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.Hard bone met delicate flesh,which gave way under the blow.The man howled and doubled forward.I thrust upward.Knuckles connected solidly with his chin.For a split instant, I looked into Tully sshocked eyes, and then he was toppling backward.I rose into a crouching position and spun toward scuffling sounds.Alex and Wormerwere on the ground, wrestling for control of a revolver.Wormer had used his advantagein bulk to roll Alex onto his back.The gun shifted above their heads.Someone squeezedoff a wild shot that took out a vase on the counter.Glass shattered and pinged.I grabbed the closest weapon within reach an iron candlestick sporting a half-meltedred pillar and swung.It connected with the side of Wormer s head.He grunted andlost control of the gun to Alex.It was more of a glancing blow than the knockout I dhoped for, but it did its job.Alex gripped the gun by the barrel, eyes wide, like hecouldn t believe he wasn t dead. Get off him, asshole. I shoved Wormer with my foot, and he fell sideways.Thebloody footprint left behind on his shirt surprised me.I didn t even feel the glass.I readied the candlestick again, hoping to deliver a coma-inducing blow. Watch out! Alex shouted.Too late.Something hit my neck, sharp as a knife thrust.Lightning exploded behind myeyes, and every nerve ending was on fire.My heart raced, and I could barely breathefast enough to compensate.I lost muscle control and fell to my knees.A hot flush brokeacross my skin.Then the agony ended as abruptly as it began, and all I felt was cold.Ishrieked as I fell.Broken glass cut into my right arm.I smelled sizzled flesh.A flash of something longand black entered the periphery of my vision.Cattle prod.Nice move.Didn t see thatone coming. We re better trackers than you realize, little girl, Tully said.Little girl? I rolled onto my back, hoping for a good opening, but he gave me none.Hestood out of arm s (and foot s) reach, the cattle prod in his left hand and a revolver inthe other.Pointed not at me, but past me.Over my shoulder, Alex was sitting up withboth hands braced around the butt of his acquired gun, muzzle pointed at Tully.Hishands trembled ever so slightly. Put it down, Tully said. Hell no, Alex replied, but without the necessary force.His fear was betraying him. You broke into my apartment.You re intruders.I can shoot you.Tully s nostrils flared; he didn t like the threat. My superiors know where I am.If Idon t check in on time, they come here looking for me.You don t want that. He s not kidding, I said.My hand investigated my neck and found a quarter-sizedburn.The gun s aim didn t move, but I came under Tully s scrutiny. We know you rehelping a fugitive named Wyatt Truman.Why? Who are you?He didn t know me, which meant the brass didn t know about my resurrection.I didn tknow how Wyatt kept it secret, but he had.Advantage one for my team.Behind Alex,Wormer groaned.He seemed to be struggling to sit up.Maybe I d whacked him goodafter all. Where d they take Wyatt? I asked.Tully s nostrils flared. Do you really think you re in a position to ask me questions,lady? Yes.He fired.I felt the heat of the bullet as it passed by my cheek.Behind me, Alex criedout.I twisted around, coming up on my hands and knees, stomach knotting as Iprepared for the worst.Alex lay on his side, one hand pressed against his right temple.Blood oozed between his fingers, but he was very much alive.Alive, aware, andswearing colorfully enough to make even me blush.I lunged for the gun he d abandoned.More lightning, this time in my lower back.Cursing my own idiocy, I collapsed by Alex s feet.My stomach muscles spasmed.Bilescorched the back of my throat and left a sour taste in my mouth.An unexpectedwhimper tore from between clenched teeth.The jolt ceased.I didn t move, choosing instead to simply breathe.Stupid; goddamnstupid. Still think you re the one asking questions?A sardonic retort formed in my mouth, but thankfully died a quick death before I couldutter it.I needed my wits about me, not volts of electricity coursing through my body. No, I hissed. You re in charge. Good girl.I drew my knees up to my chest and rolled, hoping to sit up.A sharp kick to the middleof my back felled me again.I took the hint and stayed low, choosing to roll onto myback and prop up on my elbows.I disliked the prone position, but at least I could glareright into Tully s eyes.It also gave me a better view of the room.Pale, but very much alive, Alex scooted closer to me.Blood stained the side of his face,neck, and shirt collar.Wormer loomed above us, once again in charge of his ownfirearm, and apparently very much in favor of using it. Now, Tully said,  let s try answering my questions.Who are you?Smug.I hated that.Self-preservation took a backseat to annoyance. I m the thing thatthe shadows fear.Confusion creased his forehead.It was a line Triad members used jokingly amongstourselves.We hunted the creatures that haunted others nightmares.Tully seemed tounderstand the reference.I could see imaginary wheels turning in his mind. Truman tell you to say that? Tully asked.The burn on my neck began to itch.If I was lucky, it would heal fast and freak Tully outjust a little bit. Wyatt didn t tell me to say anything.He never expected us to beseparated. That right? Tully circled to my left, positioning himself closer to Alex and fartherfrom me.The cattle prod bounced in his hand. Don t make me ask your name again. You wouldn t believe me if I told you. Try me.I quirked an eyebrow. I m disappointed in your partner, Wormer, I said, tossing thesilent Hunter an over-the-shoulder look. He doesn t recognize me.That hurts myfeelings, Tully; it really does.They exchanged looks, sharing their confusion.Time ticked onward.They couldn t stayand question us for very long.The scuffle and gunshots should have aroused theneighbors.Surely someone in the building would know to call the police and reportsuspicious activity. Her name s Chalice, Alex said. She works in a coffee shop.We re not who youthink. You re not? Wormer said. Guess we ll just have to kill you, then. Cut it out, Tully admonished. We don t kill humans, and you know it.Tactical slip.Wyatt would have reamed me a new one for saying that in front of acivilian.Admitting to not killing humans blatantly said that you killed something else.Tully studied me, still trying hard to see past the unfamiliar exterior to the person hidinginside. We ll take them with us.We can t break her here; we ve already made toomuch noise. No, leave her here, Alex said. I know things; you want me.Not her.Wormer nudged the back of Alex s head with the muzzle of his gun. What things doyou know?Alex glared at Tully, but wouldn t meet my eyes. I know that the downtown poweroutage two years ago was caused by gremlins, and not what the public was told.My mouth fell open, but the pair of Hunters misinterpreted my annoyance as shock.Tully crouched down, putting himself at eye level with Alex.Still out of my range,though.The candlestick lay nearby, within arm s reach. Who told you that? Tully asked. I ll tell you everything, Alex said. Just leave Chalice here.She doesn t knowanything. Oh hell no, I said. Alex, I know you feel terrible about Chalice, but trying to be ahero and save me isn t the way to atone for it.She wouldn t want you to get yourselfkilled.Tully pointed the gun at me. I thought you were Chalice. And I thought you were an asshole.Too bad only one of us is right.Tully swung the cattle prod toward my left arm [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]