The Hunt by Amy Meredith Page B

Lane, and a few moments later her mother pulled to a stop in front of the rectory. ‘Have fun,’ she said.
    ‘I will.’ Eve climbed out of the car and started for the church next door. They’d decided to meet there. With a demon on the loose, they thought the extra protection of the church’s gargoyles was a good idea.
    But as she walked towards the safety of the church, a sense of wrongness filled Eve. She had the itchy feeling that someone was watching her. She didn’t hear any footsteps, but still she could have sworn someone – or something – was following her.
    She took a quick glance over her shoulder and didn’t see anything but shadows in the growing darkness. It’s the dark that’s making you nervous , she toldherself. And the shadows . Malphas’s demons had sometimes taken on the form of shadows.
    You’re almost there , she thought. She was halfway across the church courtyard now. She tried to keep thinking about Luke. That had been a good distraction from bad thoughts before.
    He’d known that she would want hot chocolate when they went to Java yesterday. That meant he’d noticed things about her. Noticing usually indicated some level of like. But Luke was the kind of player who liked all the girls he flirted with. He wasn’t just trying to get something over on them.
    The disturbing feeling of being followed hadn’t disappeared when she started thinking about Luke again. Actually it was a little stronger. No one’s there , Eve told herself. She wanted to check again, but didn’t. That would be giving in to her nerves.
    Almost as soon as she had that thought, she heard a rush of footsteps coming towards her. Fast. Before she could yell or turn round something clamped over her mouth and an arm pressed against her throat. She could take only the shallowest of breaths.
    The platforms of her boots skidded across the paving stones as Eve was pulled across the courtyard. She gave a jerk, trying to break free. The grip on herdidn’t loosen at all. God, it was strong! An image flashed through Eve’s brain – her body, covered in claw marks and bites, all her blood drained.
    Not gonna happen . She slammed her elbow back, using every particle of strength she had. Her attacker gave a grunt. The arm around her throat let up a little. Eve twisted her head and managed to bite one of the fingers covering her mouth, tasting salty blood. Fingers, so it wasn’t the dog that had been at the school. Unless it could change forms. Mal and the others had been able to.
    The creature hissed with rage as Eve managed to slide down its body and out of its grasp. She spun round to face the demon – arms outstretched in front of her.
    Trench stood a few feet away, his body crouched in a fighting stance. Trench? The reporter? Was he the demon? He was always lurking around somewhere – at the funeral, at Java, at school. Why hadn’t she put it all together?
    The man growled and slowly advanced on her. Eve gasped, fear filling her mind.
    But she couldn’t afford to be afraid.
    She shoved all her thoughts away, squeezed her eyes shut and focused on her power. As she concentrated itquickly grew bright, brighter than the moon. When Eve felt it fill her body – toes to head to hands – she let out a scream of fear and anger and shot out two bolts.
    She opened her eyes in time to see Trench fall to the ground. Eve backed away a step. Trench’s body was spasming, his coat smouldering. He managed to turn his head towards Eve. His eyes glistened with hatred and rage. Well, Eve had plenty of rage too. Demons! Why couldn’t they just go limp and die ?
    She thrust out her hands again, aiming at Trench. Lightning edged in flames flew from her fingertips, arced through the air and struck him. He let out a howl as his coat caught fire. Deserved it , Eve thought wildly. That thing was ugly .
    He began rolling over and over to put the fire out. The second blast hadn’t killed him. Far from it. As soon as the fire was out, Trench