Creatus Talis by Carmen DeSousa

Author:Carmen DeSousa [DeSousa, Carmen]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781945143342
Publisher: Carmen DeSousa Books
Published: 2018-12-17T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 22

Not believing his eyes, Arthur stared at the beautiful woman. He’d hoped when he returned to the castle that he’d see Vev again, but he didn’t think she’d land at his feet.

He’d been stargazing when he heard a sharp CLANK, followed by a skin-tingling squeal. He’d witnessed enough car wrecks to recognize the sound. Only metal bending back on itself had that high-pitched screech.

Expecting to see a car wrapped around a tree, he’d vaulted the ten-foot barrier that separated the castle from the outside world. Instead of a wreck, he saw something resembling a large snowy owl—only with hands and feet—soaring through the air…then falling. His first instinct had been to help the person who’d jumped, knowing few humans could survive that drop. But then several black-clad men had straddled the railing, sweeping the area with their flashlights, so he’d held back. The investigators had only spent a few minutes, then hopped in the van and took off.

With a grunt, the mud-covered siren scrambled from all fours to her feet, then sprinted away.

“Hang on a sec.” Arthur charged forward, grabbing her. She swung her dainty alabaster fists, but slick from mud, her foot slipped, sending her toppling. He righted her, and she took off again. “Vev!” She zigzagged like a rabbit evading a predator. He knew he couldn’t match her cat-and-mouse game long, and soon enough, she’d head for the trees. She’d certainly lose him. “Vev, please stop. I’m not going to hurt you.”

She glanced back, but continued her trek. The second that she took to look back gave Arthur a slight advantage, allowing him to gain a lead. He sprung forward, landing in front of her. This time he grabbed her with both hands.

“Let go of me!” she screamed, thrashing her head.

“Please chill. I’m not gonna hurt you. I jus’ wanna—” He narrowed his eyes as he inspected her face, swollen and bruised. “Who hit you?”

Vev’s shoulders dropped, then her head fell limp. “One of you.”

“One of me?” Arthur touched her cheek, and she snapped, her teeth clinking like a snapping turtle. He jerked his hand back to her arm, securing her, even as she continued to flail her arms, then her legs. “What the fu—are you insane, woman?” He curbed his expletive. On the force, it was the only language wild ones understood, but not Vev. Vev wasn’t a drug-crazed human.

“Let me go!” she screeched.

“Not until you talk. Tell me who hurt you!”

“An ancient like you.” She thrashed again, reminding him of an animal struggling to free itself from a snare. “All your kind knows how to do is poison and kill.”

“An ancient?” Arthur asked, ignoring her irrational behavior. “What’s an ancient? I certainly wouldn’t classify myself as ancient. Although I feel old sometimes, I’m only thirty-four.”

Vev finally stopped struggling. “You’re not one of them? But I saw you. You were at the castle. Tag said—”

“I’m not with anyone, Vev, least of all those men who were hunting you. And please don’t ever compare me to Tag. That man was a disgrace to every living thing that walks the earth.

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