“Back entrance?” Komi whispered to Bolene, who nodded.
“Probably. Check if that door is locked, then we will head up the stairs.”
Komi did as asked. The door opened easily and he put his head out into the cool evening, looking for any sign of movement. There were a number of cars parked behind the building, but none seemed to be occupied.
Komi told Bolene and Trey what he had seen when he returned to where they were waiting for him. If the occupants of the cars were in the building and each had been full, they were in a lot of trouble. It would be impossible for them to take on that many vampires alone.
Trey took the lead, moving up the stairs as quietly as he could. He had a stake in his hand and raised it above his head as he opened the door at the top.
The smell of blood instantly hit him. His eyes widened at the scene in front of him. The second floor was open plan, like the one below, but was not empty. Bodies were everywhere. Some had been stacked in one corner, but most were littered about. The large windows let enough moonlight through for Trey to see blood covering their necks. The demons had found the victims if not the vampires.
He stepped out of the doorway, allowing Bolene and Komi to move beside him. He was about to say something when he heard a sound from the other end of the room. It sounded like a snarl. All three looked over to where the noise had come from and could just make out a man bending over a body, his head raised as he growled at the young woman standing beside him.
Slowly, so as to make as little noise as possible, the three siblings moved forward, each with weapons in hand. As they drew closer they could make out the fangs on the man, which were dripping with blood. The body on the floor in front of him was still twitching. The woman moved away and the vampire returned to his meal.
Bolene raised her crossbow, aimed at the vampire’s back and released the arrow. It hit her target, but missed his heart. His head swung around and he growled once more when he saw who had shot him.
The arrow was protruding from his chest. He took hold of it and yanked it from his body. Then he ran at Bolene, his mouth open, exposing his fangs. She dropped the crossbow and took a stake from her jacket. The vampire was fast, but no faster than an Olympic sprinter. When he was close enough, he leaped at her, hoping to push her to the ground and sink his fangs into her neck. She was expecting the move and was able to raise her arm in time, ensuring the vampire impaled himself on her wooden stake.
His momentum forced her to the ground, but her weapon pierced his heart. Instead of feeling the weight of his body falling on top of her, dust covered her, making her sneeze.
She looked over to where Trey was dealing with the woman and Komi was fighting with a previously unseen vampire. The man seemed young, no older than Komi, and was much taller than him. They were circling each other, looking for an opening through which to strike, Komi aiming for the heart, the vampire for the neck.
Bolene stood up and brushed herself down with her hands, removing the dust from her clothes. After checking there were no more vampires in sight, she went over to one of the corpses and wiped her stake on the dead woman’s skirt, removing the blood before she returned the stake to her jacket.
Trey disposed of his vampire and joined Bolene in watching Komi fight. Each step he took was precise. He made sure one foot was securely on level ground before raising the next, crossing one leg over the other as he continued to step in a circle. The vampire was mirroring his movements. Unless one of them did something different soon, Bolene and Trey were going to get bored.
Suddenly the vampire looked like he was going to spring to Komi’s left side, causing him to react. It was a feint and the vampire was ready for Komi’s movement to the other side. He grabbed him and sank his teeth into his neck.
Komi struggled against the taller man as he was forced to his knees. There was nothing he could do as the vampire took his blood.
Bolene rolled her eyes. Komi should have known better than to react to the vampire’s ploy. She made herself invisible then, taking her garrotte from her pocket, she silently walked over to the pair.
Komi was in too much pain to notice his sister approaching and could not understand why he was suddenly released.
Bolene formed a circle with the wire of the garrotte, large enough to fit over the vampire’s head. She nudged him, to get his attention. When he raised his head in surprise, she slipped the garrotte into place and quickly pulled the two ends apart, slicing off the vampire’s head. He turned to dust before his head reached the floor.
“Get up,” Bolene said as Komi stared up at her, confusion written all over his face. When the vampire had been destroyed, he had fallen onto his back and was not sure he could move. He hoped Bolene would hold out her hand to assist him, but she didn’t.
He moved his hand to his neck and could see blood when he pulled it away. He would need to drink the healing liquid before he bled to death. Without even attempting to rise, he pulled a vial out of his pocket and drank the contents. It didn’t take away the pain or the exhaustion he was feeling, but it did stop the bleeding.
He rolled over onto his front and tried to get his legs under him, but didn’t have the strength. Trey took pity on him and helped him to stand. As soon as he let go of him, Komi’s legs buckled and he fell to the ground once more.
“You had better carry him,” Bolene said, then headed for the stairs, picking up her crossbow on the way.
Trey showed Komi no sympathy as he carried him down the stairs and out into the fresh air. He dumped him in the back seat of the car, then removed his keys from his pocket. “I guess I will have to ride your bike home,” he said. Komi was too tired to argue.
The entire journey home, Bolene chastised her brother, blaming him for his condition. His mind had not been on the ‘kill’ and it was his inattention that had led to the vampire besting him. Komi didn’t even try to defend himself. He knew that she was right. He had been thinking about Natasha and her boyfriend, even while battling the vampire, when he should have been focused on the fight.
More blood had been taken from him than he realised and it would be a few days before he was back to his full strength. He was too weak to do anything other than lay on the back seat of the car and listen to Bolene’s commentary. He closed his eyes, but sleep eluded him.
The journey was not long, but it felt like an eternity to Komi. He knew from experience that his sister could win a medal in talking, but he hadn’t expected her to be able to continue complaining about him and insulting his abilities for so long without repeating herself.
“Thank the Creator,” he said under his breath when she finally pulled up outside the hotel. Trey was already there and helped Komi out of the car.
“How are you feeling?” Trey asked.
“Close to death,” Komi said. Then, seeing the look of concern on Trey’s face, added, “From nagging.”
Trey grinned. “She’s just worried about you. That vampire could have killed you.”
Trey carried Komi to his bedroom, where Lukine was waiting for him. He handed him a glass. “Sleeping potion,” he said. “I thought you might need it.”
“Thanks,” he said and drank it down in one gulp. It was fast acting and as soon as his head hit the pillow, sleep took him.
————————————-∞————————————-
Natasha was waiting at the airport, frequently checking the arrivals board for an update on Paul’s flight. It was due to land at any minute. She shouldn’t have arrived so early as it would take him at least another half an hour to get through customs and immigration, but she had been unable to settle at home and Lucy had asked her, not very politely, to leave her alone to study.
Natasha took out a book and tried to read, but she couldn’t concentrate. She found she had read the same page three times and still had no idea what was on it. She put the book away and removed her laptop from her bag. Maybe writing would keep her mind occupied.
It worked better tha
n she had hoped and she was so engrossed in the scene she was describing that she did not notice a man standing in front of her until he cleared his throat to get her attention.
She looked up and nearly dropped her computer. It took a lot of self-restraint to stand up and carefully place it on her seat before throwing her arms around Paul. He hugged her so tightly she couldn’t breathe.
It had been a long flight and he didn’t smell too good, but she didn’t care. All that mattered was that he was in her arms once more. As soon as he released her enough that she could move, she kissed him passionately.
“I take it you missed me,” he said when she pulled away.
“Let’s get you home and I can show you just how much.”
The traffic was lighter than expected and Lucy was still in the house when they arrived. She greeted Paul warmly, then announced she was going to stay at a friend’s house for the night and left the two alone.
“I’ll cook something while you shower,” Natasha said, but Paul shook his head.
“I have a better idea.” He pulled her into his arms and kissed her. “Why don’t you join me?”
It was a long time later that they eventually found time to eat. Cooking would have taken too much time so Natasha phoned for pizza from what used to be Paul’s favourite Italian restaurant.
“I forgot how good this tastes,” he said after devouring his first slice. “Pizza is good in London, but not this good. It’s something you are going to have to get used to when you move there.”
“That’s a few years away yet.”
Paul put his uneaten second slice onto his plate and took Natasha’s hand. “No, it’s not. That’s why I am here. Quit your job. You earn enough from your books anyway. Fly back with me. I have already spoken to your parents. They are happy to sell your house for you.”
Natasha pulled her hand away from Paul’s. She could not believe what she was hearing. “What about Lucy? She’s in her last year of high school. She can’t move to another country now.”
Paul shrugged his shoulders. “She’s old enough to look after herself and your parents don’t live far away. She can live here until it sells then move in with them. You have put your life on hold for her for long enough. It’s time to get on with it without her holding you back.”
Natasha stood up and backed away from him. “She’s more to me than just my niece and you expect me to abandon her?”
“You won’t be abandoning her. She’ll be fine.” Paul spoke as though what he was proposing was perfectly reasonable.
Natasha didn’t know how to respond. She could not understand why Paul would be acting like this. He knew moving to London was not something she could even contemplate yet. Hunger left her and she suddenly felt like she was going to vomit.
The pinging of her phone was a welcome distraction. Much to Paul’s disgust, judging by the look on his face, she took her phone out of her pocket and read her text message. It was from Trey. ‘Komi been bitten by vampire. Asleep now. Will be fine tomorrow. Just thought you should know.’
Her first thought was that she needed to go to him, to see for herself that he was alright. Her second was that she should stay and finish the argument with Paul. It didn’t take her long to make a decision.
‘On my way,’ she texted back. She placed her phone back in her pocket and looked at Paul. “I have to go.”
“Now?” he asked incredulously.
“Yes. Now. There has been an accident. A friend is seriously injured.”
“Surely that can wait. The conversation we are having is kind of important you know. At least it is to me.”
“Right now I need to get away from you and think.”
Paul couldn’t argue with that. He knew her well enough to know that he couldn’t force her into doing something she didn’t want to do and talking her round would be next to impossible. She needed her space and he would be stupid to try to stop her having it.
She grabbed her bag, jacket and car keys. “I don’t know when I will be back,” she said and turned her back on him. Then she turned around again. “One more thing. Don’t force me to choose between you and Lucy. You might not like my decision.”
Decisions
“How is he?” Natasha asked as soon as Trey opened the door for her. Despite having her own key, she rarely let herself in. She thought it rude, for some reason.
“As I said in my text, he’s sleeping. He’ll be fine. There was no need for you to come here.”
Fox was walking down the stairs and was surprised to see Natasha. “Shouldn’t you be with your boyfriend?”
“I had to get away. Is Bo here?”
Trey and Fox both raised questioning eyebrows. “She’s in her suite, I think,” Trey said.
Natasha thanked him then strode quickly down the corridor. “I wonder what that is about,” Fox said.
“No idea,” Trey replied. “But I think Komi is going to be pleased to hear that she raced over here as soon as I let her know he was hurt.”
“Something tells me that’s not her only reason for being here.”
“Maybe. But do you think Komi will care about that?”
Fox shook his head. “Should we go and find out what she wants to talk to Bo about?”
“Probably best not to. Bo is still annoyed about Komi getting himself bested by a blood-sucker so it’s wise to avoid her right now. Besides, you know what women are like when they get together.”
“Game of pool then?”
“Sure. Why not.”
Trey was about to take his first shot when Lukine joined them. “I’ve been thrown out,” he said. “Apparently Nat is having boyfriend issues and wants Bo’s advice, though I have no idea what use she thinks my wife will be.”
“Grab a beer,” Fox said. “You can play the winner. I have a feeling it’s going to be a while before you are allowed to rejoin them.”
————————————-∞————————————-
Natasha sipped her coffee. Bolene had offered her something stronger, but Natasha didn’t think it was a good idea. The way she was feeling, she was afraid that if she started she would not be able to stop before she had consumed way too much.
Bolene had listened intently while Natasha explained what had happened. “I think what bothers me the most is that he went behind my back and talked to my parents, as though it was a foregone conclusion that I will drop everything to be with him.”
“Isn’t it?” Bolene asked.
“Of course not. I didn’t when the accident that killed my brother happened and nothing has changed.”
“A lot has changed. Lucy is older. You know what it is like having to live apart. Time has healed some of the wounds. In some ways Paul is right; you should start to move on with your life.”
“There’s a difference between moving on with it and leaving it behind.”
“Do you love him?”
Natasha hesitated before replying. “Yes.”
Bolene noticed the hesitation. “You don’t sound sure.”
“I do still love him. Of course I do. It’s just that....”
“What?”
“It feels different. Being with him again. I was so excited when he told me he was coming here but nothing seems as good as I remember it, physically or emotionally. When he said he wanted me to move to London, instead of making me happy it made me scared. I can’t leave Lucy, or my sister, or my friends.”
“Can’t or don’t want to?”
“Good question. I wish I knew the answer.” Natasha took another mouthful of coffee and the two women sat in silence for a while.
It was Bolene who broke it. “Why are you here?”
“Trey texted me, letting me know that Komi had been injured.”
“And you walked out on your boyfriend, who you haven’t seen in a long time, to rush to be by his side.”
“That’s not quite how I would put it.”
“Maybe not, but I think it answers the question about whether
you want to go to London or not. And also whether you want to be with Paul or not.”
Natasha did not like what Bolene seemed to be suggesting. “I am not romantically interested in Komi.”
“I know. But you still left Paul to come here. It suggests to me that you care more about your friends than you do him.”
Natasha didn’t respond, but she did look thoughtful. “I’m going to join my family,” Bolene said. “You look like you need to be alone for a while.”
She found them still playing pool and Trey handed her a cue. They often played in pairs when four of them were around.
“How’s Nat?” Fox asked. He was not sure what the two women had been talking about or if Bolene would be prepared to share anything, but he was curious.
“Facing a life changing decision,” Bolene said. “She has to decide whether to move to London with her boyfriend or break up with him, from the sound of things.”
Fox grunted. “She had better decide to stay.”
“Really?” Trey said. “Something you care to tell us?”
Fox knew what Trey was suggesting, but he didn’t bother to acknowledge it in any way. It was always better to ignore his insinuations. “She’s a demon. She needs to learn more about her heritage. If she leaves now, she will put everything she has been taught behind her. More importantly, we will never find out who she really is. She might be able to live with never getting an answer to the mystery, but I’m not sure I can.”
“You won’t have to.” Four pairs of eyes turned to see Natasha standing in the doorway. “I can’t go to London, at least not yet. Lucy needs me still.”
Fox smiled and held out his cue. “Want a game?”
Natasha shook her head. “Can you answer a question for me? Is Komi going to turn into a vampire?”
“Of course not. Why would you think that?” Lukine asked.
It was Fox who answered. “I haven’t gotten around to teaching her much about vampires yet and many books on Earth say that being bitten by a vampire will turn you.” He glanced at his watch. “It’s late, but I can give you a quick lesson now, if you want.”
Fox Among the Demons Page 12