My neck prickled uncomfortably. Something wasn't right.
I glanced down at the others below, shaking my head. “There's no one here,” I whispered, knowing they'd hear me.
“Wait, look,” Callie hissed, pointing toward a large town hall at the centre of the Realm. A light was on inside, though the rest of the buildings were dark around it. Without another word, she flung herself over the edge, landing in a crouch below.
I followed her and heard Erik swear beyond the wall as I hit the ground, rising to my feet beside Callie. She gazed around, running her thumb over Fury and standing guard while I hurried to the gate.
It was bolted shut with several locks. I started opening them as fast as I could and soon had it open, pushing it wide to let the others in.
Erik jogged to meet me with an anxious expression. “Stay by my side from now on. Don't be a rebel today.”
I took his hand, squeezing it as an answer.
Clarice hurried toward us, looking down at a phone in her hand. “Back up is twenty minutes away. And I can’t get hold of Miles and Warren. Maybe we should wait.”
“Screw that.” Julius stalked past her, rolling his shoulders. “Let's go gut some Biters.”
Magnar chuckled, prowling to his side and the two of them set off down the street.
“For fuck's sake,” Erik muttered before taking chase and Callie hurried to keep pace with them.
Clarice moved beside me, seeming anxious as she tucked her phone away. Fabian pushed his sleeves up, looking ready for a fight.
I took Nightmare from my hip, reaching for its power. It hummed with energy, but that wasn't much use to me, considering it was detecting the royal vampires surrounding me. But as we drew closer to the town hall, its vibrations deepened.
The slayers reached the hall, ducking down and moving to the side of the building beneath a set of tall windows. I followed suit with Erik, Fabian and Clarice and we shuffled up beside the slayers, leaning back against the wall.
“Better take a look,” Julius whispered, slowly standing and peeking through the window. He immediately ducked back down, spewing curses.
“What is it?” Erik demanded in a hushed voice.
“Biters. A fuck-load of them,” Julius hissed. “They've got the whole town in there. And they’re feeding on them.”
Worry clawed at my gut. I’d been like those humans once, too weak to fight back. A fierce anger grew in me. I was going to save them for the sake of all the people I hadn’t been able to save in my Realm.
“We should wait for back-up,” Clarice reiterated.
“She's right,” Fabian agreed. “We can't take them all on alone.”
“The humans will be dead by the time your back-up arrives,” Magnar snarled, shaking his head. “Me, Julius and Callie will head around back and sneak inside. You lot cause a distraction.”
I ground my teeth, looking to Erik and he nodded stiffly.
“Wait,” Clarice grabbed Erik's arm. “We can't.”
“We can,” Erik said. “We'll buy the slayers time to get the humans out.”
“How can you trust them?” Clarice growled.
Magnar answered first. “The whole point of our existence is to protect humans from parasites like you so I’d worry more about trusting yourselves than us.”
Clarice scowled, looking ready to argue but Erik snared her attention. “We have to work with them.”
Callie took my hand and I turned to her. “Be safe.”
“You too.” I nodded.
“Look after yourself,” Fabian murmured, his eyes flicking to Callie then back to the dirt at his feet. She stared at him a moment and I could have sworn a hint of pity crossed her gaze. She shook her head then hurried away with the slayers, ducking beneath the windows as they moved out of sight.
“Well that's just perfect,” Fabian spat, seeming more like himself now that Callie wasn’t close. “They can stay out of harm's way while we take on a horde of angry Biters.”
“Scared Fabian?” Erik teased and Fabian's eyes narrowed.
“That's not what I meant,” he muttered.
“Come on,” I pressed, crawling back in the direction we'd come.
We arrived at the front of the building and rose to our feet before the arching wooden doors.
“What's the plan? Knock on the damn door?” Fabian growled
“I have a better idea,” Erik said and he slammed his foot into the doors, sending them flying open and crashing back against the walls inside.
My throat tightened as I spotted Valentina standing on a raised wooden platform at the centre of the massive hall. She wore a crimson dress with a split up one leg and her hair was pulled up into a high ponytail. The humans were all on their knees before her, hundreds of them cowering between a large ring of Biters. They were penned in by the mass of Valentina’s followers like a flock of sheep surrounded by hungry wolves. Several of them were held in the arms of the vampires, their throats torn and their faces pale. My stomach churned violently and I lifted Nightmare, terrified of how outnumbered we were.
“Hello, Erik,” Valentina purred. “We've been waiting for you.”
“Let the humans go,” Erik commanded, baring his fangs. He looked furious, ready to kill every Biter in the room.
“Come inside,” Valentina encouraged and lightning hit the ground behind us, causing us to leap into the building. The doors caught light and flames licked their way up them toward the ceiling. Fear crawled through my veins, but I willed it away, wanting to face this woman and her vile followers.
Valentina grinned in response and I closed ranks with the others, readying for the fight that was about to unfold.
“Erik...Fabian....Clarithe,” the deep, lispy voice drew my attention and hatred burned in my veins as my eyes locked with Wolfe's. He stood to my left beside several more Biters and I didn’t rate my chances at getting close to him. “How nithe to thee you again.” He held a young woman in his arms, pressing a blade into her shoulder. As blood dribbled from the cut, he bent down and licked it away, making her scream in horror. As his lip peeled back I saw the gaps where his fangs had once been.
“Monster,” I snarled at him and his eyes narrowed on me.
“Montana, you're one of uth? So you mutht have tathed the thweetness of human blood? Do you thmell it? Doethn't it make you hungry?” His absent fangs must have caused the lisp in his speech and it was difficult to understand him.
“I'd never bite a human,” I growled, my back tensing as I took a step forward.
Erik caught my arm, holding me in place.
Valentina released a tinkling laugh. “We don't have to fight. Just do as I ask, Erik.”
“And what's that?” my husband snarled.
“Come with me,” she said simply. “I only want you. Nothing else.”
“Why?” I demanded, my free hand curling into a tight fist.
Her eyebrows lifted as she absorbed me then she turned back to Erik. “So you don't mind having a vampire wife?” she asked. “Why is it you denied me a place at your side?” she asked and a flash of hurt entered her dark eyes.
Erik wrinkled his nose at her words. “I’d never have actually married you, Valentina.”
My heart swelled at his words.
“You were just Erik's play-thing. And mine too sometimes,” Fabian said with a dry laugh.
Erik's grimace increased and my heart clenched as the tension in the room rose.
Valentina's face contorted in rage. “Liars!”
A gust of wind slammed into us from behind, forcing us toward her.
Valentina shifted irritably on her six inch heels, glaring directly at Erik. “You loved me.”
“I have never loved anyone but my wife,” Erik snarled at her, raising his fists. “And I'm not going anywhere with you.”
Valentina's mouth curved into a perfect smile. “Wrong.” She clicked her fingers and the Biters came at us so fast I wasn't ready.
I lifted Nightmare with a scream of defi
ance tearing from my throat.
“Lead them outside!” Erik commanded as he smashed his fist into a male's face, knocking him to the ground. I darted toward the fallen Biter, ramming Nightmare into his chest and sending him spiralling into death.
Clarice danced between the mass of vampires, bringing several to their deaths with a silver blade. Fabian was monstrous, tearing out their hearts with his bare hands.
I barely had time to react as a female slammed into my back and I stumbled forward. It took me a second to figure out her strength didn't compare to my own. She was a lesser and I realised in a terrifying clarity, I was an Elite. I tore her from my shoulders, driving Nightmare into her chest as she hit the floor.
I turned to run outside, drawing the Biters after me as Erik had commanded. I leapt through the fiery doorway into the rain and two Biters took chase, trying to take me down together. The animal part of me took over and Nightmare guided my actions as they raked their nails across my flesh. The shoulder of my dress ripped but the culprit met her end as Nightmare sank into her heart.
The male who remained was fast, darting around me like deadly shadow, evading Nightmare's blows.
The Belvederes led the fight further into the square, ripping off heads and limbs until blood mixed with the rain at our feet. Erik released a grunt as five Biters took him to the ground. I cried out in a panic as I tried to move toward him but my assailant took the advantage, grabbing my wrist and twisting it with all their might.
Pain sped up the bruised bone and I dropped Nightmare. It clattered to the ground and fear swallowed me as the Biter dove on top of me. I stumbled back as my ankle hit the kerb of the street and I fell to the pavement beneath him. He ripped his nails across my face and I yelled in anger.
My injured wrist started to heal but not quickly enough. I threw a hard punch to his jaw with my other hand. He flew off of me from the power of my strike and I didn't hesitate, leaping forward to straddle him and grabbing hold of his throat. Nightmare glittered on the ground several feet away. But it was too far. And a feeling of dread pounded through me as I knew what I had to do. I had to let the vampire in me take over.
I wrenched his neck sideways, hearing bones break then punched a hole in his chest. My fingers found his heart and I fought the nausea that gripped me as I squeezed it. The vampire exploded to ash beneath me and my knees hit the concrete.
I rose on shaky feet, coated in blood and horrified by what I'd done. I snatched Nightmare from the ground, trembling as I turned to find Erik amongst the swarm of Biters.
He was upright, slashing throats and turning the monsters to dust. Relief filled me, but it was swiftly wiped out as a cold voice poured over me.
“Hello Montana,” Wolfe growled and I spun to find him behind me, a bloody knife in his grip. “Leth thee how thtrong you are againtht a real opponent.”
We slipped behind the huge building where the wall rose up over us and the only way in was a small window high above our heads.
Magnar cupped his hands and I stepped into them as Julius kept watch behind us.
He launched me skyward and I leapt out of his hold and caught the windowsill, pulling myself high enough to peer inside. I jammed the toes of my boots into the brickwork as I looked down at the humans who were penned inside.
Biters lined the walls and more than one of them was feeding on the townsfolk. I spotted Valentina pacing on a stage which was raised towards this end of the building. She was dressed all in red with her dark hair pulled back in a long ponytail and it seemed as though she was waiting for something.
Erik kicked the doors open at the far end of the hall and the humans screamed in panic as the Biters howled with excitement. I used the distraction and noise they’d caused to smash the window and heaved myself inside.
I dropped to the floor behind the stage and pulled Fury into my hand as I moved towards the left of the room and the Biters all swarmed towards my sister and the Belvederes. My heart pounded with fear for Montana but I pushed it aside; she wasn’t helpless anymore and I had to trust that she could hold her own against these monsters.
Magnar and Julius scaled the wall outside and followed me through the window, landing beside me in the darkened space.
There was a large set of double doors set into the wall a little further from us and three Biters stood guard, stopping the humans from exiting.
The chaos at the front of the building was holding their attention and Magnar slid past me, drawing both of his blades.
A bolt of lightning slammed to the ground outside and my mouth fell open in surprise as I turned towards it and a fight broke out.
Magnar seized the distraction. He raced towards the Biters guarding the door, swinging Venom in a wide arc so that it carved through each of their chests, sending them spiralling into dust before they’d even realised he was there.
The humans closest to us screamed in surprise and more than a little fear.
I hurried forward with Julius at my side just as Magnar started slamming into the door with his shoulder.
“Who are you?” an elderly woman breathed as she caught my eye. I could tell the humans weren’t sure whether to be afraid of us or not and I lowered Fury in hopes of convincing them that they could trust us.
“We’re getting you out of here,” I promised. “Who’s in charge amongst you?”
No one spoke up but many heads turned towards a woman with dark curling hair and she raised her chin in response.
“Looks like I am then,” she said as she noticed the attention falling on her.
Julius began to pound the door alongside Magnar as it continued to resist his efforts to break it open and I spied a heavy chain securing it.
“Is there anywhere safe that you can all go while we deal with this?” I asked urgently. “You need to hide until we can clear the Biters out of here.”
She frowned thoughtfully for a moment before nodding. “The school. West side of the Realm. It should be big enough for all of us.”
The doors finally gave way and Julius grinned at me triumphantly.
“Go,” I urged. “We’ll make sure everyone follows you.”
The woman nodded as the terrified humans started running for the open door and I turned away from her to survey the madness at the far end of the hall. I couldn’t see much over the sea of humans so I hoisted myself up on to the stage to get a better look.
The front doors were blazing and the fight had moved outside. I spotted Valentina’s red dress as she swept beneath the burning doorframe and I released a snarl of anger as I tightened my grip on Fury. The blade yearned for her death as fiercely as I did and I ached to race after her and plunge it through her black heart.
I took a step towards her then stopped as I heard a scream. Some of the Biters had remained inside and they were tearing a bloody path through the fleeing humans as they drained anyone they could get their fangs into.
I leapt into the crowd without waiting for the other slayers to join me. The tide of terrified humans surged around me as I carved a path in the opposite direction, following the sounds of the screams.
I shoved a large man aside and spotted two Biters ripping into the neck of a woman around my age. Her eyes were filled with pain and terror as she feebly clawed at them and they fell into a frenzy. They were going to kill her, I could see it coming and pure unadulterated rage swept through my body.
How dare they? What makes them think their lives are worth more than hers?
I’ll show them what it feels like to be hunted.
I raced towards the girl, slamming into the first Biter with my shoulder and sending him flying to the floor before swinging Fury straight through the heart of the next. The girl tried to run but I caught her arm before she could get away.
“Wash the venom out with water before too much gets in your veins,” I instructed, making sure she understood me before pushing her after the rest of the humans.
I turned my attention back to the remaining Biter as he rose to his feet
, baring his bloodstained teeth at me.
“You wanna take her place?” he cooed and I rolled my shoulders back as I realised he was an Elite.
“Make me,” I dared, drawing on my ancestors’ gifts as I prepared to attack. My kind were made to destroy his and I was looking forward to seeing what I could do when I gave myself to my slayer nature.
The Biter leapt at me and I twisted aside, slashing Fury across his back and spraying bright red blood over both of us. He hissed in pain as he shot towards me in a blur of motion, knocking me from my feet and landing on top of me with a feral laugh.
He grabbed my left wrist, dragging it towards his fangs and I gave him a savage smile just as I brought Fury down on his back. The first blow missed his heart and he shrieked as blood poured from his mouth, coating my cheek. I recoiled in disgust as I stabbed him again, this time finding my mark and destroying him.
I rolled back to my feet, wiping my arm over my face in an attempt to rid it of the Elite’s blood. I found myself in an open space as the humans continued to flee through the door at the back of the room. Magnar and Julius were cutting through the Biters who tried to chase after their prey and I turned to look out of a window at the battle which raged beyond the town hall.
Hairs rose along the back of my neck as I spotted Montana flying across the street outside. She crashed to the floor and rolled out of sight before I could be sure if she was alright. Wolfe stalked after her like a hungry predator and my heart lurched as I turned and raced for the door.
My boots skidded in a puddle of blood and I almost slipped over as I made it beneath the burning entrance.
A huge groaning filled the air and I leapt outside as the massive wooden beam which secured the doorframe fell to the ground, consumed in flames.
I stared back into the town hall as the embers swirled across the blocked doorway and spotted Magnar looking at me. The fire blazed hungrily between us, stopping him from following me.
A moment of understanding passed between us. He was alright. I was alright. That was all I had time to convey before I turned and raced after my sister. That monster had taken too much from us when he’d murdered our father. I refused to let him take anything else.
Age of Vampires- The Complete Series Page 117
