[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

last, to protrude from the knuckles past the fingertips. Black leather covered all down to
the ankles, which had been encased in hard black boots up to the calves. A final look in
the mirror would have revealed nothing but a Goth clubber to the untrained eye, but a
killer now stood before the silver and glass.
www.samhainpublishing.com 71
Taryn Blackthorne
Once all preparations had been made, the words chanted, the proper petitions sent,
the way was made to the bait. A careful threading through the obstacles, dormant for
now, was made.
In the pool the bait lay on a roughly constructed stage. A living altar, as it were,
chained and gagged and ready for sacrifice. Kneeling over the bait, watching as the eyes
widen at the hunter s Changed appearance was enjoyable. Waiting for the prey was not.
At the appointed hour, the police would be called; the plan would be set in motion. All
would be successful if properly followed.
It was with great dismay, therefore, that the sound of a truck coming up the drive
was heard. The prey was, unfortunately, early.
72 www.samhainpublishing.com
Even for Me
Chapter Seventeen: Aislyn
The trail was almost glowing in front of me. By the time I d gotten out of the city,
I d lost most of the busier street traffic. I m sure there was some sort of APB out on me,
and I probably should have been on the lookout for state police, especially once I reached
I-25, but I had to trust that whatever luck had gotten me out of the police station without
being seen was going to keep riding me.
On the highway, I gave over most of my thinking to the cat. She& I saw things I
couldn t have seen otherwise. I whipped in and out of traffic, avoided collisions that
human reflexes couldn t have. And the trail in front of me superimposed itself onto the
road. I could see the line that connected Jackson and me like a thin thread, leading the
way as I came along behind and gathered it up into myself.
I growled in frustration as the Mouse Trap loomed before me. The trail left off the
County Line Road exit. I pulled back from the cat enough to begin feeling around the
truck. A catch, imperceptible to human touch unless you knew it was there, lifted the
passenger seat to reveal a small cache of weapons. Silver throwing daggers gleamed in
the passing street lamp s glow, as well as a small 9mm with shimmering ammo clip. I
loaded the gun and tucked it into my back waistband. A couple of the knives went,
sheathed, into a few belt loops up front. There were vials of some liquid and instinct told
me to tuck those into my pockets as well, so I did. I closed the seat up and put both hands
on the wheel, watching the traffic peter out and the trail become more solid. I was getting
closer. Ghost Cat was close.
I slowed down as the dawn light started to confuse my eyes. I shifted back to mostly
human, the better to see with at this point of the day. The trail pulled into a ranch up the
road. The sign overhead announced the Lay-Z Ranch in dilapidated lettering. The fence
was broken and the place looked like it had run aground years ago. A For Sale sign hung
just off the side. I pulled up the long driveway to the two buildings left standing, an old
www.samhainpublishing.com 73
Taryn Blackthorne
farm house and a two-story high storehouse of some kind. I parked the truck a ways back,
trying to hide the fact that I was alone and got out. The trail led to the storehouse.
There was no chance that I hadn t been heard coming up the drive, but I walked
silently towards the propped-open doors and the darkness inside. I must have been within
fifteen yards when a single shot rang out and the fire started. It lit up the open doors like a
Christmas tree; the smoke and light effectively blocked what was behind it from view.
The cat shied away but I grabbed hold and got as close to the way in and heat as I could
stand. Gathering my legs underneath me, I jumped, cleared the fire, and had a split
second to cough through the smoke before crashing painfully into rodeo fencing. Shit. So
much for making a silent entrance.
I fought free of the metal to clear ground and turned to face the center of the [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]