Undertow by Jordan L. Hawk

Author:Jordan L. Hawk
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: horror, fantasy, paranormal, bisexual, historical, victorian, lovecraft, widdershins
Publisher: Jordan L. Hawk

Chapter 7

We jerked apart, Persephone turning with a hiss, thrusting me behind her. Oliver stood in the street, his face set with cold fury. The gun in his hand pointed at Persephone.

“No!” I shouted. I tried to push Persephone out of the way, to put myself between her and Oliver, but she was far too strong. “Stop! Oliver, don’t!”

Oliver’s eyes narrowed. “Step away from it, Maggie.”

Persephone snarled. All her shark teeth were exposed, her tentacles drawn up to sting. “It’s all right,” I said. “Persephone, please, calm down. Oliver isn’t going to hurt me.”

She hesitated, but dropped her arm. Her tentacles relaxed slightly, but didn’t fall to her shoulders. I moved toward Oliver, my gaze locked on his face. “Oliver, put down the gun. You don’t understand.”

“No,” he said. “I’m afraid you’re the one who doesn’t understand. But you will.”

He fired the gun.

My scream drowned out Persephone’s cry. She crumpled to the ground, and blood from her torso turned the sidewalk red.

“No!” I tried to rush to her side, but Oliver’s hand locked on my wrist like an iron vise.

“What are you doing?” he demanded. “Stay away from that thing!”

I fought him, striking him about the head with my free hand. “Let me go; let me go.” I had to get to Persephone, had to help her. She was hurt and bleeding, and Oliver had shot her, and oh God this couldn’t be happening.

“Stop,” he ordered. When I continued to struggle, he struck me on the side of the head with the heavy butt of the gun.

Pain exploded through my skull, and stars flashed in my vision. I sagged, dazed, and he began to drag me stumbling down the sidewalk. I tried to turn and catch another glimpse of Persephone. Her side moved—didn’t it? Or was my blurred vision tricking me?

Dizziness overwhelmed me, the world spinning like a merry-go-round. I went to my knees, barely conscious of my dress ripping.

“I don’t know what you were doing in that creature’s company, but I will find out.” He tugged on my arm, sending a bolt of pain through my shoulder. “Get up.”

“I can’t.” Tears slicked my face. Everything seemed strangely distant, either because of my head wound or the shock of what had happened. “Why? Why did you do that? You hurt her, hurt my friend!”

“Those things don’t have friends, you little fool.” I couldn’t make out his face through my tears, but his voice was implacable. “I killed a monster. And in doing so, I saved you.”

“Saved me?” I would have laughed if I could.

“Yes.” He hauled on my arm again. “You’ve been tricked, somehow. That’s the only explanation. But I’ll show you the truth, whether you want me to or not.”

I wanted to scream again, and pray help came for me. But if the police answered, would they side with Oliver or with Persephone?

It wasn’t even a question. They’d believe Oliver when he said I was hysterical after being attacked by an inhuman creature. They’d realize Persephone was still alive and kill her right in front of me.

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