Out of the Lamp

Chapter 23: Wolfed

When I open my eyes, the world is dark. The stench that assaults my nose is a foul reeking musty odour that borders on death. I wrinkly my nostrils at the scent mixed with dust. Blergh - yuck.

My ears perk up and twitch this way and that, as I haul myself off the dirty floor. The narrow passage is an alley. Worn bricked buildings line either side, with a faint dim glow at each end. I dust my trousers down and groan as my back and shoulders protest.

This is what I get for not concentrating quick enough. A shitty landing and a shitty injury. I'd be showing up bruised by the end of the week, I just know it.

A loud slam sounds not far away, coming from above me and my body stills immediately. My head turns upwards and I look to the night sky for answers. The dull slams are getting faster, quicker, and most terrifyingly of all, louder. It's like hail raining down on tin rooftops in sheets of unrelenting downpour.

Something was jumping between buildings. Many somethings.

Time to nope the fudge out of here. I tell myself, summoning the familiar rush of power. I calm my senses and think of home. My bedroom. Bed. Mmm delicious bed-

'Look out below!' A loud cry comes from above.

A loud slam sounds right in my ear as something lands on the roof of the building directly adjacent to me. I can hear struggling limbs as whatever it is seems to slide, unable to find grip. My concentration snaps as I scream in surprise at the fast falling shadow. Whatever it is, unceremoniously tumbles off the side of the roof, kicks off the opposite building wall, and comes to rather graceful atop, right on top of me.

I let out a loud 'Oomph!' As I'm flattened.

'Oh my goddess!' Comes the same high pitched squeal.

I look up into the most mesmerising golden orbs I've ever seen. The sharp protruding canines and half-shifted form, alongside the general aura omitting from this being, betrays this as a were. Judging by the particular aura I could sense, this was a she-wolf. As in werewolf. The shape shifters of the Immortal world.

She hauls me to my feet and twitches nervously, this way and that. Her apprehension so very palpable to me. It was so strong, rolling off her body in crushing waves, it was beginning to affect me too.

In the dim light of the moon, I could make out only dark hair and fair skin. A long, lithe and athletic body, and facial features to die for. Her eyes have changed to a deep colour, as opposed to the unsettling glowing gold from before. My inner pervert whistles approvingly at how smoking hot this girl is. Even in the dark...to be honest I think I look better in the dark...when you can't see me and my flaws are cancelled out by the dimness-

'Ahhhh!' She grabs fistfuls of her hair, looking from me to the gap above us in the alleyway.

Snapping me out of my mundane thoughts. The pelting slams on metal roofs continue to get closer, and louder. I can feel the hairs rising on the back of my neck in warning.

'We need to run!' She snaps suddenly, her voice changing and morphing dangerously low. The wolf having taken over as her eyes glow gold once more. She grabs my hand, a feverish heat coming off her skin that makes me flinch back at the blistering temperature; her long claws scrape against my skin. Her nails having lengthened and unsheathed. I admire them glinting in the moonlight. Ooh I need me a set of those! So sharp, so shiny.