Page 40 of Twin Warriors
Amy took a few deep breaths to calm her racing heart and gripped her wrists.
“Emi? Tope? What's going on?”
“Amy! A pack of night beasts has your scent! They are moving towards you.”
“Oh shit!” Amy said, flying out of the tent and running over to where the men stood. She ignored the angry scowl Cole gave her and focused on the cloud of dust in the distance.
“What is it?”
“Night beasts. I see at least four, maybe five. Get ready. They will be here in less than five minutes.”
No! This couldn’t be happening. She hadn’t had time to tell them about the others yet. They couldn’t fight that many night beasts without Kisma and Maku’s help.
Making a decision that she hoped she wouldn’t regret later, she grabbed Cane and Cole’s arms, turning them to look at her.
She could feel her symbiotes already rushing to get her. They would be with her in a matter of seconds.
“I was hoping I would have time to explain this all to you, but we don't have any. I’m sorry. I hope you can understand. Whatever you do, do not hurt the ones with green eyes and blue eyes. Please, promise me you won’t hurt them.”
Cane stepped closer to her, but Amy backed away.
“Promise me, Cane. Cole, Iron, I need your word that you won’t hurt them. Please!”
“Hurt who? What are you doing?”
“You said you wanted to know my secrets, Cole. Well, this is the biggest one I have.”
The wind around Amy began to pick up, lifting the sand as Kisma and Maku swirled around her.
“Amy! What is happening to you?”
“This is the truth, Cole. This is me… and I am five!”
With that, the thick, solid form of her symbiotes morphed around her body in a protective suit that flowed over her arms, legs, chest, and finally covered her face.
Instantly she felt the energy flow through her. This time it was different. This time, Kisma and Maku were in warrior mode. She could feel the strength, the speed, and the battle readiness barely contained inside her own skin. When she looked up, she winced at the look in all three men’s eyes.
They had a mixture of shock, fear, and anger in their gaze. But when she felt Emi and Tope leap from the other side of the tent and stand beside her, they all backed away, weapons raised.
“Do not hurt them! If you do, it will kill me. They are not a threat to us, I swear!”
Amy didn’t have a chance to get a reply. The first night beast leaped over the dune, its red eyes glowing in the darkness as its fang filled jaws clamped down on Cole’s metallic arm, driving them both to the sand.
“NO!” Amy roared out, her voice deeper and filled with an animalistic snarl. She crouched, her muscles tensed, before she pushed up off the sand and flew at the beast that was attacking Cole.
As she moved through the air, razor sharp talons extended from her fingers and feet, long deadly fangs grew from the mouth part of her mask and sharp, foot long spikes shot out all over her back.
Cole screamed as the beast tore into the soft flesh of his shoulder and chest, sending a bolt of fear through her.
She came down hard on the beast, tearing into it with her hands and feet, moving in a way that only Kisma and Maku could make her move. Blood poured from the beast as it howled in pain. It released Cole and tried to buck her off, but Amy pushed long, jagged spikes from the chest part of her suit into the back of the beast, feeling sick when she realized that Kisma and Maku were not only stabbing it, but the spikes that were imbedded inside the beast were changing shape, tearing at the organs inside.
Once the beast fell to the ground in a dead heap, Amy spun to look at where the others were. Emi and Tope were bringing another one down, its choked growls telling her that it wouldn’t live for much longer.
Iron and Cane had taken another one down. Long, shimmering blades extended from their arms cut through the beasts like a hot knife through butter.
That's three, Amy thought, spinning to look for the others.
“Kisma, how many more are there?”