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The shon:gili pounced
only to throw himself away with the demon cursing and foam running from the
squat muzzle.
The animal sprawled on the broken pavement with urine running from
it.
He stilled. In one slow motion, he stood on all four paws, and the
demon grinned.
Do this, the Owl
shouted. Do it or to hell with you.
“You can’t.” Grinning and showing every tooth in a wolf’s
hungry smile, Benny said, “He’s alive, and you got no power over Carl
anymore.”
Owl threw Benny a cold laugh. He pointed a finger at the shon:gili.
Serve me or both to hell will go. Aye, demon, you and Carl swimming in
the same lake of fire for all eternity.
Whining, begging Carl to help, the shon:gili closed his eyes. He took a deep breath and Carl flooded
through the animal. He glanced at where Owl stood, waiting for the moment to
steal Benny’s soul.
Head down and teeth bared, in a low rasp, the shon:gili said, “No.”
The animal snarled. He leaped and smashed Owl away from Benny.
Anna started. She saw the Owl, and grabbed him by the leg. With a shrill scream,
he changed into a rabbit and tore free, racing away with the shon:gili snapping at his tail.
“The Great Rabbit,” Benny said, crowing a laugh. “Dark god
of madness and lust. Get him, Carl. Rah!”
Sweating in the cold air, Mike stood with the .457 in his hand.
“Kid.”
Benny spun to glare at Mike.
“Yo, bro.” He gave Mike a lazy grin. “This is my mom. Mom,
meet Mike Donnelly. He’s a Project agent. Cindy-babe’s boy-toy.”
Hauling herself up, Anna said. “How is poor Terry Jo, Mr.
Donnelly?”
Eyes wide, Mike snapped, “How do you–“
“Everything. God watches us all, and God tells me when my brat
is bad.”
Choking and scowling, in a harsh whisper, Benny said, “Mom! Cool
it with the kiddy crap. It’s embarrassing.”
In answer, Anna patted Benny’s head, but he ducked away.
Mike stepped forward shaking his head. Blood ran through his hair,
but the gun was steady.
“Lay down and let me cuff you.”
Benny scowled. “What?”
“Benny, damn it. I’m sorry.” Agony was in Mike’s face.
“Lay down. Please. Face down on the
ground and let me cuff you. It’s too late if they know about Terry Jo. I’ll
. . . I’ll make sure they treat Sue OK.”
He made a quick glance around for the Asians. They were gone, but
Chong was watching. He had to be.
Benny scowled and showed Mike a fist. He kissed it and pushed it
slowly out at the agent. His middle finger shot up.
“Get bent, Donnelly. I ain’t going, and neither is Sue.”
Creel was staring at Mike. He slid out of the plastic bonds with a
faint scent of acid smoke clinging to him.
“Want me to wound him?”
Benny muttered a laugh. “Want me to rip your head off and shit
in the hole?”
Creel’s eyes grew huge. He screamed and began firing at
something beyond Mike. Mike spun in a crouch and saw the biggest, meanest bear .
. . dog in his life rushing down the
street. Bullets punched into the blond hide and blood spurted from a dozen
wounds, but it roared and tore through the block.
Only yards away now, the animal dropped into a crouch to stalk the
men.
“What?” Peering through the gloom, Benny glanced around Mike.
Mike shoved him back. “Stay there,” he snapped. A mouthful of
teeth showing in a bloodthirsty grin, the shon:gili
was creeping closer.
“Nah, Donnelly,” Benny said. “No huhu. It’s just my
stepdad, Carl. Hey, Carl, meet Mike Donnelly. He’s one of Cindy’s boys. You
remember Cindy.”
The shon:gili roared,
his jaws clashing.
“Papa Bear, no. It’s cool, man. Word up. This is Sweet
Bottom’s little brother. You have got to remember her. Terry Jo Donnelley.
Lieutenant Donnelly, a nurse? She said you were a patient of hers, down in Sur
America.”
The shon:gili scowled,
but stopped.
“Yeah. Hot number.” Benny’s eye rolled in his head.
“Wow.” With no false modesty, he added, “She’s one o’ my babes.”
The shon:gili snarled,
but the kid only laughed.
“It’s true. Yo, Carl, don’t be jealous. Come say hey to the
nice men.”
The shon:gili pushed up
on his hind legs.
Mike took a deep breath. He cleared his throat and said, “OK.”
“My kid,” the shon:gili
said. “I eat yer friggin rrr-liver,
you mess with him.”
Next to Mike, Creel slid to the ground in a dead faint.
Carl/shon:gili scowled.
Wiping cold sweat from his eyes, Mike said, “City kid.”
The shon:gili grunted
and muttered a laugh. He cuffed a grinning Benny on the head.
“Got uh brewski?”
“Maybe. Did you catch the Great Rabbit?”
Anna threw her arms around Carl sobbing and clutching at the thick
neck. Carl/shon:gili grinned and
showed white rabbit fur in bloodstained teeth. He dug out a strand and belched.
©2004 StoriesByEmail.com
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