Shadows (Ultrahumans Book 2) by Niall Teasdale

laughed. ‘When do I put my life at risk for work?’
    ‘In a few minutes, you’re going to put this food in the oven and then you’re going to walk down to the night deposit at the bank.’
    ‘Oh. Well… I suppose when you put it like that…’
    ‘I’m coming with you, by the way. If you got robbed it’d be terribly embarrassing.’
    ~~~
    Generally the Morgans took turns going over to the Bank of America on Hanover Street to drop off the takings from the shop three times a week. It meant they swapped over the weekend drop and were never carrying very large amounts, but the Saturday night run tended to be the largest.
    It was still early, so there were plenty of people about, fewer when they cut down the side of Old North Church which Audrey insisted was far faster than going around via Tileston Street. Which was true, but Andrea had a desire to teach her mother about personal safety as they walked into the shadows under the trees.
    Not that it was dark to her. Not anymore. Now the night was as clear as day, even though the moon was barely a sliver in the sky. Even so, it was the voice in her head that alerted her to the three figures ahead of them.
    ‘Two on the left, one on the right,’ Twilight said, her voice hushed even though no one else could hear her. ‘The fact that they’re hiding suggests they’re up to no good.’
    ‘They were in the shop earlier,’ Andrea replied when she could make out a face. ‘At least, that one was and there were three of them then. I don’t have my sword or batons…’
    ‘We don’t need them. Just do as I say…’
    ‘Mom,’ Andrea said aloud, ‘stay right behind me.’
    ‘What? Is something…’ Audrey stopped as the three figures stepped out of the trees. There was barely enough light for a normal human to perceive them as anything more than shadows, a fact they seemed to be counting on since they were not even wearing masks. They were, however, carrying knives.
    ‘Okay, ladies, hand over the money and you don’t get hurt.’ The tallest of the three seemed to be the leader: his grin was broadest and he was doing the talking.
    ‘You boys really picked the wrong people to try to shake down,’ Andrea replied. ‘I’ll give you one chance to give up.’
    ‘The cash,’ the leader snapped, brandishing his knife.
    ‘I did warn you…’
    The shadows seemed to climb up from the ground and envelope them. In one instant they were looking at the two women holding their illegal gains for the night, and in the next there was nothing but darkness. Except that there was something in the darkness with them, something old, angry, and hungry .
    Just as they had come, the shadows fell away. One of the three was lying on his face, blood gushing from his nose where he had smashed it into the ground when he fainted. One was standing there staring at Andrea as though she had just sprouted horns. The leader, his bravado gone, was screaming his lungs out and slashing at the empty air around him.
    The stunned one came to first, looking up at Andrea with a horrified expression on his face. She glared back at him. ‘Get lost before I decide you don’t deserve it,’ she growled. Turning, he almost fell over his own feet in his haste.
    That left the leader. Stepping forward, she grabbed his wrist, twisted it until he dropped the knife, and then yanked his arm back to lock it behind him.
    ‘Mom, you got a phone on you?’ Andrea said, her voice calmer than she felt.
    ‘Uh… yes.’
    ‘Call the police. I’m not feeling as generous with this guy. He’s a lousy tipper.’
    ~~~
    The darkness wrapped around her like a blanket. She heard the air conditioning click on as the temperature in the room dropped a few degrees, but to her it felt as though she was snug in bed, which was actually the case. Somewhere in her mind, Andrea felt Twilight stirring.
    ‘So, your first shadow cast. How was it for you? I loved it.’ The voice had a smile in it.
    ‘It felt… a little cold, at