Page 56 of Aberrant Monsters
“What you gonna do, huh?” the guy asked. “You can’t touch us. We’re pure human.”
“You’re also pure assholes.” Shit, there went my big mouth again.
One of them shoved my shoulder.
Anger raged through me, and my hand tightened on the handle of my backpack.
I had a blade in my boot.
No, don’t think about that.
“Do you think they bleed the same as us?” one of the others asked.
“We could find out. She can’t fight back.”
The fact that they were talking about me like I wasn’t there, the fact that they were using the law as a reason to attack me, broke my resolve. I dipped and drew my blade.
“Sorry? What were you saying?”
They backed up slightly. “You can’t do that.”
“Oh, I can, and I will. I’ve been wondering what human blood tastes like.”
For a moment I thought my threat would be enough, that they’d leave, but then the biggest of the four, the ringleader, laughed.
“Good one. It’s got a sense of humor. I like that.” His gaze raked over me, as if he were seeing me for the first time. His eyes lit up and he flicked out his tongue to lick his bottom lip.
My stomach clenched. I knew that look. Knew what he was contemplating and knew that if he tried to follow through, I’d break the hell out of the law.
“You know, a friend of mine fucked a New Blood once. Said it was wild. Said her pussy was tighter than a nun’s snatch. Said he came so hard he almost blacked out.”
His buddies’ eyes lit up. They crowded closer like a pack of hyenas. The atmosphere shifted, heavy and filled with intent.
“Train will be here in a few,” one of the others said.
“The toilets are still open.”
They lunged. I stabbed, catching one of them on the cheek. He leapt away but his friend grabbed my wrist and twisted, forcing me to let go of the dagger. It hit the ground with a clatter.
Damn. I grabbed the nearest guy’s crotch, squeezed and twisted, eliciting a shrill scream, before releasing him and punching him in the chest to force him back. My triumph was short-lived as a blow connected with the side of my head, momentarily stunning me. Arms wrapped around my waist and hauled me away from the railway track.
Hell no.
I threw my head back, connecting with my attacker’s face with a satisfying crunch that was chased by a pained grunt.
I was free, staggering forward, away from them, but an arm hooked me around my throat before I could regain my balance. Fire lanced through my side, stealing my breath and rendering me momentarily weak.
“Get her in there, quick.”
A fresh surge of adrenaline coursed through me. “Fuck you.” I thrashed and fought them, but it was four against one.
For the first time since being infected by Telarion, I wished that I were a monster, that I could burst from my skin, swell up, and rip them to shreds. But despite the changes in me, I was still blatantly and obviously too human, and if they got me into the washroom, it was game over.
Rage burned behind my eyes and seared my chest.Telarion. Oh, God, Telarion!
The track hurtled away from me. I was dragged into a tiled room where the smell of urine and antibacterial cleaner assaulted my senses.
“No!” I dug in my heels, desperately trying to extricate myself from their grip. Pain ate at my side, sucking the breath from my lungs, weakening my efforts.
