I run harder, knowing exactly who it is I'll find when I turn that corner.
Running full speed ahead, I call back to Jacinta who’s struggling to keep up. “Call Rylan, tell him we’ve found the vampire.”
“How do you know it’s him?” she calls back, between breaths.
“Just do it,” I screech, not having time to explain further.
We turn the corner and I come face to face with the monster who’s haunted me for the last nine years. My heart races as memories of that day threaten to take over my senses, but I can’t allow it, I don’t have time to dwell on my past. We push down the shaded alley and even though he hasn’t looked up, I know without a doubt that he can sense us here.
“What’s the plan?” Trey shouts.
“Hold him off until a teacher gets here with a weapon,” I say trying my hardest not to let the fear that’s creeping into my veins show. If anything, I need to be strong for the boys, after all, this has got to be the stupidest thing we’ll ever do in our life. I mean, three ungraduated kids cornering a vampire. This is absurd.
“That’s your plan?” Daniel shouts across to me while keeping his eyes focused on the vampire.
I don’t respond so clearly, he must know I don’t have one.
The sound of our thunderous footfalls causes the vampire to finally discard the girl’s body, dropping her to the ground with a loud thud so he can better prepare for our inevitable takedown.
I hear Jacinta screeching an urgent ‘help’ into her phone which pushes me to keep going as I reach my nightmare. He stands patiently as he waits for us to come like this is some sort of sick game.
Ignoring the look of pleasure on his face, I leap up and thrust my leg hard into his chest, making him fall back at least a meter. Trey and Daniel rush for him alongside me, just like we’ve done countless times during training as we prepare to give this vampire the fight of his life.
“Get the girl. Check she’s alive,” I yell behind me, hoping to God Jacinta can hear me over the noise of our fight and praying she can hold it together long enough to get this done. Knowing Jacinta, she’s probably already doing that, but I can’t risk not telling her.
The vampire lets out a snarl as Trey drives his fist hard into his jaw. “Bianca Moore,” he says in his sick, sadistic tone, making me realize that this is exactly what he was hoping for. “I should have known you’d come,” he says, taking pleasure in my silence. I hear a pained moan from behind and hope that means Jacinta has made it to the girl.
Daniel shoots around his back attempting to get hold of the vampire’s arms to hold him down. Both Trey and I take advantage of this opportunity. Trey snakes his arm out so hard, I hear the sound of ribs breaking. The vampire lets out a pained grunt as I drive my leg hard into his thigh, throwing him slightly off balance. It won’t take long for these injuries to heal, so we have to be fast.
He tears his arm free and lunges for me, grabbing my arm. I try to jump back, but he’s too quick. His hand curls around my forearm, digging his nails down into my skin. I rip my arm from his slimy hold just as he squeezes tighter. A major gash opens up down the length of my arm and I hiss out in pain.
The vampire takes a deep breath taking in the scent of my blood as a sick grin comes to his face and his eyes zones in on mine. “You smell just like your daddy,” he says, easily dodging out of the way of yet another of Trey’s advances. My heart begins to pound rapidly in my chest as a rage comes over me. How dare he talk about my father.
“I enjoyed taking your father’s life before your eyes,” he says, making Daniel gasp, his eyes flicking to mine with shock on his face as the monster spills my secret. The vampire takes advantage of Daniel’s distraction and grabs him by the throat before launching him into the brick wall.
A sickening crack echoes down the alley as Daniel slumps to the ground and I pray that it is only a bump on the head and nothing worse. I think about calling out to Jacinta to check on him, but this alley is too small and she would likely be killed if she was to get any closer.
Rage burns through me as I desperately need to check on Daniel, but I know I can’t. I have no other option but to continue to fight. “It seems you’re losing a bit of blood there, Bianca dear,” he continues to taunt, indicating down to the pool of blood that’s begun to gather on the ground. “You sure you don’t need to lie down? I can help with that. Maybe a permanent one? Like your friend here.” Trey and I continue to fend him off as he continues to dodge and taunt. “You know, you were my very first audience,” he snarls. “I thoroughly enjoy it. You inspired my last decade's work.”
His words chill my bones, but I don’t allow them to affect me.
“You know that day, I always considered finishing you off as well and now after that reminder of how fine that blood of yours is, I think I might just do it,” he says, advancing on me.
Trey jumps in his way, pushing the monster back a step. The fight has started to wear us both down and I know we can’t hold out much longer, but the vampire looks like he could go all day.
The sound of footsteps in the distance is my saving grace as I hear Jacinta yell, “They’re down here, hurry.”
Rylan rounds the corner as the vampire kicks his leg out, pushing an exhausted Trey to the ground. “Looks like it’s now or never,” the vampire grins as he lunges for me.
He grabs me by my throbbing arm and pulls me to his chest, spinning me in the process. I try my hardest to fight him off, but it’s clear that he’s just been playing with us. Every evasive technique Rylan has taught me is completely useless. His speed and strength are far too great and I realize that this is the end for me.
I helplessly attempt to slip out of his grasp as I see Rylan at the opening of the alley, his gun trained on the vampire, which in turn is now trained on me. His eyes widen in fear as he takes in my position and I know without a doubt he sees that same fear reflected in my eyes.
The vampire raises his hands to my neck and I know I’m moments away from being turned into his personal feedbag. My heart races and my palms begin to sweat, but I keep my eyes trained solely on Rylan and pray to God that if this is my final moment on earth that he knows how deeply I love him. I take a deep breath as a strange peace settles over me and I wait for death with tears heavy in my eyes.
Time slows as I feel the hands of the vampire twist to grab the opposite sides of my face to break my neck and watch as in the same instant, Rylan’s eyes narrow in concentration and pull down on the trigger three times. I hear the bullets releasing from the chamber, one by one and come blurring towards me at a speed my eyes simply cannot keep up with. I pray that if I’m going to die, it’s going to be by one of Rylan’s bullets rather than by the hands of this vampire.
The first bullet grazes past my ear and plunges deep into the vampire’s chest and I feel the pressure of his hands harden around my face. Just as my head is viciously twisted, the second bullet flies right through the center of his forehead. We begin to fall backward as a hot, sharp pain slices through my arm. I scream out for Rylan, but as my world begins to turn to black, I know this is the end.
Chapter 32
I hear the steady rhythmic beep of a machine and smell that overly clean smell that tells me I’m in the academy infirmary. I keep my eyes closed as I remember the events that put me here. I slowly open my eyes to the bright clinical lights and hear the familiar gasp of my best friend that quickly turns into loud, uncontrollable sobs as she sits beside me.
“Hey,” I whisper. “Aren’t I the one who’s supposed to be crying?” I ask, reaching out and grabbing her hand before giving it a squeeze.
“I’m sorry,” she says, through her sobs. She takes a deep breath. “Do you have any idea how scared I was? I thought you were dead. I saw his hands on you and then Rylan was shooting and you both went down. God, Bianca. Don’t ever do that to me again,” she cries as she wipes the tears off her splotchy red face.
“Daniel?” I ask, dreading the answer, as the last time I saw him I
was almost certain he was dead.
“He’ll be okay,” she says, squeezing my hand as relief courses through me. “He’s next door. He’s still out and probably will be for a while. He just got back from a scan and from what I’ve been told he has a really nasty concussion.”
“Oh, thank God,” I whisper, taking in a deep breath I didn’t know I was holding. I could have sworn from the way his body slumped to the ground it was so much worse. I make myself a promise to never take Daniel’s friendship for granted, I don’t know what I would have done if something had happened to him.
“What about Trey?” I ask, knowing his injuries couldn’t be anywhere near as bad as Daniel’s.
“He’s fine, just really banged up. He just needs to sleep it off, but he’s been holding off, waiting to hear that you were okay first,” she says with a sad smile.
“The girl?”
“Fine,” she says. “Very shaken up and confused about what the hell happened.”
Thank god. That just leaves one more question. A question that I desperately need to know the answer to. A question that will haunt me for the rest of my life if it is not answered the way I need it to be.
“The vampire?” I ask in a quiet voice, suddenly terrified of looking up in case I see regret in her eyes.
“Dead,” she confirms.
“Okay. Good,” I sigh with a nod as a rush of air comes streaming out.
Relief pours over me as we sit for a little while in silence, happy to see each other alive. “I better go let Trey know you’re okay,” she says, getting up. “And just so you know,” she whispers, leaning down to me. “Rylan hasn’t left your door.”
I give her a big smile and call out when she turns to leave. “Hey, Jacinta?” I say, “Tell me you picked up all our shopping bags?”
She lets out a loud laugh and gives me a nod. “God, always thinking about the least important things,” she murmurs to herself, stepping through the door and looking back. “But, yes, I sent some kid back to get them,” she says then fixes me with a leveled stare. “Don’t think we’re not going to discuss the fact you didn’t tell me the full story about your dad,” she warns. “Oh, and call your mom, she’s worried sick. I’m pretty sure she’s on her way here.”
I cringe as she steps back to the open door and then looks back at me. “That was kind a waste of a good hair day, huh?”
“You’ve never been so right.”
Jacinta laughs as she slips out the door and I promise myself that I’ll call mom and explain everything the second I get out of here.
I take advantage of being alone and sit up in my bed to begin taking note of my body. My forearm is covered in a large bandage, no doubt where the vampire sliced me open. I see another bandage higher up on my arm and have absolutely no idea what happened there.
The rest of my body is covered in scratches and harsh bruising. My body aches, especially at the base of my neck, but I’m thankful it’s still attached. My head throbs. I latch onto my bullet chain and close my eyes, shutting out the world around me.
There’s a light knock at the door and I open my eyes to find Rylan hovering at the foot of my bed. His eyes trained on the bullet clutched tightly in my hand. “Do you mind?” he asks, indicating towards the chair next to my bed.
I give a slight nod, watching him silently make his way into the room and sit down beside me. “What are you doing here?” I ask, not sure how this is going to go, especially after how tension-filled and awkward everything has been lately.
He sits in silence for a minute before pulling out a small object and handing it to me. I look down in confusion as a heavy wooden bullet sits in my hand. “Bianca, I can’t tell you how sorry I am,” he says with heavy eyes as he runs a hand through his hair.
“What are you talking about?” I ask.
“I shot you,” he says flatly, leaning forward and running his hand over the bandage high on my arm. I look down as the pieces finally fall into place. The third bullet. I blanked out before I knew what happened to it.
I look up at Rylan and look deep into his eyes. “You saved my life and took out my monster at the same time. You never have to apologize for that. If anything, I should be thanking you,” I say with such sincerity.
He scoffs at that and indicates with a nod of his head towards the bullet. “I wasn’t sure if that needed to be added to your collection for the first time being shot, or mine for the first time I shot someone I care about.”
My eyes snap up at his confession, though needing to lighten the mood I scoff. “I think I deserve this one,” I smirk.
“Yeah, I think you’re right,” he admits, though I can still sense the regret and sadness behind his eyes.
I give him a small smile and study the bullet that was not long ago wedged in my arm. “Do you think you could put a little hole in it to go on my chain?” I ask, handing it back to him.
“Yeah,” he smiles. “Anything you want.”
We sit in silence for a long time, neither one of us willing to say what needs to be said.
“Bianca, I’ve been a jerk,” he starts with a regrettable sigh. I give him a small nod and an encouraging smile, confirming that indeed, he has been a jerk. “It’s just…I didn’t know how to handle whatever it is that’s going on here,” he says, indicating between the two of us. “And I figured, the easiest way to make it go away, was to ignore it, but then I kissed you in that lake and it made it that much harder.”
A lone tear escapes my eye and slowly makes its way down my cheek as I watch him struggle to get the words out. He reaches forward and brushes the tear away with his thumb. He takes a deep breath, looks me firmly in the eyes and says softly. “It killed me today seeing you at the hands of that vampire. Knowing you could have died without me telling you that I’m in love with you.”
Warmth fills me at hearing those words on his lips and I know this moment will forever be ingrained in my memories. My heart rate picks up and the butterflies in my stomach begin somersaulting. I reach out and place my hand in his and watch as he laces our fingers together. “I know,” I whisper. “I figured it out in the alley. I could see it in your eyes,” I tell him. “But just so you know, I’ve kind of fallen in love with you too.”
A smile comes to his lips as he lets out a small laugh. “Yeah…” he breathes. “I worked it out weeks ago. You’re pretty much an open book.”
I roll my eyes at him earning myself yet another smile. “So…um,” I cringe in embarrassment. “The whole Miss Layton thing?” I ask.
He lets out another laugh. “There’s nothing going on between me and Penny. In fact, I’m not even remotely interested. She’s possibly the most annoying, dullest woman I have ever met. She just doesn’t like to accept no as an answer,” he clarifies as relief pours through me.
“Hmm, well thanks for clearing that up two weeks ago.”
“No problem,” he smirks then sits back in his chair, looking over me once again. His eyes land on the bandage on my arm and a pained emotion flickers across his face. “I hate seeing you like this,” he says.
“I know,” I say. “But I’d do it all over again.”
“I know you would,” he says with a sigh. “What you did today, while incredibly stupid, it was so brave. Running in and risking your life for the sake of another’s is exactly what it means to be a member of The Guard and on the Front Lines. You were so incredibly brave and you did exactly what your training has taught you to do, apart from the whole running into a situation unprepared and without a weapon,” he scoffs, “which we’ll be discussing later.”
“I don’t doubt that,” I smirk.
The room suddenly falls quiet with our hands still laced together. He lets out a deep sigh. “Bianca,” he says with regret.
“Don’t,” I groan a little whinier than I had hoped. “I know what you’re going to say and I agree. I’m still your student and until that changes, this,” I say, indicating between us. “Doesn’t exist.” He nods, confirming my thoughts. “Okay, I
thought as much, but before we go back to not existing, I just have two questions.”
“Shoot,” he says before cringing at his choice of words.
I smile wide. “Why did we get to play paintball?”
“Why else?” he explains with a knowing grin. “It was your birthday.” I beam up at him and his eyes fill with love. “What’s your other question?” he asks.
“Well, I figured, that once you walk out that door and we cease to exist, and you know, after you shot me and all, the least you could do is give me another one of those mind-blowing kisses,” I say.
He raises a very smug eyebrow at me. “I give you an inch and you take a mile.”
I give a slight shrug of my shoulders. “What did you expect?”
He’s thoughtful for a while, clearly juggling his options when his eyes become hooded and he watches me with lust. “Mind-blowing, huh?”
“Definitely,” I whisper, as he gets up from the chair and moves towards me. Butterflies begin fluttering in my stomach as he grows nearer.
His eyes continue watching me as he leans over and presses his lips down on mine, giving me the most gentle and passionate kiss I have ever experienced. I twine my good arm up around his neck, running my hands through his hair as I kiss him back.
He groans in pleasure and all too quickly pulls away, resting his forehead against mine. “You’re going to be the death of me, Bianca Moore,” he whispers.
I run my fingers up his back and over his shoulder, placing my hand firmly against his chest. He snakes his hand around my neck and pulls me in, placing one soft, swift kiss on my lips before pulling back with a lock of purple hair between his fingers. His eyes brim with heat, causing all sorts of havoc within me.
“I’m not going to lie, babe. I fucking love this,” he tells me, letting the hair fall back to my shoulder as he raises from his chair. His lips raise into a cheesy grin and as he winks, everything inside of me melts. If I could, I’d throw myself out of this bed and run at him, but I don’t even get the chance to try before he turns on his heel and steps out the door.
Soul and Disaster: Slayer Academy (Book 1) Page 24
