me, she projected holographic flames that shot from the base of the staff in a line across the floor, flaring up in a cascade of fire as they went.
It wasn’t real, but he didn’t know that, and so he dove to the side to avoid immolation. I took a chance that he was right-handed and would dodge that way, and it paid off when he couldn’t evade my already swinging staff. He did manage to shift enough that I cracked him in the shoulder rather than over the head. Either this lynix was tough, or I was a bigger wuss than I thought, because the blow didn’t faze him in the least. Rather it put me right where he wanted me as he ripped the staff from my hand and flung it into the next room.
“Nice kitty,” I said, patting the air in placation as the lynix stalked around to stay between me and my staff. “Have a doggy to play with,” I growled, throwing my right hand out to the side—a little showmanship never hurt. Paige followed right along with me, providing a projected beast, canine in shape and larger than life. It growled and slavered and lunged at the lynix, who jumped up and kicked it square in the nose without a shred of fear. That was not part of the plan, and I was impressed at the balls this guy had. As the holographic illusion passed through him like a ghost, the jig being up, he turned his attention back to me. The failed scare tactic had, however, given me enough time to cloak myself to the visual spectrum and dash past him.
I don’t know how he sensed me, but the lynix was on my heels as I scooped up the staff and turned. I was too slow and he bowled me over again, claws digging at my shirt, shredding my jacket as we fell. I thought perhaps I was experiencing a moment of heightened perception, because we seemed to fall for longer than we should, until I realized we’d gone off the ledge of the higher rooms.