Page 84 of Solar Shadows

Like I gave a fuck. I went left, picking up my pace, thankful to still be wearing my shoes.

Okay. The plan was to get home, spill the detailsto my people, figure it all out, and come back here to kick Tony’s ass from here to outer space.

If only.

I tried my powers again and again, getting nowhere.

What had he done to me?

Gathering speed, I ran around a corner, trapped between high hedges, no other buildings in sight. When I reached the last lamppost, I faced the thick darkness of the road ahead.

What now? Make a run for it and hope for a passing car or another house to be tucked away somewhere up ahead?

Better yet, hope hard for Drake to locate me.

When he can.

That hag knew too much and spoke in too many riddles. She’d be joining my ex in outer space, too.

The wind whistled behind me, a shiver vibrating up and down my spine. There was no sign of Tony, and no more screaming. But I felt like I was being watched, stalked in the night with nothing to fight back with at my disposal. Being capable of throwing punches and delivering kicks wouldn’t be enough to combat whatever creature he’d turned into.

He’d have a tooth and claw advantage to start with.

I swallowed more fear, forcing my feet to carry me forward. The road would have to do until I found civilization or a telephone.

Come on, Drake!

Movement sounded behind me. I spun to face it, braced to fight.

Nothing there.

I pushed my wet hair off my forehead, nothing more than a trembling autumn leaf all by myself on my tree’s branch. Weak, vulnerable, cold as fuck, staring down the barrel of the end.

Hecate give me the strength to rip Tony’s head off…

A rustling to my left, followed by a growl.

Nope!

I broke into a run, the rustling getting louder along with the pounding of my heart in my ears.

Shit. Shit. Shit. Shit.

I heard the padding sound of an animal at full speed too late, its bite connecting with my backside before I could react.

I let out a wail from the hot sting of pain, falling forward onto my hands and knees. The asphalt scraped my skin, and I struggled to get up again, slipping as the creature darted past me.

A growl, a silhouette in the dark with eyes a blazing orange, casting faint light over the face of what I discerned was a big cat of some kind.

Were those the markings of a leopard around his eyes?

Darn it! My kingdom for a flashlight!

I backed off, jumped to my feet, and ran back the way I’d come, getting myself back into the light of a lamppost.

What the fuck am I doing?

The creature shot past me, turning to bare its vicious rows of teeth.