Waking Light by Rob Horner

Author:Rob Horner [Horner, Rob]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2019-04-30T23:00:00+00:00

Chapter 20

You wouldn't like me when I'm angry

Okay, so technically that's Banner's line before he turns into the Hulk, but it was an apt analogy, considering the size of the thing ambling around and about to come smash me. If you tossed a bucket of green paint on him, the only way you'd be able to tell a difference would be by the weird extra joints, and ridges on its spine, and claws... All right, he didn't really look like the Hulk, but that wouldn't matter if he got a hold of me with those massive clawed hands.

Desperate, I jerked one way, then the other. Powerful though I might be, super strength wasn't part of the package. Both men held on. On my left was a guy about my size, in his thirties, mop-messy hair on an otherwise handsome face. He growled in that almost-demon voice, smiling at me with a mouth sporting teeth bigger and sharper than any human should have. Maybe he didn't have that great a control over his form.

On my right was the tall, skinny kid from The Steeplechase. In one of those I can't believe I'm thinking about this right now moments, I wondered if his sleeping arrangements had improved since becoming a demon.

The one on my left had a secure, over and under double hand hold on my arm, but the skinny kid had dropped down to a one-handed grip after my initial forward momentum was arrested. The natural tendency would be for him to assume I wouldn't be able to escape from two people because he wouldn't be able to. That's one of the great lessons you learn when you train to fight. No matter the skill level of the combatants, most people don't consider possibilities outside of their own abilities.

I pulled my arms back and forth one more time, selling the idea that I was trapped, then lunged to my right, towards the skinny guy. The one on my left held firm, preventing me from moving too far, but I was able to get a little elbow bend on the right, which was enough to muscle my arm up, breaking Skinny Guy's hold at the weak point, his thumb. He immediately made to grab for my arm again, but I brought it in, then slammed my palm out into his face.

Light flashed and he flew away. I'd hit bare skin, too, so hopefully when he woke up, he'd be human again, if my power worked the way we thought it did. And if I hadn't broken his neck with that hit.

The guy on the left growled again, jerking on my arm like he wanted to pull me off-balance. When I looked back at him, most of his facial features had warped, forehead widening, ears elongating, rising into points. Claws were coming out of the hands wrapped around my arm, snagging my shirtsleeve, seconds away from digging into my flesh.

Big Nasty was coming too, feet stamping the ground as he approached, right arm curled across his chest like he planned on backhanding me as soon as he was in range.

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