by Craig Zerf
William/Wolfman led Emily and her Yardies out via the back entrance and they followed without question. Tag picked up Stakkie’s body, carrying it with as much respect as possible as he brought up the rear.
The back door was locked but William, still in beast mode, simply brushed it aside like it was a paper wall hanging.
In the alley was a large, Ford transit, or what Emily referred to as a van. Sylvian stood at the rear and around him, lying on the floor, were the remains of at least five decapitated vampires.
‘Come on,’ he shouted. ‘Vite, vite. Quickly. Get in the back before more come.’
They all piled into the back of the van while Sylvian got behind the wheel. William threw the Gatling gun and accessories in after them and then clambered onto the passenger seat, changing back to his human form as he did so. He grabbed a pair of track pants and a t-shirt out of the glove box and pulled them on before turning to address everyone. ‘Is everyone alright?’ He asked. ‘Have any of you been bitten?’
‘We be fine,’ answered Tag. ‘But Stakkie is well broken. His head isn’t here.’
‘What do you mean? What happened to it?’ Asked William.
‘I think that Emily chopped it off,’ answered Tag.
‘He asked me to,’ objected Emily. ‘He didn’t want to turn.’
‘Hey,’ reassured Tag. ‘Ain’t none of us blame you, sweet-thing. You did the good and brave thing. I was just answering the Wolfman.’
‘Dude, we gotta go back for Stakkie’s head,’ said Samfy.
‘Ain’t no way, man,’ countered Tag. ‘We can bury him without his head. It’s still him. Well, most of him anyway.’
Emily curled up and leaned against the door, closing her eyes and fighting back tears. It was her fault. She had pushed too hard and too fast and led her boys straight into an ambush.
If it hadn’t been for William there was no doubt that they would have been killed. Or far worse. Turned. She shuddered. The thought of becoming a vampire filled her with such dread that she almost threw up. Her stomach cramped and she could feel a trickle of cold sweat run down her back.
And then without warning she burst into floods of tears. Her body shook with emotion and she couldn’t catch her breath. She felt as though her lungs were about to burst. Black shadows flickered across her vision and she could hear her heartbeat thumping in her chest.
The vehicle shifted, rocking slightly on its springs and then she felt William sit down next to her. Her put his arms around her and pulled her tight, enveloping her with his arms and chest. Comforting her. Protecting her.
Once again she was surprised at the massive amount of heat that his body generated and she snuggled as close as she could, letting the warmth cocoon her.
Within seconds exhaustion overcame her and she fell into a deep sleep.
