Page 128 of Awry
“Shut your eyes.”
“But —”
I press her hand into DeVille’s.And I know he understands, because he heaves the utterly terrified Kris up over his shoulder.
The cu-sith hasn’t barked yet.Hasn’t made any noise other than that earlier chuckle.
What was the myth?The fable?
Three barks, and anyone within hearing distance will die of sheer terror?
“I can’t do it without you,” Presh cries.
“Then just run, Precious.Just run.Hold onto DeVille.”I press their clasped hands between mine, not dropping the cu-sith’s glowing gaze as I silently wish them safe passage.“The path leads directly to the beach.Don’t stop!”
She hesitates.
“Now!”I bark.
Everything happens all at once.
The cu-sith gathers himself to leap the last few steps to me.The fucking dragon that is Rath swoops out of the sky and snatches the last berserker in his front set of claws.Chains pivots and discharges his hand cannon at the dragon— only to get attacked from behind by the gryphon that is Rought.
DeVille, dragging Presh and carrying Kris, takes off toward the beach, following the beckoning path of theknowingwhether he’s aware of it or not.
And I step away from the path the universe wants me to take, trusting that it will guide Presh.Instead, I stupidly step into the path of the cu-sith.
The shaggy bull-hound nearly barrels into me.But he manages to check his forward momentum, ending up with his nose practically pressed to my neck.
He inhales deeply.
Still otherwise silent.
So silent.
A vibration runs through Muta, still curled up my arm and over my shoulder.But instead of biting the cu-sith, the death-god bushmaster simply turns his head away dismissively.Then he re-forms into a bracelet around my bicep, as if he couldn’t be bothered to slither all the way down my arm.Muta really does hate the rain that much.
Also … it’s possible that he’s ceding to the cu-sith because they are … alike, somehow?One god of death acknowledging another?
I can’t think about that.I can’t worry about anything else — not the battle that’s resumed around us, not Presh fleeing unguided behind me, and not even the knowledge that ignoring aknowingcomes with consequences.Always.
Instead, I reach up and gently rub the tip of one of the cu-sith’s shaggy-furred pointed ears.The bull-hound huffs a breath against my neck, and I feel the slight scrape of teeth as he angles his head into my hand.
“That’s enough for tonight,” I say, continuing to scratch behind an ear larger than my hand.
The cu-sith chuffs again, clearly disagreeing.
“Precious needs us,” I say, hoping Reck is aware and functional within his beast.“Let’s go make sure she’s okay.”
The cu-sith nudges me — likely trying to be gentle, but strong enough that I stumble back, tightening my hold in his thick fur to keep my footing.He doesn’t appear to mind me clinging to him.
A residual sliver of theknowingstill stretches toward the beach.As I blink a few times, I see that the promised death and destruction that blackened all the life force surrounding us has eased.
Chaos reigns around us, but with the cu-sith prowling silently at my side — so large I can’t actually see over him — I begin to run again.
More malignant essence explodes behind us.Chains and the Cataclysm Motorcycle Club came ready for this fight, and they don’t seem to care how many people get caught between me and them.With Presh as Chains’s ‘bonus.’
Apparently going back to the Cataclysm empty-handed isn’t an option.
