Tomorrow Never Dies (Moonlight 3)

Chapter 21-Win Some, Lose Some

"Just where do you think you're going?" The man repeated.

I leapt backwards, my foot landing on something hard and oddly shaped. Calum let out a sharp yelp only a moment later, and I jumped again realising I'd stepped on him.

I could only stare at the man before us and his hulking form, and the growing red tinge to his irises. My mind searched frantically for an escape route, but I wasn't sure there was a way out of here. Our only exits the window behind him, but we'd need to get past him somehow. We could try to make it back to the bedrooms or the living room and find a window or a door. Though I could bet if there was one werewolf here that there would be plenty more with him.

We were so dead.

I felt a slight nudge on my shoulder and turn just as Calum pushes past me. He has the red gem in his hand now and holds it at arm's length by its golden chain. His mouth opens as he starts to speak the words to activate it. I'm surprised that he can even remember them. I start to half close my eyes, so the gem won't affect me. That's when I see the larger man snatch it right out of his stunned hands. Calum stops mid-sentence as the man drops the pendant to the floor and stomps down hard on the stone smashing into a billion tiny fragmented pieces.

The man's eyes narrowed furiously on Calum stepped closer towards me looking nervous. A moment later the man raised his arms and stormed forwards pushing both Calum and I backwards. I fell cleanly on the carpeted ground with a yelp, falling to the floor, feeling a sharp pain in my gut. Calum let out a loud gasp as he flew back into the cupboard behind me. The cupboards shook and the containers on the shelf began to fall and shatter around him on the floor. Calum began to cough and howl in pain, and I let out a small yell as debris from the cupboard struck me as well. Even the man was coughing. A wall of dust forming around us.

'I'm okay.' Calum spoke with a slight a wince through the bond, only moments after it had sounded like things had stopped falling from the cupboard. I strained my eyesight to try and see him through the dust, but he was only a faint outline.

'Me too.' I replied, though I couldn't stop the hammering in my chest as I tried to anticipate the man's next movement.

As the dust cleared, I managed to make out the glowing red eyes and form of the man who had attacked us. He was eerily close now, kneeling directly across from me. There was something predatory in his gaze. He looked to be sizing both Calum and I up. I knew he would strike soon while we were still down and disorientated by the dust.

He was strong too, the spot in my stomach where he'd pushed me lingered with a phantom pain. I wondered whether we were capable of challenging something like that.

I narrowed my eyebrows, I knew we couldn't just let him win though without a fight. If he was here, he was part of those murders. I had no reason to be cautious or careful around him. I had to do whatever it took to get us both out of here.

I waited until his eyes were back on Calum and I could see a little bit better. I let out a small growl as I sucked in a deep breath and willed for my body to make it's shift into my wolf form. I felt my skin prickle and my form change, and I stood. The man's attention turned from Calum and onto me, he looked confused.

I took my chance, noticing his slight disorientation. I leaped forwards off my hind legs, bowling him over and pinning him to the ground. I could feel him beneath me trying to push back. The man was strong, it was taking all my energy to keep him pinned. I gritted my teeth just trying anything to give Calum long enough to get out of here.

I turned to him through the clearing dust, hoping that he'd take the hint. Sure, enough Calum was frantically brushing himself off, he stood up quickly. Racing past us at an inhuman speed. He made it to the window and pulled at it violently until it finally managed to slide open. He beckoned to me to follow him.