The Black God - Page 169/187

A familiar, tiny flash of red light flickered in the corner of her eye. She reacted instinctively, arcing and dancing away from his charge and the weapons he held.

He missed her, and she faced him. "That shit won't work on me anymore."

"Maybe not. But something tells me you're in no shape to fight." His pleased smile was cunning. "I didn't leave much of you left in the factory."

"Yeah, thanks for that." Her gaze settled on the bone knife he held in one hand. "You got anymore of those fancy knives?"

"I already gave you one and you fucked up. I think I'll keep the last one for myself."

I need that knife. Ashley blew out a breath. The patch Jonny put on her epilepsy seemed to be holding. Valon was bleeding in at least one spot, which made her think Jonny hadn't gone down without doing some damage. "Okay. Let's do this," she said.

Valon waited for her to attack, as if suspecting she was too weak. Ashley began praying once more she was able to Travel without collapsing. She'd have the energy for one chance to surprise him - and then she was screwed.

She willed herself to disappear. Before he could register what she was doing, she materialized behind him and plunged both knives into his wrist and forearm to force his hand release the bone knife.

Valon roared in pain. He dropped the knife and backhanded her hard enough to send her sprawling onto her back. Ashley scrambled to her feet and charged him, breaking off right before she made contact to snatch the knife and roll away.

She rose and crushed the knife beneath her heel. It snapped into three pieces. Valon smashed into her before she had a chance to be relieved. Ashley twisted out of his grip and slammed to the ground. He grabbed one leg and yanked her back towards him.

"Let's see what it is Jonny finds so interesting about you." Valon's eyes glowed. "I hear Watcher blood runs in your family and tastes like honey."

"Let's not!" she snarled and slammed her other foot into his neck. She clawed her way out of his reach and hopped to her feet once more. She was lightheaded, and the faint tremor deep inside her was a warning she'd pushed her luck with the Traveling.

Valon lay coughing on the ground. Ashley kicked him hard in the gullet and then smashed her knee into the back of his head.

He went limp, not quite unconscious and not quite awake either.

She dropped beside him, dizziness and the internal quaking growing stronger. "No, no, no!" she ordered herself. Jonny's patch was slipping, and she was on the verge of collapsing into a useless, convulsing heap beside a vamp that wanted her dead. And when he was done with her, he'd finish off Jonny. Her hands shook too hard to grip weapons, and her vision was blurring.