Coyle and Fang: Curse of Shadows (Coyle and Fang Adventure Series Book 1) Robert III (first color ebook reader txt) 📖

skull. Its body fell, and Coyle pushed it aside. Poes helped her up as another Turned bounded closer, swinging its disturbingly long claws.

“Get behind me,” Poes said, grabbing her arm and firing a shot directly between the eyes of the creature. They backed away, heading for another doorway.

“I lost my gun,” she said.

“I have mine.” He flipped a switch and fired. The air filled with blinding particles of light and smoke. The creatures waved at the air, coughing and wailing.

“We have to keep moving,” he said, guiding her away from the madness.

The screams and mayhem grew distant, but they ran for their lives, holding hands. With each door that closed behind them, the cries of the nightmare grew dimmer until, finally, they reached the upper balconies of a theater.

Poes led them to a large private balcony and closed the door. The suite was large enough to accommodate at least a dozen guests. Ambient light filtered down from windows along the sides.

“Coyle,” Poes said. His breathing was strained. “Are you hurt?”

She shook her head, catching her breath. She leaned over, hands on knees, hair disheveled, scratches covering her leathers.

“What happened to you? Where did you land?” he asked.

“I don’t know,” she said. “Somewhere up above.”

“We all thought you were dead,” he said, looking around the room. “The two others, Duone and Vonteg. They died. They died in the air.”

“This is all horrible.” She wiped sweat from her face. “Simply horrible.”

“We tried to take the bridge. But it was a trap. We suffered casualties. Wounds, some too severe to wait until we can get help.”

“Nothing aboard this airship is turning out the way we hoped,” she panted. “What other resources can we look forward to? Who else is coming?”

Poes leaned against a table, shaking his head.

“No one?” she asked. “No one else is coming to stop this ship?”

“Our radio communications were blocked by whoever planned this devilry,” he said.

“Then no one else knows? And no one else is coming?” She stepped closer. Her hand resting on his shoulder.

“Unfortunately—no,” Poes said.

She looked down and sighed.

“Well, that’s the best news I’ve heard all day.” She looked into his eyes, smiled and Coyle’s face shifted into the shapeless form of Veiul. She slammed a dagger into Poes chest. She turned it once, before ripping it out.

“That’s for shooting me in the carriage,” she said. “One less of Treece’s team and when I find Coyle and stab her pretty little heart out of her chest, well, that’s going to be even better.” She stepped away, watching the blood trickle out from his wound. “Coyle unraveled our plans a bit faster than we would have liked. And I can’t wait to find her.” Her face shifted into Coyle’s again, her soft hazel eyes gazing at Poes.

“Do you like puzzles?” She smiled. The end of her blade lifting his chin. The lights reflection played on her face. “Here’s another piece of the puzzle for you, Mr. Poes. Fae are not easy to kill.”

Grunting, growling, and screams caught her attention. She went to the balcony and looked down. The passengers had found the theater below and were streaming inside, hoping for an escape. The Turned followed them. She watched as the passengers fell, one by one and by the handful. The Turned were mindless, ruthless, hungry. She smiled.

“You understand what’s happening down there?” she asked. “The Turned. They’re a more honest breed of human. More daring, powerful. And yet, despite the differences, they’re the same greedy, selfish, bloated monsters. All reaching out with their fingers, trying to take what doesn’t belong to them. Destroying everything in the process. Sound like your people, Poes?”

“Actually, it doesn’t,” said a woman’s voice.

Veiul snapped her head around. Who spoke? Her eyes settled on Poes. Blood streaked his shirt, yet he stood, staring at her. Veiul’s eyes shot around the room again. Poes said,

“It took a while to straighten everything out. Especially given my distrust of Treece. I knew he’d helped create us, and I’m not sure exactly why. That’s the reason I disguised myself as this investigative attorney and played along with Treece’s team for a while. I kept an eye on Coyle, as I was by her side throughout. I knew she would uncover everything needed to stop you and Moreci. And I knew I would end up in a room with you eventually.” He grabbed the skin of his neck and pulled away the mask. “And my name isn’t Poes.”

“Fang!” Veil hissed and stepped back.

“I’m not sure who my people are. But you’re right, Veiul. Fae are hard to kill. And so are vampires.”

Fang lunged with her daggers. Veiul blocked and countered with hers. But she wasn’t as fast, wasn’t as agile. Veiul did everything she could to make Fang bleed. Both of them smashed their knuckles into their faces, knees into their guts. Furniture smashed apart. Glass shattered. Fang spun and disarmed Veiul, her dagger clattered across the room. But, Vieul was ready, she pulled out a different set of knives and lunged. They fought like two beasts in the gladiator ring, each seeking to expose a weakness in the other. They pushed each other away, each crouching in defensive stances. Each bleeding from wounds. Fang winced and grabbed her arm.

“Aurorium-tipped blades,” Veiul spat. “Just in case I ran into you.”

“I’m impressed,” Fang said.

“At my cunning?”

“You thought of me.”

Veiul sneered charged, her blades swinging. She dug her heel into Fang’s chest, kicking her away. Fang spun in the air, slicing into Veiul’s leg. Metal sang against metal as they struck and blocked attacks. Edged blade against edged blade. Will against will. Fae against vampire.

Fang bluffed to the side and leapt, dragging the tip of her dagger across Veiul’s face. She landed her somersault while Veiul shrieked with blood streaked across her hand.

“You remember our creed? Strength through adversity,” Fang asked. “Whatever comes our way will make us stronger.”

“You remember your little cage? You’re full of madness. You should have stayed there,” Veiul said.

They charged each other, stabbing, swinging, blocking. Fang