Page 34 of Monsters of Mayhem

“Monstrous?” Ratchet said with a laugh. “Yeah, I know, but I’m assigned to him by the DGC and well, you know, after the last hundred years he’s kind of grown on me.”

“Hundred years!” Laney exclaimed.

“Can we get on with this,” I said. I reached forward and grabbed Laney.

“Hey, don’t get too close,” she said, trying to pull away from me. “Last time I checked you were with my best friend.”

“I’m not with your best friend,” I said. “I’m also not making a move on you. Just come on. These wings aren’t just for show.”

“Can anybody else see you like this?” she asked peering around.

“No, I’m not using the mirage for you,” I said, “Everybody else sees me as a normal person if they see me at all. The truth is most people are so caught up in the way they see life from their perspective, they don’t see the magic world at all. Even when it’s right in front of them and showing them what it is.”

“Let’s go,” Ratchet said. He was already hovering in the air. I grabbed Caroline. “We’ll head to Alameda. I’m sure she’s still there and then we’ll find her.

Laney let out a little squeal as I lifted her in the air and we headed off to Alameda. I knew it would only take us a few moments once we got there to look up the number she had and trace it to where Caroline was located.

Chapter 20

A loud boom shook the whole house as something landed on the roof.

“Holy fuck,” I muttered.

I glanced over at Lana and Elle. putting my hand over my mouth. I wasn’t used to being around young people, but I was sure my words weren’t appreciated.

The coven didn’t seem to care though; they had other things on their mind. They all stood up immediately and surrounded me.

Their backs were to me and their hands shot out, ready to lay magic on whatever was coming through the door, or through the roof from the sound of it. My heart raced in my chest, and I could feel my hands get clammy. I checked inside myself to see if I wanted to sing, but there was no impetus.

I wasn’t sure if that meant no one was going to die or if maybe I was going to die and because it was me that was going to die, I wouldn’t sing for my own death.

There was so much about this world I didn’t know and didn’t understand. One thing was sure something had landed on the roof of Eunice‘s house and it was coming for me. The loud thumping sounds walked across the roof and then dropped down onto the front porch.

“Be ready, ladies,” Eunice said.

“We were born ready,” Lana said.

“I was born ready,” Elle said. “You were born second ready.”

Lana stuck her tongue out at her.

“I don’t think this is the time for arguing,” Lady Albright pointed out.

I could tell the adrenaline was running through everyone.

The circle of women closed around me in protection as the door was blasted from its hinges.

“Ryder.” The word came rushing out of me as he burst through the front door in his monster form.

“Caroline,” he said, rushing forward and grabbing me. Both of his arms were around me and he was holding me close before I could even breathe.

The way he held me so close and so tight was almost as if what they said about him was true; he did love me.

My heart was racing. I had spent so long trying to escape him, but here he was coming after me anyhow.

I pulled back. “You can’t lock me up again,” I said.

“I’m sorry,” he said. “I was just trying to keep you safe.”

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