Page 94 of Beneath the Starlight and Storms

The crumbling pillars and what’s left of the cars might give me coverage and time to think of something else… Or long enough for Hook to find us. The bracelet should lead him to us soon. I just had to buy us some time and make sure none of them get close enough to use their shadows on me.

Just before the Hunter with the violet eyes reaches us, I break off and run for the closest pillar, silently thanking Hook for making me run on those running machines every day.

The Hunter takes the bait and chases after me, leaving the girl and her family alone while the wounded leader limps slowly behind him.

Spotting some crumbling rock on the ground, I pick it up and randomly throw it toward them, hoping it will knock one of them out as I move toward a large deteriorating car.

Hiding behind it, I spot a doorway on the other side of the room. It’s past two pillars and a handful of broken cars. But it looks like it’s my only option.

The Hunter quickly finds me, but I’m already moving toward the doorway, pushing my legs to go faster as I pass the cars and pillars.

Just a few feet away from it and the violet-eyes Hunter appears from nowhere, blocking my way through the doors.

Narrowing his cold, darkening eyes on me, he moves towards me. Once he’s close enough, I strike out using the palm of my hand to thrust upward at his nose just like Hook taught me.

He stumbles back a step but is not deterred by his bloody nose, as he shakes it off quickly and advances once more. I dodge his grasp and put as much force as I can into punching him in the throat.

I guess he didn’t expect me to have any other tricks up my sleeve because my punch ends up hitting him exactly where I aim, his eyes widening as he chokes out a gasp, before falling on his knees as he hunches over in pain.

Turning, I run through the creaking doors. Only to realize I’m in another rundown room like the one I just left.

I quickly glance around but the leader appears in front of the doors with a piece of cloth wrapped around his fresh wound.

The twin Hunters appear beside him a moment later and all span out either side of me, caging me in.

I glance behind me for another way out, but I realize too late that I’ve cornered myself in.

One of the twin Hunters reaches me first but just before he grabs me, I pull out my last dagger, holding the hilt in my palm and slice it sideways as I move past him.

When I hear a grunt of pain, I know I’ve hit something important. I don’t think much about it as I make my move to the other side of the room and away from them.

My mind wanders to the other Fae, hoping they’re safe. But the small distraction costs me as the leader appears in front of me, a snarl on his face as he blocks my way.

I start to back up when I spot shadows slithering along the ground towards me. Turning, I find more heading right for me before they form into two figures.

Whipping around, I find another shadow forming into the Hunter with the violet eyes, his bloody nose still bleeding, just as the leader reaches us.

They all surround me in a circle, glaring at me as they move toward me.

Seeing no way out of this, I start to panic. If they take me in their shadows, I’ll never be able to escape them.

They move closer, closing off any chance of escape. My chest tightens as one of them reaches a hand out to grab me.

I tense up ready to attempt to fight my way out of this once more. Even if it’s just to buy myself a couple of minutes. But the room around us rumbles before it shakes and moans. Dust falls from the ceiling as cracks climb up the crumbling walls.

The Hunters freeze, narrowing their eyes around them. With the slight distraction, I take a step back, but the leader of their group whips his head toward me, his stare menacing.

“Get her,” he roars.

They all move toward me just as the walls blast open across from us, revealing Hook. His eyes find mine, his look of fear and panic quickly subsiding. But it’s soon replaced with a vicious look filled with pure rage as he aims his gaze directly on the Hunters surrounding me.

The uninjured twin reaches out to grab me. A soft brush of a finger is all that touches me before they all fly backwards and away from me.

Hook moves straight for me as Cash and his men filter in behind him.

“Are you okay?” Hook asks. I feel the slight tremble in his hands as he checks me over.

A grunt of pain and the sound of movement comes from behind him. Hook spins around, placing himself in front of me just as the Hunters gather once more and attack.

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