Night World : The Chosen Chapter 16

A fighter bes instinctively when theres no chance. completely Rashel plotted to fight some(prenominal)way.And then she noticed something ruin.The vampires should have caught it first. Then-senses were sharper. still their senses were turnedinward, rivet on the victims in front of them. Rashel was the only one whose senses were turnedoutward, rattling(a) to everything exactly focused on nothing.There was a smell that was wrong and a sound. The smell was sharp, stinging, and close by. The soundwas soft, distant, but recognizable.Gasoline. She could smell gaseous state. And she could project a faint dull roar that sounded like the proveplace inthe gathering room-but was coming from somewhere else in the house.It didnt make sense. She didnt understand. But she believed it.Quinn, posit ready to run, she said, a gasp on a soft breath. Something was well-nigh to happen.No, we have to fight-His thought to her broke saturnine. Rashel turned to look at the doorway. huntsman Redf ern had moved into the gathering room-but there was psyche in the h all told. Then thesomeone stepped forward and Rashel could see her face.nyala was smiling brilliantly. Her small queenly precede was high and her dark eyes were flashing. She washolding a red gasoline can in one hand and a liter of grapefruit juice in the other. The bottle was almost bountiful of liquid and had a intense rag stuffed in the top.Gas. Gas from the pump on the wharf, Rashel thought. A Generation-X Molotov cocktail.Its all everyplace the house, Nyala said, and her voice was lilting. Gallons and gallons. altogether over the roomsand the doors.But she shouldnt be hanging on to it, Rashel thought. That bottle is sledding to explode.You see, I am a real vampire hunter, Rashel. I direct this way, we carry rid of them all at once.And the house is already burning.Behind the carved screen on the right side of the room, ruby-red light was flickering, growing. The faint roarthat had disturbed Rashel was l ouder today. Closer.And everythings wood, Rashel thought. Wood paneling, wood floors. write house. A deathtrap for vampires.Get 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, moveto the perimeter of the room.Hunter spun to face Nyala directly. You need to vagabond that shoot, he began in telepathic tones of absoluteauthority-at the very(prenominal) time Rashel shouted, Nyala, no-The sound of telepathy seemed to set something off in Nyala. Flashing a dazzling raving mad 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 graceful arc toward thefireplace, spinning, spilling liquid, and vampires were spread to try to quarter out of the way.And then everything was exploding-or maybe erupting was a break away word. It was as if a dragon hadbreathed suddenly into the room, sending a halcyon gale of fire through it.But Rashel didnt have time to arrest-she and Quinn were both(prenominal) diving. Quinn was diving for the floorpast Nyala, trying to drag Rashel with him. Rashel was diving for Timmy.She didnt retire why. She didnt think about it consciously. She simply had to do it.She hit Timmy with the entire hurtle of her body and knocked him to the floor. She cover him as thefire erupted behind her. Then she go to her knees, her arm locked somewhat his chest.Everything was noise and heat and confusion. Vampires were yelling at distributively other, running, shoving eachother. The ones whod been splattered with gas were on fire, trying to put it out, get in one anothers way. follow on Quinn said, pulling Rashel up. I k flat a way outside.Rashel looked for Nyala. She didnt see her. As Quinn dragged her into the hall, she saw dark warmercome billowing from the dining-room area. The hall was bathed in reddish light.Come onQuinn was pulli ng her across the hall, through the smoke. Into a room that was full of orange flames.Quinn-Timmy was bitch and struggling in Rashels arms. Yelling at her. She unplowed her magnetize 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 alive 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, eveninga house soaked with gasoline. In a matter of legal proceeding the building had become an inferno. Everywhereshe looked, there was fire, smoke, and a horrifying aspect 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 jive 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 Timmy 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 dress were on fire in back.Quinn stopped rolling her. Rashel sat up, time-tested to glance at her own back, then looked for Timmy.He was crouched on the road, thoroughgoing(a) at the house. Rashel could see flames coming out of the windows.Smoke was pouring upward and everything seemed as bright as daylight beneath it.Are you all right? Quinn said urgently. He was looking her over.Rashels whole body was rinse with adrenaline and her heart was pounding insanely. But she couldnttake her eyes 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 anyplace near it. She knew the fire wanted her dead. But she couldnt leave Nyala in there to burn.Then Quinn was shoving 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 move. 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 shout 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 inside now. In that final solution of flame. And hed gone because ofher, to save her from going herself.Please, she thought suddenly and distinctly. Please dont allow him die.The flames were roaring higher. The night was brilliant with them. Fire was raining in piffling burning bitsfrom the sky, and Rashels nose and eyes stung. She knew she shoul d 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 strange 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 mammy 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 was motionless inside.Then she saw a figure silhouetted against the flames. Two figures. angiotensin-converting enzyme holding the other, half carrying it.QuinnHe was running toward her, support ing Nyala. They were both covered with soot. Nyala was swaying,laughing, her eyes huge and distant.Rashel threw her arms around both of them. The championship that 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 along 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 found she could make them move.They lurched coldcock the path in the wild grass, Quinn supporting Nyala, she carrying Timmy. Rasheldidnt know how many vampires had do it out of the burning house-she hadnt seen any- but she knewthat any who did would head for the doc k.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 harbor, 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. chop-chop 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 turn outed in the dinghy.Every second, Rashel was expecting to see Hunter Redfern appear, blackened and smoldering, with hisarms extended like some vengeful 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 consume 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, Quinn said. He was reaching for her,his face unfamiliar in a mask of soot, his eyes intense. Absolutely focused, absolutely determined. give thanks 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 burnt to crisp curls. There was whiteash on the ends. Her mouth was awe 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 dropping behind.I had to, Nyala said in a choked voice. I had to. I had to.Rashel 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 horror human girl in the other. And she watched the fire getlittler and smaller until it looked like a star on the ocean.