Changeling (Book 1) Rated R

Chapter 29

Before he could reach her, Hannah reacted with a quickness I didn't know she was capable of. She rushed toward him, somersaulting into the air to meet him half way, her nightgown exploding off her body.

I blinked and almost missed the flash that transformed her body into a half animal half human hybrid.

Her legs double in size, hind muscles bulging as she delivered a kick that sent the Soulsucker crashing into the brick archway.

Snarling, he stood so fast he blurred, coming at her once more.

Hanna's body moved lithe as a wolf.

She looked human enough except that she was covered in rust colored fur and her motions and muscles were predatory.

Her eyes were a luminescent yellow, cat-like, her finger nails long and her nose elongated to look like a muzzle.

They broke into a deadly dance.

The Soulsucker circled her, Hanna mirroring his gestures. He lunged at her but she leaped out of the way, landing yards down on all fours, her body shuddering as she snarled at the vampire.

I realized had to escape Ally and fast.

Hannah needed my help.

As the two supernatural creatures battled, I faced my own battle of forcing Ally to release me.

I squeezed my eyes shut though this did nothing to drown out the snarls.

I forced myself to drown everything else out.

I stoked the fire, angry that I was a prisoner in my own body.

A roaring noise echoed in my ears, almost like the rush of blood when you run too fast.

"Aimee!" Hannah yelped.

My eyes flung open, once again breaking my concentration.

"Hannah, I can't—I can't move!"

Hanna skirted around the soulsucker but he anticipated her move. His open-palmed hand caught her around the throat. Slowly, he lifted her animal-like body off the ground, Hannah's toes just barely brushing the ground until all that held her up was his hand.

Ally, let me go, damn it!

"Stop it!" I shouted at the vampire.

He ignored me and I could see his fingers tightening. Hannah's growls turned into yelps that sounded like an injured dog.

Her feet kicked the air.

The soulsucker slammed Hannah into the ground, whipped out a blade and slashed her throat with it.

"No!" I roared.

A burst of energy and rage exploded from me, going from zero to one hundred in a split second and two things happened at once.

First, the fiery magic tore through my body, incinerating the thin film of Ally's presence, shoving her outwards and the second, less powerful wave shot out to the soulsucker.

I breathed hard as I stalked toward the soulsucker while he patted his arms and legs, trying to diffuse the flames.

When I reached him, it was like something else had taken over me.

I saw red.

I grabbed him by the throat just as he'd done to Hannah and my palm burned black, scorching him where it touched.

He wailed in pain as the brilliance grew and grew, his skin sizzling beneath my fingertips.

A searing second of clarity took over when I realized he was nearly dead.