Gremlin Night by Dale Ivan Smith

Author:Dale Ivan Smith [Smith, Dale Ivan]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Dale Ivan Smith

10

The nymph had blond hair like spun gold, wide, green eyes, a heart-shaped face, and an amazing figure.

I backed up and brandished my binding dagger. “Not so fast, nymph.”

The nymph’s smile widened. “That will not bind me,” she said and sashayed into the house.

Tully drew his R.U.N.E.-issue revolver. The iron-tipped bullets would destroy the manifestation. It would be an ugly end, but effective.

“You cannot resist me,” the nymph said.

The air hummed with her power and whispered an echo of her words.

“Love this woman,” she told Tully.

“Love this woman,” echoed the air.

Tully froze in mid-aim. Sweat broke out on his forehead. His arm shook.

“You are strong, young one,” she said. “But not strong enough. Do as I command.” Tully’s pistol clattered on the hardwood and he turned to face me.

I ran at her, stabbing with my binding knife.

Strong arms reached out and grabbed me. I struggled to slip out of Tully’s grasp, but failed. Tully was even stronger than he looked.

He took the knife from me.

“Love him,” the nymph commanded me. The air’s smell went from a stale, closed up scent, to a strong scent of roses in springtime, on a dew-laden evening when Venus hung in the sky. The kind of night when the mind turned to love and lust.

I shook from the force of it. I ached to embrace Tully. I managed to push my right hand into my jacket even as he reached to pull me close. His eyes had a trapped look. Mine must have looked the same.

He bent down to kiss me. He smelled warm and so alive.

My hand closed on my blood amulet. “Rejection,” I croaked. The short spell was a desperate last second type of spell, used against a manifestation. It was a kind of binding spell, defense against a manifestation attempting to charm a sorcerer. To bind at the human mind, heart, or soul.

Or in this case, all of the above.

Air whooshed and silver light exploded around Tully and me. Just like that, the spell was broken. I staggered back and fell on my backside. Tully also took a step back, squeezing his eyes and blinking.

The nymph’s beautiful face turned ugly and she snarled.

“Now, now,” I said, scooting away from the sudden snarl queen. “You do that long enough, and your face is going to get stuck in that expression.” I scrambled to my feet, my palms slick with sudden sweat.

The snarl faded into a sly grin. “Oh, I have different ways of dealing with humans. I was going to kill you with pleasure, but I see you’d prefer to die the old-fashioned way, in fear and pain!”

She gestured and panic jabbed me. My legs wobbled and my chest ached.

Tully snatched his gun from the floor.

The nymph stroked the air like a lover. His eyes widened and he threw the revolver across the room. He shook himself, trying to fight the fear he also must be feeling.

I needed to bind her, fear or no fear. I pushed myself to move, despite the panic, and snatched up my binding knife from where Tully had dropped it.

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