Page 6 of Lost and Stolen Gods
A manic laugh bubbled up my throat, and I swallowed it. Now wasn’t the time to go into shock.
Focus.
Breathe.
You can fall apart later, Leela.
Get to the tree house.
I scrambled to my feet, turning this way and that to get my bearings. I was in the woods behind the cottage. The tree house wasn’t far.
I broke into a jog, trying valiantly not to thinkabout what had just happened or the implications, because if I did that, I’d lose my shit, and Nani’s last order had been to get to the treehouse, and damn it to hell, I’d do it. I’d get there, and then…thenI’d fall apart.
I felt them before I saw them, loping creatures running behind me, low to the ground. Dogs? No. Not dogs, humanoid looking. Oh god, they were small men with mishappen heads.
They’re coming for you.Nani’s panicked face filled my vision.Get to the tree house. You’ll be safe there.
Dead now. Gone now.
Run. Just fucking keep running.
Their screeches rose above the thunder of blood in my head, getting closer.
I pushed harder, running faster, making all those hours on the treadmill mean something.
Where was the tree house? It should be up ahead. I’d played in it often enough as a child.
Dammit!
The road shimmered, then grew longer, trees bowing low to block out the moon.
This was crazy. This couldn’t be happening. But it was.
The tree house came into view.
“Aiiieeee!”
Something slammed into my back, knocking me off balance and onto my knees.
Oh god! “Gerroff! Gerroff me!” Survival instinctblocked out my fear as I grabbed at it, trying to tear it off. My fingers tangled in coarse hair, and I pulled.
“Shamala Tayuit tu!” the thing yelled.
“Fuck you, fuck you, you crazy fucker!’ I pulled it lose with a bellow and threw it across the forest floor, already scrambling to stand. But hot needles pierced my calf, bringing me back to my knees. Another weight hit my back, and my face met earth.
“Shila tayatui, fremu, figa!” the thing on my back said.
It was too heavy to throw off, and tears of impotence blurred my vision.
I managed to get my head up in time to see the other thing loping back toward me. Green face, wide, red mouth. Eyes like coal. Definitely a monster.
It leaned close, peering at me with empty black eyes. “Susgmath fragalisth,” it said softly, and something inside me stilled at its tone.
What the hell?
But then a black slug slipped out of its mouth and swept over its lips. Oh…Oh god, it was licking its lips. It was going to eat me.
No, no, no!
