I saw him the second we stepped out of the three-story building. He was across the street, hands in his pockets, his pupils glinting black even from thirty feet away. Before I knew it, my swords were in my hands, and adrenaline took over.
At first, I was shocked he'd found me—I'd kept my focus, shielding my magic with perfect precision, never allowing a slip. But then I remembered the four people standing behind me. If I had any doubts before about their nature, they were gone now.
"Get back inside," I said to them, stepping forward to show the mindless thingie he wouldn't be getting what he came for easily. In response, he smiled, his pale skin almost ghostly under the sun, unnerving me more than I'd admit.
"What is it?" Luca asked, scanning the street.
"Him." I nodded across the road. "Get back inside and wait for me there."
This was exactly what I meant when I'd said I was fine on my own. Now, to lure the thingie, I'd have to show him my magic and draw him into an alley, out of public view. But that would risk attracting more of his kind. And if I left the others alone… damn it.
"Change of plans. Get in the car—now." I watched as the thingie stepped off the curb, unfazed by the cars honking and nearly hitting him as he walked forward. "Go!" I shouted.
"I'm staying," Ax said, making my head throb with frustration. I let my control slip just enough for the thingie to sense my magic.
"Leave, right now," I yelled. Through the corner of my eye, I saw Luca, Fallon, and Grover hurrying to the car. But Ax wouldn't budge. "Just go, please! You're going to die!"
Shoving one of my swords back under my sleeve, I reached for a throwing knife, pulled it from my back pocket, and hurled it at the thingie, who was now barely five feet from me. When it came to life and death, I couldn't care less about the people watching.
Pushing Ax aside as Luca's black car screeched up, I threw another knife at the thingie. Both buried into his chest, but he didn't even flinch. At least Ax had finally gotten in the car, and Luca tried to hit the thingie with it, but he was fast. He leaped high into the air, landing back on the sidewalk like it was nothing. Luca drove off, and I shut down my senses in relief.
No time for alleys now. I'd have to fight him right here.
I positioned myself in front of the stairs in the narrow hallway of the hostel, my sword ready as I stared the thingie down. He grinned, but I wasn't about to return the favor. Now that he'd scented me, he knew the reward for taking me down was within reach. At least the others had gotten away, and the thought gave me a moment's comfort as he crossed the entrance.
I lunged forward with everything I had. He dodged my blades with ease, but I'd expected that. Spinning around with both arms outstretched, I managed to cut him deep across the gut, forcing him to stumble against the wall and giving me a second to regain my stance. He came at me with his fists raised; I dodged the first two blows, but the third struck me square in the temple. The hit spun me halfway around, and his next kick landed hard on my thigh. My leg buckled, but I kept my arms steady, and when he reached for my hair, I swung my sword, tearing across his torso. I might have even cut him below the belt, but I wasn't sure.
Blood poured from his wounds. When he looked down, assessing the damage, I sprang up and clocked him in the mouth. He staggered, and I took the chance to slam the hilt of my sword into his temple. Dropping my other blade, I drew my Eagle and aimed it right at his forehead. I squeezed the trigger, but the bullet buried itself in the wall; he'd dodged and kicked my forearms so hard that my gun went flying. His next kick slammed into my face, nearly knocking me to the floor. Blood filled my mouth, but I couldn't let myself pause.
I spun, certain he'd be right behind me. My blade slashed where his neck should've been, but I hit nothing.
He'd frozen in place, looking down at the ground, something odd in his expression. Before I could ask, he turned to the exit, glancing outside as if a sudden realization had hit him. And then, just as fast as he'd come, he bolted out the door.
Stunned, I almost forgot to breathe. This had never happened before. *Ever.* The thingies only left after they drained me dry.
What the hell was going on?
Pulling myself together, I grabbed my gun and sword off the floor and ran out the door, where Luca's car was idling.
"Get in!" he shouted, the back door swinging open. Spinning around, I scanned the area for the thingie, finally spotting him walking east, disappearing around the corner. Relief flooded through me. This was… a miracle. I slid into the car, half on Ax's lap, with Grover crowding the backseat. Normally, I'd blush, but I was too excited. Luca spun the car around in the middle of the street, ignoring the honks and shouts of other drivers, and sped off.
But my mind was still spinning, trying to make sense of what had just happened. I'd always been the one to flee when I could. But now, for the first time, a mindless thingie had run from me.
It made no sense.
Unless… *damn it.*
"Stop!" I shouted, louder than I meant to. Luca hit the brakes, and my face smacked into the back of his seat, but I barely noticed. The thingie hadn't left because of some miracle or lucky break. It was something far worse.
"Turn around, now!" I yelled, pounding my hands on the seat to make him move faster.
"What? Why?" he asked, panic creeping into his voice.
"Because there's another."
The words felt foreign in my mouth. I'd never thought I'd get to the point of believing there was another like me out there. But what else could it be? Why else would the thingie walk away from me when I was right there, brimming with magic he could feed on? He sure as hell wasn't scared of me, which meant there was someone else.
Someone he'd found—someone he planned to drain dry.
"How do you know? I don't feel anything!" Luca shouted, but he'd already turned the car around—again, in the middle of the street and without hesitation.