The League of Doorways (A Book of Vampires, Werewolves & Black Magic) (The Doorways Trilogy - Book Two) by Tim O'Rourke

shrieked, “URG! URG! URG!”
    With one hard kick with her foot, Neanna knocked the creature off the bike, where it rolled away lifelessly into the sand.
    The last remaining tiger-bikes with their riders circled in the sand ahead, then came bounding towards the beetle. Leaning out of the window again, William took aim with his crossbow.
    “No don’t do it!” Zach yelled.
    “Show some backbone, will ya!” William howled, his eyes glowing like two hot coals behind his glasses.
    The inferno berry rocketed through the air just inches from Zach’s face and thudded into the ground. The whole world seemed to tremble then explode in a bright green flash of light. The shockwave created by the exploding inferno berry carved through everything in its wake, taking the remaining tiger-bikes and their dead riders with it. The circular blade of green light raced towards Neanna and Faraday, as they bounded along in front of the beetle. Just seconds to go before it sliced them apart, Neanna blinked away. With lightning speed, Faraday leapt into a standing position on the back of the tiger-bike, and then, back-flipped through the air.
    For a moment Zach lost sight of him as he frantically steered the beetle away from the approaching shockwave. There was a ripping sound. Zach glanced out of the open shell to see Faraday being dragged along in the dirt, the knives and blades on his mechanical arms hooked into the side of the beetle. The vehicle wailed in pain and began to slow. Using his arms as a set of hooks, Faraday pulled himself up and back into the car. Zach slid to one side so Faraday could take control again. His arms whizzed and hummed as the tools which ran the length of his arms folded away. 
    The beetle continued to slow. It shuddered and lurched forward, its six legs trying to move forward over the dese rt. It screeched and then stopped. Zach glanced sideways and watched as Faraday pulled the flesh back over his hands and arms, like gloves made of skin. Faraday caught Zach staring at him and said nothing.

Chapter Thirteen
     
    The Delf travelled through the night towards the Outer-Rim. The Splinter was so far behind her now that when she looked back, it was no longer visible on the flat horizon. Max panted as she pushed him faster and faster across the desert. His thick , pink tongue lolled from the corner of his mouth as he grew tired. When she thought the dog could carry her no further or faster, she would take a fistful of the maggots that crawled from her ears, nose, and mouth and lean forward so he could gobble them from between her fat fingers. He licked her fingers clean and galloped on.
    As she travelled towards the Outer-Rim, the Delf thought of how she had once been – how she and her brother had once both been. They had been beautiful. They had been loved by all who looked upon them. They were meant to have been the future rulers of Endra. There had never been twins before in the monarchy. But then, the other had come. The Queen , who now lay asleep at the top of the tower, had spoilt everything, the Delf thought with bitterness. Why had she ever been born?
    The wind blew hard across the desert floor, and the Delf bent low over Max, losing her face in his unruly mane. She dribbled maggots into his long hair, and they wriggled down the length of his giant skull.
    “Faster, there’s a good boy,” she soothed in his ear.
    Max sped up, a wake of dust blowing up from beneath his black paws. Although the Delf had spent a great many years living alone in the shack beneath the granite tree, she had hated every moment of it. The loneliness seemed to eat away at her. Her brother had been busy putting his plan together, getting everything in place so that when the time came for them to retake the kingdom which was rightfully theirs, it would pass without interference.
    Throat had discovered that the Queen had a reflection – a girl from the other side of the doorways. She would have to die too, but how would he take