Just for a second, the vibration in the air halted, and I had an odd sensation of everything around me freezing—as if the astral plane itself held its breath. Then that moment passed, and the vibrations rolled on, little maggots of energy that crawled across my skin.
I cannot show what I cannot see. As for my name . . . His voice lowered, forcing me to lean forward a little to hear him.
But rather than continue, his hand shot out, something I felt rather than saw. I pulled back, Amaya instantly in my hands, an action that was more reflex than any spoken desire on my part. His fingers hit her blade rather than me, and his skin split. Blood flowed, though it was black rather than red. Purple fire leapt from the blade to his hand, and he jumped back, shaking his fingers in an attempt to rid his fingers of flames.
Amaya, release him.
Her grumbles filled the back of my mind, but the flames crawled from his flesh and dropped harmlessly to the ground.
I swung her lightly back and forth in warning. The stranger's features followed the movement, even though he had no eyes.
Do not attempt to do to me what you did to Dorothy, stranger. Amaya still burned with hunger and the need to attack, but her flames failed to lift the shadows around us. Whoever this stranger was, he seemingly had the ability to control how I saw the plane.
He didn't say anything for several seconds, simply continued to study me as he shook fingers that looked red and blistered. It was a clear indication that you could be harmed on the astral plane, and made me wonder what the hell he'd actually been trying to do.
But waiting for him to speak made my nerves crawl, so I said, What is this challenge you're offering?
It is a race, of sorts.
Define "of sorts."
I had an odd impression that he was smiling, but I didn't think it was a nice sort of smile. Tomorrow I will send the Directorate a clue to help you find my next victim. You—and you alone—will conduct the search.
And what will you be doing while I'm trying to save the next victim?
The sense of cat and prey suddenly sharpened. I shivered, and the buildings around me darkened even more. I swallowed heavily and thrust away the fear, but it didn't do a whole lot to ease the tense atmosphere.
What will I be doing? he repeated softly. Well, my dear huntress, what I will be doing is hunting you.