Vampire Huntress

by Rosemary A Johns

  Slowly, the furious buzz faded to a hum and then a tingle.

  The crash from the high, when it came, doubled me over. I clutched my stomach, whilst I sobbed.

  It was like soaring the heavens, only to fall to earth.

  Now I understood a shadow of what the Fallen had lost.

  At once, Rebel and Ash were crouched over me, their burnt and mutilated wings veils.

  I stroked both their wings in comfort. The tears dried on my cheeks, but I couldn’t help the way my breath hitched, ‘They’ll mend, yeah?’

  Ash swallowed. He looked away. ‘With blood. It’s a small sacrifice for you and the world.’

  At Rebel’s moan, I cradled him to the ground. His head rested on my shoulder; his hands clasped the corners of my jacket, soothing himself against the pain. ‘I told you, remember?’ His eyelashes fluttered. ‘I knew you’d fly higher than I could even dream.’

  I brushed Rebel’s sweaty hair back from his forehead. ‘I had a good Custodian.’ Hurt them…punish them…burn them… I took a shaky breath. ‘Who…what am I? Who are my parents?’

  At last, he lifted his gaze to mine. ‘Who do you think we’ve been protecting you from, princess?’

  I jerked back. ‘What…?’

  ‘Monster,’ Gizem stalked towards us across her shattered apartment. She was glaring at Rebel, but I knew the word was meant for all three of us.

  Gizem held up Bird Tattoo’s flick-knife like a promise. But she’d already shanked me.

  We were no longer the two Orphan Musketeers: I was a stranger.

  I tried to warn you. You’ll only ever truly have me. I know you, down to the bones.

  ‘I promised to protect you,’ I glanced at Aylin’s fuzzy head, as she burrowed further into the pile of cushions on the divan to hide, ‘and kick this new gang out of our yard. I saved you.’

  ‘It’s not your yard anymore.’ Gizem prowled closer, dragging her stained bathrobe around herself. When she waved the knife at Rebel, I held him closer. ‘You let that…thing…bite and violate me. I’d never let anyone touch you. Don’t you remember all the times I saved you?’ She rubbed at the scar down her cheek. ‘But now I reckon what everyone is saying is true. You’re a killer.’

  Ash straightened; he loomed over Gizem. ‘She’s Princess Leia, saving the universe, you ungrateful—’

  ‘Yeah, she’s not into our brand of geekery. So, you’re not making much of a point.’

  Ash shrugged. ‘Hero. World. Saved.’

  Gizem backed towards the divan, spinning the shank between her fingers. ‘I don’t care about the world,’ she said blankly, ‘I just know my mate Feathers is dead. Whoever you are, bitch? You’re not her.’

  ‘I sacrificed…everything…for you,’ I couldn’t look at Gizem, not through the blur of tears. I didn’t dare raise my head. ‘I’m changed, but I’m still me. Jade will die tonight because I chose to save you.’

  Rebel startled. His fingers caressed the pouch with Jade’s necklace, as his other hand ghosted over mine.

  ‘Then I know you’re not my Feathers,’ Gizem looked me up and down, ‘because she’d never let her sister die.’

  Ash’s strong fingers clawed into my shoulder, pulling me to my feet. I yelped in shock, before Ash whispered urgently, ‘We have to go. I can sense the Fallen Army. They’re not far from here. And it’s rare for them to get medieval like this, unless there’s an epic battle about to wage. Something must’ve happened that they’ve been waiting for because it takes planning and mind control to mask it from humans.’

  ‘I’m not saving these humans from Eden, just to—’

  Ash snatched up his coat, shrugging it on with a grimace. ‘They’re not after the humans.’

  Rebel bounced up, wincing as he slid on his leathers. ‘Bang on! They’re after you, princess. Your power was a beacon to summon them. The Supreme Commander will have stirred himself after such a fine show.’

  I froze; everything slowed.

  Rebel spun me in a circle, before kissing my forehead.

  It was gentle and tender.

  As if it wasn’t a Judas kiss.

  As if Rebel hadn’t been playing me all along and now had delivered me up to the Fallen Army.

  Fat rain tears blurred the barren sludge of London Fields, masking the wetness streaming down my own cheeks, as I forged across the icy park. Red tinged the clouds, like blood clouding water.

  Dawn struggled to be born on a day in which my sister would die. And Rebel would Fall.

  I staggered to a stop in the downpour, shivering. My top stuck to my soaked skin.

  Two bedraggled foxes wound between the London Planes. My Blood Familiars had been following us since we’d left the tower block but they hadn’t ventured any closer.

  Maybe they were frightened of me too.

  Yet now I was the prey.

  I tried to sink back into that place where the violet flamed, alive and savage, but there was nothing but smouldering embers.

  Bring it back, J. When the Fallen find us—

  It’s too late. They’ve already found you because the punk played traitor. And where’s the righteousness in saving your own ass? You need to learn to survive on your own.

  I swung my arms, scuffing my boot through the muddy slush.

  ‘No stopping,’ Ash grabbed my hand, ‘they’re almost here. The military call this a strategic retreat. Basically? It’s time to run away.’

  I shook his hand off and backed up. ‘I’m not running. I’ve been hiding…on the run…for months.’ Rebel’s shoulders slumped; the rain plastered his hair into his eyes. His gaze met mine for a moment, before he looked away. ‘The bastards’ll catch us, sooner or late. But I hunt bastards. So, this is as good a place as any to fight the Fallen.’

  Ash glanced around at the wide park, before giving a brisk nod. ‘Old-fashioned battlefield. We can work with that. If we’d had some time we could’ve gone guerrilla Rambo style…’

  ‘And you’ll fight against your own army…?’

  Ash crossed his arms, staring fixedly away at the line of London Plane Trees. ‘What about him?’ He raised an eyebrow at Rebel, who shrank back

  When I stalked towards Rebel, I hadn’t expected the defiant scowl or tilt of the chin. ‘In about an hour the sun comes up, and you Fall. Are we the bribes to buy yourself in with your new gang? Did you always plan to hand me over to the Fallen Army? Has everything been an act? Were you plotting to Fall all along?’

  Rebel shook his head. ‘You know me better than that, woman.’

  I dragged him forward by his collar, not loosening my grip, even though he gagged. ‘Trust, loyalty, fam.’ He winced at each shanking word. ‘You’re like a kid, lost in the dark.’

  ‘I was in the dark,’ he choked out, ‘for long black decades. Centuries before, I waited. Alone. I need you. But I also needed you to help me.’

  I shook him so hard, he scrabbled at my hands. But he didn’t fight back. ‘Why?’

  ‘Family,’ he gasped. ‘Redemption.’

  I backhanded him; his lip split. ‘You used me.’

  Why the hell was my voice trembling?

  Rebel’s laugh was bitter. ‘Just like you were after using me? To free yourself, find your sister, and fight the Pure? Tell me, when weren’t you using me?’

  I shoved him away, my hands shaking. The denial died on my lips. And he hadn’t even said when you snogged me…tried to screw me…hurt me…burnt me…

  Because they’d have been true too.

  And why hadn’t Rebel said…those other things?

  I blushed, glancing away.

  I knew why. Despite everything, the wallad loved me.

  When Ash drew his shooter and held it to Rebel’s temple, Rebel didn’t even flinch. ‘Permission to execute the traitor.’

  Rebel’s gaze met mine unwavering. His mascara had run in the rain, like black tears. He didn’t battle or beg, he simply waited on my judgement.

  Like I was Eden on his throne.

  M
y mouth was too dry to speak, as Ash’s finger tightened on the trigger.

  Rebel smiled sadly, but he didn’t move.

  Sugary copper warred with citrus cloves.

  I knocked Ash’s arm away from Rebel’s head. ‘Fam is fam,’ I muttered.

  Rebel sagged, pressing his palms to his eyes.

  Then the red-tinged sky darkened, as if the newly birthed sun had been blocked out. A wind blasted us, hurricane-style, from the direction of the City with the warrior flapping of hundreds of wings.

  We drew together: monster, vampire, and angel.

  Three against the legion of the Fallen Army, who flew like an ancient plague through the London skies to wage war.

  Yet I didn’t know if I stood alone. Two Fallen at my side, ready to betray me.

  28

  I never expected I’d face down an army of vampires, who hadn’t crawled deformed from a pit, but beautiful winged from the red-teared skies. War-moths, they soundlessly landed on the greens of London Fields, like black stars fallen.

  War had come to Hackney.

  And I was Violet of Troy: the bitch they battled to possess and carry home.

  But I’d no longer be anybody’s girl but my own.

  The winged ranks marched towards us. The blood dawn haloed the Fallen Army.

  Cold rain ran down the back of my collar; I shivered. When Ash’s arm snaked around my waist, I was wrapped — just for a moment — in the aromatic scent of safety.

  Until an albino Fallen, with pure white hair swinging to his waist and hooped piercings through his nose and ears, like a goth elf in floor-length black leather coat, paced forward. He snapped his fingers at Ash, as if he was a dog. ‘Here, Seducer.’

  Ash coloured. Then he dragged his hand through his hair and took a step towards the Albino Fallen. Almost as quickly, he jerked backwards, shaking his head.

  I snatched Ash’s wrist. ‘You told me you weren’t nice,’ I couldn’t hide the edge of tears, even if I could stop them falling, ‘but no way in hell did I take you to be a traitor.’

  Ash spun, whispering, ‘I’d never betray you. But you crave to own, and the thing about being owned…? It sucks.’

  I dropped Ash’s wrist, and he pulled away from me. He didn’t look back, trudging towards the Albino Fallen, with his head down and his hands buried in the pockets of his coat.

  The Albino Fallen seized Ash, tangling his hand in Ash’s thick hair and slapping him, hard enough to make Ash stagger.

  Sniggers ran along the line.

  When the Albino Fallen clasped Ash to his chest, running his hand possessively down his chest, Rebel’s snarl answered mine.

  Owned.

  Ash understood the powers inside me: the violet and black curling underneath my skin crooned that he belonged to me. Yet the danger of listening to the siren song was being played out in the way the Albino Fallen clamped his hand around Ash’s neck, whilst he stroked down his jeans.

  Ash closed his eyes, turning away his head.

  The geek Seducer was never yours. Now the game must go on.

  But there’s only Rebel and the foxies…

  There’s only you, sweet cakes. There’s always been only you. Didn’t I raise you to remember that?

  A sodden dash of rusty red — like blood streaking through the rain — and the familiars broke from the cover of the trees.

  I smiled. I needed the little furry bastards winding around my ankles. Their howl, shriek and snap.

  But instead, they wove away from me, towards Ash.

  ‘Blaze! Spark!’ I hollered.

  The foxes turned their heads to gaze at me, sinking onto their haunches at Ash’s feet. They nuzzled his calves to comfort him, as the Albino Fallen’s hand gripped Ash’s neck harder.

  And then there were two…

  Tower Block B? Lit up, like fairy lights, with rainbow arcs of the Pure strung together? There was only one then.

  And what about you?

  I’m part of you, hooker, whether you love or hate me.

  ‘My brother…I have to try…’ Rebel bounced on the balls of his feet, his pinkie linking with mine, before he dove towards Wings.

  Wings stood at the front of the Fallen ranks, his arms crossed over his denim jacket. The red lit his auburn bristles like a halo. He held up his arm to stop the other Fallen attacking at Rebel’s excited dash.

  Rebel launched himself at his brother, clinging to him. ‘Please, there’s no need to fight. Give me a chance, Briathos. I know I’ve made a balls of things, but we’re family.’

  And then there was one…

  Bondage boy was always bad, Feathery-love. The question is why you ever wanted him to be good?

  Wings rested his hand between his brother’s shoulder blades.

  I should’ve hoped Wings shanked the punk who’d betrayed me. Yet all my heart ached was…don’t hurt him…not again.

  Wings’ other hand stroked across the barbed wire line of feathers, which were tattooed across his throat, before he spun Rebel and shoved him skidding face down in the slushy mud.

  In front of his enemies.

  His family.

  The sniggers became guffaws.

  Rebel slammed his fist — in a squelching spray — into the puddle. Then he raised his head and our gazes met. He couldn’t mask the desperate pain fast enough: humiliated, rejected, and abandoned in front of his own.

  Hell, if I ever discovered my fam, after years of searching, only to be kicked in the mud…?

  I’d rent the world to ribbons.

  Rebel struggled to stand, his cheeks streaked with dirt and rain. Wings took a run at him, booting him in the arse and sprawling him deeper into the mire.

  A cheer erupted from the ranks; Wings lifted his arm in mocking salute.

  I winced.

  Rebel reddened, pushing himself to his knees again. This time, he turned half warily and half hopefully to the warrior next to Wings.

  The Fallen warrior watched Rebel in stony silence. He towered over everyone, in a sea green suede jacket. He was older, although with the same flame red bristles, and a beard like a Celtic Chieftain.

  ‘Da…?’ Rebel tilted his head, his neck exposed and vulnerable.

  This…hulk…was Rebel’s true da…?

  I tensed, lurching a single pace forward, before stopping myself.

  ‘You’re dead to the Supreme Commander, git angel,’ Wings raised one pieced eyebrow. ‘Did you forget that if I saw you again, it’d be as my prisoner?’

  Rebel ignored Wings. He repeated, more forcefully, ‘Da?’

  The Supreme Commander of the Fallen strode forward. His eyes blazed severe and pitiless.

  I slipped my hand to Star’s hilt.

  Rebel breathed hard, his chest rapidly rising and falling, but like a lamb on the altar, he didn’t reach for his sword. Instead, he knelt before his dad, with that terrible hope burning in his gaze.

  Please…please don’t…

  The Supreme Commander stopped, close enough to have reached out and cupped his youngest son’s trembling cheek. He examined him: from his rain drenched hair, to the collar tight at his neck.

  Yet all without saying a word.

  Rebel shook far more than could’ve been caused by the rain, as if in the grip of a fever. ‘Da, please…’

  Long, black steel claws unsheathed from the Supreme Commander’s nails, a second before they slashed across Rebel’s face.

  As if at a signal, all along the line, the vampires’ claws shot out.

  I unsheathed Star, holding the dagger high in front of me.

  Rebel knelt in the muck at his dad’s feet. Scarlet lines scored his cheek; the rain wept away the blood. And still he didn’t reach for Eclipse.

  This isn’t your fight. The Irish boy delivered you up to the Fangs. He deserves this.

  Nobody deserves this. Anyway, fam is fam. And I protect my own.

  ‘Come to us, princess,’ the Supreme Commander held out his large hand to me.

  ‘Stick it, br
o.’ I lunged across London Fields, dragging Rebel back by the arm.

  Rebel struggled. ‘Why…? Da… Briathos…’

  Slap — Rebel shook his head against my blow but then focused on me.

  ‘They don’t want you, and if you don’t land back in reality, they’ll claw your pretty head from your shoulders.’ I shook Rebel and then caught a sob at the back of my throat, holding my sodden sleeve to my mouth to stop the broken screams. ‘You’re a monster. Bad, damaged goods, broken. A freak. That’s why you’ve no family. Rejected. Abandoned. Nobody could ever want you.’

  I choked, fighting for breath, as if my insides had already been shredded.

  When I looked up, Rebel’s pinkie brushed mine again.

  Rebel’s smile was shaky, but his look was one of such gentle understanding, I gasped. ‘You’re right, princess. But we’re not alone.’ He drew Eclipse. The light caught the metal studs on his leathers: punk armour. ‘Who do you want to fight first, Feathers?’ He smirked. ‘Take your pick.’

  ‘How about the bastard Fang who booted my Custodian in the arse?’

  His smile wavered, before it broadened into a grin. ‘Your Custodian? If only for this battle, let’s see if we can’t boot his muppet arse.’

  We rushed at Wings, lifting him by the waist and dividing him from the ranks. He yelped, but couldn’t squirm away. We hurled him into the same slushy puddle into which he’d kicked Rebel.

  Wings arose, shaking his head and dripping muddy water, to the chuckles and clapping of his own troops.

  Fickle bastards the Fallen.

  Surging towards us, Wings hooked Rebel under the chin, before sweeping his feet out from under him. Then he pounded Rebel in the guts; Rebel groaned.

  I threw myself on Wings, gripping the back of his denim jacket and heaving him away from Rebel.

  But I dropped Star away from Wings. I remembered the distress tearing through Rebel when I’d threatened his brother with the dagger out here before.

  I wasn’t the same bitch now.

  Rebel sprang up and launched himself at his brother. He tackled Wings down to the ground, dropping Eclipse.

  The two brothers grappled in the sludge, before Rebel pinned Wings beneath him.