Page 176 of Death is Familiar

“We’re saving her, you dolt. But you wouldn’t know that would you? You’re just another mindless familiar with a death wish.”

I caught a silhouette of a nearing form over the woman’s shoulder. “The only people here with a death wish are you, and Hank.”

“Enough, hurry up and save her, Hank! She’ll thank us later.”

The capsule of autoinjector rose, ready to plunge. The silhouette’s arm drew back.

“Jezebel,” I warned. “Duck.”

Hank’s arm lurched towards my neck, bracing myself, a disturbance rippled the air, a hard object whizzing past my face.

Clack!

There was a smack of something against hard plastic. A thud on the grass, followed by a guttural, “Gah!” while Hank’s meaty palm connected with my throat—but no needle.

“You okay, darling?” Carmen who had just thrown a rock with startling accuracy sprinted towards us.

A throaty “yep,” was all I could manage after the blow to my trachea. But still I smiled, as Carmen picked up speed, and I realized she was about to full-on linebacker tackle the disoriented woman off Todd’s back.

Okay, Carmen was officially in my good books.

My straight white teeth still fully on display, I grabbed a hold of Hank’s arm and used the only weapon at my disposal. I bit him.

“You bitch!”

He thrashed, releasing his hold around my abdomen to clutch his wounded wrist. Blood pooled between his fingers.

I’d broken the skin.

I spat. Biting people was gross. Zero out of ten. Do not recommend.

The tang of copper coating my lips, Hank was only upright for a second, before crashing to the ground, with a swipe of Jezebel’s legs.

From there we devolved into clash of hands and fists and feet, as Jez and I made to immobilize Hank and get the autoinjector out of his reach. He managed to land a couple of kicks to my shins, and tore a couple of holes in my dress, before I wrangled his legs into submission.

“Stop. Moving.” Jezebel sat on Hank’s chest, feet to his wrists, stiletto to his throat. “You’re only making it harder on yourself.”

But Hank just kept wriggling, shouting, “I’m bit! I’m bit! Oh my god, I’m bit!”

“Hank, Hank! It’s okay, honey, just hold on!”

Todd, still prone, kept a firm grip on the woman’s ankles as she tried and failed to kick out of his hold. Carmen had the woman’s hands secured against the ground above her head. A ragged smile pulled at Carmen’s lips. “This is normal for you I take it?”

Hank’s legs wriggled beneath me. “I normally don’t have to use my teeth.”

“I’m going to die! I’m bit, I’m bit!” he cried.

“Shut up.” Jezebel dropped her weight on his heaving chest. “You’re not going to die.”

“We need to get him treatment, or his death will be on your hands!”

“Is there a way you get them to stop screaming?” Carmen asked, her nose wrinkling.

Hank’s squirming slowed, but I kept my grip firm. “They’ll cry themselves out after a while. Shouldn’t be too long now.”

As if on cue, the woman started crying, “I love you, honey. You know that right? Whatever happens. I’ll love you.”

Hank was crying too. “I love you, Maeve. I’ll never stop loving you. You’re my everything.”