Page 55 of Aberrant Monsters
Whatever. The stupid comic books I’d devoured as a child were to blame for my childish fantasies.
There was only an “us” because we were being forced together. Once the Order of Yaga severed that link, Telarion would be gone.
My stomach felt hollow.
I was hungry, that was all. I’d pick up takeout on the way home.
A gust of air brushed my nape. I kicked up my collar and picked up the pace, hurrying down the steps to the underground as the sound of an incoming train drifted up to meet me. My gut told me I wouldn’t make it.
The train pulled away just as I got to the platform.
Yep, my gut was right.
It was a fifteen-minute wait for the next one. The platform was empty, not unusual for this time of the evening. This station was mainly used by New Bloods, non-norms, and supes, and at this time of night they would either be tucked up in the Underbelly or at home.
It was a myth that supernaturals prowled the night looking to feed or maim. Well, unless you were on Silent Hill Trail or Telarion.
I bit back a smile at that thought.
The residents of Silent Hill Trail didn’t follow the protected species law. They had their own rules.
I planted myself a respectable distance from the track and waited.
The thud of boots drew my attention to the steps and the small group of young men coming down them. I counted five of them, probably early twenties.
They had their phones out, showing each other their screens. “Look, I snapped one with fucking horns.”
“I got a pic of the kid. Did you see it? Oh, God, so fucking ugly.”
“Bloody New Bloods,” a third said.
The fourth had his eyes on me.
I looked away quickly.
I’d heard the rumors about guards letting norms into the Underbelly for a fee. I guess it was true. Non-norms, New Bloods, and supes were entertainment to the regular humans, and I wasn’t a fool to underestimate humanity’s cruelty. The fact that they were a protected species made it worse. It gave them the power to act like dicks and not get their heads bitten off. Literally.
And now they were eyeing me up like I was a fun new toy to play with.
Where the fuck was this train?
I kept my eyes on the track, aware of them inching closer, of the chuckles and the heavy breathing.
“Don’t get any closer.” I kept my voice low and even. “I don’t want any trouble.”
“Oooh, did you hear that?” one of the guys said. “She doesn’t want any trouble. What are you?” He leaned in, getting into my personal space. “You look human.”
An edge of doubt tinged his voice.
I should go with that. Claim to be one of them. Safest thing to do, but my dumb mouth had other ideas.
I gritted my teeth and turned my head to lock gazes with him. “Trust me, you don’t want to find out.”
I was bluffing, of course.
I was pretty much human aside from the New Blood gene that allowed me to rift walk. Yeah, I was trained in combat and most weapons, the job kinda called for it, but I couldn’t use force on these wankers, not without breaking the law.
A law that fucking sucked. A law that was being challenged by Friends of the Others, a group of humans and non-humans lobbying to have it changed.
