Crimson Thirst (The Huntress Bane Book 2)

by Derek Shupert

  The kukri stays clutched within my hand. Regardless if this is a dream or not, I still want to draw his blood.

  “I imagine seeing all of this death comforts you, doesn’t it?” I pose with an angered snarl.

  He stands up and leans against the concrete banister to his right.

  “Seeing all of this does warm my heart. Although, at times, they do get a bit overzealous. After all, humans are a valuable resource. Killing all of you would serve me no purpose in the end. Much like you and your cattle, I would need to keep a number of your kind around to sustain our existence. If I killed you all, then our food source will go away. I can’t have that.”

  “So what? Are you planning to destroy the city after you have taken what you want?” I hold my arms out toward all of the dead people around us. “Are all of these people going to die?”

  Mathesis comes down the stairs to the sidewalk. He stops and stoops down next to a middle-aged man that has had his throat ripped out.

  “I’m only showing you what you’re most afraid of, Amanda.” He takes hold of the bloody face and stares at it. “Fear of failure. Fear of being alone in this world once all of the humans are dead or gathered up like the cattle they are. And you, the lone slayer fighting a futile war that simply cannot be won. Make no mistake, my child. This city will fall. It cannot be stopped. My will is inevitable.”

  He lets go of the man’s face, allowing it to fall to the side in my direction. As the light grows darker, I notice something strange about the corpse. I squint and strain as the light slips away faster and faster.

  Oh no. Is that Lucian?

  I advance toward Mathesis, but my world fades to black. As in so dark that I can’t even see my hand in front of my face. I spin about in circles, searching for any shred of light that I can. Despite how hard I try to pierce the veil, I’m consumed by the darkness.

  Mathesis chuckles in the ether. His red eyes appear before me as if they’re floating. My heart begins to race, beating faster and harder as I’m swallowed by my own fear of what may come to fruition. I tell myself that it’s only a dream. A concoction of tangled and fragmented thoughts that Mathesis is weaving together to make me lose hope. To stop my campaign against him.

  “See, child. Your own fear grips and imprisons you. It has you paralyzed. How can you hope to defeat me in the real world when you can’t handle your own emotions in here?” he whispers inside my head.

  He’s taunting me.

  I take in a gulp of air and try to slow my thoughts. Mathesis continues his idle banter. I shut it out, and leave it as background noise that doesn’t even register.

  My pounding heart slows down to a steady beat.

  Breathing reduces to normal.

  I expel the fear that has gridlocked my body.

  In the end, Mathesis is nothing more than a scared demon fighting for his own survival. He acts as though I am not a threat, but at the end of the day, he’s the one that is most afraid of dying. His parlor tricks are nothing more than diversions to keep me off kilter. His days are numbered. He knows that it’s just a matter of time now.

  His red gaze comes toward me. They narrow and grow more intense.

  I hold the kukri in the air and maintain my composure. “Your end is at hand, Mathesis. You may think the humans are done for, but I promise you that couldn’t be further from the truth. I will see that you are destroyed, once and for all.”

  They vanish from my sight. I search for them. His strong hands grab my shoulders. He leans in close from behind, his lips but a scant inch away from my right ear. He whispers to me in a soft-spoken tone, “See you soon, my sweet angel.”

  EIGHT

  I spring up from the bed in a cold sweat. Beads race from my brow and down my cheeks. I skim over the dark space, which takes me a few moments to remember where I am.

  Fuck. That was a messed-up trip.

  My heart hammers like an alien creature is trying to break through my chest. It feels as though I’ve been running for an extended period of time.

  Coming out of those dreams can be jarring. Depending on how deep I’m in them, it can feel like transitioning between two different planes of existence. I hate this feeling. I wish that damn demon would just let me be. Perhaps after I remove his head, that will no longer be a concern for me, or anyone else.

  I swing my legs off the mattress to the floor. The boots hit with a dull thud. I reign in my quickened breathing, trying to slow it down to a normal pace before I hyperventilate.

  The loft is still consumed by the darkness. Although, now it’s not as dark as it was when I laid down. Looks as though it could be close to the sun coming up. Thank God.

  I squint and jam my fingers into each socket. The uneasiness, anger, and guilt still reside within me from my dream. Although, it was nothing more than a detailed illusion of my deepest, darkest fear, it felt so real.

  Even now, my soul is burdened with the dead, despite it being an imaginative outcome that Mathesis took from my subconscious and ramped up tenfold. He’s good at making one feel like shit, and like they’re nothing more than a complete failure in whatever their objective is.

  I press my hands down onto the mattress, and feel something within my grasp.

  Wait. What is that?

  I look down to the right. I’m clutching the kukri. My fingers and palm are tight around the leather-wrapped handle. I must have pulled it free from the sheath when I was sleeping. I’m glad no one came up here. I could’ve hurt them.

  I take a moment and stay my concern. I glance to the floor for any signs of a struggle or blood for that matter. The dimness of the loft hinders my vision some. I narrow my gaze, and skim over the wooden planks. I see no evidence of a fight or any fluids that may have splattered the floor.

  My muscles relax and I breathe a sigh of relief.

  Phew.

  My gaze shifts over to where Killer was sleeping. He isn’t there. I look around, but don’t spot his fury outline anywhere. Guess he must’ve gone back downstairs.

  I rub the palm of my hand up and down my face, ejecting the frustration Mathesis left me with through my pursed lips as I stand up.

  Loud voices bleed up through the narrow cracks within the floors.

  What the hell is going on?

  The thump of heavy footsteps on the stairs catches my attention. I head for the door. Two Black Fields’ guards emerge from the stairwell and stop on the landing. They stand side by side with their rifles clutched to their chests.

  The situation feels off, wrong even. Why would they be inside Trevor’s shop? What are they looking . . . The only possible reason for them to be here is because of the breach by the demons. Perhaps they’re searching for any vampires that may have stayed behind.

  “Can I help you?” I ask.

  The guard to my right responds just as direct as I did. “We need for you to come with us, now.”

  Then again, they could be here because of what happened at Coalition Tower. Tossing their buddies around might have left a sour taste in their mouths.

  Their fingers slip over the triggers of the rifles, and they tighten their grips on the barrels.

  I contemplate going through them, but they haven’t attacked me or done anything else. Perhaps once we get downstairs, I will be afforded some clarification.

  I tilt my head toward the kukri. “I’m going to place my blade back in its sheath. So chill.”

  The guards’ heads move in sync with my hand as I slip the kukri in its sheath. I keep my movements slow and easy. Play it cool for now, until I figure out if my hunch is correct or not.

  I walk toward them. They move out of the way, allowing me to pass by. I turn and head down the stairs. The guards fall in line behind me. Each step they take tests the resilience of the planks of wood. They creak and sound as though the aged planks could snap in half. I hit the concrete floor, and head out into the shop.

  Lucian and Trevor are off to my right with two more guards near them. Another is off to my left. They stand
rigid and firm with rifles at their shoulders, and their fingers tickling the triggers.

  The two men behind me spread out to either side. I glance to Lucian, who just shrugs in bewilderment. The men focus on me.

  Given their aggressive postures and the way they have their weapons trained at Lucian and Trevor, I decide to come clean. “If this is about what happened earlier in Coalition Tower, they should’ve just listened to me. I asked them to let me out, but they refused. So, I asked a second time, just a bit more forcefully,” I concede. “Me acting against the threat that was within the city, instead of standing idly by, stopped what could’ve been a bigger blood bath. You’re welcome, by the way.”

  The guards remain on the defensive with their weapons shouldered and trained at each of us. From their timid and unsure expressions, one would think they’re afraid of me.

  The guard to my left steps in front of me. He has what appears to be restraints clutched within his gloved hand. Yeah, those aren’t going on my wrists.

  “By order of the council, you are to be remanded into custody for assaulting Black Fields’ guards. Relinquish your blade now and come with us,” he barks.

  I pat the kukri and shake my head no. “It’s going to stay with me. Thanks.”

  The guard huffs, and his nostrils flair. “This is not up for debate, slayer. Given your recent actions in Coalition Tower, and the vampires breaching the city walls, the council has decided that you are too valuable of an asset to lose. You are also a liability to the city. They have demanded that you be brought in and placed in a secure location until they can figure out what to do with you. This is not a request, but an order. Now relinquish that blade, and put the fucking restraints on.” The guard shoves the restraints in my direction once more. I maintain my rebellious stance.

  The garage is thick with tension. The guards show no signs of backing down, and neither do I. I don’t want this to escalate, but the council is going to force my hand.

  “As I have told the council many times, I do not mind working with them for the betterment of the city, and I do apologize for having to hurt your men. That was not my intent. Extenuating circumstances forced my hand, which I hope that everyone can understand.” I try to come across sincere, as I do not want to fight these men. We are on the same side, and I’m only trying to help the best way I can. “With that being said, the council also knows that I am free to come and go as I please, and that I will not be held captive by anyone for any reason. I do not fall under their rule, or anyone else’s for that matter.”

  Lucian takes a step forward. “Listen, there is more happening here than what you-”

  One of the guards jams the stock end of his rifle into Lucian’s gut. The blow rips the air from his lungs and sends him crumbling to the concrete, doubled over.

  “Hey! What the hell!”

  I move toward Lucian, who’s gasping for air from his knees, as the guards around me bear down with their firearms.

  Trevor extends his hand out and helps Lucian off the ground. Lucian gasps for air. His face is red, swollen and puffy as he tries to refill his lungs. Killer stands rigid next to Trevor. He bares his teeth, and growls as his ears fold down.

  “You’re making a big mistake doing this,” Lucian says through strained breath.

  The guard standing before me stares at me with a scowl on his face. His lips are taut, brow furrowed. Lucian’s words fall on deaf ears.

  “The council has ordered her arrest and wants her back at Coalition Tower now, and that’s all that needs to be said. Now stand the fuck down.”

  The guard’s voice grows to a roar. He is not interested in listening to what I am saying.

  A guard nearby leans in close and whispers to me in a low tone. “Please give up your weapon, and come with us. You are important-”

  “Stand down, soldier.” The agitated guard points to the man. “We are not asking but telling this half-breed that she is coming with us, whether she likes it or not. This isn’t a request, but a damn order.”

  I look to the guard that is next to me. He looks familiar, someone that I have had pleasant encounters within the past.

  Lucian nurses his mid-section as he tries to breathe. Killer’s teeth become more visible, and his growling grows more intense.

  Trevor rubs the crown of his head, and takes hold of the collar that’s around his neck. He bends down and whispers in Killer’s ear. It does little to thwart the dog’s temper.

  The guard before me points down at Killer. “Keep that damn mutt where he is, or we’ll put him down.”

  Trevor wraps his arms around Killer’s neck and holds him close.

  “Did Quinn put you up to this?” My voice dials up a few notches. “He’s pressing his luck here, and I will not be held responsible for what happens next.

  The guard shifts his focus back to me. “The entire council decided on this. Now give me your damn wrists before things get ugly.”

  Sure. Quinn speaks, and the other two members parrot his commands, regardless if they agree with it or not.

  The guards on either side of me shift their weight. Their hands reposition over their rifles. The two by Trevor and Lucian remain stationary with the barrels of the weapons trained in their direction.

  Enough of this. It has gone on long enough.

  I offer Lucian a subtle nod. He responds in kind.

  “I’m going to give you and your men one last chance to back the fuck off, and lay down your weapons. And you can tell Quinn that I will not be bound in chains.”

  The guard snickers. He glances to his men, then takes a single step toward me. He’s but a scant inch from my face.

  “You’re coming with us whether you like it or not, half-breed.”

  “Just know that what’s about to happen is Quinn’s fault,” I state, my voice laced with indignation.

  The guard grabs my forearm and tries to place the restraints over my wrist.

  I headbutt him hard. The top portion of my forehead collides with the bridge of his nose. A swift tactical blow.

  The restraints clatter to the floor. His hands shoot up to his face and his body recoils. He stumbles backward into the vehicle that’s up on blocks. Blood runs out from both nostrils.

  The two guards on either side of me close in. They reach for my arms, trying to wrap their gloved fingers over each limb. They catch hold and fight to restrain me.

  I jerk my arms free, and take a step back. Both hands ball into clenched fists, my nails burrowing into my palms. A surge of rage swells within the pit of my stomach. If it’s a fight they want, then I will give it to them.

  Knuckle to bone, I punch the guard to my left in the face, twice. He takes a hearty step back but doesn’t go down. I twist to my right and snare the barrel of a rifle from one of the guards who has it trained at me. I push it to the side as he pulls the trigger. A sharp report echoes in the garage as a single round strikes the side window of the vehicle before us.

  Glass shatters.

  A loud ringing noise festers inside my ears, but I ignore it.

  The guard with the busted nose covers his head to shield himself from the tiny shards that rain down upon him.

  I rip the rifle free from his hands, and kick him in the mid-section. He falls backward to the concrete floor.

  Lucian punches the guard next to him in the face as Killer turns on the one near him. He growls and sinks his fangs into the man’s padded arm.

  Gripping the barrel of the rifle, I swing it to my left, and strike the guard coming toward me. The buttstock collides with the left side of his face. It knocks him off balance and sends me into the steel shelving against the wall. The various engine parts and tools that lay scattered on the shelves, fall to the ground around the guard’s unconscious body.

  I stand there in a defensive stance with my arms up and at the ready. The rifle is still clutched within my grasp. I release the barrel, and skim over the guards who are sprawled out on the garage floor.

  I glance over to the guard that I
know. He winces in discomfort from the flat of his back. He rolls over onto his side and releases a groan of pain.

  Damn it.

  I didn’t want to hurt him, but they left me no choice. I’ve told the council I will never be a prisoner again. They should have listened and heeded my words.

  Trevor strikes the guard Killer is attacking in the back of the head with a wrench. He pulls the aggressive dog from the man’s arm and tries to calm Killer down.

  Lucian continues his fight with the last remaining guard to my right. Fists fly and elbows connect on each of the men.

  Lucian grunts and strains but manages to drive the guard back into the workbench that spans the length of the wall. More tools fall from the cluttered tops, and clang off the floor.

  I rush over to assist as Lucian wrestles the automatic rifle free from his hands. He doesn’t hesitate to knock the guard out with the buttstock of the weapon. The guard’s head snaps back as his body collapses to the ground.

  Lucian pants hard with his mouth agape. He drops the gun and turns toward me. His chest bulges outward as he sucks in copious amounts of air.

  “Are the both of you ok?” I inquire.

  Trevor is down on one knee petting Killer’s head. He offers a single nod to confirm he’s all right. His hands tremble as his fingers glide through Killer’s fur. I can’t tell if it’s because of what just transpired or if it’s something else.

  Lucian leans back and rests his backside on the edge of the workbench.

  “You good?” I ask Lucian.

  “Yeah,” he responds. “I guess they didn’t listen to what you said, huh?”

  I skim over the guards that are sprawled out over the floor. “They never do.”

  Lucian cringes in discomfort. His hand rubs his mid-section. “Did you attack the guards in the tower?”

  “I did. I was in Preston’s lab when the alarms sounded. He received a call stating that the city had been breached by the vampires, and the tower was being secured. I went to leave, but the guards stationed at the main entrance wouldn’t allow me to pass through.” I glance down to the guard who is bracing his bruised and bloody face. He looks up at me as I continue, “I requested that they let me through the doors to help with taking care of the vampires. They denied me, and so I asked again. Let’s just say that in the end they got the message, and let me out.”