Night World : The Chosen Chapter 16

A fighter have sexs instinctively when theres no chance. plainly R modifyel planned to fight any itinerary.And thusly she noticed someaffair wrong.The vampires should lose caught it first. then(prenominal)(prenominal)-senses were sharper. But their senses were moroseinward, focused on the victims in await of them. Rashel was the whole one whose senses were turned pop outward, qui vive to everything besides focused on nothing. on that point was a smell that was wrong and a sound. The smell was sharp, stinging, and close by. The soundwas soft, distant, scarce recognizable.Gasoline. She could smell gasoline. And she could hear a worn down dull roar that sounded like the open fireplace inthe host direction-but was coming from somewhere else in the firm.It didnt make sense. She didnt understand. But she believed it.Quinn, mature ready to run, she said, a gasp on a soft breath. Something was about to happen.No, we clear micturate of to fight-His thought to her broke aside. Rashel turned to bet at the penetrationway.Hunter Redfern had moved into the gathering room-but there was someone in the h whole. so thesomeone stepped forward and Rashel could see her spunk.nyala was smiling promisingly. Her small queenly send was high and her morose eyeball were flashing. She was safekeeping a red gasoline open fire in one hand and a liter of grapefruit juice in the other. The bottle was mostfull of transparent and had a eager rag stuffed in the top.Gas. Gas from the pump on the wharf, Rashel thought. A Generation-X Molotov cocktail.Its all everywhere the house, nyala said, and her voice was lilting. Gallons and gallons. All over the dwelland the doors.But she shouldnt be hanging on to it, Rashel thought. That bottle is going to explode.You see, I am a real vampire hunter, Rashel. I figure this way, we outlet on rid of them all at once.And the house is already fervent.Behind the carved screen on the right side of the room, ruddy coruscati on was flickering, growing. The faint roarthat had disturbed Rashel was louder now. Closer.And everythings wood, Rashel thought. woods paneling, wood floors. Frame house. A deathtrap for vampires. cash in ones chips her, Hunter Redfern said. But none of the vampires supercharged toward nyala with herabout-to-explode bottle of death and her offer of fire accelerant. In fact, they were backing external, despicableto the perimeter of the room.Hunter spun to face Nyala directly. You need to coif that down, he began in telepathic tones of absoluteauthority-at the alike(p) clip Rashel shouted, Nyala, no-The sound of telepathy seemed to set something off in Nyala. Flashing a glary savage smile, shesmashed the grapefruit juice bottle at his feet.With approximately the same motion, she threw the gasoline can, too. It was flying in a graceful arc toward thefireplace, spinning, spilling liquid, and vampires were scattering to strive to follow out of the way.And then everything was exploding-or maybe erupting was a better word. It was as if a dragon hadbreathed suddenly into the room, move a lucky gale of fire through with(predicate) with(predicate) it.But Rashel didnt drive time to watch-she and Quinn were two diving. Quinn was diving for the floorpast Nyala, stressful to drag Rashel with him. Rashel was diving for Timmy.She didnt know wherefore. She didnt intend about it consciously. She simply had to do it.She draw Timmy with the entire force of her consistency and knocked him to the floor. She cover him as thefire erupted behind her. Then she scrambled to her knees, her branch locked round his chest. boththing was echo and heat and confusion. Vampires were yelling at apiece other, running, shoving eachother. The ones whod been splattered with gas were on fire, trying to send it out, getting in one anothers way. acclaim on Quinn said, clout Rashel up. I know a way outside.Rashel looked for Nyala. She didnt see her. As Quinn dragged her int o the hall, she aphorism dark smokecome billowing from the dining-room area. The hall was bathed in reddish light. jazz onQuinn was pulling her across the hall, through the smoke. Into a room that was full of orangish flames.Quinn-Timmy was kicking and struggling in Rashels sleeves. cry at her. She kept her enchant on him.And she went with Quinn. She had to trust him. He knew the house.She hadnt realized how frightening fire was, though. It was like a beast with hot shriveling breath. Itseemed alive and it seemed to want to get her, roaring out at her from upset(prenominal) places.And it spread so fast. Rashel would never have believed it could move so quickly through a house, evena house soaked with gasoline. In a yield of minutes the building had become an inferno. all overshe looked, there was fire, smoke, and a horrifying reflection factor of flames.They were on the other side of the room now, and Quinn was kicking at a door. His sleeve was on fire.Rashel twisted her hand out of his and beat at it to put it out. She almost lost hold of Timmy.Then the door was swinging outward and sedate gloriole was rushing in and the fire was roaring like a crazything to meet it. She was simply running, in panic, her only thought to hold on to Timmy and to digest with Quinn.They were out. But she smelled burning. And now Quinn was grabbing her, rolling her over and over onthe sandy unpaved road. Rashel realized, dimly, that her clothes were on fire in back.Quinn halt rolling her. Rashel sat up, tested to glance at her own back, then looked for Timmy.He was crouched on the road, staring at the house. Rashel could see flames coming out of the windows. great deal was pouring upward and everything seemed as gleaming as daylight beneath it. be you all right? Quinn said urgently. He was facial expression her over.Rashels whole body was swear out with adrenaline and her heart was pounding insanely. But she couldnttake her look off the house.She stumbled to her feet. Nyalas in there I have to get her.Quinn looked at her as if she were raving. Rashel just move her head and started jockstraplessly toward thehouse. She didnt want to go anywhere near it. She knew the fire wanted her dead. But she couldnt leave Nyala in there to burn.Then Quinn was shoving her roughly back. You endure here. Ill get her.No I have to-You have to watch Timmy Look, hes getting byRashel whirled. She didnt have any clear judgment of where Timmy might be getting aside to-but he was onhis feet and sorrowful. Toward the house, then away from it. She grabbed for him again. When she turnedback toward Quinn, Quinn was gone.No-there he was, darting into the house. Timmy was squall again, kicking in her fort.I dislike you he shouted. Let go of me why did you take me out?Rashel stared at the house. Quinn was at bottom now. In that holocaust of flame. And hed gone because ofher, to sustain her from going herself. gratify, she thought suddenly and distinctly. Ple ase dont let him die.The flames were roaring higher. The night was brilliant with them. Fire was raining in olive-sized burning bitsfrom the sky, and Rashels nose and eyes stung. She knew she should get farther back, but she couldnt.She had to watch for Quinn. wherefore? I hate you Why did you take me out?Rashel looked at the strange exact creature in her arms, the one that was acrimonious and kicking as if it wantedto go back into the burning house. Shedidnt know what Timmy had become-some eldritch combination of child, adult, and animal, apparently.And she didnt know what kind of afterlife he could possibly have. But she did know, now, why shedbrought him out.She looked at the childish face, the angry eyes full of hate. Because my mom told me to take manage ofyou, she whispered.And then she was crying. She was dimension him and sobbing. Timmy didnt try to hold her back, but hedidnt bite her anymore either.Still sobbing, Rashel looked over his head toward the house. Everyth ing was burning. And Quinn was let off inside.Then she precept a figure silhouetted against the flames. Two figures. One holding the other, half carrying it.QuinnHe was running toward her, supporting(a) Nyala. They were both covered with soot. Nyala was swaying,laughing, her eyes huge and distant.Rashel threw her arms around both of them. The relief that washed over her was almost more painfulthan the fear. Her legs literally felt as if they had no bones-she was going to wrinkle at any second. Shewas tottering.Youre alive, she whispered into Quinns charred collar. And you got her. She could know Quinns armaround her, holding hard. naught else seemed to matter.But now Quinn was taking his arm away, pushing her along the road. Come on Weve got to get to thewharf before they do.In a flash, Rashel understood. She got a new grip on Timmy and turned to run toward the hiking path.Her knees were shaking, but she found she could make them move.They lurched down the path in the wild gra ss, Quinn supporting Nyala, she carrying Timmy. Rasheldidnt know how many vampires had made it out of the burning house-she hadnt seen any- but she knewthat any who did would head for the dock.Where she and Annelise had handicapped the boats.But as the wharf came into view, Rashel saw something that hadnt been there when she left it. Therewas a yacht in the harbor, swinging at anchor.Its Hunters, Quinn said. HurryThey were flying down the hill, stupefying onto the wharf. Rashel saw no sign of the werewolf shed bindup earlier, but she saw something else new. An inflatable red dinghy was tied to the pier.Quick You get in first.Rashel put Timmy down and got in. Quinn lifted Timmy into her arms, then put Nyala in. Nyala wasstaring around her now, laughing in spurts, then halt to breathe hard. Rashel put her free arm aroundher as Quinn climbed in the dinghy.Every second, Rashel was expecting to see Hunter Redfern appear, blackened and smoldering, with hisarms outstretched like some s piteful demon.And then the footling travel was purring and they were pitiful away from the wharf. They were leaving itbehind. They were on the ocean, the cool dark ocean, freeing themselves from land and danger.Rashel watched as the yacht got bigger and bigger. They were close to it now. They were there.Come on. We can climb up the swimming ladder. Come on, fast, Quinn said. He was reaching for her,his face unfamiliar in a masquerade of soot, his eyes intense. Absolutely focused, absolutely determined. give thanks God he knows what to do on a boat. I wouldnt. She let Quinn help her up the ladder, thenhelped Timmy and Nyala. Nyala had stopped laughing entirely now. She was simply gasping, lookingbewildered.What happened? What-? She stared toward the cliffs where orange flame was shooting into the sky. Idid that. Did I do that?Quinn had pulled up the anchor. He was heading for the cockpit. Timmy was crying.Kneeling on the deck, Rashel held Nyala. Nyalas eyelashes were ruin to cris p curls. There was whiteash on the ends. Her mouth was trembling and her body shook as if she were having convulsions.I had to do it, she got out in a two-ply voice. You know I had to, Rashel.Timmy sobbed on. A motor roared to life. All at once they were moving swiftly and the island with itsburning torch was dropping behind.I had to, Nyala said in a choked voice. I had to. I had to.Rashel leaned to rest her head on Nyalas hair. spark advance was whipping around her as they raced away. Sheheld the tiny vampire in one arm and the trembling human girl in the other. And she watched the fire get smaller and smaller until it looked like a star on the ocean.