The Rising Read online

  Chapter One

  Claws skitter over loose gravel and Serena risks a glance over her shoulder. A mass of black fur stumbles over tangled hind legs, then goes sprawling into the bushes.

  "I thought you were supposed to be faster than this!" Serena yells. Her laughter floats through the air like a melody, intensified by the quick thrumming of bare feet against the ground as she sprints away. 

  The hulking form bursts back onto the path, a spray of sharp branches and bits of leaves coming with him. Even on all fours, its head stands as tall as Serena. Red eyes lock onto her. His animalistic growl leaves no question that he is angry. Serena looks forward, digging into the ground with her feet for a faster run. The wind rips tears from the corners of her eyes. Breath comes in short bursts. Her lungs and the gills behind her ears pulsate, working to find oxygen where they can.

  The trail curves ahead, and Serena teeters on the edge of the path struggling to keep from flying off herself into the bushes. When she brushes against sharp shrubbery, shallow cuts crisscross down her scaled legs like the sting of a jellyfish, etching into her skin.

  Serena breaks through the tree line onto the soft sand and slows her pace. Hot breath tingles against the back of her neck; the werewolf is close. She hadn’t expected the beast to be even faster on sand. 

  He snaps at her, his jaw almost reaching her long, inky-black hair. 

  The greedy thing doesn't even wait until he has a sure kill. He swipes, tearing through armored scales on her calf, forcing Serena to stumble to her knees. Behind her, the werewolf leaps. Dropping down into a roll, she barely avoids its razor-like teeth. Sand sticks to her open wounds. Claws sink into her shoulders, and the beast rolls with her, unwilling to surrender his prey. In the split second he is on top of her, Serena manages to thrust the wolf into the air with her legs, pain shooting through her calf in protest. The werewolf yelps as he spins head over tail toward the ocean. The sharp crack of a body breaking the surface of water echoes across the beach.

  Rough waves topple over fur as he struggles to regain his balance. The ocean pushes and pulls, growing in strength, as if working against the wolf. 

  Serena forces herself to her feet and brushes sand from the midnight blue scales along her legs and waist. Although her breath is still coming in hard bursts, she cracks another smile watching the mighty creature thrown out of his element, and into hers. Further out to sea, past the werewolf struggling in the waves, she sees more of her kind. Their eyes grow wide, pinned on the beast. Finally, her teacher emerges to usher the group away. They disappear underneath the water after Serena receives one piercing glare from the teacher whose lessons she abandoned for a little fun in The Dry.

  Serena's smile disappears. I am in so much trouble.

  The werewolf drags himself out of the water gasping for breath, weighed down by his thick matted fur.

  Skirting around the creature, Serena gives him a wide berth as she walks toward the ocean. Frothy waves reach out with promises of swallowing her whole. She succumbs to their grip and sinks into familiarity. Once she is bobbing up and down with the waves, she turns to look at the werewolf.

  He shakes his fur, ridding himself of the salty sea water, then scans the surf. Their eyes lock, his flaring bright red again. He turns them toward the moon, lifts his snout in the air, and howls.

  Chills crawl down the back of Serena's neck, goose bumps only held at bay by the warm ocean lapping at her shoulders. Serena cringes, then flicks her freshly formed fins, spraying water onto the hound. His howl ends with a sharp yelp as he stumbles back.

  Serena turns, flinging her body up before plunging down again, diving into the dark water.