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brothers would come to carry her bodily to wherever this Nick was, not unlike the traditional virgin sacrifice.
    They really hated working the Friday night shifts.
    Not that she wanted to go. It had been tough to leave the little haven of her apartment tonight. The night was crystal clear with a moon so bright and big there was a chance of touching it. The air was crisp and fragrant with the scent of the dampened oak leaves carpeting all the once green grassy areas.
    And there was the presence of her phantom companion. It had to be her family’s paranoia about her living alone catching up to her, but these last couple months she had been living with a constant presence. Maybe if the feeling scared her she would be more wary, but she was comfortable with this companion. It was protective in its watchfulness, a dark energy against those who would hurt her while it wrapped her in safety. She felt safer these last months than she had even when she had lived at home.
    A snort of laughter spilled out as she imagined Dad’s indignant expression if she ever told him that and his hints that maybe it she should rethink the whole coming-back-home-to-live thing.
    Enough with the flights of fancy. There were plans to make. Okay, poker. Another set-up sure, but maybe Nick would be nice. He couldn’t be worse than Anthony, he of the love obsession with his abs, who pulled up his shirt four separate times to try to convince her to touch the muscle mass. Or there was Ben, who took her to the steak and seafood restaurant and ate and drank everything in sight while she ordered salad, then proceeded to split the check with her.
    And then there was Leonard.
    Yeah, Dad didn’t do too well with choosing Leonard.
    Still, he hadn’t been so horrific, and she was a tad ashamed of the momentary glee she experienced the next day when Dad told her Leonard’s car had been mysteriously crushed.
    Besides, if it worked out with Nick, she would be spared her brothers accusing glares during Saturday dinner when she told them that, once again, there was no spark and no chance for further romance.
    So, reframe this whole set-up situation. Maybe she didn’t want to go over to Dad’s, but there was always a chance it could be a real blessing.
    She breathed in the autumn night air, taking in great lungfuls as she moved toward her car. There were no better nights than these, when the leaves were changing colors and the bite in the air made every breath a pleasure-pain mix.
    And then her breath stopped, frozen in her chest as every muscle in her body locked when a roar sounded through the empty streets, the unholy sound coming ever closer.

 
     
     

Chapter Three
     
     
    Larissa’s mouth went dry, her palms dampening in spite of the chilled night. She looked to the sky to find the source of that inhuman sound.
    What was that? This was a protected area – humans-only. The magical wards had been recast only last month with the specific purpose to fend off any non-human race or species.
    The low hum of voices brought her attention back to the street. Three bodies moved toward her. Probably male from the taller height and broader shoulders, but she couldn’t be sure. They wore hoods to hide their faces and jackets hid any shape of the upper torso. She had seen similar groupings many times at the high school she taught at. Still, they seemed… wrong. Their bodies were at odd angles, their steps uneven, more akin to a series of lurches rather than the awkward gaits of adolescents or the surer steps of adult males.
    If it feels wrong, run. Even before the echo of Dad’s oft-repeated advice faded she was turning away from the group and sprinting the back way to her car.
    Their steps quickened behind her, faster than their shuffling led her to believe. It took seconds for her to feel a brush of fingertips against the back of her coat. Adrenaline surged, fueling her muscles and she shot forward, increasing the distance.
    She turned the corner to see three other