Circle Of Death

Chapter Three

The scream cut through the night, a high pitched wail of distress. The hair along the nape of Kirby's neck stood on end, and for a minute she froze. The screamer was male, but it was too high, too young sounding, to be Constable Ryan. More than likely it was the delivery boy. The sound cut off as suddenly as it had begun, and in the silence she could hear movement—gentle thumps, as if something soft were being thrown around in the next room.

Move,instinct said. Move, before it comes for you.

She thrust her coat into her pack and threw it out the window. It dropped with a splat into a puddle, and brown water splashed upward.

The sounds from the living room ceased. She froze again, listening, as she knew the thing in that room was listening. Her heart was beating so hard its cadence filled the silence with fear.

Sweat trickled down her face. She clenched her fists, fighting the urge to move. Right now, she had to wait—or die.

Time seemed to stretch, sawing against her nerves. Sweat dripped off her chin and splashed to the floor near her feet. For an instant, her vision blurred, and she saw blood instead of sweat pooling at her right foot.

A shiver stole across her. She blinked, but otherwise remained still. In the other room, the noise began again, this time accompanied by a soft, slurping sound.

Drinking the life of its victim, she thought, and knew that didn't mean blood.

Swallowing heavily, she stepped onto the tub. The window was on the small side and even though she was small herself, it was a tight fit. She went out sideways, twisting as she fell so that she landed on her back rather than her head. There she lay for several seconds, gasping for breath and seeing stars.

Something thumped against the bathroom door. The creature she'd known as Dicks was coming after her. She scrambled to her feet, grabbed her backpack, and ran like hell.

In the bathroom, wood splintered and something metallic hit the tiles—the towel rack, giving way. Fear thrust energy through her limbs, and she raced toward the end of the motel units.

Glass shattered behind her. She risked a look over her shoulder and saw a reptilian head snake through the window, eyes gleaming like yellow fire in the night. It hissed, an angry, alien sound that sent chills shuddering down her spine. She stumbled over something in the grass and threw out a hand to stop herself from falling. She didn't see the glass hidden by the weeds, and she sliced her palm open. The smell of blood seemed to permeate the storm-clad night, and the creature screamed a second time.

A fence loomed in front of her. She threw her pack over it and grabbed the railing, climbing up. Splinters tore into her palms and sawed at the cut on her left hand. She ignored the pain and scrambled to the top of the fence.

The wind hit her full force, the rain like bullets thudding against her flesh. Suddenly unbalanced, she grabbed the fence, clinging precariously and wasting valuable seconds.

The creature's roar filled the night with anger. She felt its launch in the sudden gust of wind, but before she could react, it grabbed her leg. Claws ripped into her flesh and pain flamed. She screamed, a sound swept away by the wind.

Energy surged through her, crackling like lightning between her fingertips. The creature didn't seem to notice, grabbing her leg more securely and pulling back, hard. He was strong—too strong. She had nothing but the top of the fence to hold onto, and against the creature it wasn't enough.

She fell, landing in a heap at its feet. Her breath left in a whoosh of air, and once again stars danced in front of her eyes. She battled to breathe but didn't move. In Dicks' malevolent yellow eyes she saw the elation of victory. A smug smile twisted his thin lips—the same sort of smile that had irritated her earlier.

"Now, you too must die." His voice was guttural, almost scratchy, as if he wasn't used to talking in this form.

"It's not my time just yet," she muttered and thrust up, moving past his blow, into the circle of his arms.

His breath was putrid, a stale mix of decay and fresh meat. Gagging, she thrust a hand against his chest.

The energy playing across her fingertips leapt to his scaly flesh and became a spiderweb of blue-white tendrils that encased him in heat. The smell of burnt flesh stung the air. He howled, his claws tearing into her back.

She bit her lip, holding back her scream and forcing herself to concentrate. Sweat that was more fear than effort dripped into her eyes. Focusing the force of the heat-spun energy on the creature, she pushed.

The creature was ripped away from her, soaring back through the night and landing with a crash against the end unit. It didn't move, but she knew it wasn't dead. She had given herself time, not freedom.

She scrambled to her feet. For an instant, the world spun, and she had to grab the fence to keep from falling. Lethargy made her muscles shake, and her heart felt as if it were planning to leap out of her chest.

She hadn't used her abilities much in the past, but the few times she had, the same thing had happened.

All magic costs, Helen had once told her. In her case, the cost was physical, and in a situation like this, that could be deadly.

She took several deep breaths, then grabbed the top of the fence and climbed over. Her right leg buckled as she landed on the far side, and she crashed to one knee. Tears stung her eyes, and she swore vehemently. Red-colored water pooled at her feet, only to be swept away by the lashing rain.

Just what she'd seen in her vision in the bathroom, she thought absently, and grabbed her coat from her pack. After throwing it on, she pushed upright and hobbled away as fast as she could.

The streets were dark, empty. A light glimmered up ahead, a wash of yellow that reminded her of the creature's eyes. It was coming after her. She could feel the heat of its malevolence reaching through the night, searching for her.

A sob caught at her throat, and she broke into a run. The wind slapped against her as she turned the corner, catching her sodden hair and thrusting it back like a flag. The rain was a constant stream against her face, making it difficult to see. But she knew this area. Helen and she had jogged around here every morning. She could have run home blindfolded.

She pounded across the road, heading toward the footbridge that arched over the railway tracks. Her street lay on the other side. Surely the police were still there. Surely they could help her.

But even if they weren't, her car was. She'd be safe in the car. The creature might be able to outrun her but it wouldn't outrun her old Ford and its V-8 horsepower.

And if it got in her way, at least she'd be able to run the bastard over.

But there were people on the bridge and an old couple climbing the narrow stairs. She looked over her shoulder. The creature was behind her, gaining fast, its mouth open in a silent scream of anger. She couldn't push past the old couple without knocking them over, and if she waited for them to get clear, she'd die.

She ran.

Past the bridge. Past brightly lit homes that offered false illusions of warmth and safety. The creature behind her wasn't going to be stopped by lights or warmth or even locks. If anyone in those houses offered her sanctuary, they'd die, as Helen had died. As Constable Ryan and the pizza boy had died.

The heavy thud of footsteps drew closer. Its hate sizzled across the cold night, as sharp as the sound of its breath. Up ahead, two bright beams of light rounded the corner. She threw up a hand to protect her eyes from the sudden glare, but the headlights died as suddenly as the sound of the engine.

She ran on, knowing the creature was gaining on her, knowing there was little she could do to avoid it.

The energy began crackling across her fingertips again, but it was little more than a muted spark. She needed more than a few minutes to recoup the energy she'd already spent, and against the creature behind her, mere sparks wouldn't be enough.

She approached the car. There was someone standing beside it—a shadowy form that looked more a part of the windswept night than anything real or solid. She swerved away, heading across to the other side of the road, not wanting to risk endangering someone else.

The creature was close. Its breath washed heat across the back of her neck. Another sob caught at her throat, and fear flushed fresh energy into her legs. It wasn't going to be enough. Was never going to be enough. In the blustering touch of the wind she felt the heat of the creature's launch.

"Kirby, drop!"

She did without question. Heard two sharp retorts, like a car backfiring. Felt the heat of the creature fly over her head. Heard the crunch of its body as it hit the pavement only feet away.

Saw the black liquid that leaked across the wet concrete from the gaping hole that had once been its head.

Her stomach churned, but she swallowed against the rising bile and clenched her fist, calling to fire once again. She wasn't out of the woods just yet, because footsteps approached. Measured, cautious steps.

"Are you okay?"

The voice was accented, but not heavily so—American, she thought. But it was deep and warm, and as soothing as hot chocolate on a winter's night. It was also the voice she'd heard in the bathroom.

She shifted slightly, squinting up against the rain. The stranger stood by her right side, a black-cloaked figure holding a gun he kept aimed at the creature.

"Can you hear me? Are you okay?" he repeated, still not looking at her.

Somehow, she found her voice. "Who in hell are you?"

She felt more than saw his smile, which was odd. Helen had always been the empathic one, not her.

"What, no hysterical overtures of gratitude?" His tone was light, yet she sensed a hint of curiosity. "Not even a thank you for saving your life?"

"Not until I know who you are and why in hell you're here." Not until she knew if she'd jumped from the frying pan into the fire.

"You may well have done just that," he said, voice suddenly sober. "But believe me, the danger has nothing to do with me."

Anyone would have thought she'd spoken aloud. Her fear rose several notches. Light danced across her fingertips, brighter than before, but still nowhere near full-strength. Time, she just needed time.

"You won't need your weapon against me," he said softly. "I didn't save your life just to kill you, believe me."

Right now, she wasn't into believing anyone. Particularly someone who'd conveniently appeared out of the darkness the precise moment that she needed help. "Then what did you save it for?"

"Certainly not to hold a conversation with you in the middle of a storm. You want to get up?"

"You want to tell me your name?"

Again, she sensed his smile. "Doyle."

"Doyle what?"

"Doyle Fitzgerald." He glanced down. In the glow of the nearby streetlight, his eyes were blue, but a blue so dark they were almost navy. "Is that leg of yours stopping you from getting up?"

She shook her head and pushed upright. Pain shot up her leg, and she yelped, losing her balance and heading back to the concrete.

He grabbed her arm, holding her upright, his touch almost white-hot against her chilled flesh. Once again her vision blurred, and she saw not her black-cloaked rescuer but a dizzying montage of images in which a big black panther was always central.

Though it made no sense, one thing was clear.

Doyle Fitzgerald wasn't exactly human.