A Vampire's Battle

by Raven Steele

  I slashed at Aris again, over and over with as much force as I could summon. He stumbled under the blows, nearly falling to the ground. But with my last swing, he caught the blade, and before I could yank it free from his grip, giving him a nasty cut, he whipped his blade across my leg. The cold metal cut into my calf.

  “No!” Mateo said. He tried to stop Aris, but Aris fisted Mateo’s shirt and jerked him close. He whispered something in Mateo’s ear then shoved him away. I tried to hear the words, but I couldn’t hear over the fighting beyond us. Korin had lit several more people on fire, and their cries pierced the night air.

  Aris rushed me again and met my blade. We’d trained so much together that we could almost predict each other’s moves. Even when I thought I’d outsmarted him, he’d spin away at the last second.

  While I fought, my eyes darted to Mateo every few seconds. He kept trying to jump into our fight, probably to grab onto me. Every time he tried, I’d swipe at him.

  Aris lunged just then aiming for my shoulder. I’d been expecting the move. I stepped to the side and, in an uncharacteristic move, shoved my leg forward tripping him. He stumbled past me, and I brought my elbow hard onto his back, dropping him to the ground.

  Lynx glanced at me in horror at what I was about to do, but for her to stop me, she’d have to mentally let go of two Hydes who were almost upon Angel and Briar.

  Just as I was about to slash my sword across Aris’s neck, someone tackled me from behind. Mateo. And this time when I tried to outmaneuver him, he whispered, “I’m so sorry.”

  His fist crashed into my face so hard, my head bounced against the concrete beneath me.

  I blinked, trying to regain my focus, but in my stupor, Mateo shifted down to my legs, holding them tightly, while Aris took his place on my chest.

  Aris stared into my eyes and spoke quickly. “You are no longer compelled. Korin holds no power over you, nor will he ever. You are free now and always.”

  A wave of power crashed into me so powerfully, I gasped for air. My mind instantly cleared and the events of the last few minutes, the horror of what I’d done and almost done, crippled me.

  Aris’s expression softened when he must’ve seen the change come over me. “You’re back. Don’t think about what you almost did. There is still a battle to wage, and we can’t afford to lose.”

  He moved off me and returned to help Lynx without looking back at me. I sucked in a hitched breath. What have I done?

  I slowly turned my head to look at Briar who was still lying on the ground, but at least she was moving now.

  Mateo appeared in front of me and held out his hand. “Get up. We must keep fighting.”

  I let him help me. My insides trembled, but I had to pull it together. I couldn’t think about what I’d almost done.

  A Hyde bolted toward us, but Mateo fought him off. I picked up my swords from off the ground, my gaze going to Korin. He was laughing manically and shooting fire randomly into the fight.

  He had to die.

  A hand rested on my shoulder. I turned around.

  Briar smiled at me. “Ready to end this, bitch?”

  My mouth fell open, guilt tearing through me. “I’m so sorry—”

  “Shut the hell up and fight. You can make it up to me later.”

  I nodded numbly. Briar was right.

  We turned together and sprinted toward Korin, weapons raised. Briar fought even harder this time, probably because she had Angel’s fresh blood coursing through her system.

  “What are you doing?” Korin snarled at me. “You’re supposed to be fighting them!”

  “Your compulsion was too weak,” I snapped. He stuttered, shocked I was attacking him. He probably hadn’t seen anyone withstand his compulsion before. I lunged for him, letting my anger fuel my movement. He was done forcing me to hurt those I loved. Done manipulating me.

  The edge of my blade cut through the side of his arm. Then his side. I slashed and sliced, dancing in time with him, growling with my hatred.

  Briar jumped in, kicking him in the chest. His body jerked backwards, and air exploded from his lungs. We didn’t give him a chance to recover and attacked him again and easily matched him blow for blow.

  Korin backed up, blocking our moves, but I could tell he was growing weaker. His movements weren’t as fast or as accurate. I thought about Faithe, all the pain and torture he’d put her through. The way he had forced Mateo to serve him, all the humans he had turned into Hydes. About Kristina, the woman who had taken my place when I left, the blankness in her gaze when I’d seen her again. All the innocents I had killed in his name, how he had leashed Michael to me. All their faces, I remembered them all.

  I raised my sword, ready to end him once and for all.

  Chapter 27

  I screamed, agony and rage consuming my whole body. I couldn’t contain my fury any longer. I slashed left and right, over and over, just as he did. Every slice into my skin by his hands was only met by more rage. I felt no pain. He could do nothing to me now.

  We fought until his back was against the stone wall of the mansion. Briar was right there with me, her daggers slicing.

  Roaring, I pivoted, slashing my sword through the air so fast it sang. It clanged against his, catching for a second. Then his hold over it broke and it flung from his hands.

  Briar raised her dagger, about to drive it into his heart, but it froze in the air as if something had gripped her hand. It wasn’t the only thing to freeze. Everyone, even the Hydes, had been frozen in motion. And yet, I hadn’t. I wiggled my fingers to be sure, but I didn’t move anything else. I felt it important to not stand out in this strange moment.

  “Enough!” a voice shouted. Its deep tone reverberated through the crowd, rumbling my insides.

  Zane had returned and gone unnoticed until now. Michael stood near him, shifting his weight back and forth nervously. Zane walked near the base of the wide stone steps and took in the scene, shaking his head in disgust. Mateo stood near him, his tightened fist frozen midair next to a tall Hyde’s jaw. I didn’t like Mateo being so close to Zane. There was something about the strange vampire with the silver eyes that filled me with fear.

  He glanced up at Korin. “How did you lose control of your coven so completely?”

  Korin bent over and picked up his blade. He straightened and stared Briar in the eyes. “Nasty, little mutt.”

  He stabbed the sword forward, sliding it into her gut, the opposite side where I’d stabbed. Blood drained from the wound, down her stomach and legs, but the rest of her was still frozen. I moved to help her, but at the last second I caught Lynx’s wide eyes. She quickly shook her head, just barely. So she hadn’t been frozen either. Trusting her, I remained where I was, appearing a statue in a slightly hunched position.

  Korin walked past Briar and stopped at the top of the stairs. He surveyed the damage, noting those of his coven who had stepped back from the fighting. His gaze settled on Zane. “You’re right. I have lost control. I didn’t think I had to rule with an iron fist, but clearly I was wrong.”

  He motioned to those off to the side. “You did well to stay out of the fight. It shows where your loyalties lie. For that, you will be rewarded with your life.”

  Descending the steps, he stopped half way when he spotted Teddy. I glanced at Lynx again, knowing I had to do something and soon. Again, she shook her head frantically. She was muttering words under her breath, and her eyes were beginning to darken.

  “Teddy,” Korin said. “You were always such a pleasure to have around. You made me laugh sometimes, a rare accomplishment. It pains me to have to do this, but I have a suspicion you helped fuel this mutiny.”

  I didn’t care that Lynx wanted me to remain frozen; Korin was going to kill Teddy. I took off, sprinting toward him. Korin lifted his hand and snapped his fingers. Teddy’s body burst into flames, along with at least a dozen other vampires. Some of them were Mateo’s men.

  “No!” I yelled.

  Korin’s head swive
led my direction, and he frowned when he realized I wasn’t frozen. I barely noticed. I was still running toward Teddy, but it was too late. His burning body had already fallen to the ground. He still couldn’t move, but he was moaning a terrible sound that overwhelmed my ears. I would never forget it.

  Korin was suddenly in front of me, gripping my neck again and shaking me like a rag doll. “Who are you?”

  My gaze was still locked on Teddy. Part of my heart felt like it was burning up with him.

  “I don’t care who you are anymore,” he hissed. “You’ll die just like the rest of them.”

  He lifted his hand to snap his fingers, but before he could, a piercing scream like that of a raging hawk broke through the night. A blast of dark energy exploded outward from Lynx, and her spell flowed over the crowd. In the next beat of my heart, everyone began moving again, the fight commencing even harder than it had before.

  Once more, Angel darted up to Briar and dropped to her side. I didn’t get to see what happened next because Korin punched me so hard, I crashed into the stone wall behind me.

  “Do something!” he yelled. I could only assume he was talking to Zane.

  As I slumped against the mansion wall gasping for air, my fuzzy vision wandered over to Lynx. Her pale complexion was covered with spidery black veins, and her wide eyes had turned black again. She moved toward Zane, more like floated to him, the toes of her shoes dragging against the ground.

  Zane stuttered and backed up at the sight of her.

  In the distance, Mateo had confronted Michael, and the two fought violently. That was one fight I wished I could be a part of.

  Lynx lifted her hands, and flames from the burning mansion behind her rose higher. Her mouth opened, but instead of another scream, a powerful wave of air shot outward, knocking everyone to the ground. She spun to be sure the whole area was doused in her power. Hydes, vampires, and shifters flew several feet through the air, including Zane. Korin hit the wall behind him so hard, the old stones cracked. The force of it crushed my eardrums, leaving me with a splitting headache and a high-pitched ringing in my head.

  After the initial blast, a deafening silence shrouded the darkness. Even the mansion’s roaring flames had gone quiet.

  I dragged myself to my feet, wanting to take advantage of Korin’s weakened state. As I rose, my fingers curled around the handle of my sword. The tip of it dragged behind me, the only sound the night hadn’t swallowed. I was almost to him when I caught movement from the corner of my eye.

  Lynx stumbled, nearly falling down the stairs. She gasped for air and sounds returned. Fists colliding, swords clanking.

  “Lynx?” I looked away for just a second, but it was enough time for Korin to dart away, moving next to Zane. The coward.

  Zane eyed Lynx dangerously. “It was a mistake to take me on, young witch.”

  She swayed, her face pale, sweat pouring down the side of her face. Then she collapsed to the ground.

  I rushed to her side. “Lynx!”

  Her eyelids fluttered open, and she looked up at me, her chest heaving in shallow breaths.

  I sagged, relieved. “You’re alive.”

  At this thought, my head snapped to Briar. Angel was helping her again. She, too, lived. I choked on a sob.

  All around me, the fighting still raged. Illusions popped up as Eddie manipulated Hydes to cut their own heads off. Briar’s pack had all shifted into wolves, tearing out throats with their sharp teeth. A surge of anger and vindication flowed through me, and my head snapped to the side, searching for Mateo. I found him and the world around me slowed to a stop. I could see or hear nothing else but him.

  He was fighting Michael, and Michael was retreating.

  “You dared touch her?” Mateo slashed his sword, slicing a gash through Michael’s face. “You thought you could harm her and not suffer the consequences?”

  Mateo’s sword shot forward again, cutting another gash along the other side of Michael’s face. Michael stumbled backwards, swaying back and forth. He leaned precariously to the right onto his good leg. The other one had been filleted open. The rest of his body had been just as shredded, drenching his clothing in blood. His face was pale and tinged with green, as if he would throw up at any moment.

  Trying to maintain his balance, Michael brought his sword up over his head, as if to strike back at Mateo, but his movements were too slow. Grinning, Mateo shoved his sword into Michael’s stomach.

  “You are a scourge on this earth.” Mateo leaned forward, his eyes blazing as he shoved the blade in deeper. “You do not deserve a quick death, but you aren’t worth my time anymore.”

  Michael’s mouth opened, blood flowing from it in coppery red rivets. Mateo yanked his sword out, and Michael fell to the ground, a tortured groan escaping his lips. With one last powerful swing, Mateo sliced his sword through Michael’s neck, severing his head from his body. The head flew across the grass, thudding as it bounced. Then it landed, rolling forward, his mouth and eyes open, as if in shock before it began to melt along with the rest of his body.

  Mateo turned toward me, and our eyes met, vindication and happiness flowing through our bond.

  Zane’s voice struck my ears and the world around me came into focus again. He was still talking to Lynx. “You’re not ready for what comes next. Not even close. I pity you.”

  “Quit talking and do something,” Korin snapped at him.

  Zane stepped forward, swirling his hands through the air as if summoning a tornado. Electricity cracked in the small space above him. “Before I go, I’ll give you a taste of what real dark power feels like.”

  “Leave this place,” Lynx said. She weakly lifted her hands and shot more power in his direction.

  Zane shoved his hands into the air, returning a blast of what I could only describe as raw and undiluted evil straight from the bowels of Hell. It slammed into us, dropping me to the ground, but it caught Lynx more firmly in its grasp and lifted her into the air.

  Aris yelled her name and sprinted toward Zane, but Korin sent a line of fire in his direction. Mateo just barely managed to knock Aris out of the way of the deadly blast. While still being overwhelmed by Zane’s power, I reached up toward Lynx, my hand shaking. She was spinning through the air, her long red hair twisting around her. I couldn’t touch her, no matter how hard I tried.

  “I could kill you now,” Zane said to her, “but that would displease my master. And so you shall live, but never forget the power I wield.”

  Behind Zane and Korin I caught a quick movement, a strange fluttering in the air. I narrowed my eyes, then sucked in a breath when I realized who it was. Eddie was sneaking up behind them, using illusions to draw close.

  “As for you,” Zane’s gaze shifted to me, knowingly, but how was that possible? “You’re a tricky one. It pleases—”

  He frowned as if sensing Eddie’s motion behind him and spun around only to be impaled by a dagger through the shoulder just above his heart. Growling, he moved to fight Eddie as did Korin, but an arrow coming from a different direction impaled Zane through the stomach. He gasped and doubled over.

  I followed where the arrow had come from across the driveway. Marge stood loud and proud in her flannel shirt and holding a raised crossbow. “Die, fucker.”

  She fired again, but before the arrow could meet its mark, Zane grabbed Korin and disappeared into thin air.

  Chapter 28

  Lynx fell to the ground unconscious. Aris hurried up the stairs toward us, favoring his left leg. Behind me, Angel ordered Briar not to pass out. The anguish in his voice hurt my already wounded heart.

  “Get the vans running!” Mateo yelled. “Gather the wounded.”

  After Samantha and the other wolves shifted back into humans, Marge led the way, helping the injured into the vehicles. A few of Mateo’s coven chased the remaining Hydes into the forest. I began walking toward the charred ashes of Teddy, almost collapsing to the stone ground, but Mateo was there, helping me up. He said nothing as he guided
me down the stairs. We stopped by Teddy’s remains, kneeling, to honor him. He’d been brave, and had paid the ultimate sacrifice for it.

  “Riposi in pace,” Mateo mumbled, breath shuttering.

  I could only stare in shock, adding another name to my list of reasons to kill Korin. The list was growing long, too long, a stark contrast to the crushing realization that I was weak, so weak, without the Kiss. Korin had been able to compel me, and I had almost killed Briar because of it. Grief and rage battled for space in my heart, shredding it into pieces. How was I going to destroy him without the Kiss?

  Not speaking, but feeling everything together through our bond, Mateo and I stood, walking toward the car. His hand clasped mine, strengthening the bond between us. “We will find a way, my anima gemella.”

  I not only heard the determination in his voice, but felt it, like a living, breathing thing inside me. His will to kill Korin turned to titanium, strong and steadfast. He’d killed Michael tonight, something he’d wanted to do for many centuries. Now he turned that determination toward Korin. I felt it strengthen me, invigorating my own will. I squeezed his hand in thanks, knowing it had been right to renew the bond between us.

  We were as one, and when one was weak, the other would be the rock.

  Behind me, Angel assisted Briar who barely managed to walk. Angel must’ve healed her again. Thank God for him.

  Aris carried Lynx to the car, who was showing all signs of life but still unconscious. Just before we got into the vans, Aris turned to me, his face pale and stained with the blood of others. “How do we help her?”

  I lightly touched Lynx’s cheek. She saved many of us tonight. “I’ll contact Roma on the way to Fire Ridge. She’ll know what to do.”

  No one said a word on the drive back. A different kind of energy polluted the space in the car, dark and depressing. The kind that made it difficult to breathe. We’d all lost a lot tonight.