The humans raced away from us, heading for shelter on the far side of the town as the sounds of the battle reached us from beyond the town hall.
I turned towards it just as a terrified scream drew my attention back towards the fleeing humans.
A group of Biters raced after them, colliding with those unfortunate enough to have been caught at the rear of the crowd as they tried to outpace them.
I snarled in anger, rotating my blades in my grip as I ran to intercept the vampires.
Julius fell into pace beside me, offering me a ferocious smile as we raced into battle side by side once more. This was what we’d been made for; we were born to fight and win. My muscles came alive with the power of my gifts as we dove into the fray.
I leapt at the closest Biter, striking his head from his body with Tempest before driving Venom through the heart of the next.
I slammed my boot into the chest of the decapitated vampire hard enough to shatter bone and crush his heart beneath my heel, ending his eternal existence.
Julius leapt over the fallen body of a human man, colliding with the vampire who was sucking on his neck and knocking her off as they fell back into the dirt.
I hoisted the human to his feet and he staggered, blinking at me in surprised gratitude.
“Thank you! You saved my life, I-”
I gave him a shove to get him running after his kin, not needing to hear his thanks.
Another Biter leapt from the shadows and I threw Venom at him, the heavy blade spinning end over end before slamming through his heart and clattering to the ground as he died.
Julius rammed his blade through the heart of his opponent and rolled to his feet as I ran to retrieve Venom.
The humans raced away but more demons poured from the shadows, chasing after them with a desire for blood lighting their features.
Julius bellowed a challenge at them as he placed himself between the vampires and their quarry and I moved to his side as they rushed at us.
“Just like old times,” Julius said as he raised Menace before him and I held Venom and Tempest aloft too.
“Let’s remind them why they feared us a thousand years ago,” I growled in response.
The Biters swarmed around us, using the force of their numbers to their advantage as we fell into a savage battle.
I placed my back to Julius’s and we worked together to carve through the monsters like two parts of the same body.
I swung my blades again and again, blood and dust flying in their wake as we slammed through the vampires, forcing them back beneath our combined might.
The familiar rhythm of our battle set my blood singing in my veins and I released a laugh as I cut through the parasites who hungered for our blood. Even fifty lesser vampires such as these could pose no challenge to our combined fury and Julius laughed with me as the joy of the battle filled us. We were Clan of War; this was what we’d been born for.
I slammed my boot into the chest of a large male and he flew back, knocking his companions over as he crashed into them.
We leapt into the space, delivering death to all those who floundered to recover and their ranks suddenly broke. The Biters turned and fled and I grinned as I chased after them with Julius at my side.
They led us around the town hall which continued to burn and we emerged in a huge square which was filled with the sounds and smell of battle.
The Belvederes fought fiercely and I noticed other vampires fighting alongside them too; their backup clearly having arrived. I spotted Erik locked in combat with a group of Biters and my skin tingled as I tightened my grip on my blades. I still couldn’t believe we were fighting alongside him and I had to turn my face from him before I allowed any memories of our vendetta to cross through my mind. Now wasn’t the time for second thoughts.
I scanned the square in search of a new prey and energy coursed along my spine as I spotted Valentina. She was wearing a blood red dress and stood above the mayhem on a wooden platform. Her dark hair was pulled back from her face in a long tail and it whipped about in a wind I couldn’t feel as she wielded her gifts.
Lightning scorched the sky above her and the storm flared in response to her power.
I snarled at her, raising Venom in a silent promise as I set my eyes on the former slayer who had betrayed us all.
I dove into battle once more with one goal in mind. Today I’d end my betrothal once and for all.
Biters surged around me with obvious intent. Not one of them had attempted to kill me. They were trying to fucking restrain me. And that meant Valentina had another plan for me. But there was no way in hell I was going to be caught by that bitch.
I'd lost sight of Montana and my attacks had grown more feral since. I tried to cut a path to the last place I'd seen her, but the Biters kept coming, filling every space I opened up.
As I managed to kill one more of them, an Elite flew over their heads, joining my side. He was a slim guy, but he was one of my own. I’d found him mortally wounded forty years ago; the smell of his blood had drawn me to him when his car had crashed. He had been in his early twenties and it hadn’t seemed right for his mortal life to be cut short, so I’d turned him instead of allowing him to succumb to his injuries. I wondered if he was still hankering for the promotion I'd denied him in the past...
“Henry,” I growled in acknowledgment as I slammed my fist into a Biter's chest, crushing her heart and sending her to her death.
“Master, I will defend you with my life!” he cried, swinging his huge sword and ending two Biters in one blow. Dust mixed with the rain, sliding down my skin as I prepared for the next attack.
Two males dove onto my back and a chain clinked in my ear as they tried to get it around my neck. I launched one of them over my shoulder, knocking three more to the ground as he collided with the crowd. Henry ran forward to the finish them as I tore the vicious female from my back and slammed my foot to her neck.
“No- no!” she begged as I bent down and tore her head from her shoulders. Henry's blade rammed into her heart, a ringing sound filling my ears as she burst to ash and the sword met the sidewalk.
My heart clenched as the Biters closed in again. I started swiping them aside with forceful blows of my arms, desperate to break their ranks and search for Montana. The need sparked a fierce power in me that was unstoppable.
I ripped out hearts as I carved my way forward, determined to find her. I’d sworn to protect her when we’d married and I planned on keeping that promise.
Henry cried out behind me and I was torn as I glanced back at him. Several Biters had him on the ground. But my wife wasn’t used to fighting like this and I had to make sure she was alright.
He screamed to the heavens and I cursed myself as I sped back toward him, kicking a Biter off of him and slashing his throat with my fingernails. I snatched up Henry's sword from the ground, wielding it with the memories of my old viking life. It was at home in my hands and every Biter within a foot of me met their death at its sharp tip.
I took Henry's arm, yanking him upright as he clutched a gaping wound on his shoulder.
“Th-thank you, Sire,” he stuttered.
I nodded and sprinted away from him, taking his sword, but I wasn't concerned for him. The Biters were after me, desperate not to let me escape.
I roared my anger as two of them gripped my right arm, trying to prise the sword from my hand. I slammed my fist into both of their faces in quick succession.
The storm raged around me, coating my skin in rain and washing the blood from my body. I swung the weapon again, taking down a female with bloodstained fangs. As they closed around me once more, panic reared inside me.
They were trying to take me.
A chain was thrown in front of me and several hands yanked on it so I was forced back several steps. As they tried to tie it around me, I jumped away. But there were so many of them, all hounding toward me like a pack of wolves.
Clarice appeared in a fan of blonde hair, screaming her defianc
e as she attacked the Biters holding the chains. The second she killed them, I ran to meet her, gripping her arm as the remaining Biters backed up in fear. Two Belvederes were more than a match for them.
“Are you alright?” I asked and she nodded with a wicked grin.
“Feels good to fight a real battle after so many years,” she snarled, baring her fangs as the endless horde shifted closer, assessing us.
I swung the sword before me, my eyes wheeling across the battle as I hunted for my wife. Henry was fighting valiantly several paces away, using his fists since I’d taken his sword.
“I lost sight of Montana,” I told Clarice and her eyes shimmered with concern.
“Then let's hurry up and kill these assholes so we can find her.” She lifted her chin, readying her knife as the Biters ran at us like an advancing army.
With my sister by my side, I knew we'd finish these fuckers. They were going to rue the day they turned against my family.
I raced away from Fabian and Danielle, searching the streets for Montana.
She’d definitely come this way so I knew she had to be close. I just couldn’t figure out where.
Come on, Monty! Where are you?
Fury tingled in my palm, urging me to turn to my left and I skidded to a halt on the wet concrete. I spun back, flying down the closest alleyway as Wolfe’s voice carried to me in the echoing space.
“You’re going to beg for deaff before I’m finithed wiff you,” he snarled.
Fury burned hot in my grip as I rounded a corner and spotted Montana unmoving on the floor with Wolfe stalking closer. My lungs seized as I looked at her, lying vulnerable on the ground at that monster’s mercy.
I won’t let you hurt my family again!
I whipped my hand back, launching Fury at him with all of my strength. It spun towards him but he shifted aside at the last moment so that it lodged in his shoulder instead of his heart. Wolfe cried out and wrenched the blade from his flesh, throwing it away down the alley.
“Even better,” he growled as he turned his icy gaze on me. One of his eyes was destroyed and bright red blood poured down his cheek. “I’ll kill both fiffterths.”
I released a snarl of pure hatred as I launched myself at him. He shot to meet me in a blur of motion and I took a deep breath, standing my ground. My gifts flooded into me as adrenaline filled my muscles.
I slammed my fist into his face, feeling something crack beneath my knuckles just as he drove his palms into my chest. I was hurled into the air and crashed into the wall of the building beside us.
Pain flared along my spine as I fell to the ground and he was on me again in an instant. He lifted me off of my feet by my throat, raising me above his head as he bared his teeth. I stared at the holes where his fangs had been, the gums bloody and swollen as if his body couldn’t recover from such a wound.
He noticed my attention and hissed at me, bloody spittle flying through the gaps in his teeth and coating my face as he lifted me higher and squeezed until I couldn’t breathe.
“You're the reathon my fangth were taken. But once the Belfedereth are dead, I'll take them back and drink from the vein for all eternity!”
I clawed at his hands then gave up and slammed my knee into his chin instead, forcing him to release me with a curse.
I rolled as I hit the ground, swiftly springing to my feet again before sprinting away from him towards Fury.
Wolfe tackled me before I got ten paces and I smashed into the ground once more. He flipped me over beneath him and wrapped his hands around my throat, crushing me in his grip so that I couldn’t draw breath.
I punched him in the side again and again, feeling his ribs crack beneath the strength of my blows. But he didn’t loosen his hold as he sneered down at me, taking the punishment I was dishing out while knowing I was running out of time. I tried to buck him off of me then swept my hands above my head, searching for something, anything to use as a weapon.
“You’re going to rue the day you crothed me thlayer.” he snarled, his remaining eye alight with glee as he sensed his victory.
My fingers brushed against Montana’s cold leg but she was still unmoving as her body fought to repair itself from whatever he’d done to her. I moved my hand back as stars blossomed before my eyes and Wolfe started laughing.
You won’t kill me you murdering asshole. I refuse to let you kill me!
Something hot brushed my fingertips and my heart leapt with hope as I stretched my arm as far as I could manage.
Hello twin of Moon Child, Nightmare purred and I could feel it aching for blood.
I flipped it in my palm and thrust it at Wolfe as hard as I could, catching him in the thigh as my vision continued to darken.
He swore, his grip on me loosening as I stabbed him in the arm.
Wolfe reared off of me and I coughed, sucking in air as I struggled to recover from his attack. I scrambled back on my elbows, bumping into Montana’s body as I fought to get away. I glanced at my sister’s still form and her eyelids fluttered. She was waking up, I just needed to buy a little more time.
You might be a match for me but the two of us are going to annihilate you.
Yes, let’s help Moon Child, Nightmare agreed enthusiastically.
I forced myself upright, backing away from Montana’s body and leading Wolfe after me along the alley. His one eye glared at me, his gaze filled with the promise of violence as he closed in on me again.
“Come on then you fucking psychopath,” I growled. “Lethh theee what you can do.”
Anger flared in his expression as I mocked him and he screamed with rage as he shot towards me.
He reached for me and I slashed Nightmare at him, cutting the fingers from his left hand and sending them falling to the ground. Wolfe howled in pain and I smirked tauntingly as I backed up again. One of his fingers rolled beneath my boot and I crushed it into the concrete as he shrieked in outrage.
I glanced over his shoulder and noticed Montana stirring.
Wolfe leapt at me again and I batted his left arm aside but his right fist connected with my jaw. I stumbled back as pain rang through my skull.
I threw Nightmare at him as he advanced but he dodged it by millimetres before crashing into me once more. The collision sent me flying again and I hit the concrete at the far end of the alley, skidding along the ground before landing on my back with something burning hot pressing into my spine.
My face lit with a wicked smile as I grabbed Fury and my blade hummed with excitement as we were reunited.
Feed me Sun Child. I crave blood!
Montana groaned as she pushed herself to her feet behind Wolfe and he spun towards her, snarling with rage.
I sprinted at him with Fury raised to attack. “Not my sister you motherfucker!” I screamed as I sprang onto his back, hooking my arm around his neck and stabbing, stabbing, stabbing until the whole world ran red with his blood.
Relief sang in my veins. Callie was here. And together, we'd kill the venomous beast who had taken our father from us.
She was on Wolfe’s back, stabbing Fury into his body again and again. Excitement spilled through me but before she reached his heart, he tore her over his shoulder and smashed her head against the brick wall. Fury hit the floor and she groaned from her injuries, stumbling as blood spilled down her face.
“No!” I cried, panic clawing at my insides. I hunted for my blade, spotting Nightmare on the ground a foot away. Launching myself toward it, I flipped it into my hand and heat sped across my skin.
Drive me into his withered heart, Moon Child.
Callie staggered into Wolfe and he wrenched her head sideways with a murmur of glee, ripping her neck open with his fingernails. He licked a line all the way up to her ear and disgust pooled inside me.
I lifted Nightmare, promising his death with all my heart.
“Get the hell away from my sister,” I snarled.
Wolfe's laughter filled the air as he glanced back at me. “No chanthe.”
Callie regained her senses and jammed her elbow into his ribs, thrusting him toward me. I was ready with my blade, stabbing it deep into his side. He screamed to high heaven and Callie turned around with a fire in her eyes.
“For Dad,” she snarled, her gaze locking with mine. Wolfe slashed out at her, slapping her so hard she hit the ground.
My world spun as I wrenched Nightmare from his side and tried to get close once more. He moved like the wind, diving towards Callie and dragging her up before him. She writhed in his hold, but he gripped her tight, licking the blood from the wound on her head. I could tell it was affecting her; her movements were unsteady and her eyes half shut.
Wolfe groaned, clearly weakened from the cuts of our slayer blades, but he held on tight. He hugged her against his chest and glared at me over her shoulder.
“Get off of her,” I growled, readying to tear her from his arms.
He grinned at me. “Get too clothe and I'll break her neck.”
Callie looked to me and a small smile twisted her lips. I fought a frown, realising she was faking the extent of her injuries. She looked at Fury on the ground then back at me. My heart swelled as I interpreted exactly what she meant.
I side-stepped toward it and Wolfe rotated sharply, keeping Callie facing me, his mangled hand on her throat. “I'm going to drain every laft drop of her blood, then I'm going to cruth you like a goothberry.”
I inched closer to Fury on the ground, feigning fear, but the glittering malice in Callie's eyes gave me strength. Wolfe lapped at the blood on her cheek once more and Callie lurched violently away from him.
As he moved his full attention to holding her, I bent down, grabbed Fury by the hilt and tossed it to Callie. She snatched it out of the air, turning in his arms and ramming it straight into his cheek. He roared in agony, stumbling back and gripping the hilt to try and tug it out. It burned his hands as he desperately tried to yank it free and the scent of burning flesh seared my nostrils.
I ran forward as Callie kicked him squarely in the chest and he hit the wall, pulling the blade out and dropping it with a gasp.
Age of Vampires- The Complete Series Page 119