promises that might be impossible to keep. But I could offer at least some hope. “Weaver expects us to keep searching for the amulets. Maybe we can help some of them.” She didn’t answer, which worried me. She’d probably felt my reluctance. But surely she understood. If Weaver was right, then nine dragons could bring the end of the world. From Amethyst’s memories I’d seen many more than nine. Whatever we did or didn’t do for the dragons, it would have to be very carefully considered.
Amethyst closed off her thoughts, leaving me alone to worry about ending the world, being killed by monsters and losing the man who was becoming far too important to me. The first two I couldn’t do much about, but as for Davis, my thoughts returned to him over and over, refusing to be doused by even a long shower.
I wanted to go after him, find him and convince him to stay no matter what. But what would that prove? Nothing.
If he changed his mind today it would only change back later, when I was less prepared.
To keep from charging after him, I took out my frustrations on my workout bag. Long ago I’d used it to teach myself kickboxing and my own version of martial arts, but this time I just strapped on some gloves and used 90
Amethyst Bound
it like a punching bag. I let time flow away while I focused on my action and pushed back my thoughts and emotions. It helped. It always helped.
And before I knew it, I heard sounds coming from the front of the house, maybe a car door cracking closed…
Was it Ben? A glance at the window showed it was dark and past time for him to be back. Had he really returned to me? I ran to the door, letting my hand hover over the handle just a moment before throwing it open.
“Thank God you’re back…”
Words faded away a moment slower than my thoughts.
The leather-clad man standing with his hand raised to knock was not Ben.
Nor were any of the twenty-odd other goth rejects who were backing him up with massive amounts of weaponry.
Chapter Twelve
Oh shit. I slammed the door and spun at the same time, screaming at Amethyst to wake the hell up. I felt her stir lazily and come awake.
“You must shift and attack!” Before I could respond to her abrasive command with the logic of how changing into a dragon would destroy my home, the door burst open and the men flooded into the house. They rushed in with a heedless speed which seemed faster than I’d ever seen men move before, and in seconds they had flanked me.
My hands slipped to my sides, but I didn’t have my knives. I was at home and should have been safe here.
“I am your weapon. Release me!” She was right, but I was out of time.
The man to my right threw his arms out. I expected a knife or even a grenade, but what flew through the air was a net. Spider-web thin, the almost invisible netting settled over me.
I should have been able to tear through the gossamer threads like nothing. Instead I was thrown to the floor by a heavy mass that I couldn’t see. The weight alone left me moaning. It felt like an elephant sat on my back.
Then the screaming started. Amethyst let out roar after roar of agonized pain. She screamed into my mind, “It burns! It burns! Get it off!” 92
Amethyst Bound
I felt the burn through her as an echo, and even that was enough to convince me the net could and probably would kill us. I fought against the strands, but struggling only tightened the net.
I reached for the magic used to shift forms and was hit with a wall of pain.
“My magic is bound by the gleipnir .” Amethyst’s voice sank down into a whimper. “I cannot help us get free.”
“It’ll be okay, Amethyst. I’ll think of something. I’ll get us free.” Though I didn’t have any idea how I would do that. Hell, I didn’t even know what these guys wanted.
If I had a chance of getting us loose, I’d have to get more info on these men. I twisted enough to see the one who seemed in charge, which wasn’t all that hard since he
Amethyst closed off her thoughts, leaving me alone to worry about ending the world, being killed by monsters and losing the man who was becoming far too important to me. The first two I couldn’t do much about, but as for Davis, my thoughts returned to him over and over, refusing to be doused by even a long shower.
I wanted to go after him, find him and convince him to stay no matter what. But what would that prove? Nothing.
If he changed his mind today it would only change back later, when I was less prepared.
To keep from charging after him, I took out my frustrations on my workout bag. Long ago I’d used it to teach myself kickboxing and my own version of martial arts, but this time I just strapped on some gloves and used 90
Amethyst Bound
it like a punching bag. I let time flow away while I focused on my action and pushed back my thoughts and emotions. It helped. It always helped.
And before I knew it, I heard sounds coming from the front of the house, maybe a car door cracking closed…
Was it Ben? A glance at the window showed it was dark and past time for him to be back. Had he really returned to me? I ran to the door, letting my hand hover over the handle just a moment before throwing it open.
“Thank God you’re back…”
Words faded away a moment slower than my thoughts.
The leather-clad man standing with his hand raised to knock was not Ben.
Nor were any of the twenty-odd other goth rejects who were backing him up with massive amounts of weaponry.
Chapter Twelve
Oh shit. I slammed the door and spun at the same time, screaming at Amethyst to wake the hell up. I felt her stir lazily and come awake.
“You must shift and attack!” Before I could respond to her abrasive command with the logic of how changing into a dragon would destroy my home, the door burst open and the men flooded into the house. They rushed in with a heedless speed which seemed faster than I’d ever seen men move before, and in seconds they had flanked me.
My hands slipped to my sides, but I didn’t have my knives. I was at home and should have been safe here.
“I am your weapon. Release me!” She was right, but I was out of time.
The man to my right threw his arms out. I expected a knife or even a grenade, but what flew through the air was a net. Spider-web thin, the almost invisible netting settled over me.
I should have been able to tear through the gossamer threads like nothing. Instead I was thrown to the floor by a heavy mass that I couldn’t see. The weight alone left me moaning. It felt like an elephant sat on my back.
Then the screaming started. Amethyst let out roar after roar of agonized pain. She screamed into my mind, “It burns! It burns! Get it off!” 92
Amethyst Bound
I felt the burn through her as an echo, and even that was enough to convince me the net could and probably would kill us. I fought against the strands, but struggling only tightened the net.
I reached for the magic used to shift forms and was hit with a wall of pain.
“My magic is bound by the gleipnir .” Amethyst’s voice sank down into a whimper. “I cannot help us get free.”
“It’ll be okay, Amethyst. I’ll think of something. I’ll get us free.” Though I didn’t have any idea how I would do that. Hell, I didn’t even know what these guys wanted.
If I had a chance of getting us loose, I’d have to get more info on these men. I twisted enough to see the one who seemed in charge, which wasn’t all that hard since he
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