The Toldar Series Box Set

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The Toldar Series Box Set Page 76

by Matt Mememaro


  “It seems like it is,” Abner said.

  He switched it to one hand and continued to practice. It flew around his body like it had never left, the blade still as keen as it had been four hundred years ago.

  “Do you like it?” Paige asked.

  “It’s perfect. Fitting that I’ll take Tal’davin’s head with it. Barros was the one that gave it to me after all.”

  “Good, now take it and see that it’s done,” Paige said. “We’ve waited four hundred years for this moment. Don’t fuck it up.”

  “I won’t fuck it up,” Abner said. “You just be careful with those amulets.”

  He strapped the sword to his back and walked out towards the bike. Ansel picked himself up off the ground and ran over to him. The boy’s face was drained, but excitement was spread across it.

  “You’re going to kill Tal’davin? Good luck! I hope you do it!” Paige laughed and Abner turned back to look at her. “Aren’t you going to kiss her, Abner?”

  “How’d you know?” Abner asked.

  “He’s a Seer, you idiot,” Paige said.

  She was upon him before he could say no, her lips pressed against his in a desperate final goodbye. He picked her up off the ground and she wrapped her legs around him for a moment before she finally let go and lowered herself to the ground, a long look of lust in her eyes.

  “Kill the fucker, save Taagras from this madness.”

  28

  Fall Again

  Valdmire looked down into the gully to find the place where the Hunters had made their new home. He shook his head and laughed at their poor efforts in which they had attempted to conceal themselves. He could see inside, but for a few days work from a human, the effort was admirable, if not futile.

  Behind him stood hundreds of Tal’davin’s soldiers, all of them hungry for blood. They stood behind him in a line, their black armor reflecting the moonlight off them. Valdmire kept them hidden behind the tree line, careful not to raise the alarm. So far nothing had stirred from inside the Huntrey, the excavators left outside remained untouched.

  Valdmire raised his fist into the air and the Vampires behind him surged forward, sticking to within the trees as they walked down into the gully. He was the exception, walking in the moonlight, heading straight for the main entrance. He rapped on the door three times and stood back, waiting for an answer.

  He heard the latch on the door unhinge and it opened slowly to reveal a Hunter that Valdmire didn’t know. The Hunter held a pistol at the ready.

  “Abner? Is that you? I thought you were going to kill Tal’davin. What did you do? Who the fuck are you and how did you find us?”

  “I’m Valdmire Toldar.”

  “Traitor!”

  He pulled back on the trigger of the pistol and fired. Valdmire moved out of the way and the bullet soared past his ear. The Hunter tried to fire again but Valdmire grabbed his wrist and turned the gun up into the ceiling. It fired three more times before Valdmire locked his other hand around the Hunter’s wrist and twisted. The Hunter screamed as the bones in his hand snapped, and his arm was being pulled out of position. Valdmire grabbed the gun and shot it three times into the Hunter’s chest.

  “Pathetic,” Valdmire said.

  Boots thudding on the floor came down the corridor towards him and Hunters piled into the corridor. Valdmire reversed his grip on the pistol and threw it, sending it spinning headfirst into the Hunters. It took one down and the other three began to open fire. Valdmire darted forwards, and rolled forwards, stabbing up at the first Hunter. The second dropped his rifle and swung at the side of Valdmire’s head.

  He missed, the side of his fist passing over Valdmire’s shoulder. Valdmire spun, grabbing the third Hunter jerking his gun out of his hands firing into the second. The bullets tore through his chest and he slumped against the wall, bleeding from a dozen wounds. With a swift back elbow, Valdmire knocked the final Hunter senseless and ripped his throat out with a single strike.

  Valdmire stood over the bodies and paused for a second. He looked down and saw a familiar face of the third Hunter. Underneath his hood, Valdmire could make out the rough features of Dale, now lying motionless on the floor below him.

  “Fuck you!” The words came out in a gasp.

  “Goodbye, old friend,” Valdmire said.

  He marched back to the door and held it open for the Vampires. One by one they all stepped inside, their facial expressions invisible underneath their helmets.

  “Search the place,” Valdmire said. “I want their leader, but feed on the rest.”

  He walked into the main room and sat down at the table the Hunters had erected. He ran his claw over the surface scraping away at the metal. The sound of the Vampires shrieking was drowned out by the firepower of the Hunters and moments later both sides fell silent. Valdmire remained in his seat.

  Tapping came from down the next hallway, the sound of metal on the wall. Valdmire perked up and waited. Gerard, Paige and two more Hunters appeared, one of the latter walking forwards with a Vampire impaled on the end of his knife.

  “That’s cute,” Valdmire said. “Think it’s going to scare me?”

  “You’re a traitor,” Gerard said. “We trusted you.”

  “You should really be thanking me,” Valdmire said. “Without me you wouldn’t have gotten this far. How many times did I have to save your sorry asses? Or the Hunters that came before you. Surprised you managed to kill my boys to be honest. Did you have any help?”

  “Not hard to kill a dozen Vampires,” Gerard said.

  Valdmire shrugged. “Thought it would be for you.”

  “What the fuck do you want Valdmire? Just spit it out,” Paige said. Her face was red and puffed up. “You’ve already tried to kill me once, want to do it again?”

  “No I’ve come to kill them and remind you of where your allegiances lie,” Valdmire said. “Come home to us, sister.”

  “No, you had your chance with me,” Paige said. “The Hunters are right in this fight. You don’t own me, they’re my family now.”

  “Your mother and father would be most disappointed in you. It’ll be a shame when I have to take your head back to Lois,” Valdmire said.

  “Gareth was the only one I wanted approval from,” Paige said. “But since he tried to drain me, I’ve wanted nothing to do with any of my family! And our mother is a psychotic bitch!”

  “Again, that’s a shame,” Valdmire said. “You were always the one that mother said would succeed out of the two of us. Guess that Graytooth blood didn’t help.”

  Paige had heard enough and cracked. She charged Valdmire like a bull, her head down, her knife at the ready to strike. She leapt over the table in an attempt to tackle Valdmire to the ground. He fell backwards and rolled out of harm’s way, sending a kick into her stomach as she sailed overhead. She smashed into the wall, her head cracking as part of the impact.

  Valdmire regained his feet and looked at the three remaining Hunters. He heard a bang from behind him and a net flew over him. The ropes were heavy and took Valdmire to the ground once again. He looked up at the ceiling and saw Gabriel standing above him with a rifle aimed down into his face.

  “Where’s your boy, Gabe? I’ve always wanted to taste his pure, untainted human blood.”

  “Gone, Valdmire, you won’t get your chance,” Gabriel said.

  “He won’t survive on his own.” Valdmire said. “Won’t be able to hide from us forever.”

  “He’ll have Abner,” Gerard said.

  “Oh and where is my father?” Valdmire asked. “Let me guess, he’s run off to kill Tal’davin? That won’t happen.”

  “He doesn’t have the amulets anymore,” Gerard said. “The game’s over. Tal’davin will be gone by this time tomorrow.”

  “I know. But Tal’davin won’t be gone. I know one of you has the amulets,” Valdmire said. He pushed his arm through the ropes. “Abner wouldn’t have been so stupid to chase Tal’davin down and risk them falling into his hands again. Give
them to me and I’ll let you survive for a while longer.”

  “Yeah, I don’t think so,” Gabriel said.

  He pulled back on the trigger as Valdmire’s arm shot out. The Hunter fell backwards, Valdmire’s claws digging into his shin, the power of the half-Vampire undeniable. Gabriel let out a cry of pain and shock. Valdmire grabbed his gun as it fell and turned to fire on the Hunters.

  He hit the two standing beside Gerard twice, and took his old friend to a knee. Bullets flew back at him, two taking him in the stomach less than an inch apart. Valdmire flinched and coughed but continued to pull himself up. His hand covered the wounds and he shot Gerard again, this time in the arm, forcing the Hunter to drop his rifle.

  Valdmire smiled and coughed again. He walked towards Gerard. Gerard looked up at Valdmire approaching him and fell forward, struggling to reach his rifle before the half-Vampire stomped on it, his heavy leather boot stopping all chance of a fight back.

  “I protected you! When everyone said you’d end up going back to your old ways, I protected you!”

  “And did you really think that they’d be able to stop me?” Valdmire asked. “My grandfather is in danger, more than he has ever been. This is a true test of my abilities. I was never on your side, Gerard. I always have been exactly where I have wanted to be. You lose.”

  Gerard shook his head and sighed. “He’ll kill you too, I hope you burn for this!”

  “I can handle Abner,” Valdmire said. “He doesn’t scare me.”

  “Yeah, whatever, cunt.”

  Gerard jerked himself forwards and Valdmire heard the sound of metal piercing his flesh. He looked down and saw a knife in Gerard’s hands, the bloodied blade stuck in his chest. Gerard looked up and laughed.

  “Piece of shit.”

  Valdmire let out a howl and swiped at Gerard as he fell. The Hunter was dead and felt nothing as four deep wounds tore across his face. He pushed Gerard’s corpse over and looked around the Huntrey. Paige was still slumped in the corner and hadn’t moved. Valdmire walked over to her and squatted beside her and began to run his hand through her hair.

  “He would have given you the amulets, wouldn’t he? The one most capable of defending them, not that he would have known that. You can open your eyes, Paige. There’s no need to bull shit me,” Valdmire said.

  “Why are you still in their pocket?” Paige asked. “They tortured us as kids to try and bring out the Vampire in us.”

  “We’re better off this way. You can’t tell me that you’re better off now than what you would have been,” Valdmire said.

  “I wish I’d used what power I have before now to bring you down,” Paige said. “You’re just as bad as Tal’davin.”

  She shrieked, and her face began to change. Her eyes surged red and her fangs and claws both grew out to their proper positions. Paige kicked Valdmire off her and lunged for him, tackling him to the ground. She tried to claw at his face but Valdmire threw up his arm, holding her at bay. He got his legs under her stomach and kicked her off launching her into the table legs.

  Valdmire recovered and got to his feet first, claws at the ready. Paige attacked him again, her jaws snapping in the air. Valdmire waited until she was on top of him again and made his move. He grabbed her by the throat, snatching her out of the air, and threw her to the ground. She groaned and tried to roll away, but his grip was too tight.

  “Last chance, sister. Make the right decision.”

  “End it you bastard! I’ve lived for too long and will never help you!”

  Valdmire raised his hand and tried to bring it down into Paige’s eyes. She continued to struggle and clasped his wrist, attempting to overpower him. He continued to push and slowly her arm gave way, buckling to the pressure. Valdmire roared and pushed harder increasing on the momentum he had built.

  “End it!” Paige screamed again.

  She jerked his hand down towards her throat and Valdmire fell through crushing her windpipe. Paige gasped as Valdmire tightened his grip, crushing the life from her. Her red eyes began to fade and she looked into her half-brother’s eyes for one last time before the life faded completely from them. Her chest rose one final time and Valdmire pushed his claws through her neck before ripping her throat in half.

  Valdmire looked over her broken body and frowned. He opened her jacket and amidst the bloodstain saw the amulets resting on what remained for her lower neck. He picked up the amulets and held them in the palm of his hand before placing them over his neck. A surge of power rushed through him and he felt stronger and faster. Valdmire reached into his pocket to pull out his earpiece but found it shattered.

  He threw the piece of useless metal across the room before leaving the warm corpses of the Hunters to rot in their new tomb. As he turned the handle on the door to leave, he heard a small voice.

  “Daddy?”

  Valdmire smirked and turned around. “Ansel is that you?”

  “Valdmire? What are you doing here, they said you were a traitor?”

  “I’m not, you can come out now, it’s safe,” Valdmire said.

  “But they were shooting, I heard Vampires. I saw you kill Paige,” Ansel said.

  “You can come out now, you’re safe,” Valdmire said. “I promise I won’t hurt you boy. You’re the last one left.”

  “Ok,” Ansel said.

  From the corner of his eye, Valdmire saw the boy move into sight. He was trembling, carrying a pistol that he could barely carry in two hands. It was levelled at Valdmire’s head.

  “Alright, put the gun down and come with me,” Valdmire said. He beckoned towards the boy.

  “No,” Ansel said. “You killed everyone! I’ll kill you!”

  His hand started to tremble as he tried to pull the trigger. It wasn’t pulled far enough back giving Valdmire the opening he needed. He leapt over his Ansel’s head and landed before the boy had a chance to scream.

  “Nothing personal kid,” Valdmire said.

  He struck out, knocking Ansel flat on his face. His bones gave way under the impact. Valdmire lowered himself beside the boy and pulled him up by the hair, exposing his neck. Valdmire closed his eyes as he bit down on the child’s neck ignoring the screams that came from his lips.

  29

  Time Doesn’t Heal All Wounds

  Abner sat across the ocean from the Citadel on the stolen bike. He could see the volcano just inside the horizon, a small ash cloud gathered above its peak. He could see the Citadel as well, barely a speck compared to the enormity of the volcano. Abner had been watching the bridge for the last few minutes to see if he stood any chance of passing the guards at the five checkpoints.

  Since his escape, Tal’davin had only bolstered security. The first checkpoint now had a wall in front of it that only appeared to come down when someone approached and had spoken to the guards. Abner sat with his sword placed across his lap as he watched the morning sun rise to the south. He clasped it around his shoulder, loosening the strap and ignited the bike engine.

  The checkpoint wall had been raised for his approach, and the guards had their weapons raised towards him. Abner removed his helmet and raised his hands into the air behind his head.

  “Who are you?”

  “I’m Abner Toldar and I’ve come to bargain with Tal’davin!”

  “What would you have to bargain with him?”

  “His life for Taagras,” Abner said. “We had a bit of a falling out not too long ago. I think he’ll want to speak with me. I’m giving myself to you as your prisoner.”

  Ten guards all ran out towards him, one with a pair of steel handcuffs ready to wrap around Abner’s wrists. They relieved him of his sword and clasped his hands behind his back before stuffing him into the back of a car. A Vampire sat on either side of him as they made their journey to the Citadel. One held his sword in a pincer grip, both of them sneering at him as he raced towards the Citadel.

  The car pulled up in front of the Citadel a short time later and Abner was flung from the car like a ragdoll. The Va
mpires yanked him to his feet and pushed him forward. One carried Abner’s sword and held it loosely by his side.

  “So we’re off to see Tal’davin now?” Abner asked. “Took long enough to get here.”

  “Shut it,” one guard said. “You’ll get to speak when you get to him.”

  “No I have to visit someone else first and you won’t be joining me,” Abner said.

  He wrapped his handcuffs around the throat of the Vampire holding his sword. It struggled trying to fight back against him but dropped the sword as it clutched at its throat. Abner grabbed it out of the air only to receive a clubbing blow across the back of his head. He stumbled forwards and grabbed the sword out of its scabbard.

  Its runes shone in the daylight, the red reflecting off the Vampire’s black armor. They recoiled and even in the handcuffs Abner moved swiftly. He held the sword in a two-handed grip and brought the sword down on a Vampire, the blade biting through the armor. The Vampire erupted. Flames shot out in every direction.

  Abner kicked him away into the lead Vampires who started to scramble as the Fyndfire caught onto their exposed pieces of flesh. Four remained behind him and Abner spun, only to run into a claw. It raked him across the face and darted backwards trying to blink away the pain.

  He saw one Vampire tilting its head, speaking into the headset that was inside its helmet. Abner spun, gaining enough momentum to fling his sword. The Vampire didn’t look up and a moment later its head was removed from its shoulders. Now weaponless, Abner backed away from the Vampires. He growled as he blinked his eyes red and the Vampire’s blood surged through him again.

  Abner pulled at the handcuffs, twisting the metal chains. They began to pull apart and break and with one final pull Abner separated the chains leaving two parts hanging around his wrists. He charged the Vampires in a flurry of fang and claw. They tried to evade him but Abner was faster. He pinned the first down, ripping at its neck. A second Vampire swiped its claws across his back.

 

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