I wouldn’t have minded a good kill. A lower demon would have been a welcomed sight as I stepped into the trees, my boots crunching on pine needles. Following the road, I hiked down the tree line looking for the ideal spot. It was all about location, location, location.
I found a pack of bushes with thick piney branches close enough to the road. It was just what I needed, with enough coverage to hide me and still get a precise shot off. I really only had one chance to make this count. Removing the bow from my shoulder, I set it on the forest floor, preparing to take a few practice shots.
A swarm of gnats circled my head, and I swatted the air. Damn bugs. I never minded the waiting game. It gave me time to sort through my thoughts or go over the plan in my head. Eliminate factors that might deviate or disrupt my line of fire.
Kneeling on the ground, I lined up my bow with the road. Through a tiny break in the bush, I aimed my ruby-tipped spear. Everything I had on me was made from the stuff. Worked wonders on anything with demon blood.
The first arrow soared through the air, landing on the other side of the road in the ditch. It felt amazing, powerful, having the bow in my hands. There was a burning in my forearm, letting me know that I’d gone too long without shooting.
For the first time since I had stepped into Spring Valley, I felt at peace, in my element. I didn’t have to worry about saying the right things. I didn’t have to worry about anyone recognizing me here in the wild. The squirrels and birds didn’t care who I was, or what I was, as long as I wasn’t hunting them.
In the distance, I heard the sound of tires crunching on the road and I stiffened. Locked and loaded, I held steady, waiting. Disappointment speared through me as a green Nissan something-or-other zoomed by. The tires kicked up a wall of dust as they skirted the side of the road. I thought about pelting the car with one of my arrows for driving like a maniac-douche-bag.
Shaking my head, I centered myself and huddled in for the wait. Even with my hoodie on, there was a chill moving in with nightfall. Soon there wouldn’t be any light left, other than the silver of the moon.
Ugh.
I was starting to think this was going to be as much of a waste as my whole day had been. Hunkering at the sound of a fresh set of tires, I decided if this wasn’t the two chuckleheads, then I was going to call it a night.
Someone upstairs must love me.
A small white compact car came into view, and my heart kicked in my chest. Game time. Pulling the bow back taut, I aimed at the exact point I had calculated. I held my breath, and then as I released the rush of air from my chest, I let the arrow fly, seconds before her car was in my line of sight. The arrow swooshed through the air in a perfect executed arch, and I watched as the tip thunked into the back tire of her little white car.
Bull’s-eye.
My lips twitched in a half smile. The Fusion made a clunking noise as the rim of the wheel scraped against pavement. From my hiding spot in the woods, I crouched down lower behind the bushes. All too well I could imagine Lexi squealing like a girl. Angel still had me stumped, but I got the impression she was pretty levelheaded.
From behind the cover of the bushes I saw Angel hop out of the car looking frazzled and extremely put out. “Shit,” she mumbled, staring at my masterpiece.
Lexi popped out beside her and surveyed the damage. “I’ll call Chase. And Angel…” She glanced at her with alert eyes, knowing that the arrow was a sign of trouble. “Get back in the car.”
Lexi had always been the bright, calmer one of the family, but it was no surprise at whom she immediately ran to at the first sign of danger.
Chase. He was a savior in their eyes.
Those two girls needed a reality check.
They scurried back into the car, and I heard the doors lock. I didn’t need to see what was going on inside. They were without a doubt calling their back up, and I knew it was only a matter of minutes before he got here to save the day.
Gag.
It was so damn pathetic how they ran to him. I tried to hide my disgust and the urge to snort. The sun had started to descend darkening the woods at my back. Chase made an entrance. I didn’t think he could ever walk into a room and not have every eye glued to him. It was part of having demon blood, but even without that as a factor, Chase would turn heads.
He demanded it.
Arrogant ass.
“You got a flat,” Chase said, stating the obvious. A piece of his midnight hair fell to one side. It was so dark now, and he blended in with the night, except for his eyes.
“Duh, it’s the arrow sticking out of the tire that has us freaked out,” I heard Angel snap.
He inspected the tire and the nasty arrow embedded in the rubber, then he took off lickety-split.
Oh shit.
“Where the hell did he go?” I heard Lexi ask, but I was already on the move. He had veered left, so I went right. But I knew it would be only seconds before he backtracked this way.