harlequin masks jumped suddenly from the balcony and landed in the middle of the marble stairway, I thought it was part of the act.
But when they pulled gleamingkatanas from black scabbards and the subtle vibration of vampire magic filled the air, it was obvious this wasn’t part of the show.
It was an attack.
Chapter Seven
DRESSING DOWN
E
than,
I said silently, and he nodded, his body tense and ready to spring forward.
“We come for Sanford King,” said the vampire on the right, katana pointed at the crowd. The humans talked and gestured nervously, looking around for the man who’d been called out. Unfortunatelyfor him, Sanford wasn’t difficult to spot, being nearly a head taller than everyone else.
“I believe you’re at the wrong house,” Reed said, voice booming and quieting the crowd again—except for the shuffle of cell phones as cameras snapped, messages were sent, and calls were placed.
This would need diplomacy, I thought, pulling my phone surreptitiously from my bag and sending Brody andmy grandfather a message: VAMPS W/ SWORDS AT REED HOUSE TO HARM SANFOR D KING. CPD DISPATCH PROBABLE.
“We’re at precisely the right house,” said the vampire on the left.
They moved down the stairs, one tread at a time, their swordsextended and blades gleaming silver. With each step, the crowd moved backward, away from danger.
Sanford King might have been a criminal, but he wasn’t acoward. He pushed through the humans and moved into the clearing, looked over the men. His face had gone crimson, sweat beading on his brow. “I’m Sanford King. The fuck do you want with me?”
“You’re a killer,” said the vampire on the left. “A criminal. A parasite on the city. You deserve to die. Tonight, we’ll handle that.”
They began to circle King, lions preparing for an attack, thegazelle cornered and nervous between them. Criminal, coward, or otherwise, Sanford was human, and didn’t look like much of a match for the well-armed vampires.
Ethan and I simultaneously stepped forward to assist. But before we could take the stairs, Reed held up a hand, and his voice was low and threatening.
“Do not even think of drawing your weapons in my house. I will not have any morearmed vampires here.”
Ethan showed his teeth but stayed where he was.
His house
,
his rules,
Ethan said silently
. Until we deem otherwise. Stay ready, Sentinel.
Reed snapped his fingers, and his bodyguard pulled his gun from a shoulder holster, gripped it in a two-hand stance, and began moving carefully down the stairs, barrel pointed toward the vampires.
“On the ground!” he yelledwhen he hit the first floor.
The vampires ignored the order. As King disappeared into the crowd again, the vampire on the right launched forward, swinging his katana with a move the bodyguard barely evaded. But avoiding the strike left him off-balance, and the second vampire executed a perfect side kick that connected with the bodyguard’swrist, sending the gun into the air and then skiddingacross the floor.
The bodyguard didn’t seem worried. “Fine. You want to play it that way, we’ll play it.” He lunged for one of the vampires, who neatly sidestepped the move, sliced upward with a strike that caught the bodyguard across the chest. He hit his knees, but it was a feint—when the vampire moved closer, thinking to finish him off, the bodyguard grabbed him by the calves, pulled himto the ground, attempted to muscle him into a hold.
The bodyguard was big and muscular and outweighed the vampires considerably. But they were faster, more efficient, more athletic. The vampire flipped, squirmed out of the bodyguard’s hold, and jumped back to his feet, but he’d lost his katana. The bodyguard picked it up, grasped the handle with both hands, began to wield it like a foil, withpokes and thrusts that weren’t well suited for the blade.
The vampires adapted, working together like the predators they were. While the vampire with the katana parried,
But when they pulled gleamingkatanas from black scabbards and the subtle vibration of vampire magic filled the air, it was obvious this wasn’t part of the show.
It was an attack.
Chapter Seven
DRESSING DOWN
E
than,
I said silently, and he nodded, his body tense and ready to spring forward.
“We come for Sanford King,” said the vampire on the right, katana pointed at the crowd. The humans talked and gestured nervously, looking around for the man who’d been called out. Unfortunatelyfor him, Sanford wasn’t difficult to spot, being nearly a head taller than everyone else.
“I believe you’re at the wrong house,” Reed said, voice booming and quieting the crowd again—except for the shuffle of cell phones as cameras snapped, messages were sent, and calls were placed.
This would need diplomacy, I thought, pulling my phone surreptitiously from my bag and sending Brody andmy grandfather a message: VAMPS W/ SWORDS AT REED HOUSE TO HARM SANFOR D KING. CPD DISPATCH PROBABLE.
“We’re at precisely the right house,” said the vampire on the left.
They moved down the stairs, one tread at a time, their swordsextended and blades gleaming silver. With each step, the crowd moved backward, away from danger.
Sanford King might have been a criminal, but he wasn’t acoward. He pushed through the humans and moved into the clearing, looked over the men. His face had gone crimson, sweat beading on his brow. “I’m Sanford King. The fuck do you want with me?”
“You’re a killer,” said the vampire on the left. “A criminal. A parasite on the city. You deserve to die. Tonight, we’ll handle that.”
They began to circle King, lions preparing for an attack, thegazelle cornered and nervous between them. Criminal, coward, or otherwise, Sanford was human, and didn’t look like much of a match for the well-armed vampires.
Ethan and I simultaneously stepped forward to assist. But before we could take the stairs, Reed held up a hand, and his voice was low and threatening.
“Do not even think of drawing your weapons in my house. I will not have any morearmed vampires here.”
Ethan showed his teeth but stayed where he was.
His house
,
his rules,
Ethan said silently
. Until we deem otherwise. Stay ready, Sentinel.
Reed snapped his fingers, and his bodyguard pulled his gun from a shoulder holster, gripped it in a two-hand stance, and began moving carefully down the stairs, barrel pointed toward the vampires.
“On the ground!” he yelledwhen he hit the first floor.
The vampires ignored the order. As King disappeared into the crowd again, the vampire on the right launched forward, swinging his katana with a move the bodyguard barely evaded. But avoiding the strike left him off-balance, and the second vampire executed a perfect side kick that connected with the bodyguard’swrist, sending the gun into the air and then skiddingacross the floor.
The bodyguard didn’t seem worried. “Fine. You want to play it that way, we’ll play it.” He lunged for one of the vampires, who neatly sidestepped the move, sliced upward with a strike that caught the bodyguard across the chest. He hit his knees, but it was a feint—when the vampire moved closer, thinking to finish him off, the bodyguard grabbed him by the calves, pulled himto the ground, attempted to muscle him into a hold.
The bodyguard was big and muscular and outweighed the vampires considerably. But they were faster, more efficient, more athletic. The vampire flipped, squirmed out of the bodyguard’s hold, and jumped back to his feet, but he’d lost his katana. The bodyguard picked it up, grasped the handle with both hands, began to wield it like a foil, withpokes and thrusts that weren’t well suited for the blade.
The vampires adapted, working together like the predators they were. While the vampire with the katana parried,
Similar Books
