Avenging Autumn: Seasons Change Book 1 of 4 by Derek A Schneider

was
Benny that struck first, swinging his sword in a wide arch from his
right side. The vampire blocked the attack without much ef-fort, as
well as the two blows that followed.
    In a blur of motion that left Benny surrounded
by a cyclone of fallen dead leaves, Odin sliced a long gash in his
left shoulder blade. Benny’s cloths began to feel sticky with the
warm liquid that was pouring from the wound. He spun, bringing the
sword upward as he turned, but Odin was no longer behind him. An
instant later he felt his right thigh split open and a blossom of
fresh pain rack his body.
    Benny dropped to his knees just before another
cut appeared on his right cheek. Suddenly he was on all fours,
watching his blood dripping on a large orange leaf. He felt an urge
to stay there and see what kind of fascinating image would appear
before Odin ended his life. Odin, however, was standing nearby,
patiently waiting for his prey to stand back up and ready his
sword.
    With Great effort, Benny got to his feet and
looked the vampire in the eyes. He couldn’t let it end here.
Avenging Autumn was the only thing that had kept him alive the last
24 hours. He had to prevail somehow.
    “ Why do you stand?” Odin asked,
“can’t you see that you’re beaten?”
    Was that a hint of sympathy Benny heard in
this creature’s voice, or was the loss of blood affecting his
perception? Are these beings even capable of such
feelings?
    Benny raised his sword once more but a quick
swing of Odin’s blade ripped the weapon from his hand. Suddenly,
Benny found himself without a weapon and the cold, long blade of
Odin Sway’s sword pressed against his jugular. Ben-ny looked into
the vampire’s eyes and was again astounded by the lack of emotion
there.
    “ I’m sorry, my friend,” Odin said,
“but this has gone way too far already, it needs to end
now.”
    Benny closed his eyes and began whispering to
him-self as he waited to feel the blade rip into his
throat.
    With a suddenness that even made the vampire
jump, the back door of the hearse flung open and Autumn stepped
out.
    Odin stared at the dead girl, and as he slowly
backed away from Benny, a real emotion finally took over his stern
face. That emotion was pure horror.
    Autumn began to speak, but Odin’s reaction to
seeing her seemed to catch her off guard and her words were
forgotten. Instead, her jaw only remained slack with
shock.
    Odin was still backing away when he tripped
over a short headstone and (much to Benny and Autumn’s surprise)
continued to scuttle and kick himself away from the approaching
dead girl.
    Benny was so surprised by this turn of events
that he only stood there for a moment, staring at the hysterical
vam-pire as it scuttled away from his wife. With an effort, he
shook off the shock, picked up his sword and darted for Odin Sway.
This was his best chance to kill the vampire before he could
escape.
    As Benny swung the sword, Odin quickly smacked
the ground with both hands and raised himself up into the air. All
Benny could do was watch, as his wife’s murderer flew away and
disappeared into the night sky.

    Frank had killed three werewolves and was
trying desperately to find Jack through the tall corn stalks. He
had heard the gunfire from the graveyard and decided against the
urge to go help Benny. He knew Benny’s determination would keep him
on his toes; however, his oldest son was having trouble dealing
with this little adventure they were on. He was nervous,
apprehensive, and, sometimes, just downright scared.
    “ Jack,” he shouted, “where are
you?”
    “ Over here,” he heard Jack call
back from his right.
    “ Keep talking, I’m coming to find
you.”
    “ Hurry up, Dad, I need your
help.”
    Frank moved through the stalks as fast as he
could and a few rows over, nearly ran into his son.
    “ Jack, are you alright?” Looking
around, Frank saw two dead werewolves back the way Jack had
come.
    “ I’m fine,” Jack replied, “for
now.”
    The old man followed