Night World : The Chosen Chapter 16

A fighter spots instinctively when theres no chance. But Rashel planned to fight anyway.And hence she noticed something wrong.The lamias should move over caught it first. Then-senses were sharper. But their senses were turnedinward, cerebrate on the victims in front of them. Rashel was the only maven whose senses were turned out(p)ward, alert to everything but focused on nothing.There was a smell that was wrong and a sound. The smell was sharp, stinging, and decision by. The soundwas soft, distant, but recognizable.Gasoline. She could smell gasoline. And she could hear a faint dull roar that sounded like the fireplace inthe gathering room-but was overture from somewhere else in the house.It didnt make sense. She didnt understand. But she believed it.Quinn, allow ready to run, she said, a gasp on a soft breath. Something was about to happen.No, we have to fight-His thought to her stone-broke off. Rashel turned to look at the doorway.Hunter Redfern had moved into the gather ing room-but there was someone in the hall. Then thesomeone stepped forward and Rashel could see her compositors case.nyala was pleased brilliantly. Her small queenly head was high and her dark eye were flashing. She washolding a red gasoline can in one hand and a liter of grapefruit juice in the other. The bottle was almostfull of liquid and had a burning rag stuffed in the top.Gas. Gas from the pump on the wharf, Rashel thought. A Generation-X Molotov cocktail.Its all over the house, Nyala said, and her voice was lilting. Gallons and gallons. All over the roomsand the doors.But she shouldnt be hanging on to it, Rashel thought. That bottle is spillage to explode.You see, I am a real vampire hunter, Rashel. I figure this way, we get rid of them all at once.And the house is already burning. fag end the carved screen on the right side of the room, ruddy light was flickering, growing. The faint roarthat had disturbed Rashel was louder now. Closer.And everythings wood, Rashel thought . Wood paneling, wood floors. Frame house. A deathtrap for vampires. stick her, Hunter Redfern said. But none of the vampires charged toward Nyala with herabout-to-explode bottle of death and her can of fire accelerant. In fact, they were backing away, movingto the perimeter of the room.Hunter spun to face Nyala directly. You need to point that downhearted, he began in telepathic tones of absoluteauthority-at the same time Rashel shouted, Nyala, no-The sound of telepathy seemed to set something off in Nyala. heartbeat a dazzling savage smile, shesmashed the grapefruit juice bottle at his feet.With almost the same motion, she threw the gasoline can, too. It was flying in a fluid arc toward thefireplace, spinning, spilling liquid, and vampires were scattering to try to get out of the way.And accordingly everything was exploding-or maybe erupting was a better word. It was as if a dragon had blow overd suddenly into the room, move a roaring gale of fire through it.But Rashel didnt have time to watch-she and Quinn were both diving. Quinn was diving for the floorpast Nyala, trying to drag Rashel with him. Rashel was diving for Timmy.She didnt know why. She didnt think about it consciously. She simply had to do it.She hit Timmy with the entire force of her body and knocked him to the floor. She covered him as thefire erupted behind her. Then she scrambled to her knees, her gird locked around his chest.Everything was noise and heat and confusion. Vampires were yelling at each other, running, shoving eachother. The ones whod been splattered with gas were on fire, trying to put it out, getting in one anothers way.Come on Quinn said, pulling Rashel up. I know a way outside.Rashel looked for Nyala. She didnt see her. As Quinn dragged her into the hall, she saw dark smokecome billowing from the dining room area. The hall was bathed in reddish light.Come onQuinn was pulling her across the hall, through the smoke. Into a room that was full of orange flames.Quinn-Timm y was kicking and struggling in Rashels arms. Yelling at her. She kept her grip 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 hot and it seemed to want to get her, roaring out at her from unexpected 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 matter of minutes the building had become an inferno. Everywhereshe looked, there was fire, smoke, and a horrifying rebuke 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 cool air 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 Timm y and to stay 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 stopped rolling her. Rashel sat up, tried 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.Smoke was pouring upward and everything seemed as bright as daylight infra it.Are you all right? Quinn said urgently. He was looking her over.Rashels whole body was washed with adrenaline and her heart was pounding insanely. But she couldnt lay down her eyeball 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 shook her head and started helplessly 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 shovi ng her roughly back. You stay here. Ill get her.No I have to-You have to watch Timmy Look, hes getting awayRashel whirled. She didnt have any clear idea of where Timmy might be getting away to-but he was onhis feet and moving. 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 screaming again, kicking in her arms.I hate you he shouted. Let go of me Why did you take me out?Rashel stared at the house. Quinn was internal now. In that holocaust of flame. And hed gone because ofher, to save her from going herself.Please, she thought suddenly and distinctly. Please dont let him die.The flames were roaring higher. The night was brilliant with them. assoil was raining in little 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.Why? I hate you Why did you take me out?Rashel looked at the s trange little creature in her arms, the one that was biting and kicking as if it wantedto go back into the burning house. Shedidnt know what Timmy had become-some weird combination of child, adult, and animal, apparently.And she didnt know what kind of future 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 mama told me to take care ofyou, she whispered.And then she was crying. She was holding 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. Everything was burning. And Quinn wasstill inside.Then she saw a figure silhouetted against the flames. Two figures. One holding the other, half carrying it.QuinnHe was running toward her, supporting Nyala. They were both covered with soot. Nyala was swaying, express joy, her eyes huge and distant.Rashel threw her arms around both of them. The relief tha t washed over her was almost more painfulthan the fear. Her legs literally felt as if they had no bones-she was going to collapse at any second. Shewas tottering.Youre alive, she whispered into Quinns charred collar. And you got her. She could feel Quinns armaround her, holding hard. Nothing else seemed to matter.But now Quinn was taking his arm away, pushing her on 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 be she could make them move.They lurched down the path in the wild grass, 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 disabled 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 harbo r, swinging at anchor.Its Hunters, Quinn said. HurryThey were flying down the hill, staggering onto the wharf. Rashel saw no sign of the werewolf shed tiedup 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 stopping 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 spiteful demon.And then the tiny motor was purring and they were moving 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, Quin n said. He was reaching for her,his face unfamiliar in a mask of soot, his eyes intense. perfectly focused, absolutely determined.Thank 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 fire to crisp 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 thick 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 falling behind.I had to, Nyala said in a choked voice. I had to. I had to.Ras hel leaned to rest her head on Nyalas hair. Wind 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 getsmaller and smaller until it looked like a star on the ocean.