Paired Pursuit by Clare Murray Read Free Book Online

seemed to be vaguely autonomous. She watched Gareth sever one with that spear of light. Half of the creature dropped, writhing in the dust in its death throes.
    The other half kept coming, baring fiercely sharp teeth and balancing on two, instead of six, legs. It feinted in a series of startlingly swift movements, but Gareth was just as quick. Although its teeth came within a hair’s breadth of slicing his skin, the Twin pulled his dagger, driving it through its throat and leaping back as a gout of black blood spurted forth.
    He retrieved the dagger and spun, lunging toward Mari as he slammed the carriage door behind him. She moved out of his way, but he motioned her to follow him.
    â€œWith me,” he said. “Finn’s in trouble.”
    Although she tried, she couldn’t keep up with him. In fact, he was at the other end before she reached the halfway point. A flash of light illuminated the area as he jumped into the fray. She paused in horror as she registered the sheer number of aliens the Twins were facing. At least six were trying to get aboard the train, snapping and snarling as they jostled for fighting room.
    Body parts went flying as Gareth and Finn fought back to back. Finn sliced one creature in half, then turned to Mari, mouthing the word hide .
    She took his point, for the other end of the carriage was undefended. If a Bark managed to claw open the door, it would be upon her in seconds. But she couldn’t hide, couldn’t take her eyes off the huge Bark, the leader, who crouched a few yards away watching the fight.
    Now and then it would emit a low woof, as if directing the other aliens. Its four eyes were deepest black, fixed upon the Twins with the malevolent hatred of a much-thwarted hunter. When it opened its mouth again, it emitted a howl that could be heard for miles around, a sound that rattled the train’s windows and made Mari want to throw up her peanut butter sandwich.
    The Twins didn’t pause. Couldn’t pause, she realized. With the rest of the aliens to kill, their hands were effectively tied.
    But hers weren’t.
    She flicked the safety off the Glock and took aim. The leader remained still but for its eyes, an easy target. The two eyes on stalks swiveled backward, as if awaiting reinforcements…
    Mari shot. The bullet took the Bark in the mouth, blowing a hole through its webbed cheek.
    It screamed, louder than the howl, and whipped upward in movement. Mari fired again, scoring a lucky hit along one of its legs. It squalled again, rearing up and sprinting away in a blur of white. The smaller Barks followed, fleeing the Twins with yaps and snarls into the slowly lightening darkness.
    â€œTh-thought you said they weren’t susceptible to bullets,” Mari stuttered as the Twins came back inside. She engaged the safety, and Finn helped her guide the gun back into the holster.
    â€œBullets have their uses.” Gareth wiped his brow and flashed her a smile. “Nice shooting, Mari. They’re gone.”
    Whatever Finn was about to say was interrupted by a bleeping in the corner. The Twin reached over and picked up an old-fashioned phone, holding the receiver to his ear. “Yeah?”
    The female voice on the other end was so strident, Mari could hear every word. “Everyone all right back there?”
    â€œWe drove them off, but we won’t survive another night out here,” Finn said.
    â€œWon’t have to,” the woman said. “I was able to replace the faulty part myself. Hell of a place for a gasket to blow, huh? Anyhow, we can roll out in the next few minutes. Train can’t go over thirty miles per hour, but we’ll get to Scar City eventually.”
    â€œGood to know.” Finn looked relieved. Even so, he never took his eyes off the horizon. Gareth adopted a similar watchful position.
    â€œWhat’s the body count back there?”
    â€œZero. There’s only three passengers aboard.”
    â€œ And