Page 52 of Dissection of Immortal Hearts

The necromancer kicked and pulled, but the Sacred seemed determined to restrain him. “I promise I’ll let her do whatever she wants!” he shouted.

The net slackened. The living strands leapt back onto Amelia’s arm, and before they fully settled, they’d already reshaped themselves into the delicate, feminine design.

Too late. Headlights from a large SUV pierced the night. Amelia recognised one of the vehicles used by the Chosen. Theblack vehicle blocked their escape route, and from its side doors stepped Kathrine, flanked by a trusted subordinate.

“What’s going on here?” Kathrine observed the stolen car with its dented bumper. From her position, she couldn’t see Mikhail in the back seat.

“Someone’s decided to go for a stroll?” The other reptilian quipped, a massive pistol appearing in his hand.

Amelia raised her palm, but no music played. The witcher had warned her that the magic would only work within Antambazi. Her gaze shifted to the Sacred on her arm…

The reptilian advanced towards her, weapon aimed at her. “No sudden moves, or I’ll be forced to shoot.”

Was it her imagination, or had the Shifting Net tightened around her arm?

Kathrine set off for Constantine, weapon in one hand and handcuffs in the other. “I’ll secure him. You keep the Oracle under control,” she instructed her subordinate. Clearly, she didn’t consider Amelia dangerous enough to warrant neutralising.

The Sacred tightened once more around Amelia’s muscles, as if insisting otherwise.

What was she supposed to do?

As Kathrine reached Constantine and prepared to restrain him, he said, “Do you really intend to cuff me, Kathrine? I thought we’d resolved those issues between us.”

“Don’t do anything stupid, necromancer, or I swear, this time you’ll regret it.” She circled behind him, reaching for his hands.

“Touch him, and I’ll cut your head off, you reptilian bitch!”

All four swivelled their heads towards the bushes by the roadside. A figure stood there – a woman, cloaked in the shadows of the forest. She could have been a spectre, but she wasn’t. Dressed in tight-fitting clothing that blended with thedarkness, she held a pistol in one hand…and a massive sword in the other.

She stepped forward, letting the moonlight illuminate her face.

Diana?

Amelia gaped at the vampire she’d met the previous year at the Hospital. The last time she’d seen her, Diana had pleaded with her to return some items to Constantine. After that, she’d disappeared – to a tournament.

Kathrine’s subordinate whipped his gun towards the newcomer with lightning speed, but he wasn’t quick enough. The element of surprise shifted the advantage to the vampire, and she fired first. Her shots struck their mark without hesitation. The reptilian staggered, clutching his bleeding chest, and collapsed into the dust. The air thickened with the scent of blood.

He wasn’t dead – the Chosen regenerated quickly, and he’d likely be conscious again within minutes. Amelia hurried to his side, avoiding his face as her hands snatched his weapon. She’d never fired a gun in her life, but she would now if it meant survival. Her fingers clenched around the pistol’s grip, and she aimed it at Kathrine.

Kathrine assessed Diana and Amelia. “Two against one? Well, I won’t miss the chance to fire before I fall.” Her attention drifted to Constantine, leaving no doubt about who her target would be.

He, on the other side, didn’t seem bothered by the threat. One shot stood between him and death, yet he was grinning as if he were watching the most entertaining spectacle of his life.

An invisible clock ticked in Amelia’s ears, a reminder of their limited time. And then, the solution struck her. She marvelled that it hadn’t occurred to her sooner. “Hold her!” she commanded the Shifting Net.

Before the others processed who she was addressing, the Sacred unwound itself from her arm and shot towards Kathrine. Midair, it expanded, forming a hunting net once more. The reptilian fired at the threat, but her bullets hit the ground without effect. The force struck her and wrapped around her in a tight grip.

Kathrine reached for the knife strapped to her thigh, attempting to slash the strands, but her blade was just as ineffective. She gave up when the net squashed her limbs against her body. Finally, she lost her balance and tumbled to the ground.

Diana called out, “Seems to me you don’t need saving after all. Guess I’ll be on my way…”

“Don’t you dare!” Constantine shouted.

Amelia glanced at the car, where Mikhail was sleeping. Kathrine had seen the net. Now, Amelia had no choice but to flee.

Or to kill the reptilians.

Her grip tightened on the pistol. She had no guarantee it would kill them, but if she fired enough rounds… Or borrowed Diana’s sword to sever their heads…