Free The League of Doorways (A Book of Vampires, Werewolves & Black Magic) (The Doorways Trilogy - Book Two) by Tim O'Rourke Page A

way. 
    “We’re gonna die!” Bom cried from the back, as the beetle nearly collided with the tiger-bike that raced along on the other side.
    “Stop your moaning, will ya!” William howled as he reached for his catapult.
    Faraday slammed down on the foot pedals, the beetle’s legs scurrying faster across the desert.  Then the vehicle screamed in pain, as one of the tiger-bikes took another swipe at it with its giant paws. Ahead, Zach could see a jagged row of rocks sticking out of the ground like huge teeth. Faraday raced the beetle towards it, his face expressionless.
    “Are you insane?” Bom cried out as the rocks loomed closer and closer.
    Believing that they were going to smash straight into the rocks, Zach, William, and Neanna threw their hands over their eyes and screamed. But at the very last minute, Faraday eased his foot off the pedals. The beetle screeched, as Faraday yanked the steering wheel to the right and it scurried around the rocks. The tiger-bike and its rider, who had been racing alongside the beetle, wasn’t so quick to react, and it smashed headlong into the rocks. Zach looked back as the tiger-bike burst into a ball of red seething flame, and the rider span through the air. 
    Once clear of the rocks, Faraday hit the accelerator again, and the beetle scuttled onwards at a terrifying pace.
    “There’s more of those things back there!” William howled from the back of the vehicle, the glare of the tiger-bikes’ headlamps showered the beetle in white light.
    Faraday veered the beet-wagon to the right and smashed into the side of one of the tiger-bikes that pounced through the night. It roared as it drew level with the beetle. Zach glanced at Faraday as he threw the vehicle left and right. Neanna stared out of her dark window and at the dead peacekeeper racing alongside on the tiger-bike. Neanna’s window then exploded inwards, as the rider released a shower of stakes into the vehicle. Zach watched Neanna suddenly blink away.
    “Where’s Neanna?” Zach cried.
    “Out there!” Bom roared back, pointing out of the window.
    All off them stared through the window to see Neanna now sitting behind one of the riders as they raced along on their tiger-bike. Her long , black hair flew out behind her, and her cloak flapped like a cape.
    “What does she think she is doing?” Faraday asked.
    “Fighting back!” William howled, lowering his window. A rush of air blew into the car, his brown dreadlocks whipping about his face.
    Zach took one of his crossbows from its holster as he watched Neanna pull at the respirator which covered the dead peacekeeper’s face. Immediately, the unmasked rider began to screech as if in agonizing pain. Zach looked at his face. Its skin was white and as wrinkled as a withered balloon. The rider had no mouth or nose, just a gaping hole. Its eyes were dark and rolled backwards in its misshapen skull. Releasing the handlebars, the rider cop covered its face with its hands and began to scream.
    “URG! URG! URG!”
    The tiger-bike bounded onwards as Neanna tried to throw the rider from it. He thrashed his arms backwards, desperate to take hold of her. But Neanna was too quick, and grabbing the rider around the throat, she threw him clear of the bike. He rolled over and over on the ground, sending up a shower of dirt in his wake. Neanna quickly glanced back then faced front, taking hold of the handlebars. She lent low and bounded forward, the tiger-bike roaring and swishing its long black and orange tail.
    Behind the beetle, three more tiger-bikes raced forward. Leaning out of the window, William placed one of the inferno berries into his catapult and took aim.
    “No!” Zach shouted, remembering the damage the inferno berries could cause. But it was too late. William released the berry. It fizzed and spat as it tore through the air. The berry hit the ground in front of the approaching tiger-bikes and exploded. A vile green shockwave of light ripped outwards, slicing the