She had just enough time to think, Where the hell are..., when she heard the whine of the bullets as they passed just feet above her. Moments later, the reports from the rifle shots reached her ears.
Danni hit the ground and rolled on her back, hoping for the best. She saw a splay of feathers fall from one of the creature’s massive wings, but the monstrous bird remained airborne.
Fuck! It had been Derek’s idea to split the team up at multiple bait sites so as to cover more ground. Normally it would have been a good idea. The team was spread out, but still near enough to provide cover fire for each other - a useful strategy considering their airborne target. Unfortunately the storm was moving in faster than expected and the erratic wind gusts were playing havoc with their ability to hit a moving target. Even one as big as a Cessna, mused Danni, getting back to her feet in time to see the creature banking for another pass at her.
Not afraid of people, she thought. That’s gonna cost you, you ugly son of a bitch. Despite the danger, she let a small smile play out across her lips. She had been hanging out with Francis a little too much. His attitude was obviously starting to rub off on her. It probably wasn’t the healthiest mindset for living a good long life, but still, it was better than running scared.
Speaking of running, though... “Danni, lead it towards me, so I can get a head on shot.”
She didn’t need to be told twice. Despite its size, the bird was more maneuverable than she would have given it credit for. It was already positioned and building up speed for another approach. She spotted her discarded rifle, immediately determined there wasn’t time to retrieve it, then turned and ran in the toward Derek’s position.
* * *
Thunder crashed overhead and at once the storm was upon them. The wind picked up and Danni could feel pinpricks of frozen rain begin to pelt her.
“Just a little more...” Derek’s voice came over the headset.
A shriek behind her, though, told her that she didn’t have a little more.
Screw this, she thought with a grimace. Still running, she reached into her jacket and drew twin semi-automatic pistols. Throwing herself into a dive, she spun and landed hard on her back, the guns facing upward. There was no chance of missing, the bird took up her entire field of vision.
She squeezed both triggers and unleashed a small volley of hellfire upon the beast. The bullets hit home, but Danni immediately saw she had a new problem: regardless of whether they killed it, the small caliber bullets weren’t going to stop the monster bird’s momentum. Alive or dead, it was going to slam into her. Between its massive beak and outstretched talons, she knew she was about to be impaled.
* * *
Devil Hunters
Coming 2013!
Table of Contents
Introduction
Part 1
Hungry, Almost Like the Wolf
The Games that Children Play
Back to the Grind
Love Nest
Burning Down the House
Like Falling Asleep in a Giant Blender
Now You See It...
Hocus Pocus
Rallying the Troops
The Conference Call of Cthulhu
Without Bad Luck, I’d have No Luck at All
Party Crashers
Planning the Offensive
Crank Call
Gate Crashers
A Trip into Town
The God Squad
Preying for Forgiveness
All the Guests Have Arrived
The Great Icon Hunt
Double Agents of Chaos
Part 2
Iconic Encounter
Hitting the Fan
Love Triangle
Irresistible Force Meets Immoveable Object
The Long Ride Home
Home Not-so Alone
Witch Way to Go
Alone Time
Destiny is a Bitch
Snack Run
Hormonal Imbalance
No Escape from New York
Such Wondrous Places You Take Me
Under New Management
Free For All
Destiny’s Red-Headed Stepchild
Top Of The World, Ma
And Now for a Slightly Different Epilogue
About the Author
Bonus Chapter