Another earth-shaking scream came, pain blossoming in the air around the monster.
Ropes of shadow shot out from the weights, their tips sharp and pointed.
I screamed in denial as they headed for Liam's back. A heavy weight was in my hand before I could think. I flung it at those shadows, nailing one.
My actions distracted it long enough for Liam to move out of the way.
There was a breathless pause as the creature and its smaller friends noticed me for the first time.
I took a step back. "Maybe that wasn't my best idea."
"You think?" Kat screeched, already scrambling away from me.
Two more shadow ribbons streaked toward me as the creature took one lumbering step.
My eyes widened as I grasped for a weapon. Any weapon. I hurled ball after ball at it, throwing them as hard as I could. Next, another weight found its way into my hand and I threw that as well.
"Any time you jerks want to help that'd be nice," I shouted as those ribbons got closer.
"But A, you make such a lovely decoy," Nathan shouted.
I snarled.
Seriously, what possessed me to ever consider that ass a friend?
Daniel and Makoto shared twin vicious grins. They worked in tandem, targeting the creature’s legs as Liam appeared on its back, ripping into its neck. Flesh flew as he savaged the creature.
Connor leapt onto its chest, helping Liam from the front.
In moments, they beheaded the monster born of shadows. It hit its knees before toppling forward.
Eric, Sam and the man whose name I still didn't know attacked the smaller creature. Between the three of them, they had it in pieces in the blink of an eye.
Panting filled the gym as we took stock.
Liam straightened from the creature's back. His face and body were covered in black ichor. It didn't hide the fury or bloodlust wreathing his features.
His gaze landed on me, the world fading as possession and desire took the place of violence. Blood and death didn't bother him. If anything, it was an aphrodisiac calling to his more primal self—and mine.
Liam took a step toward me.
A pulse filled the gym, tangible and physical.
The creature and its many parts dissolved, becoming liquid shadows.
"This is odd," Makoto said.
The shadows shot toward me.
"Aileen!" Liam's warning was too late.
The shadows wrapped around me, strands of ribbons echoing the tattoo on the creature's body. They encircled my arms and legs, wound around my throat and torso, holding me immobile.
Out of the corner of my eye, I caught a slip of shadow dissolving into a shimmer of light. The distortion in the air grew, magic rippling across its surface.
I heaved against my bonds. I knew what that meant.
A fairy door.
