Page 114 of Inhuman Nature

As predicted, Lawrence seemed delighted to have been asked. “I sent them underground to one of my other houses and had them wait there.”

“What?” Shaun wasn’t asking just to keep Lawrence talking this time.

“The first time I visited Brighton was in the 1500s. Not much more than a village, then. But I made my home here for a while. When I returned, I added a series of tunnels under the city—an easier way to get around if I needed to.”

“Tunnels,” Shaun repeated tonelessly. He thought about the crack in the basement wall. Lawrence must have found it hilarious how many times Shaun had been down there and never figured out that it held a perfect way to escape.

Lawrence hefted DJ up higher on his shoulder as he took a few steps down, lingering at the foot of the stairs. “I will admit, I didn’t come up with the idea all by myself. The Pavilion has secret tunnels and passageways too. Quite inspiring.”

Shaun leaned against the wall to support himself. Hishead and jaw were healing, but Lawrence’s wounds from his fight with Lynette were fading faster. He was almost back to his usual self already.

Quick footsteps coming up the stairs to the front of the house stole Shaun’s attention. He turned in time to see Rake and Kit speeding through the front door.

“DJ!” Rake shouted. Before Shaun could do anything to stop him, Rake rushed towards Lawrence. It only took one swing of Lawrence’s fist to propel him backwards, however. Rake hit the opposite wall with a resounding thud, the painting affixed to the wall crashing down alongside him.

“Christopher?” For the first time in a long time, Shaun heard genuine surprise in Lawrence’s voice.

Shaun took the opportunity to go to Rake, kneeling beside him and shielding him from Lawrence.

“It’s Kit, as you well know, arsehole,” Kit said.

Lawrence gave Kit an indulgent look. “Of course, how remiss of me. But darling, whathaveyou done to your hair?”

Kit tugged at a dark strand that had escaped from behind his ear. He’d got rid of the fake glasses and piercings, seeing as he no longer needed to go incognito. “I can do whatever I want with it.”

“A shame. That colour does not become you.”

“Let DJ go!” Rake said, trying to push past Shaun.

“Youshouldlet him go,” Kit said.

“Or, what?” Lawrence asked, amused.

Kit didn’t answer with words. He shot forward, attacking Lawrence in a move that resembled a rugby tackle. DJ fell to the floor as Lawrence was forced backwards onto the stairs. Shaun sprang up to gather DJ in his arms. He took him tothe couch in the living room, righting it before laying DJ down and running back out to the hallway.

Kit and Lawrence were exchanging furious blows, blood flying as their talons scored through flesh, painting the walls in red. Rake darted in to aid Kit, only to impede both of them. Rake was too new; too unused to his strength and speed, not able to control his movements.

But Shaun pressed their numbers advantage, jumping on Lawrence’s exposed back as Kit took his front. Shaun clawed at Lawrence’s face, eliciting a howl. With Lawrence distracted by trying to throw Shaun off his back, Kit slashed at his chest, whilst Rake yanked and twisted one of Lawrence’s arms to stop him from getting at Shaun.

Even three to one, Lawrence fought back with ease. He only needed one hand to throw Rake across the hall into the front door, and a brutal kick had Kit skittering several feet backwards.

Lawrence dragged Shaun right over his shoulder and onto the ground. Lawrence’s claws dug painfully into his arm. Their blood dripped onto the floorboards, and Shaun took grim satisfaction in knowing it would stain.

“You think I cannot destroy you as easily as I did Lynette?” Lawrence spat down at Shaun.

Shaun knew. But that wouldn’t stop him from fighting. He scratched at Lawrence’s arm, rivulets of blood raining down onto him as he cut deep, right where Lynette had left her marks. Kit appeared, yanking at Lawrence’s other arm, claws ripping into the skin. A second later, Rake threw a weighty punch and hit Lawrence with such force that his head snapped back at an inhuman angle.

Lawrence hissed, pushing both Shaun and Kit away and jumping on Rake with a feral cry. In the blink of an eye, Lawrence had Rake on the ground, arm raised and ready to land a killing blow. Shaun and Kit ran in tandem, grabbing hold of Lawrence’s arm and pulling with all their might, tearing into the flesh before yanking hard enough that Lawrence’s shoulder detached from its socket.

The scream that left Lawrence’s throat was so high-pitched that Shaun wondered if it might break the windows. He and Kit kept pulling as Rake scrambled out from under Lawrence.

Within seconds, however, they were on the back foot again, Lawrence dislodging them with a swiftness they couldn’t combat. It quickly descended into a fight of pure attrition, the three of them doing as much damage as possible to slow Lawrence down.

At some points, Lawrence toyed with them, letting them get close before striking a blow. He went for Rake after one such failed attack, biting savagely into his neck. Rake howled, trying in vain to push Lawrence away.

Kit went in low, going for Lawrence’s legs whilst Shaun took hold of Lawrence’s limp arm and twisted with all his might. There was a horrendous ripping of skin and gristle as he half-pulled Lawrence’s arm off. Kit sprung up and finished the job, slicing his way through the muscle until Lawrence’s arm thudded to the floor.

Shaun flinched at the screech Lawrence let out. Rake’s blood dripped from Lawrence’s mouth, unhinged fury in his eyes as he looked at them all. He snarled, deep and animalistic, before attacking again. Lawrence took Kit out with a swift, rib-breaking kick to the side before hurling Rakeaway, Rake’s body crumpling to the ground after cracking against the door.