sharp fingers. A face with glowing eyes and a curved beak. Its expression held cunning and anger.
Virulent, I want to rip your face off and eat it, anger.
My second swing went wide, and it hit me, the momentum sending me back into the island. The countertop edge dug into my back.
My hands went for the beast. One still held the knife, making it unwieldy, but I wasn’t about to drop my only weapon.
I shoved at the creature, but it clung to me. Snapped its nasty, foul-smelling mouth.
“Get off me!” I shrieked. I threw myself forward and leaned enough that when I hit the counter on the other side, I caught its body with it.
Something cracked.
Nothing of mine, thankfully. The monster spasmed and loosened its grip. I didn’t waste my chance.
I flung myself away from the creature and ran, still holding that knife, aiming for the circle. Mostly because it was also in line with the door. Maybe I could run outside and make it to my car. Betsy might have windows they could break, but surely if I drove fast enough, I’d lose them.
But I had to make it to my car first.
The next tremor sent me to my knees, and I skidded as the floor tilted. Slid right into the circle.
I braced my hands on the floor—palm flat with my free hand and with the knuckles of the one holding on to the knife. The floor shivered. Head hanging down, I couldn’t help but mutter, “What’s happening?”
The house groaned. Shifted. I’d swear it grunted. Something was majorly wrong.
“Awk!”
The cry had me glancing over my shoulder just as a new gargoyle face poked out of the stove’s vent. Lovely. Just fucking lovely.
I let the annoyance and anger flood through me rather than the despair trying to well up. I’d tried despondency. It didn’t work.
Besides, not acting would get me killed. These monsters were out for blood. I stood and held out the knife.
“Come on, you bastard.”
I’d kill it. Me. Because my damned cat had disappeared. Seriously, where was Grisou? I could have used an epic mouser. He’d been fearless in my shop, and now he was missing. It chilled me as I realized why he might not be coming to my rescue.
What if he’d been…
No. I wouldn’t think it. Not my sweet kitty.
Crack. The sharp noise drew my gaze. The window over the woodpile showed a spiderweb and a dark shadow behind it.
Another knock or two and it would be through.
“Squawk.”
The one in the kitchen barked, and there was a reply.
Not good. My knife would be useless if they all attacked at once.
“I am going to die.” Painfully. If only I had a gun. I could shoot them from my spot in the circle.
“Now would be the time to prove you’re actually listening,” I muttered to the house.
It groaned in reply. Could my home be sick?
The cottage shivered again. Broken glass tinkled as it showered the floor. I couldn’t help but glance at the window, the moonlight showing the outline of the newest gargoyle crawling inside and then blocking the light as it unfurled its wings.
I shifted my stance, bracing myself with the knife out. Maybe I could slice it midair…if I were coordinated.
“Once again, I could really use a gun,” I muttered.
Why wasn’t the house doing something? Never mind the craziness of the thought, I’d been coming to terms of late with the fact my cottage was special. Capable of providing all the things I needed. Except the most important, apparently.
Safety. Why wasn’t the house protecting me anymore? Why did it appear as if it were dying?
I glanced around as it continued to shudder, and more ugly faces appeared. It was as I let my gaze stray back to the island that I saw the plant inching past. Still growing. A major problem, especially as it glowed a bilious green. It was pulsing, too. Each pumping flex matched a shudder of the house.
Evil thing.
The weirdest thought to have. But what if I had gotten it out of the house like I should have days ago? Before I could think twice, I ran from the circle for the glow.
At first, the gargoyles grinned, their beaks opening wide to show forked tongues. I reached the island before they shrilly cried.
I grabbed at a rooting tendril of the plant and shuddered as I touched it. Cold and clammy. So gross. And heavy, too. It grew fatter in my grasp, and I dropped it. I’d never be able to carry it outside. I’d