But he could land. He hit cement easily, executed a textbook tuck and roll, followed by a round-off and two handsprings to absorb the excess momentum, and came to a graceful stop right at the entrance to the alley where he’d left his vehicle. He hated to give Angelica any kudos, but his gymnastic talents had come in handy on more than one occasion. Shit. Maybe the chick knew what she was talking about— He staggered as the full force of the Mean and Nasties smacked him, and he reeled as the purple shadows batted at his face. Since when were the hate goblins corporeal? He decapitated the lot of them to the sound of giggling that no grown warrior wanted to hear from the death shadows chasing him. More came out of the ground, squeezing out of the cracks in the sidewalk, bulging out of blades of grass. He felt them piercing his skin, eating at him. Black smoke began spiraling out of his fingertips, filling the air with noxious fumes. A couple passing by began to argue and then shout at each other.
