Darcy was instantly on her feet and racing toward the far door. She didn't really believe she could make it, but at the moment any amount of space she could muster between her and her attacker was a good thing.
It was sheer instinct again that saved her life as she felt a prickle run down her spine and with a headlong dive she was on the filthy floor even as the werewolf bounded over her head.
Her breath had been knocked from her lungs by the sudden contact with the cement floor, and it was only with an effort that she pressed herself to her hands and knees.
Beyond her she could see that the werewolf's wild leap had landed her in the middle of a stack of rusting barrels. A handful had managed to tumble on top of her, effectively pinning her to the ground.
But not for long, Darcy realized. On the point of lifting herself to her feet, she noticed a short, metal pipe lying just a few inches away. Reluctantly she plucked the pipe from the ground as she straightened and continued her path to the door.
She had nearly made it across the warehouse when the scrape of claws on cement forced her to whirl around and confront the approaching werewolf.
"Crap," she breathed, her mouth dry as she watched the long teeth headed straight for her throat.
Not allowing herself time to consider, she gave a swing of the pipe directly at the approaching head.
There was a horrid thud as the steel met the thick skull with enough force to send Darcy flying backward.
She collected several more painful bumps, but as she scrambled back to her feet, she realized that she had managed to stun the beast.
Maybe more than stunned, she acknowledged with a deep shudder.
Lying on her side with her eyes closed, the Were was bleeding heavily from a gash that ran from one ear to the curve of her muzzle.
A sickness rolled through Darcy's stomach as she realized that she had hit the woman harder than she had intended.
She had always sensed she was stronger than the average woman, but to best a werewolf...
She really was a freak.
With a shake of her head Darcy forced away the absurd thoughts and, still clutching the pipe, headed for the door.
She charged from the warehouse, and as she headed across the parking lot she noticed a sleek sports car that was parked near a Dumpster.
Cautiously approaching the car, she peered inside, prepared to bolt at the first indication that the woman had not been alone. Her heart gave a leap as she caught sight of the keys still dangling in the ignition.
Holy moly, could luck finally be on her side?
Darcy yanked open the door and slid into the drivel's seat. The motor purred to life on the first try, and struggling with the unfamiliar stick shift, she managed to lurch across the parking lot.
She didn't know where she was headed, but it was away from the warehouse. And that had to be good.
She had no desire for round two with the unconscious werewolf. Not when she was bruised, battered, and still sick from the knowledge that she had deliberately hurt another.
And, of course, there was the knowledge that Salvatore would be arriving at any moment.
She was far too on edge to trust the pureblood at the moment. Whether he sent the werewolf or not, he was still responsible for the attack.
It seemed best to retreat so she could take some time to consider more fully just how and when she should meet with the man.
Turning out of the lot, Darcy pulled the phone from her pocket. As she drove slowly down the empty road she carefully committed Salvatore's number to her memory.
When she was satisfied that she could recall it without effort, she lowered the car window and with a small smile tossed the phone into the vacant lot she was passing.
She was tired of being a hapless bargaining chip in a private demon war she didn't understand.
From now on she intended to play this game by her rules.
Styx muttered a string of ancient curses as he entered the dark warehouse. Although Darcy's scent was thick in the air, it was obvious she had already fled.
Even worse, there was the unmistakable stench of werewolf nearby.
Flowing through the shadows, Styx discovered the woman King unconscious on the floor. She had a healing wound on the side of her face and a lump on her temple that had come from a mighty blow.
Darcy?
It seemed unbelievable that his sweet, innocent angel could have battled off this cur, but if he'd learned nothing else over the past few days, it was that it was futile to try to predict how Darcy might react.
She had confused and baffled and fascinated him from the moment he had taken her captive.
There was a stir of air behind him as Viper moved to stand at his side.
Styx had gathered the vampire before setting out in pursuit of Darcy. He had learned his lesson in charging off on his own, and he had already sent his Ravens to travel to Salvatore's lair to keep watch on the damnable pureblood.
"Her tracks lead to the parking lot, but she must have found a car to escape. She is no doubt miles away by now."
"Damn."
Styx tensed with frustration. The night was passing too swiftly. Soon it would be dawn and he would be forced to seek shelter.
Darcy would be out here alone.
At the mercy of Salvatore.
Well, perhaps not utterly at his mercy, he acknowledged as his gaze traveled over the unconscious werewolf. Following his gaze, Viper folded his arms over his chest.
"Who's the cur?"
Styx curled his nose in disgust. "She smells of Salvatore. She must be a part of his pack."
"Do you think she came here to meet Darcy?"
The mere thought was enough to make his fangs ache to sink into werewolf flesh. Of course, his mood was foul enough to sink his fangs into anything.
"Whatever she came here for, it doesn't appear to have worked out as she had expected."
"No, it doesn't seem to have worked out well at all."
Viper turned to regard Styx with a lift of his brow. "Your woman can hold her own."
"So it seems." Styx frowned, his heart clenching at the thought of Darcy doing battle with the Were. Not just because she could so easily have been hurt, but because he knew his angel well enough to suspect she was wounded deep in her heart at harming another. "She must have felt her life was threatened or she never would have struck out." He abruptly turned to walk toward the door, sniffing deeply of the stale air. "But why would Salvatore send a cur to attack her? If he wanted her dead, he could have killed her in the bar or even when he crept into the estate. He seemed desperate to take her alive."
"That does seem to be the question." Viper conducted his own search of the warehouse, his expression intent. "There was another woman here as well. A human."