Read Spook’s: I Am Grimalkin for Free Online Page B

suddenly, taking us both by surprise. I had my back to the water and Thorne saw the creature first. Her eyes widened in shock, and I turned and glanced over my shoulder, seeing the death that was surging towards me.
    The beast had arms and long fingers with sharp talons, but it was more fish than man, with a nightmare face and cold cod eyes, a mouthful of sharp teeth and a long, sinuous, eel-like body with a narrow fin.
    I tried to twist away, but it surged up out of the water, riding on its tail, seized me by the shoulder and yanked me backwards. As my head went under the cold water, I realized that I had no blade at my disposal. I had been fighting Thorne unarmed and my leather straps, sheaths and knives were spread out on the grass some distance from the water’s edge.
    But I wasn’t finished yet, and with the nails of my left hand I gouged out the creature’s right eye; then I bit through its fingers to the bone. However, it was immensely strong and was dragging me further and further into the murky water. I hadn’t had time to snatch a deep breath and realized that I was now in serious trouble.
    But then I saw another shape in the water beside me and felt a knife being pressed into my hand. I used it quickly – to good effect. And I wasn’t alone. Thorne was by my side, and together we cut that creature to pieces.
    At dawn we assembled its remaining fragments beside the lake. I had never seen anything quite like it before, but it was without doubt an abhuman. They take many strange forms, and this one had been adapted for an aquatic life. The Fiend sometimes uses such creatures to destroy his enemies. He cannot come near me, so he’d sent one of his children instead.
    Without doubt Thorne saved my life that day; it had required great courage to join me in the water like that. As a reward I boiled up the creature’s thumb-bones and gave them to her. They were the first bones that she hung on her necklace.
    Back in Pendle, I customarily trained Thorne several times a week and occasionally took her with me when I set off on long journeys, seeking out those marked for death by my clan.
    I had watched her develop from a young eager girl into a potential witch assassin who would one day take my place. Because of the war and my journey to Ireland, it was several months since I had last seen her, but I knew she would be ready to answer my call.
    I stared into the mirror now and chanted the incantation. Within moments Thorne’s face came into focus. Gone was the child who had charged at the bear. She had gentle eyes, each iris a vivid sapphire-blue, but her lean face was that of a warrior, with a wide mouth and sharp nose. Her dark hair was cropped short and she had a small tattoo on her left cheek: the effigy of a bear. She’d had it done to remind her of the day I had agreed to train her.
    You’re hurt! she mouthed, showing her teeth. What happened?
    I had forbidden her to file her teeth to points until her training was fully completed, so her rare smiles were not yet terrifying to others.
    I told her about the kretch and the poison, but it was the severed head of the Fiend that concerned me most, and I explained what I had in the leather sack. That was the real reason why I was reluctantly summoning Thorne into such great danger.
    ‘Whatever happens, it must not be allowed to fall into the hands of the Fiend’s servants,’ I continued. ‘If I die, you must take over that burden.’
    Of course, but you’re not going to die. Where are you?
    ‘Southwest of Pendle, about five miles from the base of the hill.’
    Then hold on – I’ll be with you very soon. How far behind you is the kretch?
    ‘It’s impossible to be sure,’ I told her, ‘but probably only a few hours at the most.’
    Then try to keep moving. Remember what you once said to me – ‘You have only just begun to fight.’
    With that, the mirror darkened and Thorne was gone. Fighting against the pain, I struggled to my feet and began to stagger