Second Skin (Skinned) (6 page)

Tricky little suckers

In tandem, the hooded figures launched themselves onto the hood of the truck, crushing the metal under them with a deafening crunch.

Brit gasped. “Holy hell, how much do those little guys weigh?” My stomach rolled. The sour gas smell permeated the night.

Ugh, talk about silent but violent. They freaking stink!
Out of the glare of the headlights, and up close and personal, I studied the creatures crouched on the hood. Huffs of smoke billowed from mouths filled with jagged teeth. Snowflakes drifted past hooded faces, absorbing the red glow from their eyes to fall like blood drops to their feet.

Bare feet. Buckled, hair-covered toes.

“What
are
you?” I racked my brain for possibilities. I hated to admit it, but I was thinking outside the monster box, more in line with high fantasy lore. This was comic-shop-dwelling nerd territory, the stuff of video games and sci-fi graphic novels. Hadn’t my father told me a thousand times faeries, elves, and their ilk were nothing more than fancy-assed stories? Still… trolls? No. They moved too fast. Goblins? Nope, no gray beards. They were nothing I’d seen and yet strangely familiar. Right down to the medieval brown cloaks and pigmy stature.

The truck rocked as Alec climbed onto the tire near the driver’s door, using it for extra height as he jabbed his blade at the creature closest to him. It turned its head, and let out a series of rapid, high-pitched squeals, near dog-whistle level.

I flinched, ready for some real inner-ear damage when the blade struck home.

But that didn’t happen.

Alec’s fist remained suspended at full strike. The blade trembled in his grip. With a wave of its hand, the creature sent the bowie knife soaring through the air. Alec dropped to the ground. Stunned.

The little rotter was some kind of wizard.

Matt bellowed in anger, hauled back, and swung his axe at the other little guy. It sliced through him all right, but he was smoke and mirrors. The axe went right through his small body as if he wasn’t there and struck deep into the metal hood. A chug of steam burped from the engine.

Oh, they’re tricky little suckers. Come on, Eryn. Think. What the hells bells were these things
?
Gremlins
?

Matt pulled ineffectually at the axe handle, but it was lodged like the sword in the stone. Apparently he wasn’t King Arthur.

“Check on Kate,” Alec yelled, and Squire Matt ran to in- vestigate the body abandoned along the brick wall of Conundrum café. I drew up onto my knees, straining for a better view of Kate, but she’d slumped forward, folding over, and all I could make out were her slim shoulders and the awkward tilt of her head.

Alec dove across the buckled hood as the beasties launched onto the roof of the cab. The roof crunched down on Brit’s side first, then mine. Alec stared at us through the front window, his expression grim.

“What are you waiting for?” He jerked his thumb to my door. I dove for the handle, but above us, the roof continued to collapse under the weight of the creatures. Cold metal squealed in protest, inside the cab and to my sensitive wolven ears, the sound

was magnified into
Tyrannosaurus rex
roars. I covered my ears.

Brit screamed. I yanked her down, ducking low to avoid being crushed. Each step the creatures took smashed another depression in the roof. The truck gave one mighty shake as the cloaked figures jumped off the back of the cab. Brit and I sat up and stared out the window in time to see the small but mighty duo soar into the air, arms over their heads as if propelling them. No need for wings, these guys flew Superman style.

Their cloaks swirled in the wind as they disappeared into the night sky, taking their stench with them.

“Show-offs,” Brit said, her wings twitching.

I released a shocked laugh. This was one freaky town. Getting freakier by the minute. From vamps to weres and now miniature shriveled dudes in cloaks.

Alec heaved on my severely imploded door. It did more than open, it dropped to the ground with a clatter. I kicked the gear bags out first. Alec caught them in his stomach with a loud
oof
and a glare. While he was occupied with stowing the bags in the back of the truck, I scooted across the seat.

Obviously I wasn’t moving fast enough.

“Hurry up, let me out.” Brit’s hands beat at my back. “Damn.” I snarled, sidestepping the fallen door and a scowling

Alec.

Brit scooched along the seat, a mess of limbs and wings, and exploded from the truck with a frustrated roar. Her mouth opened wide to reveal sharp white teeth, pointed as though she’d filed them that way.

“Over here,” Matt called, and Brit bolted ahead, flexing her wings high above her shoulders in agitated twitches.

I kept close to her heels, though out of striking distance of her wings, with Alec’s controlled steps behind me.

As we approached the entrance, I recognized Kate’s voice. “I’m all right already,” she told Matt who was efficiently

patting her down, testing for broken bones. Ever the healer, our Matt. Her words held all her usual snark, but came out breathless and scared. Not what I’d come to expect from Redgrave’s most powerful witch. “For the love of the goddess, guys can’t ever resist a quick grope, can they?” She slapped at his hands. “I thought you had a girlfriend,” she joked, her many facial piercings glinting in the headlights, harsh against her pallid skin.

“He sure does,” Brit said. “And she’s right here.” Kate took in Brit’s scales. “Oh, sweetie. Not again?”

Brit ducked her head. Getting the nod from Matt, she helped him lift Kate to her feet.

“I’m fine,” Kate said. “They drained me of some power, nothing more. A few minutes and I’ll be ready to help you track them.” The slight witch wobbled, unsteady on her feet, but with Matt and Brit supporting her under each arm, she was able to stand.

“No internal injuries,” Matt said, meeting Alec’s concerned gaze over Kate’s head. “Not even a scratch. As far as I can tell, she’s okay.” He wrapped a strong arm around Kate’s waist, bearing most of her weight.

Alec nodded. “Get her inside. I’ll be there in a minute.”

Brit murmured soothing words to Kate as they half-walked, half-carried her through the back entrance.

I hesitated, noting the way Alec was scanning the darkness. I knew he’d do a final sweep to ensure the creatures were long gone. I’d offer to go with him, but the tension between us begged for an outlet. Being alone with Alec in a dark alley might not be the best course of action. We’d either end up in a screaming match or falling into each other’s arms. Neither option did anything for my separating from Alec campaign.

“Don’t be long,” I said, turning away.

No reply, though Alec’s broad form stayed within my peripheral vision.

I risked a direct look.

He was waiting, gaze steady on mine.

“Worried about me?” His lips twisted. “And you wonder why I don’t believe that ridiculous vision? It’s wrong, Eryn. Some sort of karmic mistake.” He half-turned, and then paused. “You’d never hurt me. How come I know it and you don’t?”

When I made no move to stop him, he jogged to the truck to take care of the weapons and turn off the still sputtering engine.

Though I’d felt a jolt of hope at his words, Alec doth protest too much. He was masking his fear with a big old show of bravado. I’d lived that way for so long I recognized the signs.

Alec was just learning the game.

Heartsick, I followed the others through the doorway and immediately froze, my hackles rising.

In previous visits, I’d entered the café through the commercial storefront. Now, coming through the back entrance, I sensed magic I’d never felt before. To the right, the others were slowly guiding Kate along a darkened hallway. To the left, a staircase descended to a lower level. The basement. A faded black pentagram decorated the ceiling above the steep stairs. Sigils were carved into the handrail. The stairs themselves were made of old oak. Kate worked her mojo down there, I’d bet my life on it. I could smell the history, the incense, and the faintest lure of mint. Like Wade’s magic.

The darkness below waited. Still and quiet. And yet when I drew on some of my wolven vision, slipped beyond human perception, incandescent flickers, like the spits and sputters of an old black-and-white film, called out to me. Guiding me.

I wanted to go and investigate. No, I
needed
to.

“Eryn, a little help would be nice.” Brit’s voice broke through my thoughts. I shook my head and tore my gaze from the stairs.

“Coming.” I strode after them, past the entrance to the industrial kitchen and into the seating area of the café. Lights from the pop cooler and baking display unit provided a dim glow.

The café had none of its usual charm with the lights dimmed. In fact, the tarot card-like posters on the walls, images of the hanged man, death, the fool, looked downright creepy. The vintage couches and walnut tables that usually seemed so funky and cool now looked ancient, weary, and secretive.

Matt and Brit lowered Kate into one of the recliners.

“A bit of rest is all I need,” Kate said, settling into the chair, her face gaunt and pale. “And maybe some ginseng tea.”

I took the hint, plucking the tea from the display shelf and grabbing a clean mug from the help-yourself rack. Conundrum was easy-breezy that way. So was Kate. Usually. This wan, weak version worried me.

“Pour the hot water from the coffee machine,” Kate said. “There’s a water spout on the side.”

The water was boiling hot. I filled the cup and added the tea bag and brought the steaming cup to Kate, placing it on the tree- trunk table by her chair.

“Thanks, Eryn.” Kate put her hand on my arm. I tensed under her touch. Weird to be scared
for
someone and be scared
of
them at the same time. Why was I surrounded by people who could see more than I’d like? They had a supernatural advantage. It wasn’t right. I ignored my own paranorm advantages for the purpose of a good pout. But Kate merely smiled and released me. “It’s nice to be waited on for a change.”

I wasn’t sure of the specifics, but Kate could sense emotions, gain knowledge, or learn closely guarded secrets through laying hands on someone, or possibly
something
. However, I’d felt no zing of power. Kate hadn’t snooped. This time.

Brit tucked her wings in tight to avoid knocking over a stack of books left out on a table for customers to peruse. She shot Kate a tired grin. “Love the silver streak in your hair. Very goth.”

Kate put a hand to her wiry auburn locks, pulled down a few flowing strands and frowned at the shock of gray.

“How about I put on something a bit more…human.” Brit headed behind the sales counter and pulled out a backpack filled with her stash of emergency garb. She threw it up in the air. It caught on her wingtip claw, leaving her hands free to grab an energy drink from the cooler and twist the cap off. She took a long gulp, finishing the bottle. She grabbed another.

“I’ll pay you back,” she said on her way to the washroom to change.

Matt put a five-dollar bill on the counter near the till. He paced restlessly around the perimeter of the eating area, scoping for any sign we weren’t alone. Although with all the wards and magics Kate had established at either entrance, I was confident no one could get in without her knowledge.

That’d be why the beasties attacked outside.

“So…scary little dudes in itchy cloaks. Definitely new items on the café menu.” I settled into a chair opposite Kate. “What were those things?”

Kate opened her mouth to answer, and then shrugged. “I have no idea.”

“Demonic hobbits?” I suggested, earning
are-you-nuts?

expressions from both Matt and Kate.

“What happened? Lay it out for us,” Matt said. His pan around the room complete, he perched on a stool at the counter, swiveling back and forth.

“We had a band playing, so we were open later than usual.” Kate gestured to the tables and chairs that had been re-arranged to make room for a makeshift stage. “They were pretty good and drew in a crowd. Standing room only. Shannon and Jess worked a double shift to help out. I sent them home. They’d been on their feet all night.” She shifted in her chair. “About to lock up, I took the last of the garbage to the bin out back. I heard a scuffle behind the bin, and then those things came at me.” She shuddered.

“So you don’t know what they are either?” Brit asked, back in human form and decked out in her usual goth fare. She dropped into a tweed rocker and brought her knees to her chest, wrapped her arms around them, and gave a weary sigh. Her eyes fluttered shut. Her lashes, caked with black mascara, rested like tiny spikes against her pale cheeks. Strands of her straight black hair hung limply from her scalp, slashing down her face in harsh lines.