Shadow Dancer (Kitsune series) Read online

  He punched for my face, faster than anything he’d thrown before. I didn’t see it, just the hint of a blur, yet my forearm caught the blow, angling it safely away.

  He made no other aggressive move. Standing before me, he simply smiled. “When the conscious mind stops slowing the body down, when we trust our body to find its way, it will save us. Uh, Grace, your eyes are glowing—yellow. Grace?” His brow creased with concern. He waved a hand in front of my face. “Are you in there?”

  From a great distance, I heard my voice—suddenly deep and husky—answering all by itself, “She’s where I normally stay. You have me to deal with.”

  “And who are you?”

  “Taliesina,” my voice answered, as the real me lurched, a leaf on a breeze, tumbling through an inner darkness. I sensed my body in motion, driven by another will. Pinning Shaun to the mat, I ground against him, crushing my lips to his—an urgent demand.

  TWENTY-NINE

  Like a passenger in a runaway dream, I sensed Shaun moving under me as he wrenched his face to the side, breaking our lip-lock, sending me rolling across the mats. Within Taliesina, black lightning crackled throughout the storm of her emotions. Her lust caramelized, flavoring the dark winds that caged my spirit.

  Shaun’s voice reached me from far away, “I’m flattered, but you’re under age, and Cassie would kill me—dead.”

  Frustration weakened Taliesina’s grip. The darkness receded enough for me to see out of my own eyes again. But my body was still driven by Taliesina’s desire, my stare caught on his handsome face. I padded after Shaun like a fox stalking a field mouse.

  He assumed a martial arts posture, legs wide, braced, hands defensively held between us.

  Taliesina answered with my panting breath, “You are mine. I have chosen you!”

  It felt like wrestling Jell-O; every response I demanded squished from my grasp, leaving me pawing at nothing. My body insisted on lunging for Shaun.

  His arms blurred and his body shifted, sliding against mine for an all-too-brief moment, and I went spinning in the air, dropping back-first on the mat. Impact slammed the breath out of me, leaving me gasping. I rolled onto my hands and knees, glaring up at the object of my desire. I actually growled at him.

  Then Taliesina funneled away to the back shadows of my mind, taking her wounded pride with her.

  My body returned to my control, leaving me with a truckload of embarrassment. I guess my eyes weren’t glowing anymore because Shaun approached with a searching expression.

  “Grace?” he asked.

  I assumed a sitting posture, face burning, unable to meet his eyes. “Yeah, it’s me. She’s gone, sort of. Sorry about all that.”

  “It’s alright. I understand about your inner fox; I’ve seen Cassie’s emerge a time or two.”

  “First time for me.” The room had gone silent. I felt curious eyes on me, but wanted confirmation. “Everyone’s staring, aren’t they?”

  “Yeah.” He reached down and offered me a hand up. I took it.

  “Okay, here’s the part where I sob with tears shining in my eyes and run out of the room, never to return.”

  He caught my arms. The scent of him intoxicated. That alone would have anchored me in place. “Leaving would be a mistake. You’re going to be good at this, I can tell.”

  “Good at feeling like an idiot?”

  “At martial arts. Now take a deep breath, and get a grip on your emotions. Don’t let them run you. It’s punching and kicking time.”

  “Oh, good. More abuse. Bring it on.”

  He drew away, waving Madison over. She took his place facing me, eyes intent, peering into mine. She looked ready to burst from suspense. The rest of the group went back to the drills they were doing, acting very focused now that Shaun was watching, drifting through their midst.

  Madison swept in close.

  Afraid of an attack, I stepped back.

  She caught my arm as Shaun had done, whispering in my face, “So, on a scale of one to ten, how good a kisser is he?”

  Shaun’s voice cracked across the room, “Madison, get to work.”

  Her voice snapped crisply, “Yes, Sifu!” She pulled away, angling her body, putting me not quite to her left side. Obviously, any blow slipping past her guard would only be a glancing blow across her torso. She whispered, “We’ll talk later.”

  The rest of the class was put through their paces, with light sparring as Shaun drifted around. Several times he came by Madison and me, nodding at her instruction, offering an occasional word of clarification. At these times, golden eyes shimmered open in the back shadows of my mind and more of Madison’ attacks got through. Taliesina watched him closely, but made no effort to take me over again. Before I knew it, two hours had slipped by and I was a trembling, sweaty wreck close to collapse.

  “Line up,” Shaun called out.

  Forming double lines, we bowed to him as before, using that fist-covered-by-palm gesture. I made a mental note to ask Madison what that meant, and what the word was she’d called him earlier, sifu.

  “Class dismissed.” He turned and headed for the back office he’d come from, and I felt a sense of desolation. The emotion came mostly from Taliesina, but a little from me as well.

  The room emptied quickly. Madison walked me toward the door, and Fran took up position on my other side. Hurrying past us, Anthony smirked. “Into older men, huh? I’m eighteen.”

  I get it. You think I’m a slut. I smiled sweetly. “I’ll let you know when I become truly desperate.”

  He scowled and kept going.

  Madison chortled.

  Fran snorted. “That’s tellin’ him.” We entered the hall, heading back to the girl’s wing. She locked her arm in mine.

  “So,” Madison dropped her arm across my shoulders, “the kiss, was it like as good as it looked?”

  “That wasn’t really me doing that.” I felt my face warm.

  “You saying you didn’t enjoy it at all?” Madison asked.

  “Well…”

  Fran bumped hips with me. “C’mon, fess up. You’re hot for him. We can all see it.”

  “Well…”

  “I’d let him buy me lunch any time,” Madison said. “And I certainly wouldn’t dropkick him out of bed.”

  I was scandalized and didn’t know why. Madison looked about seventeen; she was old enough to fool around, but…

  She saw me staring, laughed, and patted me on the head like a little kid. “Don’t worry, little sister, I won’t step on your toes. Just throw him my way when you’re done with him.”

  “My turn next,” Fran said.

  Like I’d give up Shaun if I ever actually had him.

  “Oh, relax,” Madison said. “You make it this easy to pull your chain, and people will do it all the time. Everyone loves an easy mark.”

  Just as I reached the intersecting halls where the staircases touched down, Anthony, Chad, and Winston sprang from around the corner. Chad used a jump kick that carried him three feet in the air. Madison caught his heel and added more energy into his move than he could handle—he over kicked, spinning to drop on his back. He lay there groaning, even though he’d used his arms to slap the ground and spread out the impact, lessening it. Fran released my arm so she could deflect a barrage of punches from Winston, waiting for an opening.

  Anthony was all mine. He vaulted into the air, a flying dragon kick—one foot extended, the other tucked under him—the kind of kick that’s stopped by hitting someone.

  Unfortunately for him, I crossed over without thinking about it, using the lighter gravity of the ghost realm to leap over him. As I languidly drifted back down, he crashed and burned. Off to the side, Fran stopped retreating, falling into a leg sweep that knocked Winston off his feet. He turned the fall into a roll, flowing up again into a combat posture. I crossed back again, skin a tingle, and color returned to the world, along with sound. Fran was huffing, winded from the intense exertion. Chad groaned, staggering to his feet. And Anthony lay there
, cursing up a storm.

  “Nice try,” Madison said, “but it’ll be a rainy day in hell before you catch me off guard.”

  Fran crossed her arms under her breasts, jutting them out. Her voice dripped with scorn, “Yeah! What’s the big idea anyway?”

  That’s what I wanted to know. If it was just me, they wouldn’t have gone after Madison and Fran too.

  “Aw, crap!” Anthony said. “I messed up my ankle.”

  “Next time look before you leap,” I said.

  He snarled at me. “I did. How the hell did you do that?”

  “Do what?” I used my totally innocent tone of voice.

  He struggled up with Winston and Chad lending a hand. Anthony’s eyes tried to drill holes in my face. “That’s some kinda ninja trick, the way you vanished.”

  I shrugged. “So what? Didn’t you once tell me all’s fair in love and war?”

  He grumbled, averting his gaze. “Not when it’s used on me.”

  “If the horseplay’s over,” Madison said, “You guys better go to the infirmary. Tony, get that sprain looked at. Make sure no bones are broken.”

  He nodded, walking on one leg, a guy under each arm adding support.

  They got a few steps away before Fran crowed out a last comment. “Next time you even think about pulling something like this, you better remember that Girl Power is a fearsome thing!”

  They ignored her and kept going.

  Fran raised a palm for a high five. Madison obliged. Then they turn on me, eyes wide.

  “That was no ninja trick,” Madison said. “What did you do?”

  I tried for a no-big-deal tone of voice, “Accessed an extra-spatial dimension. It’s where I go to hang with ghosts and stuff.” Tukka came to mind and heaviness seeped into my chest.

  “That’s right,” Madison said. “You’re kitsune. I keep forgetting.”

  A dark-suited Van Helsing moved into view, his white hair haloing his head. “Don’t.” His gaze slid from Madison to Fran. “This is a good lesson for you. Treating non-human creatures as human just because they look that way is a mistake—one that Anthony will likely not repeat.”

  “You had them attack us?” I said.

  “Of course. Life is one unexpected test after another. Why should this school be any different?”

  THIRTY

  The rain lulled the next day and night, and started again my third morning here, pattering the glass, distorting the world. The sky loomed, a dark haze above the trees. Occasional lightning chased its tail as thunder grumbled several steps behind. Wearing a borrowed burgundy robe, I haunted Madison’s room, waiting, peering down at the front drive where I expected Elita at any moment. Of course, I’d expected her yesterday, and the day before. She’d missed her usual day, keeping me on pins and needles.

  In a way, this was good. I’d been drilling non-stop with anyone who’d let me waste a little of their time, and improving my education. It turned out that sifu just meant teacher in Chinese. And the fist and palm salute meant hidden treasure, conveying the idea that we hide our power, being both sneaky and humble in how it’s used.

  Finally, Van Helsing had taken me aside. He’d said I simply didn’t have time to learn everything I needed with Halloween coming on so fast. He’d had me train with a single technique; incorporating my disappearing act into my attack, coming out of nowhere to hit my opponents from every side. He’d said this was my biggest strength.

  I ached in places I didn’t know I had, but a good night’s sleep, a hot shower, and a breakfast of scrambled eggs, toast and sausage almost made me forget the wear and tear of martial arts class. Nothing, however, could dissolve the memory I had of Shaun writhing under me, his lips against mine … until he shoved me away like a slobbery dog.

  Tukka. I sighed, thinking of him, mentally laying a rose on his imagined grave. I hope they’re treating you well in doggy heaven.

  My mental jukebox kicked in with a random song.

  I spazzed with surprise, jerking back from the window. I tried to turn the mental music off but...

  Golden eyes gleamed in the back shadows of my mind. Taliesina blocked my attempt. Having chosen the song, she proceeded to wallow in it, howling along with the rock power chords screeching in my brain.

  I feel the fire taking me…Into a dimming sky. Make a wish, I might come true, and steal the heart right out of you…

  I rolled my eyes. Just what I need; an inner fox who loves karaoke—like I’m not distracted enough. But maybe that was the point. Maybe she wanted me distracted. I’d felt the sizzling lick of her desire for Shaun in class. We shared the same heart. Maybe I was bumming her out and she was trying to lighten the mood for us both.

  Fine. I liked the song anyway, or I wouldn’t have absorbed it.

  Taliesina sent me a mental image of a fox prancing on hind legs through an autumn carpet of leaves. The fox whirled—like a curl of wind through barren branches—and dropped to all fours, leaping unexpectedly after a scraping leaf. The image faded.

  With a smile, I returned to the window, letting the dreary dampness outside reclaim my attention. Two silver Lexuses climbed the hill toward the school. Elita and a security escort. I’d give her time to settle into her morning routine here, and then…

  Yesterday, I’d had dinner with Van Helsing, and he’d picked my brains on how I wanted to play this. Actually, he’d interrogated me on the people involved and forcefully offered insights on various strategies. The man was a fearsome resource. By the time we were done, I had a full-blown plan that was only slightly over the top, drama with a cutting edge. It was too late to convince Elita we could be friends. The Old Man had said if I couldn’t be loved, I could still be feared, that fear was a useful tool if handled right—hence, Operation Scarecrow. The students knew their parts. We’d staged a few dry runs, and now we’d see how well our scheming paid off.

  A costume on a hanger gripped the top of the closet door. The fabric was gauzy black, sheer, and a little glittery with obsidian beads of glass attached. Studded with metal, there were black tights like those a dancer might wear, and a red scarf—the perfect outfit for a cover shoot with Rolling Stone magazine. I’d be ready if they ever called.

  I shed the robe and dressed quickly. The costume sheathed my body like a second skin, except for the back which was open, making a display of creamy, pale skin and the black, brown, and orange butterfly wings growing from my shoulder blades. The scarf went on last along with a pair of black slipper-like dance shoes. If only someone was doing a production of Mid-Summer Night’s Dream… Well, the evil fairy look was what I needed.

  Madison had already done my hair, piling it elegantly, securing it with gold filigree pins. Matching earrings dangled on my ears—clip-ons, if someone got grabby, I wouldn’t tear an earlobe in a fight. Armored with the knowledge that I looked hot, I left the room and went down the hall to the top of the stairs. I was in time to hear the new arrivals burst through the main door, bitching about the stormy weather.

  I liked it; it fit my mood.

  I listened to the clomping feet, letting them move on toward Shaun’s classroom before descending to the bottom stair. The downstairs hall was deserted since all students not involved in this morning’s operation had been told to stay out of the way.

  Summoning the usual tingle, gray tone, and lighter gravity, I crossed over. Following Elita, I used slow bounces that ate up the distance. I passed the intersection, several classrooms that were in use, doors firmly closed, and reached the end of the hall, which wasn’t completely empty after all. Two of Hammer’s guards adorned the entrance to Shaun’s class. They wore black suits, white shirts, and black ties. Their massive, well-muscled bodies were as much a threat as the shoulder holstered guns that ruined the hang of their jackets.

  They weren’t my worry; Van Helsing had promised to handle them. I looked back down the hall and saw him approaching with a smile that just looked creepy. He must have been well known to the guards; they showed no sign of suspicion. He
leaned heavily on a metal, folding cane, as if feeling his age. He got right up on the men, and stumbled, flailing his free arm in a show of panic.

  The closest guard reached out to catch Van Helsing who turned into the motion and pulled the guard over a hip, tossing him to the floor. The old man used the momentum, passing it into his collapsible cane to make the elastic cord holding the segments together separate, becoming a makeshift nun chuck.

  Devious and versatile—I like that. Maybe I should think about coming here.

  Using the cane, Van Helsing rapid fired blows on the guards as they swung up their guns. The guns went flying. The Old Man dropped the cane. It hit the carpet and tightened, going rigid, becoming a walking stick again. Van Helsing produced a taser and zapped the guards unconscious as they surged to their feet. Limp as over-cooked noodles, they joined the cane on the floor.

  The old man picked up his walking stick and strolled off at a sedate pace. If he whistled a jaunty tune, I couldn’t hear it from the ghost realm.

  I walked through the wall, invading the classroom. Madison had said this place was called a kwoon, the Chinese equivalent of a Japanese dojo—different culture, different name. There were two guards inside the door as well. I saw Elita stretching with Madison, Fran, and the guys. Anthony was out of class due to his injured ankle. Only Shaun was unaccounted for, probably in his office. Once he appeared and called the class into session, things could begin.

  The wait proved brief. Barefoot and handsome, he strolled out wearing a faded red uniform that might have been tailor made, the way it emphasized broad shoulders and narrow hips. A brighter, red silk sash cinched his waist and dangled to his knees. Black cuffs were pushed back, revealing powerful forearms. He took his place right in front of me, at the head of the class, wearing a smile, saying nothing. That was enough to get the students scrambling to their feet, falling into two lines. His fist and palm salute was returned as everyone bowed.

  This was my cue. As everyone straightened, I leaped into the air and crossed over, popping into view as I landed on the cushy mat to Shaun’s right. I faced him, giving everyone a good look at my wings, fluttering them for full effect.