3
Fin
Megan can barely walk. I didn’t lie when I said I don’t know how the poison affects humans, but I hope it’s not fatal. She’s got courage, and enough smarts to be afraid of me—which is infinitely better than having women swoon and paw at me.
There’s at least four of the little fuckers on the roof, I’m hoping there’s not many more. The last thing I need is a plague of poenpoeth roaming the city. They seem to leave a trail so all their relatives can follow. Yesterday there were only two. Today, I swear I’ve seen twenty. Tomorrow? I shudder.
I’ll need to call the Outer Realms Café and ask for help.
Unlike many of the riders, I love cell phones. They are useful not only for calling for back up, but I can log dates, places, and beasts. Now that Danni is running the café, she’s coercing the other riders to carry a phone too.
However, that doesn’t help me right now.
Megan stumbles against me, and I grip her tight, so her toes don’t touch the ground. The poenpoeth have our sent, and they are pissed with me, and by default Megan. They’ll keeping coming after me until they are all dead, or I am. But while there is even one alive, any new arrival will somehow learn what I look and smell like.
“I don’t feel so good,” Megan whispers.
We’re halfway through the now almost empty mall and completely exposed. “My bike is over there. Then I’ll take you home, or to the hospital.” I need to get her safe.
“No hospital. I don’t have insurance.”
I’ve seen enough TV since arriving to know what that means. “Right. Home it is.”
At least poenpoeths can’t cross a solid boundary, unlike some creatures from faery. Really, someone needs to compile a bestiary and list all their attributes and which outer realm they come from, because I swear poenpoeth aren’t an extreme outer realm creature. Maybe mid realm. There’s a vibration about them that’s different to other creatures.
“Not your home,” she says.
“No yours.” Mine is on the other side of the lake and a little more secluded. But I don’t want to be driving her out of the city while she’s like this. “You live close?”
She nods. “About 10 minutes away.” She gives me an address to a part of the city I’m not familiar with.
The poenpoeth are getting bolder. Two have jumped off the roof and bound closer. She glances behind. She can hear them, even if she can't see them.
“Are they yellow?” she squints up at the roof where two others watch.
“Yeah. You couldn't see them before?” I didn't rip the veil away so she could see faery, so why can she now see the poenpoeth?
“Whatever they stung me with...” she grips her stomach. “Where did they come from?”
“Faery.” If she can see that they are yellow, I’m not breaking any rules by telling her more.
She trips. “Faery? For real?”
“Yeah. And they are pissed. I can explain it all when we’re safe. I don’t want to be stung again, and I’m pretty sure you don’t either.” I pull the crossbow out from beneath by jacket and let her go so I can notch another arrow.
I could use a gun like some of the others, but I’ve always been good with a crossbow. My father called it embarrassing that I couldn’t use a sword. But then, back in his day, that was the only option riders had. He forced me to follow in his footsteps when I’d have rather been a bard.
The closest poenpoeth hops backward like it’s learned to fear my weapon. It watches us far too closely. Then it hisses at me, baring its fangs. I should shoot it and be done with it. But I’ve had a gutful of killing today. I point the arrow to the sky, not sure if it will understand that I’m not going to kill it unless it comes close.
Megan wobbles on her feet, her forehead is slick with sweat and she doesn’t look so great.
I shove the crossbow back into my jacket, scoop her up and run for my bike. She lets out a little yelp like she isn’t used to being carried. I can sense the poenpoeth are following. They’ll follow me all night. By killing one I cursed myself, but if I’d done nothing, they’d have swarmed the city.
I keep her in my lap as I start the bike. It’s not ideal, but I don’t think she’d be able to hold on if I put her behind me. “Can you give me directions?”
Otherwise I’ll have to get out my phone and that will waste time. Besides, I want her awake, and getting us home will give her something to do.
She glances around. “Um, go left and then keep going until you reach Fifth street, then go right.”
