Page 93 of Starry with a Chance of Nightshade

“Go!” shouted Dave, the smile leaving his face. “We’ve got this handled. Get to her. Keep her safe! We’ll find you when we’re done here.”

ChapterThirty-One

Astria

With a wooden broomhandle gripped tight to my chest, I walked through the campus. I’d have waxed nostalgic had I not been chased by a horde of brain-eating monsters to the location. Once I’d seen with my own eyes that Torid was okay, I’d taken stock of the situation. When I’d seen the number of them, I’d panicked and wanted to get them far from the populated area. My intent had been to trap them in one of the alleys that were near Chicken on a Pitchfork, but that hadn’t gone as I’d hoped.

There had been too many of them and they’d split into three groups, something I’d never seen them do before. In an attempt to get their attention, I’d done something dumber than run headfirst into danger. I’d found the nearest sharp object I could (which just so happened to be a rusty nail) and I’d dragged it over my forearm, drawing blood—something I knew they were big fans of. That had left two of the three groups chasing me.

And that was how I’d come to find myself on campus. I’d not meant to run in that direction, but the way had almost seemed to light itself. Quite literally. I glanced up at the night sky, taking in the sight of the streaks of lightning that seemed to happen in perfectly timed intervals.

It weirdly also seemed to be happening above where I was.

Exactlywhere I was.

This wasn’t my first go-round with lightning acting strangely around me. I’d have questioned it, but I was currently hunting for monsters my father had stitched together so really, my ability to suspend my belief in reality was stellar.

The monsters had been hot on my trail right up until I’d crossed over onto campus grounds, moving faster than I’d ever seen any move in the past. Then they’d scattered like roaches when a light came on. I still had the rusty nail in my pocket in the event I needed additional blood to lure them to me, but so far, my arm was still bleeding nicely. The issue was they weren’t taking the bait.

It was as if they were afraid to be on the grounds. Had it always been that way? The house I’d shared with my roommates was close but not on the grounds themselves. Could there be something to the theory? Were the monsters scared of Grimm U? If so, why?

And if they weren’t here, where were they? Had they gone to ground like they’d been known to do during daylight hours? Or were they lurking, waiting for the perfect moment to strike?

The buildings that were all done with heavy nods to Gothic architecture hadn’t changed a bit in eighteen years. A strange mix of emotions brewed just below the surface as I remembered all the good times I’d had while attending the university. All the friends I’d made, despite never being great in social situations. The good times had far outnumbered the bad, but the bad had been downright horrific. I couldn’t have one without the other. The memories were now and would forever be tied together.

The campus common area was empty, which was strange. It wasn’t that late. When I’d attended school, it was seemingly brimming over with students at nearly all hours. Nighttime even seemed to bring out more, but that didn’t seem to be the case now. I’d seen a few random students walking, but other than that, no one.

The flashing in the sky stopped and it took a second for my eyes to adjust to the level of lighting in the area this time of night.

I pulled the chain I wore out from under my shirt and held the pendant and ring in my hand. I gave the pendant a good squeeze, feeling bad for Torid. He was alive but banged up. He’d not wanted to leave me, choosing instead to try to protect me, but I’d taken his choice away, wanting him safely tucked away rather than dead. I’d summoned him back to the pendant in mid-run.

Now, with no sign of the monsters anywhere to be seen, and no people around, I could check him over fully. I whispered the words to free him.

Out popped a dark shadow that quickly took the shape of a large dog. A very unhappy-looking dog.

I went to him quickly and bent, setting the broom handle on the ground before checking him over thoroughly. “I know you’re upset with me. You were hurt.”

I’s a war-rior,he protested with a hiss.

Pressing a smile to my face, I fought tears, hating that he felt the need to protect me. “Yes. You are. And I love you for that, but I don’t want anything bad to happen to you either. Do you understand?”

He licked my cheek and pushed his head to my shoulder, slobbering on me in the process.Loves you.

I gave him a gentle squeeze around the neck. “I love you too. Now, tell me where it hurts.”

Reluctantly, he stood and lifted his back right leg.

It was then I saw the bite mark. One of the creatures had managed to sink its teeth into him. It didn’t look too deep, but it did look like it hurt.

“Let’s get to the house. I can clean it there,” I said. “Then I need to figure out where the monsters went.”

He sniffed the air.Not here.

That much I knew.

“I’ll need to look around to be sure,” I said. “And then I have to find Stratton and apologize for running out on our date.”

Torid grunted loudly, expressing his thoughts on the matter in the form of a fart.

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