The tension ran out of my limbs and I sighed my relief as I dropped down to watch them on the step beside Fabian.
Erik appeared in a pair of baggy sweatpants and nothing else. “Did I hear right? You're sparring?” he ask eagerly.
“Yeah, come join our team,” Clarice said with a grin. “Let's show these slayers who would win in a real battle.”
Erik padded out to join his family on bare feet, a bright smile on his face. Fabian watched him go with a forlorn look.
“Ooh, this is going to be good.” Warren appeared, dropping down beside me with a bottle of blood in his grip.
“You don't wanna play?” I asked.
“Na, I like to watch.” He grinned, his eyes wheeling to Miles as he pulled his shirt off and tossed it onto the dusty ground. “I really like to watch.”
My own gaze flipped to my husband's firm torso and I fell into stifled laughter with Warren.
Fabian grumbled something inaudible and I glanced at him as my giggles fell away.
“What's up?”
“Nothing,” he muttered, clearly in a mood.
“Don't destroy my yard,” Chickoa called as she stepped onto the porch behind us, resting her shoulder against a wooden beam.
Miles saluted her. “Yes, ma'am.”
Erik set his feet and shot a glance over at me with a sideways grin. “Are you watching, Rebel? I'm about to show you how to win a fight.”
I laughed. “Are you absolutely sure about that?” I glanced at Magnar as he rolled his shoulders and set his sights on the Belvederes.
Erik clutched his heart. “You wound me.”
“I have faith.” I poked my tongue out at him and he chuckled, turning to face the slayers again.
“Warren, referee us!” Miles called.
Warren nodded, gaining his feet and leaving the half drunk bottle of blood on the steps. My eyes slid to it as the delicious scent washed over me and I pushed it away from me to escape it.
Warren stood before the group, raising a hand. “Three, two, one – fight!”
The slayers and the Belvederes crashed together with fists swinging. Clarice immediately cut Julius off from the others, throwing a feral punch into his gut. He stumbled back, blocking her next attack and catching her by the throat.
Magnar went for Miles, trying to sweep out his legs with heavy kicks. Miles danced back, using his speed to his advantage as he avoided Magnar's ferocious attacks.
Callie and Erik clashed together and I got to my feet as the two people I loved most in the world started kicking and punching each other. My heart squeezed as Erik knocked Callie to the ground, but she darted upright in seconds, smashing her fist into Erik's ribs.
I relaxed as I realised none of their attacks were powerful enough to break bones and a smile took over my face as I absorbed the sight, wishing I could join in. But I wasn't well trained. I'd barely gotten by in the few fights I'd faced. And mostly I'd had to rely on Nightmare and my vampire instincts. The way the six of them fought was with skills I longed to learn.
Magnar brought Miles to the ground with a punch to the head and Miles aimed a kick between his legs.
“Foul!” Warren said. “No dirty play, Miles. Magnar gets a free hit.”
Miles opened his mouth to complain and Magnar punched his face so hard he hit the ground again.
I hissed between my teeth at the sight, but Miles just laughed, scrambling backwards in the dirt to get up.
My gaze swung to Julius as Clarice leapt into the air, so high she rose above his head. She fell on top of him and he slammed to the ground as she released a scream of victory. Her thighs were locked around his head and laughter bubbled from my throat.
“You're always trying to get me between your legs,” Julius wheezed from beneath her. She slapped him across the face and he aimed a punch at her chest. She fell backwards, clutching her breasts.
“Hey – no tit punching!” she gasped.
“Foul!” Warren barked at Julius.
“Oh but her vagina head-lock wasn't a foul?” Julius demanded as he regained his feet.
Clarice started laughing and Julius cracked a grin.
“Free hit,” Warren offered Clarice and Julius fell stock still, waiting for her to approach.
She moved up into his personal space, cupping his cheek softly, then whipped her hand back and smashed it into the same spot. Julius barely reacted, throwing himself at her in a rugby tackle as he rammed his shoulder into her stomach.
She crashed to the ground and Julius straddled her, pinning her arms above her head as a lock of hair fell over her face.
Julius beamed at her as she struggled beneath him.
“You're dead,” Warren announced and Clarice huffed, making the tendrils of golden hair flutter above her mouth.
“You can get off of me now,” she said to Julius, but he didn't let go, leaning down instead, so close I almost thought they were going to kiss.
“Just let that sink in, Clarice,” he breathed in her face. “Really feel it.”
Her lips pursed. “Oh I feel it, Julius. It's digging into my thigh.”
Julius released a breath of laughter, gaining his feet and pulling her up after him.
Erik suddenly uprooted Callie, holding her to the ground by her throat. She kicked and thrashed, but he held her down until she started spluttering for air.
“You're dead,” Warren announced and Erik released her in an instant, pulling her upright.
Callie smiled, clearly not bothered by her defeat as she brushed the dirt from her backside.
All eyes turned to Magnar and Miles as they battled to get the upper hand. Their attacks were growing more brutal and Warren edged closer as if readying to step in.
“Go on, Brother!” Julius called.
Miles grabbed hold of Magnar's arm, trying to throw him over his shoulder. Magnar dug his heels in, locking an arm around Miles's neck instead. He fell backwards, taking Miles with him to the earth, then rolled and shoved Miles's face into the dirt. The Belvedere fought valiantly but Warren finally said, “You're dead,” with a sigh.
Magnar released a booming laugh, jumping upright. “I told you I would have won that fight.”
“You weren't a Blessed Crusader then!” Miles complained, rolling to his knees.
Surprisingly, Magnar offered him his hand and silence fell over the group as Miles took it. Magnar released him the second he was up, but the message was clear. Magnar was starting to show respect to the vampires he'd hunted for a thousand years. And I couldn’t have been happier to witness it.
Erik ran toward me, grabbing my hand and pulling me up from the step. “Your turn, Countess.”
“Oh, I don't think-”
“You need to learn,” Erik pressed, nudging me toward the group.
“Yay, come on Monty!” Callie cried, raising her hands into the air.
“I'll tap out,” Miles said, nursing his wounds as he moved to join Fabian on the steps.
The slayers, Erik and Clarice gazed at me excitedly.
“Are you going to join in, Fabian?” Callie called to him, but he shook his head and she gave him a confused look.
“Let's teach Montana how to use a blade.” Julius scooped up a stick from the ground, passing it to me.
“No, her fangs are her best weapon,” Clarice countered, snatching the stick from my hand and snapping it.
I gazed between the two groups with a frown. “Maybe you could teach me both ways?”
Erik took hold of my shoulders, angling me toward Callie and beckoning my sister closer. He raised my arms and I curled my fists on instinct.
“That's it,” he encouraged. “Now plant your feet like this.”
He showed me and I mimicked him, feeling a bit embarrassed with everyone's eyes on me.
“Callie, just block her attacks for now,” Erik instructed.
“Sure,” she said, but Magnar moved up behind her, folding his arms.
“I learned by facing my attacks,” he said. “Callie s
hould fight properly and Montana should get used to taking the blows.”
“If she doesn't learn the basics first, she won't be able to defend herself,” Erik pushed.
Callie looked to me, rolling her eyes. “Just let Montana show us what she can do and we'll go from there. She's already fought against the Biters, she can handle herself.”
I nodded my agreement and Erik and Magnar backed up to give us room to fight. I didn't much like the idea of hitting my sister, but I knew we wouldn't really hurt each other.
Julius moved next to us excitedly. “I'll be referee. Three, two, one – fight!”
Neither Callie or I moved.
I bit into my lip and she released a laugh. “Ready?” she asked and I nodded.
She sprang at me, throwing a punch to my jaw. I deflected it at the last second, catching her wrist, but she wrenched her hand free from my grip. Her next punch came toward my stomach and I didn't react fast enough, stumbling back.
“Kick her!” Julius instructed me.
“Use your speed,” Erik urged.
“Ignore them!” Callie insisted.
My mind spun and I narrowly avoided another blow from my sister, both trying to run and punch her at once, confused by the instructions.
As I ducked Callie's next blow, she slammed her elbow into my back and I stumbled forward.
“Roll to avoid her,” Clarice called.
I hit the ground, rolling as Magnar shouted, “Take out her legs!”
I swung my feet mid-roll and Callie jumped them easily then planted a kick into my side.
“Get up!” Erik barked.
“Stay down!” Julius contradicted.
I held up my hands as I knelt before them, frustration spilling through me. “Enough!” I cried. “I can't think straight with you all shouting at me.”
“You're even putting me off,” Callie agreed firmly.
I got to my feet and glanced between Erik and the others.
“Tell you what,” Erik offered. “Spend some time learning with us, then spend time learning with the slayers. Then fight how you want in the next spar.”
I smiled, nodding my agreement and the slayers huddled together as if they were colluding.
I headed away to the edge of the yard with Clarice and Erik, feeling like I was about to get my ass kicked.
“Let's show the slayers how it's done,” Erik said with a wicked grin and Clarice squealed her excitement.
With a long afternoon of training behind me, I felt better prepared for the next fight. I lined up with Erik and Clarice as we faced the slayers, curling my hands into fists and planting my feet the way Erik had shown me.
Julius stood ahead of me and nerves flooded my gut as I sensed he was going to come straight for me. How the hell was I going to win against him?
Fabian had headed inside and I felt a pang of pity for him, sure he was feeling left out. But he could have joined in if he wanted to...
Chickoa and Warren had fought a few rounds with the slayers and everyone was looking riled up from the excitement.
“Go on Montana!” Miles called from the porch. “I'm betting on you.”
Warren took his place beside us, his shirt now removed and tucked into the back of his waistband. He had a row of scars lining his arms which made him look more fierce than I'd thought before. Especially now he was caked in dust and his hair had fallen out of place into a mess of raven locks.
“Three, two, one – fight!” he cried and I ran forward, trusting my newly learned skills to guide me.
Julius tried to ram me into me - which seemed to be his signature move. I darted aside, using my momentum to spin around behind him and grab his bare shoulder. His skin was slick with sweat and I lost my grip as he rounded on me, throwing a punch into my stomach. I stumbled backwards from the blow, jumping aside to avoid another hit.
He came at me with a hungry grin and I dropped to the ground, swinging my legs and smashing them into the backs of his knees. He fell forward and I leapt onto his back, taking hold of his hair as I tried to force him to the ground. He jerked his shoulder back to bring his arm out from beneath him then caught hold of my thigh and forced me to the earth beside him.
I lurched upwards to gain my feet but he fell on top of me, wrestling to pin my hands down. I slammed a palm into his face, shoving him back as hard as I could. He forced his knees between my thighs then flattened himself on top of me with all his strength.
I groaned as he caught my wrists at last and pinned them to the ground above my head.
“You're dead,” Warren announced and I dropped my head back onto the earth with a breath of defeat.
Erik appeared over Julius's shoulder with a dark frown. “Please get off of my wife.”
Julius rolled off of me with a laugh and Erik caught my hand, dragging me into his arms.
“Did you win?” I asked him and Erik scowled.
“No, Magnar beat me.” He pushed a hand in to his hair and dust cascaded from it. “Callie beat Clarice.” He pointed to them and I realised they'd been watching the remainder of Julius's and I's fight.
“I failed,” I sighed, leaning against Erik with a groan.
“You did amazing,” Julius said from behind me and Erik nodded his agreement, cupping my chin to make me look up at him.
“He's a Blessed Crusader, Rebel. You did fucking brilliant to last so long.”
I beamed, a lightness filling me as my disappointment faded away. With Erik looking at me like that, how could I possibly care about failing?
“Who fancies a drink?” Chickoa called to us. “I've got a whole wine cellar that's been neglected for years.”
“Yes!” Julius cried, running up the porch as Clarice chased after him into the house.
“Shower first?” Erik asked me with a devilish grin.
“Shower first,” I said keenly as we headed back inside.
When everyone was washed and gathered in the large lounge indoors, Chickoa appeared with several bottles of wine, planting them on the wooden coffee table before us. Miles helped her retrieve enough glasses for everyone then poured out the drinks.
I sat between Callie and Erik on one of the couches, taking a glass as Miles offered me it. Callie and I had changed into more of Chickoa’s floaty dresses and we’d accidently picked two black ones that looked almost exactly the same.
Erik raised his glass into the air. “To allies.”
“And friends,” I added and he smirked at me.
“And that,” he agreed.
Everyone drank just as Fabian walked in and a pang of guilt hit me that I hadn't realised he'd been missing. The alcohol fizzled down into my chest as I shot him a smile.
“This looks cosy,” he muttered, his eyes flitting to Magnar next to Callie on the other end of the couch.
Miles poured him a glass of red and handed it to him. “Where've you been, Brother? You've missed all the fun.”
“Sleeping,” Fabian murmured, taking the glass and downing the alcohol in one gulp.
Chickoa put some music on, turning her back on him as she fiddled with the stereo.
Fabian refilled his glass then searched around for a seat before settling for sitting on the floor with his back to the wall.
“Let's play a game,” Julius announced, sitting forward on the other couch opposite us.
Clarice was sitting beside him and turned to him with a bright smile. “Like?”
“Whoever gives the best description of killing Valentina, wins,” Julius said.
“What do we win?” I asked.
Julius glanced at Magnar conspiratorially. “How about we play by the old rules, Magnar, remember?”
Magnar started laughing, nodding his agreement.
“Which are?” Callie pressed, eyeing the brothers eagerly.
“The winner picks someone to do the Drikk Eller Drukne challenge,” Julius announced and I frowned.
Erik barked a laugh. “We used to do that in our village too.”
“What is it?”
I asked, resting my hand on his thigh as I turned to him.
“It means drink or drown,” Erik explained and my nose wrinkled as I wondered what exactly that entailed.
Julius grinned. “So I'll go first-”
“Wait, how do we pick the winner?” Miles asked, patting his knees excitedly. He was sitting in a large blue chair with Warren perched on the arm.
“Whoever gets the biggest laugh.” Julius shrugged.
“Go on then,” Magnar encouraged.
Julius took a breath. “First, I'd seduce her-”
“Unlikely,” Clarice sang.
“That's not true and you know it,” Julius said with a smirk.
She gave him a sideways smile. “I'll suspend disbelief, go on.”
“Once I'd seduced her and she was begging me to take her – oh, Julius, please ravish me with your ten inch-”
“We get it,” Callie cut him off, laughing.
Julius grinned wider. “And then I'd force her into a wooden box with lots of pointy objects inside it, lock her in it and roll her down a hill.”
Everyone chuckled and I could feel the alcohol making my head swimmy as I joined in.
“So what did the seducing have to do with it?” Clarice asked.
“There isn't a worse fate than dying horny, Clarice,” he said and she burst into giggles.
“I'll go next,” Miles said, sitting up straighter. “Mine's simple. I'd tie her to the pole at the very top of the New Empire State Building and tickle her until she farts a lightning strike into existence and fries herself alive.”
Warren high-fived him as laughter broke out again. The game continued on and Clarice described drowning Valentina in a bath of angry crabs, whilst Warren went into too much detail about chopping her into pieces and feeding her to a flock of crows. Fabian seemed cheerier as he explained how he'd use a pack of wolf familiars to tear her limb from limb.
Chickoa cracked a smile at Fabian's story, but decided not to play the game herself.
Erik took his turn next, his mouth hooking up at the corner. “I don't think I'd waste my time torturing her. The sooner her heart was ripped out of her chest the better. But I'd happily gather up her remains and flush them down the toilet afterwards.”
Age of Vampires- The Complete Series Page 155
