Page 141 of Kick the Candle (Knight Games 2)
Silently, I crawled forward, reaching for Nightshade. I pulled myself up on the pool table and Naill made a face like a cockroach just poked its head out of his macaroni salad.
"You're Mr. Helleborine. You helped kill the last Hecate," I stated dumbly, possessed by some unexplainable need for closure. "You and Anna were the ones helping Marcus from the outside. And now you're trying to kill me again."
Kai tilted his head and his eyes flicked to something behind me. I followed his gaze to see Naill grinning, his hand charged with green energy. Holy crow that little guy was fast!
"Fuck," I mumbled before he zapped me with his magic and a bag slipped over my head, plunging me into darkness. Yeah, that protection enchantment was definitely done for, and probably, so was I.
ice
Nightshade in hand, I bolted up the stairs. My kindergarten teacher, Mrs. Chloe, would have been very disappointed as the razor sharp length of bone in my hand was much worse than running with scissors. Behind me, the nekomata pounded on the door, hurrying my feet. I ducked into my room sending out mental vibes with everything I had, calling Rick and Poe to me for help.
The raven flew full speed toward the glass and I popped open the window just in time to let the streak of feathers inside.
"They've surrounded the house!" Poe squawked.
"No shit. Where's Rick? Did you see him coming?"
Poe shook his head. "He wasn't anywhere. Maybe inside the house?"
"You tried the door?"
"Briefly. I knocked. He didn't answer."
"Crap. I knew he was angry, but I didn't think he'd completely give up on me."
"What's he angry about?"
"No time, Poe. We've got to stop Kai and Seraphina."
"How do you plan to do that?"
I poked my tongue into my cheek and fiddled with Nightshade's hilt. "I'm going to run Kai through with my blade and send him to Hell."
"And the rest of the nekomata?"
With a huff that lowered my shoulders and blew back his feathers, I said, "I'm going to kill as many as I can before I die."
We stared at each other until the pounding on the door was joined with an ominous crack. I suspected it was the wood beginning to split. I repositioned Nightshade and moved for the door.
"May I make a suggestion?" Poe interrupted. "A self-protection spell might keep you alive a few minutes longer. Some magical armor or accelerated healing might be in order."
Two bounding steps and the kiss I planted on the raven's head made him cringe away from my grip.
"Control yourself, woman!"
"You're the best, Poe."
"Make haste, dear witch, or we are nekomata fodder."
I tore my phone from my pocket, trying to ignore the time (11:38 - shit!) and started searching my Book of Light app. No healing spells; I hadn't made it to "H" yet. But there was one for armor under "A", and best of all it was a simple incantation using Nightshade as a magical amplifier.
Extending the blade in front of me, I spoke the incantation but the power flaked impotently around me. "This daylight is killing me!"
"Would you like me to help? Familiars are known to amplify magic."
"Um, no, I'd rather be torn apart. Get over here!"
Poe circled the room and landed on my head, digging his talons into my scalp.
