Monster - A. Lee Martinez [79]
“Must be,” said Monster, as if he understood any of what Chester had just said. “Leave it, then.”
The imp grabbed Monster by the pant leg and yanked while yipping and barking.
“Okay, okay.”
He released Judy. She managed to stand on her wobbly legs.
“We really don’t have time for this.” He took the stone and tucked it under his arm. “That crazy old broad could show up any—”
“That does not belong to you, young man,” said Lotus. She’d freed Ferdinand and Ed from their spells. They stood behind her in the doorway, but Lotus was the real threat.
Monster pulled another rune spell from his pockets and crumpled it. “Stay back. I’ll use this if I have to.”
Lotus smiled. “And what will this spell do? Make us all terribly itchy?”
“It’s my last resort. It’ll start a raging fire.”
“I’d be careful, ma’am,” said Chester. “He isn’t very good with magic, but he does excel at burning things to the ground.”
Judy spun around, laughing. “To the ground!”
Ferdinand and Ed moved forward, but Lotus held them back.
“I pride myself on my patience, but you have nearly exhausted it, Mr. Dionysus. Now if you would put down the stone.”
“Wait a second, boss,” said Chester. “I wouldn’t do that if I were—”
Lotus flicked her fingers at him. Invisible blades sliced him to shreds.
“The stone, if you please, Mr. Dionysus.”
Monster studied the pile of confetti.
“Wait a second. You’re afraid of me because I have this, aren’t you?” He tightened his grip on the stone.
“Why on earth would I ever be afraid of someone as ineffective as you?” said Lotus.
“He’s a dumb-face,” said Judy with a snort.
“Go on then,” said Monster. “Take me out. I’m waiting.”
Lotus smiled humorlessly. “You’re brighter than I gave you credit for.”
“That’s right. I am.”
“Ferdinand, Ed, would you please remove the stone from Mr. Dionysus’s possession?”
They advanced.
Monster shut his eyes and let loose with a burst of bright light. Ed and Ferdinand recoiled, turning their faces away. They rubbed their eyes. Judy was blinded too, but her senses were already playing tricks on her, so she didn’t think it odd that everything went white and spots danced in her vision.
Lotus had been looking straight at Monster when he’d flashed. She wasn’t bothered. She did not appear pleased, but she didn’t make a move toward him. The stone kept her at bay. He clutched it close to him and tightened his grip.
He still had to worry about Ferdinand and Ed. Once they recovered, it wouldn’t be hard for them to kick his ass and take the stone.
His only choice was to make a run for it. He grabbed Judy’s hand and bolted out the door leading to the backyard. He dashed down the steps, toward the picket fence. He’d leap that and then he’d…
He wasn’t sure. He hadn’t worked out his plan much beyond that.
A trio of Lotus’s garden gnomes, spears at the ready, sprang between him and escape. Screaming, they charged. The imp leaped on the lead gnome. Monster used the stone to deflect the second gnome’s spear, but the third gnome cut him on the thigh.
“Ow! You little son of a—”
He kicked one gnome and smacked another with the stone. Both went flying across the lawn. The imp and the lead gnome rolled around, locked in combat.
Monster glanced back at the house. Ferdinand and Ed came stumbling onto the porch. They were halfway down the steps when Monster flashed again. Ferdinand had had the foresight not to be looking directly at him, but Ed hadn’t. Her blindness made her miss the third step on the short flight. She fell onto the lawn, tripping Ferdinand.
He didn’t waste any time congratulating himself on his luck. He turned back toward the fence.
Lotus and a legion of cats stood in his way.
He could try blinding them again, but he was beginning to feel weak. He swallowed, reminded of the absence of even an ounce of saliva. At most, he had another two bright bursts in him before he risked collapsing from dehydration. Ferdinand, Ed, Lotus, the gnomes, and the army of cats surrounded Monster and Judy.