Shadow Rising

“Theia!”

Nik’s voice echoed through the alleyway from behind me. But I didn’t stop running. I didn’t know why, I just had to go.

Seeing my dad’s face like that, all twisted like a gargoyle, had royally f’d me up. Him being in Limbo and watching me from beyond the grave was about enough to tip me into psychosis.

“Theia! Just stop!” Nik screamed frantically again.

I could hear his footsteps, close enough behind to suggest he was somehow able to keep up with my Elkie speed. But I ignored his pleas and pushed on, running until my lungs ached.

The sky had turned fully dark now. Back in Bear Mountain, being out at night was no big deal because everyone was Elkie or Fae and all the buildings stayed the same. But in New York City, the darkness meant something else. It meant the streets were filled with Daimons and moon Mages, Shapeshifters and Vanpari. It meant the buildings transformed from brownstones and art deco towers into Gothic skyscrapers.

Before I knew it, I was in a whole different city than the one I’d come to know. A shiver ran down my spine. I was lost.

My shoes scudded on the sidewalk as I came to an abrupt halt. I looked around, searching for any kind of recognizable feature but coming up completely empty. I may as well have been in Timbuktu.

From somewhere in the shadows, I heard a strange sound. Raspy, heavy breathing. Icicles traveled up my neck, making the hairs stand on end.

“Hello gorgeous,” came a growling voice.

I swirled, seeing two crimson, glowing eyes blinking at me from the darkness.

As the owner of the eyes took a step forward, emerging from the shadows, I felt my stomach turn. Standing in front of me was an Incubus.

If I’d been scared by the Baphomet guard at school, he was nothing on this guy. Baphomets were knuckleheaded fighters. Incubus, on the other hand… well, let’s just say they made perverts look like prudes. This was bad. This was very, very bad.

I went to raise my bow. But in a blindingly fast motion, the man slinked toward me. He grabbed my bow with his clammy-looking, ice-white hand. He was so close I could see the downy fur covering his skin.

We both held my bow firmly. The feeling of his hands on it made me nauseous.

“Ooh, an Elkie,” he purred, his hot breath tickling my face. “Are you lost?”

“I’m fine,” I stammered, trying to tug my bow out of his grasp.

He kept his grip firm and staggered forward. The smirk on his lips sent waves of revulsion through me. His penetrating glare was cold and emotionless, like he didn’t even see me as a person.

“Elkie aren’t meant to be out after dusk,” he said.

He leaned in even closer, until there was barely even a gap between us.

“Get lost, golem,” I said between my teeth.

His mouth cracked open into a horrible grin. “I love a girl who plays hard to get.”

He moved in a sudden springing motion, shoving my bow across my chest and slamming backward into the wall. I kicked out, the sole of my boot colliding heavily with his bare white stomach. He let out a groan of pain, but my blow barely left a dent. A second later, he was flying at me again.

I swung my bow round, cracking it against the side of his neck. Then I twirled it and jabbed him in the gut like it was some kind of bayonet.

This time the Incubus staggered back, clearly wounded.

“HEY!” came Nik’s booming voice.

Relief swelled through me.

From his folded-up position, the Incubus’s head snapped up. “Why didn’t you just say you had a boyfriend?” he snarled. “I wouldn’t’ve bothered trying to seduce you.”

That was meant to be seductive? Jesus.

Nik’s footsteps grew louder. The Incubus skittered off into the shadows and was gone.

Heart hammering, I turned as Nik raced up to me.

“Was that an Incubus?” he panted, reaching for me.

Without hesitation, he pulled me into his arms. I stood there, wrapped in his strong embrace, feeling an overwhelming sense of calmness overcome me. His cool skin seemed to seep into me like a damp cloth on a fevered forehead. I sank against him, feeling protected and safe.

“Why did you run?” Nik said.

I shook my head against his chest. “I don’t know. Hearing my dad. Seeing him. Everything with Geiser and Trevor. It’s just too much. I can’t handle it.”

Much to my embarrassment, tears flooded into my eyes and out onto Nik’s tee. But he didn’t pull away. He kept his arms locked tightly around me.

“You can handle this,” his firm voice said beside my ear. “You’re strong, Theia. Brave.” He paused. “Badass.”

I could hear the admiration in his tone. For the first time, the thought that Nik liked me the same way I liked him seemed possible.

I moved back, feeling his arms loosen. But he didn’t drop them.

I looked up into his eyes.

Okay, I definitely wasn’t imagining it. Nik’s eyes were smoldering.

All the fear and worry and anxiety I’d felt before seemed to suddenly melt away. Just like when he’d held me in Battle Class, it felt like the world around us no longer existed.

Nik’s gaze trailed down to my lips. I felt my heart spike with anticipation.

He’s going to kiss me. He’s going to kiss me!

Suddenly, a bright flash of light made us pull apart and stagger back, blinded. I brought my arms up to shield my eyes and winced. A car horn blared.

“Is that…” Nik began.

“Retta,” I finished.

I’d never been more disappointed to see a friendly face in all my life.

Retta dimmed the car lights and poked her head out the driver-side window. “Guys, come on!”

My cheeks burned as I hurried to the car. Nik avoided eye contact. He slunk into the back seat, his gaze fixed out the window. I slid beside Retta.

Retta looked over at me. She was wearing an expectant expression.

“What?” I asked, my insides squirming.

“Aren’t you going to say thank you?” she said. “I mean, I totally just saved your ass. Five minutes more and who knows what could’ve happened!”

“Thanks,” I mumbled as I slumped down in my seat.

Five more minutes with Nik. Who knows what could’ve happened…