Page 28 of Anger

“Don’t agitate him,” Lanie muttered.

“Lanie, stay back,” Mac whispered.

“He’s got a gun,” she exclaimed.

“And Ranson and I are trained to deal with them.”

A scream came from somewhere close by as a woman became aware of Simon waving his weapon. Other people started screaming or yelling and ran off. Others watched and whipped their phones out to record this. Lanie shook her head. That showed everything wrong with today's generation. No decency left.

“She is a monster!” Simon screamed, flecks of spittle at the corner of his mouth.

“Miss Cross is human. Jesus, man, what are you on to believe in monsters? Aren’t you a little old?” Mac taunted to retain Simon’s attention on him.

“She’s a Lamia. A half-snake woman. And she carries the Sin of Anger. It escaped from Pandora’s Jar,” Simon yelled.

If there’d been any doubt left, it fled then. Most humans recalled the Jar as being a box. Simon was definitely working for the Hunters.

“Put the gun down. You do not want to harm an innocent lady,” Mac soothed.

“No, I don’t, but she’s not innocent. If I have to shoot you to save the world, I will!” Simon ranted.

Ranson moved so fast Lanie thought he was a blur. He leapt forward and reached for the gun. He and Simon wrestled for it, and there was a gunshot. Lanie stiffened as Simon looked horrified.Ranson’s legs slowly gave way, and he collapsed to the ground.

“No!” Mac called, but he kept her behind him. “That’s my cousin, and you just signed your death warrant,” Mac hissed.

Police sirens wailed in the distance as those who’d been filming now ran away.

Simon seemed panicked. “He deserved it for protecting a monster.”

“Where’s your evidence she’s one? You caught her shapeshifting? Seen her Sin? You crazy fuck!” Mac spat, and Simon looked a little unsure.

“I was told she is!”

“By the voices in your head?” Mac fumed as he began edging towards Ranson. He kept Lanie behind him. Lanie knew she’d survive a bullet, but Mac wouldn’t let her past him.

“No. A man I respect told me!”

“Where’s his proof? You saw pictures? Images?” Mac yelled.

“Yes! I have.”

“Of Miss Cross shapeshifting. You’ve seen pictures of that?” Mac spat. “Stay with me, Lanie.”

“Well, no. Not of her shifting, but I’ve seen the Lamia,” Simon replied.

“So, you are telling me. I could show you a picture of a werewolf, and you would believe me, and then I could point you at someone, and you’d off them? No evidence of that person being a werewolf or shit. You’re a sheep and a prick,” Mac continued.

“Alainen wouldn’t lie!”

“No? What’s the betting he wants her, and Miss Cross rejected him?”

“She seduced him,” Simon cried.

“When?”

“Thousands of years ago!”

“Do you have any idea how batshit crazy you sound? Now you’re saying Miss Cross is not only a shapeshifting monster but thousands of years old?”

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