Midnite's Daughter by R Gualtieri & Rick Gualtieri

Author:R Gualtieri & Rick Gualtieri [Gualtieri, R & Gualtieri, Rick]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Manga, Urban Fantasy, new adult, Anime, sword, coming of age, yokai, demons, hanyo, gods, godesses
Publisher: Westmarch Publishing
Published: 2017-09-08T04:00:00+00:00

27

“Are you sure? Maybe something is just setting off the dogs in the neighborhood,” Stephen said, as he followed Shitoro down the stairs.

“Dogs do not relay complex ambush strategies to one another,” he replied over his shoulder.

“Strategies? I didn’t hear anything except...”

“Nor would you,” Shitoro snapped from the bottom of the stairs, “because you do not have these.” He pointed to his ears. “I do, however, and they are telling me we are in grave danger. Follow me, before it’s too late.”

Shitoro ran for the front door, transforming into his tiger form as he did so. Kisaki was on his heels, followed by Tamiko and Stephen.

The little youkai abruptly skidded to a halt in front of the door, then looked back expectantly at the others.

“Let me guess,” Tamiko said. “Forgot the value of opposable thumbs for a minute there?”

Shitoro fired back his best withering glare, but Kisaki was already pushing the door open.

“Quickly,” Shitoro said, “before they have us...”

The words died in his throat as the group stepped onto the front porch.

Before them, standing in the street in front of the house, was a trio of large, muscular wolves. Just behind them stood a massive black bear. Two large hawks circled close to the ground in the sky above them.

Kisaki took it all in, noting that their formation was too deliberate to be the work of mere animals. The sound of doors being opened registered in her ears and she glanced around to see Stephen’s neighbors peeking out of their doors.

“So much for this being a subtle getaway,” Tamiko said from behind her.

“Stand back,” Shitoro growled. “I’ll carve a path through these mongrels for us to escape.”

“Mongrels?” the largest of the wolves asked, erasing any doubt whatsoever of their demonic origin. “Big talk for such a small kitty.”

“I’ll help you,” Kisaki said, worried for her diminutive guardian. Large in spirit he might be, but, tiger or not, she was doubtful he’d be a match for the youkai in front of them.

She realized she should have been scared, and for a moment she was, but in the back of her mind, that cold logic began to stir again. Besides, her mother was a daimao. She wouldn’t be worthy of her lineage if all it took were a few mangy-looking youkai to send her running. “Tamiko, Stephen, get back. Lock the doors and stay inside until we say so.”

“I ... think that’s a good idea,” Tamiko replied uncertainly, backing up.

“Wait up,” Stephen said. “My dad keeps a shotgun in his closet, and I know the combo for the safe where he keeps the ammo.”

“Shotgun?” Kisaki asked idly, but he was already on the move.

“Come on, Kisaki!” Tamiko pleaded. “You get in here, too.”

Kisaki was rooted to the spot, though, because Stephen wasn’t the only one on the move. With a snarl of anger, Shitoro raced forward toward the wolves.

♦ ♦ ♦

Shitoro leapt, claws bared, at the wolf who’d spoken ... and was subsequently swatted aside like he was nothing.

“This is what we were paid for?” the wolf asked.

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