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underneath the zombie, but the zombie reached down and grabbed the front of her jacket. He lifted her as if she weighed nothing and her feet dangled a good foot above the street. Larissa punched his arm, but for something disintegrating before her eyes, she couldn’t make him move even a millimeter.
    She looked for a weapon on the ground, but her eyes caught movement. Shadows moved like spilled ink over the ground toward the wall. They crept up the wall, fanning out. From the middle of this blackness, from the solid wall of the alleyway, a new man emerged.
    He was shadow made flesh, his eyes and hair purest black, his body fuzzy as if the shadows still clung to his skin like a dark cloud. In each hand he held a curved sword.
    The zombie jerked its head to look back, but before he could complete the action the shadow man moved and held up his hand, the streetlight glittering on the metal of the blade as it arced down and beheaded the zombie holding her.
    With the loss of its head the zombie crashed to the ground. Larissa fell those inches she had been held aloft but kept her feet under her and stumbled against the building for support.
    The shadow warrior came toward her. His eyes met hers for the briefest moment before commotion at the alleyway’s entrance drew his gaze. With swords aloft, he went to meet the zombies coming after her.
    Sudden pressure on her arm, and she turned, screaming and slapping her hands at whatever was behind her.
    It was a woman, long red hair vibrant under the street lights. She blocked Larissa’s flailing arms and ineffectual swats. “We’re getting you out of here,” she said, and grabbed Larissa’s wrist to lead her out of the alleyway.
    Before they could exit, the other side of the alleyway was crowded by more zombies. “Keep back,” the woman ordered, pushing Larissa to the side.
    The woman reached behind her shoulder and pulled free the longest sword Larissa had ever seen. It looked as tall as the woman and half as wide, but she twisted it in her hand as though it weighed no more than a knife.
    The sword took on a red glow. In response, scrolls of fire appeared on the woman’s bare arm. They settled into her skin, winding their way up to her shoulder to disappear underneath the black leather vest she wore, muted flame under flesh. Sword in hand, she ran toward the zombies blocking the path.
    Trapped. But across the alley was a door on that building’s side. If by some luck it was unlocked maybe Larissa could get away from all this madness. She took one step forward when something fell from the sky in front of her.
    The winged creature stood before her, his massive body blocking her exit. He reached down and grabbed her around the waist.
    No, no, I was so close!
    “Let me go!” she screamed, raking her nails against his bare chest in an effort to wound him, the skin on his chest so hard it was as though her nails slid against stone. If she hurt him he gave no sign. He put one arm under her knees and held her bridal style tight against him. He spread his wings, the wingspan massive.
    She looked back at the shadow warrior. He had finished with the zombies, the sword still in the air as if he had swung the last killing stroke. His head turned toward her as she was pulled into the air, the creature taking flight with her.
    Soft words were spoken into her ear. “I will not harm you, little human. Hold onto me. I will protect you.”
    The creature could speak. His voice was deep and soothing and gentle and so at odds with his appearance. That voice, combined with her fear of falling, overrode any other considerations. She circled her arms around his thick neck for some semblance of stability and safety and held tight as the creature flew her into the waiting night.

 
     
     

Chapter Four
     
     
    They had been flying – what… thirty minutes? Three hours? – when they came to an expansive keep nestled within a jagged mountain range. From this angle she noticed several multi-story