Trudie Collins - Fox Among the Demons

Fox among the Demons

Trudie Collins

Copyright 2017 Trudie Collins

All rights reserved.

DEDICATION

This book is dedicated to Kirsty and Felicia. Thank you for reading my books and giving me the encouragement to keep writing.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Thank you to Pete, Julie, Wendy, Terry and Tony for their feedback

Vampire

N atasha tied the band around her long, light brown hair then released it, letting it snap into place. She was irritable, but had no idea why. As she usually did when she was in this type of mood, she decided to go for a run. The physical exercise would calm her down while letting her mind run free.

She stepped out of her house and pulled the front door closed. Looking at the sky, she decided to take the shorter of her two favourite routes. It would still be light for another hour or so, but the dark clouds approaching threatened to bring rain with them and she didnt want to get wet.

She soon reached the smaller of the two lakes located near her home and opted to follow the track clock-wise. She took a deep breath, the scent of the nearby trees filling her nostrils. Enjoying the clean, fresh air, she slowed her pace.

Though she was not far from civilisation, there were no sounds to disturb her, other than the steady, regular pounding of her feet on the track. She let her mind empty of all thoughts and felt her unease begin to evaporate. Only once she felt completely calm did she think about what could have caused her irritation.

Reasonable day at work with no run-ins with her boss? Check. All of the urgent items on her to do list accomplished? Check. The latest chapter of the book she was writing complete? Check. Her niece, Lucy, finished all of her homework and chores? Check. Lucys boyfriend not visiting that night? Check.

She continued her mental list of things that could have put her in a bad mood, but came up blank. Nothing seemed to be wrong. She frowned. Why had she felt like she wanted to yell at someone? She was usually a calm person, only losing her temper when pushed to her limit, so what had happened today that could have annoyed her?

Then an image of a calendar formed in her mind and she noticed the date. Oh. She stopped running. Today was her brothers birthday. How could she have forgotten? She would have to light a candle for him later, once Lucy had gone to bed. She doubted her niece would remember it was her fathers birthday and she didnt want to remind her; it had taken a long time for either of them to get over his death.

Chiding herself for letting something so silly upset her, she began running once more. At least she had solved the mystery of what was wrong with her. Now all she had to do was figure out how to stop simple things like birthdays she could no longer celebrate affecting her so much.

She was so distracted by her thoughts that she almost didnt see the group of people in the distance as she rounded the corner. When they did catch her eye, she would have ignored them, but something about the scene seemed wrong. She slowed to a walk as she approached the group, taking in all of the details.

The woman appeared to be in her mid-twenties, about Natashas own age. Her short hair was such a vivid red that it had to be dyed. She was holding something in her hand as she confronted a youth, who was being held by two men.

Natashas eyes flicked between them. Both had short black hair, deep brown eyes and suntanned skin. It was impossible to ignore the family resemblance; they had to be brothers. They had the same shaped chin, high cheek bones and ears that were almost pointed. The younger must still have been a teenager, though only just, while the other one was a couple of years older.

Natashas eyes drifted from the siblings to the boy they were holding. He couldnt be more than fourteen and from the way he was struggling, the conversation he appeared to be having with the woman was not a friendly one.

His skin was so pale it was almost white and he seemed frightened, though he was doing his best not to show it.

One of the brothers moved one hand from where he was pinning the youths arm behind his back, leaving the other to maintain his hold on him, and punched him hard in the stomach. The boy doubled over before being jerked upright by those holding him.

This made Natasha realise what about the scene was troubling her. She had a strong sense of right and wrong and three against one did not seem like a fair fight, especially when it was three adults confronting one child.

Not knowing what she was getting herself into, she took a deep breath and walked up to them. What is going on here? she asked.

The woman turned around, her eyes full of distain as she looked her up and down, assessing her.

None of your business, she sneered.

Im making it my business. Three against one isnt fair. Leave the boy alone.

You have no idea what you are talking about. Get out of here, the youngest of the three aggressors said.

Bloody humans, the other man said. I told you we should have made ourselves invisible. Something was strange about the way he spoke, but Natasha couldnt put her finger on what.

What do you mean humans? What are you supposed to be if youre not human?

Three pairs of eyes looked at her, the faces they were attached to showing shock.

How..... the woman started to say, but didnt know how to finish her sentence. Natasha had no idea what she had said to surprise them so much, but whatever it was it made the two men loosen their grip on their hostage as they stared at her.

The boy took advantage and tried to shake them off, his movements bringing their attention back to him. They both tightened their grip.

Finish it, the older one said. Then we can deal with the human.

The woman raised her hand and Natasha noticed it held a wooden stake. She could not believe her eyes as she watched the woman stab the youth in the chest, directly into the heart.

There was no blood. The stake clearly pierced the skin, but no red stain appeared on the boys white t-shirt. He looked down at the piece of wood sticking out of his chest, then raised his head to look at Natasha. She was sure she saw him smile before he vanished. One moment she was looking at a teenager who should have been bleeding to death, the next all she saw was the three attackers.

She looked down and saw a pile of dust on the ground.

It was at this point her instincts took over and she began to back away. She could not have seen what she thought she had. Nobody turns to dust when stabbed in the chest; at least not in real life.