Page 115 of I Accidentally Hired a Shadow Walker
As we continued to arrest the members of Talkeen’s team, I could feel them beneath me, struggling to get out, and made sure the roots reinforced their holds, threading into the shadows they hoped to use to escape.
When we disposed of his men, Talkeen had no choice but to face us alone. I thought more would come, but they didn’t. Maybe his team wasn’t as strong as he wanted everyone to believe. I‘d hoped to make the first attack, shooting the roots from the ground to hit him in the back, but Talkeen had studied me. He anticipated the move and dodged the hit, retaliating with his own strike. A sharp slap of power hit me in the chest, knocking me over.
Raymond moved between us, blocking a follow-up hit.
“Guess she’s not that strong after all,” Talkeen mocked Raymond’s previous bragging.
Raymond didn’t respond with words. Instead, he raged. One look at me on the ground hurt, and whatever weakened him lost all effect. I heard the anger inhis growl, and he called the shadows to him; they built around his arms and legs like armor. Then, Raymond took the fight to Talkeen. And I mean, he fought.
Talkeen tried to avoid Raymond, using his shadow techniques to protect himself, but soon enough, Raymond was on top of him, pounding away at a dark shield between them. I watched as the barrier cracked and Talkeen cried out.
Then, Talkeen held his hand out to the orbs, and thin strands of shadow started their path toward him.Stop it!intuition yelled at me, and logic went out the window. Yes, I know Raymond said to avoid contact with the damn things, and yes, I know I could have very well been running to my own demise, but I also knew I couldn’t let Talkeen pull any power from those orbs.
And, like Captain Save-a-Ho, I jumped between Talkeen and those shadowy threads, and they slammed into my back.
“No!” Raymond screamed when he realized what I’d done, and Talkeen took that as his opportunity.
He punched Raymond in the jaw, knocking him down. Then, he turned his attention to me—only, I realized too late that I couldn’t move. I looked down to see the shadows ripping at the fabric of my clothing.
“Fine, I’ll take you out first.” Talkeen was on his feet. He marched over to me, quickly wrapped his hand around my throat, and squeezed.
My lungs burned as I gasped for air, but the second I opened my mouth, a dark strand moved down my throat, aiding his attempt to strangle me. My eyes burned with tears and the edges of my vision darkened.
Just as I was about to lose consciousness, Raymond punched Talkeen in the side of the head, knocking him to the ground. He stood over him, shadows whipping from his form angrily.
“Don’t you ever touch her again!” Raymond screamed, and the building shook. What was left of the structure crumbled around us. Thethreads from the shadow orbs left me alone, choosing a better target. They shot over to Raymond, and at first, I thought they would hurt him, but they didn’t. They fed him, giving more power to his rage.
You’d think I’d be happy about it, but that intuition was telling me yet again to intervene. This wouldn’t be good for Raymond.
As I gasped for air, I felt Kaa beneath my flesh. She moved frantically, angry I had been hurt. I could hear her voice, a snake-like sound stretching the syllables.Release me!Pressure formed in the center of my chest, and I ripped my top to see her face forming.
“Have at it,” I told her, and Kaa shot out from my body in a massive expanse, larger than I had ever seen her before.
With her, the vines also lifted from my body, leaving my skin tattoo-free. Kaa coiled at my feet before she looked back at me. Our eyes connected, and in a moment, we had a full conversation, and I just knew what she wanted me to do.
Kaa went to Talkeen, and I went to Raymond. Before she reached him, three other shadow walkers appeared. It didn’t matter, though, because she was ready. She entered the shadows, drawing his defense into the darkness, and I watched as the snake jumped from shadow to shadow. Each time she reappeared, her belly looked fuller until there was no more left for her to eat.
“Nice trick.” Talkeen coughed, and he scooted back toward the shadow orbs.
“It's a new one. Thanks.” I positioned myself between him and Raymond, who looked almost unrecognizable. Every time Talkeen moved, he shot another blast of power around me and into the man.
“I don't need them to kill you.” The broken shadow walker spit, trying to convince himself he was still on top. “Besides, if he keeps absorbing that power, it will take him out for me.”
I looked back at Raymond and instantly understood. Talkeen wasn’t lying. Raymond’s body bloated with power. The shadows covered more and more of him with each passing second.
What was I supposed to do?
“Raymond.” I turned my back on Talkeen as Kaa started stalking him. “Listen to me. You have to fight it.”
“I will not let him hurt you.” His voice, a deep rumble that resonated with the power he’d absorbed, shook the space around us.
“Raymond, I’m fine,” I spoke carefully. “Look at me, focus on me.”
Gently, I placed my hands on either side of his face and forced his eyes, now pitch black, to look at me. “I’m okay, but I won’t be if you don’t fight this. I can’t lose you here. Fight it, Raymond.”
I saw a recognition flicker in his eyes, and then I could only think of one thing. It was cliché; it was corny; it was so dang sweet, it made my stomach ache. It felt right.
I kissed him.
