Shadows Rising (Darkness Falls Book 2)

Chapter Thirty-Seven

All too soon, night fell and Samuel and Luke headed off to the woods. I didn't indulge in a tearful goodbye with Luke – I was shutting down all the emotion inside me so I could act on pure instinct.

I dressed in my old hunting gear; black leggings and a long-sleeved black vest, along with a zip-up jacket to wear over the knives, and anchored my blonde hair in a tight ponytail. I slipped on my most comfortable running shoes, and took a moment to stare at myself in the mirror. My hand moved to my shoulder, feeling the ridges of scar tissue beneath my clothes. I'd survived worse than anything Rachel could throw at me. That bitch was going down.

Before leaving, Clara had handpicked a selection of knives for me, spreading them out over the kitchen table. I had knives of my own, but Clara had always taken better care of her weapons than me and hers were of better quality.

"Are you are sure you have enough weapons?" Elena asked, watching as I clipped sheathed knives to my belt.

"If I take any more I won't be able to run as fast," I said. Speed was the most important variable in this scenario – if I wasn't fast enough to outrun Rachel, we'd never even make it to the woods.

Elena still looked worried.

"Everyone is armed, don't forget," I said. "And if the worst comes to the worst, there are lots of broken branches in the woods that I can use as stakes."

Contrary to what Hollywood told people, wooden stakes weren't all that effective. Trying to get a giant toothpick through bone was not easy as films made it out to be. The best way was to angle the stake up under the sternum and pierce the heart from there, and that required more skill than simply stabbing someone in the chest with a knife. But I'd killed a vampire with a broken branch before and I could do it again if needs be.

Elena nodded and kissed the top of my head. "Be careful, sweetheart." There was real fear in her voice, a mother's fear for her daughter. I pulled her into a quick hug.

"We'll be fine," I whispered.

Subtly armed, I walked out of the house and hit the night-time streets. But I didn't immediately start running – first, I wanted to get Rachel's attention, and that meant looking vulnerable.

I walked down a couple of streets before breaking into a light jog. There were plenty of people still out and about – dog walkers and other joggers, couples heading out on dates, people returning home from work – but no one spared me a second glance. I was just an ordinary teenage girl, nothing worth a second glance. Looking at me, small and slightly built, no one would guess that beneath my jacket I bristled with knives, and inside my heart a slow pulse of anger was building.

Bring it on, Rachel.

I did a slow half-circuit of the neighbourhood. I couldn't go too far from the woods otherwise I might not be able to lead Rachel back there, but I couldn't make it too obvious that I was looking for her.

I'd just completed my circuit when awareness tightened my skin, lifting the hairs on the nape of my neck. Every instinct I possessed told me someone was following me. I kept my face neutral, but inwardly I was coldly grinning. I knew Rachel wouldn't be able to resist what she thought was easy prey.

Anticipation coiled in my muscles, my fighting blood rearing to life. I turned a corner, fractionally picking up the pace. Once I could see the woods I'd break into a full run, but for now I just needed to keep tempting Rachel on.

Rats have been known to kill cats. Clara's words echoed through my mind, and I curled my fingers, imagining sharp rodent claws sprouting from the tips. Maybe I was just a rat in Rachel's eyes, but I was a rat who fought back. It would take more than a psycho vampire with delusions of grandeur to bring me down.