Indigo Rain

Excerpt From: Indigo Rain

Kalina Erutan stood still, imagining herself as part of the landscape. A sensation of fading overcame her, then it was a reality. She’d been displaced.

This case has tested all my skills, and I’m ready for it to be finished.

The fugitives she’d been hunting thought they were good—she was better. A fierce smile curved her lips as she heard their quiet footsteps padding toward her. With the intel she’d received, she’d been able to arrive before the escapees.

They passed, barely a hairsbreadth between them. None looked at her, even though she stood next to them.

Seventy-seven days of freedom has made them sloppy. Rule number one in combat—Never let your guard down.

She waited until the last one drew abreast of her, then Kalina moved. Stepping behind one of the men, she quickly laid her finger on the pulse in his neck.

"Sleep," she whispered almost soundlessly.

The man slumped and she caught him, pulling him back with her out of sight while the others continued on, seeming unaware. Smiling, Kalina laid the man on the ground and bound him with her power. She stood, then silently stalked the rest. One by one, she picked them off, laying them down and binding them along the way for the containment teams. Walking slowly, in precise steps, she sneaked up behind another man. He stiffened and turned.

Kalina faded and watched as he looked around. Must be careful not to alert them I am here.

The man shrugged, turned and continued on his way. Following, Kalina watched the group standing in the clearing. They were talking and she stopped to listen to their conversation.

"Armageddon is upon us," the man farthest away shouted. The rest cheered.

With a sigh, Kalina shook her head. It was nothing new. People were always trying to end the world or take it over. At least it kept her working. She didn’t need to hear any more. It was time to end this.

Stepping forward, she skirted between them, moving into the centre. Kalina dropped her concealment and shock rippled through the gathering. Counting, she noted since she had taken out a few there were only six of the escapees.

Already having calculated the way she would take them out, Kalina wasted no time. She flicked her baton open and swung, aiming for the one on her right, connecting, hitting across the face before she spun and kicked, taking the one on her left with a back kick. Keeping her leg up, she turned her head and glared at the others. They still watched her. Then their gazes moved to the now prone men. The remaining men and one woman glanced at each other, after that back at her.

As one, they rushed her. Power filled Kalina and she changed her baton into a whip then extended it into the air to hover above her. Wrapping the end of the whip around her wrist, she kicked up her other leg and used her power to roll herself into the air above their reach.

She looked down and found them staring up at her. A surge of energy washed over her just before the change overtook them.

The woman shifted into a golden falcon. One man changed to a grey-coloured wolf and the other into a gold leopard. The last man caught her attention as he’d remained in human form, watching her with a smug grin on his face. Adrenaline overcame the coldness that normally engulfed her when she went on a hunt.

Kalina ignored the intensity of their gazes, all except the man. She focused on him, instinctively knowing he would be the most dangerous.