Fairy Bad Day(48)
“Iigaanual dragon,” Emma automatically corrected as she rolled her eyes. “And Mom’s leg wasn’t half eaten, just a tiny cut. It didn’t even scar.”
“And now you sound just like her.”
“Rea—” Emma started to say, but before she could finish, a static buzz rang in her ear, and she only just stopped herself from crying out from the pain. Instead, instinct made her spin around just in time to see the darkhel on the far side of the practice field, black against the pale beams of the overhead lights. Her sore eye started to water and a stab of fear went racing straight to her heart.
“Dad.” She instantly spun back toward him and all but pushed him into the car. “Sorry, I’ve got to go. I just remembered something that I need to do.”
“Oh, of course. I didn’t mean to hold you up.” His eyes widened in disappointment. “We’ll be back from New York on Tuesday. But Emma, you call me if you need anything. Okay?”
She frantically nodded as she waited for him to start the car. “I promise.” It seemed to take forever, but finally he carefully pulled away just as the darkhel raced toward the parking lot, passing oblivious students and parents alike as it ran along the practice field.
Emma’s pulse quickened. Last time she had fought it, everyone was inside, but tonight there was a group of sophomore guys who were throwing a Frisbee around, as well as the combat demonstrations. And unfortunately the guys with the Frisbee were in between her and the darkhel, so she went racing over to where Loni and the others were waiting for her. Thank goodness that after her last fight she had taken to carrying her slaying kit everywhere with her.
“Are you okay?” Loni’s face filled with concern. “You didn’t have a fight with your dad, did you? Because—”
“It’s here. Take this,” Emma hissed, cutting her off as she thrust the slim leather book into Loni’s hands and grabbed her slaying kit. She barely slowed her pace as she yanked back the zipper and pulled out her sword. Then she caught sight of the metal nail files that she used for the small fairies, and she grabbed a handful before letting the kit fall to the ground.
She shoved the files deep into her pocket of her school skirt and curled her fingers around the hilt of her sword as her breathing started to emerge in erratic gasps. She finally covered the distance between her and the darkhel at the edge of the parking lot. For a moment it paused before turning its attention to where the oblivious sophomores were throwing their Frisbee and talking about Sunday’s Induction.
“Hey,” she screamed at the group. “Get out of here now.” But they didn’t seem to hear her, and Emma watched in horror as the darkhel raced toward Garry Lewis, its razor-sharp talons stretched out in front of him, while Garry stood blindly by trying to spin the Frisbee on his finger. Next to him, Glen was equally unaware as he reached over and knocked the Frisbee away from his twin brother.
“Go,” she yelled again as she desperately tried to close the distance between herself and the group before the darkhel reached them, but there was still no response until suddenly Tyler’s voice boomed out at them.
“I’m offering double odds to anyone who thinks one of Professor Gregory’s lab rats can beat Ruby the cockroach in a race.” The moment he said it, the whole group started to swarm off toward where Tyler was holding his betting book.
Emma had no idea why they would find Tyler’s offer so tantalizing, but right now she couldn’t afford to think about it as she watched Garry Lewis inadvertently step away from the darkhel, giving her just enough time to block it.
“You,” the darkhel accused, its voice low and full of venom as its dark red eyes fastened on her like a laser, but Emma ignored them. She was vaguely aware that if anyone looked over at her, they would either think that she was crazy or that she was doing some sort of solo combat demonstration. She sincerely hoped it would be the latter. However, as the darkhel advanced toward her, she cleared her mind. She would have to worry about the fallout later.
Instead, she tightened her grip on the hilt of her sword before she sent it plunging into the darkhel’s rib cage. This time she was prepared for the vibrations, and she forced herself to press harder so that her weapon could pierce the skin. She finally managed it and the darkhel looked up at her with annoyance.
She knew it was a long shot to aim for the same kill spot as a harpy, but until she knew where the correct spot was, she was just going to have to keep guessing. The darkhel pushed the sword away.
“You can’t protect him forever. I know he’s close. I can smell him.” The darkhel shrugged before straightening to its full height, seemingly unbothered by the stream of black ooze that was now running down its side.
“What are you talking about?” Emma demanded, but instead of answering, the creature lunged at her. She managed to dance out of the way just in time to avoid one of the sharp talons from slicing through her flesh. However, she stumbled backward and landed awkwardly on her wrist. Pain lashed through her as the darkhel rushed at her again.
This time she held her sword up and managed to nick its flesh. For a moment it paused and winced, and Emma quickly got to her feet, at least grateful her injured wrist wasn’t part of her sword hand. She had thought her first fight with the creature was hard, but this was even worse, and her muscles screamed in protest as she lifted her sword once again and sent it plunging deep through the ironlike skin and slashing at its windpipe. For a moment its red eyes widened and then it . . . laughed?