Robyn rose slowly, brushing herself off as she looked around, getting her bearings. The man eased back, relaxing.
"Come on now," he said. "We're on a schedule here."
"Before I do – "
She wheeled, as if to bolt. The man lunged at her. She spun and kicked, aiming for his crotch. She saw her foot flying, on target. At the last second, he grabbed her ankle, so fast she saw only a blur. He whipped her off her feet and threw her. She hit the ground and lay there, gasping, her brain struggling to comprehend why she was on her back and how she got there.
The man stood at least ten feet away. He'd thrown her. Grabbed her by the leg and thrown her like a doll. She stared at him, his slight build, his wiry arms.
He was barely bigger than she was. How the hell had she mistaken him for Karl? Forget that. How the hell had he thrown her ten feet?
"That was good," he said, advancing. "A double fake-out. Of course, I wouldn't be nearly as impressed if you'd succeeded with that kick." He smiled, teeth flashing. "In fact, I'd say if you had managed it, you'd have been in for a double-dose of pain."
Wheezing, she pushed up onto her elbows and inched back. The man strolled over and planted a foot on her chest. When she rose, tentatively, he kicked her injured shoulder, bringing tears to her eyes.
And still he smiled.
"So, what are you?" he asked. He said something that sounded like "bitch," then continued, "Because if you are, I'd say you need some serious practice with your spellbook. If you cast one, I didn't even notice."
Witch? Had he said witch?
"Maybe half-demon, like your friend?" he continued. "Mmm, now there's a cutie. Nothing against you, blondie, but I like them more exotic."
Was he talking about Hope?
"And from what I hear, she's definitely exotic. Some rare kind of demon, isn't she? The kind that likes trouble." A low, growling laugh. "Really likes trouble, the way I hear it. No wonder Marsten hooked up with her."
Marsten? Robyn struggled to remember Karl's last name. It was Marsten, wasn't it? What the hell was going on?
She squeezed her eyes shut. Forget it. If this was Adele's partner, he was probably just as crazy as she was. Demons and witches and werewolves. Insane.
The man's next words were cut off by his cell phone.
He checked the display. "Ah, the boss. Now keep your mouth shut, blondie, okay? Or else…" He put his foot on her shoulder, making her gasp. Then he answered with a "Hey."
A moment's pause.
"Not so well. Got a bit of a problem. I was following Marsten and his girlfriend, and they led me to the blonde. Adele was chasing her with a gun. I rescued her, which I figured was what you'd want, but I couldn't do it without making contact. She's not nearly as grateful as she should be."
He listened.
"That's what I figured. I was going to bring her to you, but Marsten's hot on my trail. We've been dodging them, but they're gaining. I can hear him coming right now."
Robyn heard only the wind sighing through the trees.
"I'm just saying, this might not go down the way you were hoping. I have a feeling, as hard as I try to avoid it, fur is gonna fly." His grin belied the regret in his voice. "Marsten's a cold-blooded bastard. Negotiations with a guy like that usually end with corpses. Just so you know."
A pause.
"All right then. I'll do my best – "
Robyn grabbed his foot and heaved. When the man staggered back, off balance, she leapt up, wrenching his leg. He toppled over backward, phone falling.
Robyn ran.
Curses rang out behind her. This time, she was sure the word he used wasn't witch.
She ran full out, adrenaline pumping so hard that if her lungs were complaining, she didn't feel it. She kept her head down, watching the moonlit path for obstacles this time.
The path had to end soon. It had to -
And there it was. The end. A barricade across the path with a white sign so big she could read it in the dark. "Soil erosion. Path closed. We apologize for the inconvenience."
She let out a huffing laugh. They had no idea how damned inconvenient it was. Screw soil erosion. She was going through.
She vaulted over the barrier. Amazing what adrenaline could do.
She ran another dozen paces, then pulled up short on the edge of a ten-foot drop-off.
Uh, I do believe that's the soil erosion, Bobby.
She considered jumping, but couldn't see the bottom in the dark and would probably impale herself on a retaining rod.
There had to be a way around. She ran into the bushes and found herself in a veritable jungle, so thick she'd need a machete to chop her way through. The running footsteps sounded again.
She flailed about until she found a clear path. Once she got in deeper, she could take advantage of the thick woods to hide -
A figure loomed in her path. She let out a shriek. He lunged and grabbed her, his hand slapping over her mouth, his other arm swinging her off her feet, carrying her, kicking and writhing before setting her down in a clearing, still gagged, with one hand pressing the top of her head.
"Get down. Hope?"
Another pair of hands tugged her shirt. "I've got her. Rob, get down."
Robyn recognized the voices but after the last time, she didn't trust herself. She followed the hand over her mouth and saw Karl.
"Down," he said.
Hope grabbed her arm and pulled her to her knees.
"Come out, come out, wherever you are," the man's voice sang out. Brush rustled, then stopped. "What's that I smell? The big bad wolf took the bait?"
Karl swung toward them. "Get her out of here," he said to Hope.
Hope didn't move. Robyn looked over to see her staring into the forest, her eyes gleaming, unseeing, her face blank.
"Hope," Karl snapped.
"She's scared," Robyn snapped back. "I'll get her out. Which way -?"
"Hope," Karl said, getting her attention. "Control it."
"Sorry. I'm fine." Hope shivered.
"Asshole," Robyn muttered.
Karl's gaze swung her way, as if he'd heard. She imagined Damon's chuckle. I don't think he expects insults after rescuing you, Bobby.
"Come on." Hope tugged her arm.
Robyn glanced at Karl, who'd turned away, dismissing them as he scanned the forest.
"He'll be fine," Hope said. "We need to go."
Um, Bobby, if the dude wants to play he-man, that's his problem. Get the hell out of there.
Robyn unlocked her knees and let Hope lead her through the undergrowth. After a few steps, Hope slowed, her chin lifting, that same blank look crossing her face. Robyn took her elbow, but Hope yelled "Karl!" grabbed Robyn and yanked her back.
"Damn, she's good," said a voice in front of them.
Robyn froze and squinted into the darkness. It was another moment before the man stepped out of the trees, right in their path. Clutching a gun, Hope stood between Robyn and the man.
Where the hell did Hope get a gun?
"Guess I can't sneak up on you, can I, demon-girl? So how does that work? You catch a vision, right?" He lifted his foot, easing forward. "You see me coming."
"Stop," Hope said.
"Have you got silver in that gun? Because if you don't – "
"I don't need silver bull – " Hope glanced over at Robyn, then back at the man. "Just stop."
Karl stood a dozen feet behind Robyn. He seemed to be measuring the distance between himself and the man, gauging whether he could get to the guy before he pounced on Hope. His jaw tightened, as if he didn't like the answer.
"Hope?" Karl said. "Back up toward me."
Hope didn't move. Robyn couldn't see why she had to – she was holding a gun on an unarmed man.
"Hope?" Karl's voice sharpened to a razor edge.