He chuckled. “Yeah, he thought that we were all together. You know, like a sevensome or whatever that would be called.”
“I’m pretty sure that sevensome is not a word.” This time Dannika didn’t bother trying to hold in her laughter.
The only one who didn’t think the waiter’s misguided judgement was funny would be Regina. She wrinkled her nose in disgust. “How could anyone even think that? I mean, come on. Group sex? Eww.”
“I hear ya, Regina, but there are those guys out there that take pride in having more than one beautiful lady at their side.” Kissing the top of Earadessa’s head, he wrapped his arms around her waist. “As for me, one is more than enough to keep up with.”
Watching Earadessa lean into his embrace and soak in his warmth brought a pang to Tanya’s heart. Her mind automatically thought about the battle they would face the moment they walked out of this building.
Would this day be the end of their family? She knew the goddess gave her a vision of this moment for a reason and in that vision, none of them died. Regardless, she feared the worst.
Chapter Fifty-Eight
Their time together had been great, but unfortunately it was time to walk outside and face their enemy. Sabastian stacked his boxes so he could carry them to the SUV. Earadessa brushed a lock of hair out of Tanya eyes. “It’s time, honey. Are you ready?”
Was she ready? Hell, no. The last thing she wanted to do was come face to face with the people that were sent here to kill her. What she wanted was to crawl in a hole and wish this all away. Tanya was not ready for this battle, physically or mentally. Why did she have to be the chosen one to save the world? She wasn’t Supergirl. “Yes, I’m ready.” I hope.
Regina threw her arm over Tanya’s shoulder. “Yeah, let’s go out there and kick some bootie. I’m ready to get out of here and back to the hotel.”
The blood drained from Dannika’s face. “They’re here. I can feel them.” She closed her eyes and breathed in and out slowly to calm her labored breathing.
“Okay, ladies.” Facing the girls, Earadessa dished out advice. “Don’t worry about a thing. Once we get started, everything you’ve learned will begin to flow out of you.”
“Yes,” Sabastian said. “Just remember to stay in sync with one another. If you work together, nothing can take you down.”
“Be confident but not cocky.” Earadessa spoke after her husband. “It’s when you get cocky that you lose your ground and become defeated.”
The princesses nodded. They knew this speech forward and backward. They’d listened to Sabastian preach this very thing over and over for the last day and a half. No matter how many times Tanya heard it or how much she practiced self-defense, she still felt utterly helpless.
Why on earth would the goddess think she could ever lead this group and save the world? What could Ratri have ever seen in her to think she was the right one for the job? Tanya had never been into the whole martial arts thing. She loved horror movies and drama shows.
Heck, Tanya had never been the leader of anything. Well, except for their bookstore back home, but even that job was split evenly. Destroying the evil in the world was a job for someone smarter and stronger than she could ever be.
Turning on her heel, Earadessa held her head high. “Here we go. Time to get this show on the road.” Those who had served them waved and thanked them for visiting. The night air blew icy tendrils, and Tanya saw her breath on the breeze. Squaring her shoulders, she marched beside Earadessa. She had no idea if she could hold her own against these girls, but she walked like she was confident.
Rounding the side of the building and heading toward the back of the parking lot, she saw them. It was just like her vision. There were thirteen young women. Pushing her fear aside, Tanya replayed her vision in her mind to refresh her memory of their attacks.
“You need to stay back,” Earadessa whispered to Sabastian. “If we happen to be seen by humans, it wouldn’t look good for you to be fighting girls.”
Crossing his arms, he shook his head. “Uh, uh.”
“I’m confident that we can handle this on our own. As soon as they move away from the vehicle, put your gifts away and allow us to do the fighting.” Earadessa pointed at the princesses. “They need to overcome their enemy without your interference. It’s the only way they’ll grow.”
“I understand that,” he ground out. “But you’re outnumbered. It isn’t right for me to stand out on a fight that is so unfairly teamed.”
“Yes, my love, but you are forgetting that we will not be outnumbered for long.” Earadessa reminded him of the girls from Tanya’s vision, the ones that were sent to help them in this fight.
Judging by the look on his face, he was fighting an internal battle. It wasn’t easy for him to not jump in and protect his wife and those in his charge. “I’ll stand down, for now.” Leveling his gaze on Earadessa, he proclaimed, “If I see you or any of the princesses in danger, I will not just sit by and watch.”
“Noted.”
He left her side and sat on a stone wall that separated the restaurant parking from an apartment complex. The girl sitting on the hood of their SUV jumped down and closed the gap between them. “It’s about time that you girls showed up. We’ve been looking for you. My name is Serinity, and these,” she lifted her hands up on either side of her, gesturing to the girls that flanked her, “are my friends. I’m one of your sisters.”
This young woman was very beautiful. She had the perfect model figure with short, curly blonde hair. Sadly, even with all that beauty, she had a wild look about her that made that beautiful face ugly. Her faded green eyes looked like they’d been left out in the sun too long. The discoloration left tiny flecks of gray in them. An effect of having an evil spirit. Wicked power always faded the beauty of its beholder.
“Yeah right.” Serienna crossed her arms. “We don’t have sisters that look anything like you. Luckily for us, we know exactly what you came here for. Let me tell you this.” The features in her face hardened, showing her anger. “We aren’t your typical girls. We’re not afraid to get dirty or break a nail. Be prepared to have your little booties trampled on.”
Amused, Serinity placed her hands on her hips. “Wow, look at you. You’ve got a mouth on you, young one. How about I give you a lesson on how to respect your elders and shut that bloomin’ mouth of yours?”
“Hey, if you think you can, then go for it. Like I said, I’m not afraid.” Serienna took her stance and prepared herself for the attack. Tanya saw her take in a deep breath and bow her head like she was already picturing her surroundings.
Serinity growled low in her throat. Eyes narrowed, and nostrils flared. “You had better watch the way you talk to me. Do you even realize who I am? You should be on your knees right now begging for your lives.”
Putting her arm in front of Serienna to hold her back, Regina stepped between the two, jamming her finger in Serinity’s face. “Honey, quit trying to be all big and mighty. The fact is that you apparently do not know who we are.”
“No. I know exactly who you girls are, and I’m going to take you all down.” Serinity snapped her fingers, and her friends began taking their stances. “I’m ending you all, tonight.”
Makinzee stepped up to Dannika’s side, patting her on the back. The two of them exchanged a look. To most, it may not look like nothing more than a friendly pat, but Tanya knew the message behind it. Makinzee was trying to calm Dannika’s fears.
A monstrous smile formed on Serinity’s face as her friends growled, preparing to attack. They had been trained by Damion himself and looked ready to rip out their throats. A redhead advanced on Earadessa, nose in the air and nostrils flaring with each breath she took.
Tanya was about sick of all the childish bickering. “Okay, girls, how about you all shut your mouths. You all sound like a bunch of whiny teena
gers.”
Serinity shoved Regina out of the way and threw a punch at Serienna, hitting her in the nose. The two of them fought like dancers. Serienna sidestepped just in time to avoid another punch to the face, and Serinity dodged like a boxer when Serienna attempted an attack. They did this dance until Serinity lost her temper, the gray in her eyes seeming to glow with her anger.
Red crept into Serinity’s eyes, and she screamed at her friends. “Now.” At her command, each girl charged toward the girl of their choice.
Chapter Fifty-Nine
Three of Serinity’s girls charged at Tanya with wild, red flames glowing in their eyes. Forming a horizontal line in front of her, the two on each end swung their fists at Tanya’s face while the one in the middle waited for her opportunity to strike.
Relieved to feel her instincts kick in, Tanya slid her feet backward, like a ballerina dancer, and dodged their strikes. The action must have angered them because they marched forward, each one throwing a punch simultaneously.
Clearing her mind, Tanya used all five senses to fuel her for this battle. This allowed her to envision everything taking place around her even when she couldn’t see it. All three fists were just an inch from connecting with her nose.
Grasping a fist in her right hand and one in her left, Tanya forced them together, crushing the fist in the middle. The sound of bones crushing followed the impact, and all three bent over in pain.
Not wasting any time, Tanya turned her body, throwing a kick at the girl on her left. Her foot connected with her enemy’s head. Like dominos, the motions sent this girl careening into the girl next to her and slammed that girl into the next. The three of them lay in heap before Tanya. Score.
Acting purely on instinct, she focused her attention on the one laying on top of the other two. She kicked continuously as hard and fast as she could. If she could keep this up until help came, or until she kicked her enemies unconscious, then she would have a moment to stop and catch her breath.
This horror show had just started, but already she was anxious for it to be over. The small area at the back of the restaurant looked like a war zone. Fists flew in every direction. Feet connecting with heads, chests, thighs. The princesses did well, punching and kicking at every opportunity. So far, they’d only suffered a few minor scrapes and bruises.
Tanya looked up to see that Earadessa stood over the redhead who was down on the ground screaming and clutching her head. “Stop. Please, just make it stop. It hurts so bad. I can’t take it anymore.”
Beyond them, Dannika fought with two girls, and by the looks of it she was the one in control. One of the girls swung a fist at Dannika and just before it slammed into her face, Dannika dropped to her feet and stuck out her leg to sweep her attacker’s feet out from under her.
Dannika moved so fast she was nothing more than a blur to Tanya. She pounced on her other attacker, throwing punch after punch until the other girl stood and hit her from behind. Tanya felt sorry for those two. The deep red that colored Dannika’s face and neck spoke volumes. Her cousin would be out for blood now.
Dannika turned, her fist slamming into her attacker’s eye. The next punch landed on her temple, knocking her out cold. Shifting her weight, Dannika reared back and kicked the other girl in the mouth then immediately followed that with an uppercut.
Tanya was proud of her cousin for overcoming her fears and doubts to protect their family. Maybe she should take a page out of her book and quit doubting herself.
A noise to her left brought Tanya’s attention back to her own fight. She looked in the direction the noise had come from, but there was no one there. What had happened to the girls that were just on the ground at her feet? It was like they’d just vanished into thin air.
Then she saw it. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw silver flash. A girl with purple streaks in her hair charged at Tanya, a silver blade in her hand. Weapons hadn’t been in her vision. She was totally unprepared to handle this situation.
Right before that blade gouged Tanya, her attacker fell to ground wailing in agony. Tanya caught sight of Earadessa, hand in the air and aimed at the one at Tanya’s feet. She nodded to her and mouthed, “Thanks, Dessa.” Tanya kicked the blade toward Sabastian who immediately ran to retrieve it before any of the others spotted it.
Then Tanya saw something that froze her to the spot where she stood. Dannika’s body tensed, and Tanya knew her cousin sensed more vampires. Were they the good ones or was there more evil headed their way?
In a matter of seconds, Dannika punched her attacker unconscious. Her eyes scanned the area, looking at something out of Tanya’s line of sight. Relaxing her body, she yelled, “They’re here. Remember not to attack them, they’ve come to help.”
Tanya squinted to the spot Dannika had looked but saw nothing. Then they came into view. Just like she’d seen in her vision, seven girls jumped the stone wall Sabastian sat on and he looked relieved to see them.
Each of the newcomers approached the girls from Serinity’s pack and began kicking and punching. The way they fought, Tanya knew they were skilled martial artists. Their skills were far greater than any she’d ever seen.
A burst of laughter left her, and Tanya wondered what the guys at the university would think if they were to stumble onto them right now. Would they cry cat fight and gather around to gawk or would they jump in and try to save the day?
Just thinking of the university brought so many emotions to the surface. Not only did it make her homesick, but now her heart ached to see Mark. If he were here, he’d be so proud of them. Tanya wanted him here to cheer them on.
To her left, Makinzee dodged a jab. Bringing her knee up, she hit the girl in the chest, knocking the air out of her. As her enemy took a step back to catch her breath, Makinzee grabbed hold of her head. Her knee slammed into her attacker’s nose and blood gushed on the pavement.
The girl’s eyes watered, and she yelped from the pain. Sweeping her feet out from under her, Makinzee watched her attacker hit the ground with a thwack. Lifting her foot, Makinzee placed her the heel of her stiletto boot over the girl’s throat. As she pressed down, the tissues and windpipe crushed with a sickening sound that sent a shiver through Tanya.
Tanya deflected several attacks all while keeping an eye out for her sisters. A fist traveled toward her, and she latched onto the attacker’s wrist, ducked under her arm and twisted it behind her. With her free arm, Tanya locked it around her attacker’s neck and squeezed. Within seconds, the evil vampire fell in a heap at her feet.
Stepping over the limp body, Tanya looked back at Makinzee. In the blink of an eye, one of Serinity’s girls ran up behind Makinzee and kicked her in the back of the head. She flew several feet and lay eerily still. No.
Chapter Sixty
Tanya’s entire body hummed with her internal scream. She sent her sister a mental message. Yes, she knew it was futile because the only psychic link a vampire has is to their soul mate. Please get up. Makinzee, please be okay. Was this the event she’d been dreading? Was Makinzee seriously injured? Oh, dear goddess, please help my sister. Praying she could get to her before their enemy killed her, Tanya ran. There was no way she’d make it in time. She just wasn’t fast enough.
The attacker cautiously stepped next to Makinzee’s side. She watched her as if judging whether she’d succeeded in killing her. Then, she lifted her foot over Makinzee’s face, ready to smash her skull. Before her attacker could react, Makinzee shifted her body and wrapped her legs around her enemy. Grabbing her elevated leg, Makinzee thrust her over her head and the other girl hit the pavement. A few bones broke in the process.
Relief washed over Tanya. Her sister was safe, at least for the moment.
Makinzee bent over and grabbed the shirt of her attacker, lifting her then allowing her body to fall back to the pavement. Her head bounced a couple of times, and Makinzee crawled on top
of her and punched like a madwoman.
Were the rest of her sisters okay? Tanya scanned the area for Regina. She was holding her own, using her powers to control her attacker’s mind. The girl looked dumbfounded for a moment then shook her head and charged. “Sweet-Pea, you’ll have to do better than that to get me to run away. I’ve faced vampires with greater mind control than yours.”
A crunch of dirt beneath a shoe sounded behind Tanya and she spun, fists up and ready. She wasn’t fast enough. The heel of a thick boot hit her in the jaw, and she heard a crack. Warm liquid dripped from the corner of her mouth, and she touched it with her fingers. Blood.
A spark of energy warmed her insides, and she advanced, bobbing her head like a boxer. Punch. Kick. Jab, jab, cross. Then a roundhouse kick and the attacker fell to her knees. A warm hand touched her arm. Earadessa.
Earadessa lifted her hand, purple lighting her eyes like the fourth of July. If Tanya’s attacker had been in pain before, she was in sheer agony now. Covering her ears, she screamed and blood seeped from her eyes. “Stop, make it stop. Oh, goddess, just stop. I can’t take it anymore.”
“Burn harder and burn hotter.” Pushing her hand forward, Earadessa pushed her power toward the girl. The attacker’s screaming turned up a notch, and blood filled her mouth, spilling on the ground.
Needing to keep tabs on her sisters, Tanya surveyed the area. One of the newcomers joined Serienna.
Serienna hadn’t been able to avoid the attacks, but she couldn’t find an opportunity to strike her enemy. This dark-haired vampire stood before Serienna’s attacker. Tanya thought she was crazy for not attempting to dodge or block the punch coming toward her.
What, she’s just going to let that crazy witch hit her over and over? Looking closer, Tanya saw something. Every time the attacker’s fist touched the dark-haired newcomer she pulled away, rubbing her hand and complaining she’d been struck by a jolt of electricity.
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