Page 114 of I Accidentally Hired a Shadow Walker
“What?” Talkeen laughed. “Even if that were true, she can’t reach you here. Sad. I never thought you were the kind to let a woman fight for you.”
“People change,” I spoke from over Talkeen’s shoulder, surprising him.
When he turned to look at me, I was ready for action. I told the vines to attack, and they did. They slapped him, hitting him in the chest. Talkeen, startled by the surprise attack, fell backwards, sliding across the ground. I took that moment to run to Raymond’s side.
“You good?” I asked as I reached him, glancing down at Cufio, who clearly wasn’t.
“Absolutely.” Raymond looked at me proudly. “You?”
“Yes. Rayna showed up, so she’s helping Metice. I told Olian to get the others out of here. Figured this place wouldn't be standing when we’re done with him.”
“Smart girl.” He looked over his shoulder at his brother. “You heard her. Get out of here, find somewhere safe so you can rest up.”
“I can fight,” Cufio coughed, still clutching his center.
“Like hell you can. Go now,” Raymond ordered him.
“I got his back.” I nodded at Cufio, reassuring him we would not leave without each other. “Go.”
He sighed, conceding, and a dark space behind Cufio opened. After one last glance at his brother, he fell back into it, disappearing.
“Let's do this,” Raymond spoke as Talkeen got up.
I didn’t think I hit him that hard, but the man looked like he’d already been through a war.
Talkeen said nothing. Once he dusted himself off, he attacked, and I realized pretty quickly that the space we were in belonged to him. Threads of shadowssnapped at us furiously under his command. Raymond fought back, but Talkeen was right: he was stronger.
“We can’t stay in here,” Raymond said. “As long as we do, he has the upper hand.”
“How do we get out?” I tried to ask the shadows to free me, but that didn’t work. I heard a resoundingNOin my mind.
“We work together.” He blocked another strike from Talkeen. “When I open a doorway, use your vines to keep it open. He’s strong, but he’s struggling against them.”
Talkeen realized what we were doing quickly. My vines threaded around the opening of the doorway Raymond created and pulled it wider.
“No!” He launched what would have been a brutal attack, but Raymond wrapped his arms around me, and we fell out the shadows back into the hall.
Most of the others had already left, but there were still a few who lingered. Unfortunately for us, they weren't on our side. Raymond and I had fallen onto our backs but made it back to our feet just as Talkeen stepped into view.
“Looks like you’re all alone now.” Talkeen smiled as if he was happy, but the tension around his eyes betrayed his mask. “Thank you for making this an easier task for me.”
“Get over yourself,” Raymond said. “I swear, it's like you’re trying tobeKlougus even though you claim to hate him.”
“I am not!” Talkeen shouted, but the sound was borderline whining.
When he said it, I imagined him stamping his foot like a child, and it made Talkeen look a lot less threatening. Maybe that was Raymond’s point. Let me see what we were really up against. A child mimicking more dangerous adults.
“Let’s get this over with.” Raymond glanced at the shadow cores. “Looks like your toys aren’t doing too well. Do you honestly think youcan fix that?”
“Yes, just as soon as I kill you and add your energy to my collection.”
Another glance around the room to double check confirmed we were, in fact, alone. Part of me wished Rayna would pop in with her explosive powers, but that was selfish. It was better for them to be out of the way.
“I got you,” Raymond spoke to me as the five shadow walkers circled us.
“You better.” I winked at him. And when he laughed, the fight began.
Talkeen stood back and watched as we took on his men. His disappointment became obvious quickly as Raymond and I worked together like a well-oiled machine. He used his shadow hands, forming more than I had seen before, and I used my vines in combination with the roots from the ground. He would pin someone, and I would wrap them in the roots, dragging them deep down into the ground. It wouldn’t hold them forever, and if they were stronger, they could have gotten out of it easily.
