Hedidnt move to avoid the blow.It knocked him out cold.Rashel wiped her cheeks and got up, looking around for something to tie him with. Her whole life wastorn to pieces, falling around her. She didnt understand anything. All she could do was try to finish whatshed come here for.Action, that was what she needed. Thought could wait. It would have to wait.Then she glanced at the wharf .She couldnt believe it. It seemed as if at least a hebdomad had passed since she yelled at Daphne, and theywere all still here.The boats were here, the girls were here, and Daphne was running toward her.Rashel strode to meet her. She grabbed Daphne by the shoulders and shook hard.Get-out-of-here Do you understand? What do I have to do, throw you in the water?Daphnes eyes were huge and blue. Her blond hair flew like thistledown with the shaking. When Rashelstopped, she gasped, But you can come with us nowNo, I cant I still have things to do.Like what? Then Daphnes eyes darted to the cliff. She stared at Rashel. Youre going after them?Youre crazy Looking frightened, she grabbed Rashels hands on her shoulders. Rashel, there aresupposed to be eight of them, right? Plus Lily and Ivan and who knows what else You really think youcan kill them all? What, are they all just going to line up?No. I dont know. But I dont need to kill them all. If I can get the guy who set this up, the client, i t willbe worth it.Daphne was shaking her head, in tears. It wont be worth it Not if they kill you-which they will. Yourealready hurt-Itll be worth it if I can stop him from doing this again, Rashel said quietly. She couldnt yell anymore.She didnt have the strength. Her voice was quenched, but she held Daphnes eyes. Now get somebodyto throw me some rope or something to tie these guys with. And then leave. No, give me five minutes toget to the top of the cliff. Six minutes. That way maybe I can surprise them before they realize youregone.Daphne was shout steadily now. Before she could say anything, Rashel went on. Daphne, any minutenow they could realize that. Someones bound to check the cellar before midnight. Every second we stand here could make the difference. Please, please, dont fight me anymore.Daphne opened her mouth, then shut it. Her eyes were desolate. Please try to take care of yourself,she whispered. She let go of Rashels shoulders and hugged her hard. We all know youre doing it forus. Im proud to be your friend.Then she turned and ran, herding the others toward the boats.A moment later she threw Rashel two pieces of line. Rashel tied up Quinn first, then the werewolf.Six minutes, she said to Daphne. Daphne nodded, trying not to cry.Rashel wouldnt say goodbye. She hated that. Even though she knew short well that she was nevergoing to see Daphne again.Without looking back, she loped up the hiking trail.