Reckoning Page 0,66

newspaper box like a mangled toy and how easy it had been to tear up a cop car, how easy it would’ve been to pull the trigger on that poor county sheriff. I thought of Dad, and Mom, and Gran’s house burning down, and Graves’s eyes turning black as Sergej reached through him. Of Ash screaming while he tried to change back into his human form.

I don’t want this. I never wanted this.

I didn’t even know how to fight back without hurting someone who didn’t deserve it. Or who might’ve deserved it, like Lyle or the hex-kid, but who might not’ve deserved how much of it I dished out.

Another high piercing cry, this one much closer and shading up into what had to be ultrasonic. It drilled through my head, but I was pretty sure the cops clustering around wouldn’t hear it.

Get the hell out of here, Dru. The need to be moving rose under my skin. I couldn’t tell if it was more rabbit-jumping, or if it was the touch warning me. If I started doubting the touch I was dead in the water, but I was also dead if I tired myself out running when I should’ve been staying put and resting so I could run when it was absolutely necessary.

“All right,” I muttered, and took a look around. They were starting to lose hope over in the train yard, and apparently nobody seriously thought I would’ve gone this way. The warehouse slumped under an oppressively heavy sky, hard diamond points of stars trying to pierce the orange glow that was citylight trying to replicate sunset and failing miserably. Other warehouses crowded close, some empty and others just locked up. The spaces between them weren’t overly wide. Not for a djamphir, I guess. Which meant not for a svetocha.

I eyed the closest building, the one that would set me up for leapfrogging to another one, and another. My eyes picked out the likely route with no help from me, and the aspect’s warmth was a balm even under the oppressive heat. My left hand stopped smarting and settled into a heavy ache.

First things first. Wonder if I can jump to that rooftop over there?

Well, no time like the present to find out.

A half-mile away I dropped the duffel and peered down into the street. It’s amazing what a difference so short a distance can make. A neon sign down the street—a pair of legs in fishnet stockings—blinked blearily on a post lifting it up like a sacrificial victim. Underneath it, a red-roofed windowless bulk crouched. The place was called the Lustee Ladee, and I immediately crossed it off my list of Places I Might Conceivably Want To Hide.

On the other hand, there were cars clustered around it like shiny little piglets hooking up to a sow. It was a veritable smorgasbord. A good chunk of people who worked around here were probably parked there, having what I supposed might pass for a good time to a certain type of grown-up dude. I realized my face was squinched up as if I tasted something bad at the thought.

I crouched on the nearest warehouse roof, a muggy breeze touching my messed-up braid but not cooling my forehead one bit, taking my time. You can’t just pick any car. It has to be right—something with some legs and pickup, but that won’t get you pulled over. You also have to consider that a parking lot isn’t the best place. Too much chance of someone strolling out or a bouncer getting nosy, a security camera or something messing everything up.

I was still eyeing my choices when the touch twitched inside my skull, and my head jerked up. My left hand jerked, palm filling with molten pain. There was a low weird sound like silk tearing, and my heart dropped into my stomach with a splash, somersaulted, then leapt up into my throat and did its best to strangle me.

The red and blue sparks came out of nowhere, birthing themselves from the static-laden wind. Swirling, they coalesced, and the shape gathered strength. Long and low, a lean muzzle and four slim legs, a gleam of eyes as smoke appeared too, filling in the spaces between the sparks. The knots resolved too, complex threads catching and holding fast.

It would have probably been awesome if I could just stay still and watch how it was being built. You always want to pick up new stuff where you can.

For a few precious seconds I froze, staring