throat. Fetid breath fans my face as his
mouth swoops down.
This
is it. I’m coming, Castle .
My
peripheral vision catches a pair of heavy black boots as they impact the vampire’s
head and knock him sideways. The vampire behind me still holds my wrists but
his arms relax. I thrust my fists forward and together and haul him in, ramming
my head back. His nose crunches and he lets go altogether.
The
boots are attached to the Goth boy, who has crashed down with the other
vampire. He rolls up to his feet, loses substance and regains it as he jumps on
the vampire’s chest with both feet, creating a squelchy snapping sound.
I
don’t have time to think. I spin as I sense the vampire behind me coming back
in. Unbelievably, the boy performs a home plate slide and clamps his legs
around the vampire’s. As the vampire topples, the kid untangles, bounces up,
jigging like a boxer in the ring. He kicks the vampire in the head with those
heavy boots.
Holy
Mother, he’s a wraith. He was watching me, not the café. He followed me.
He’s
good, but fights as if he tackles a human opponent. Both the vampires he downed
are already getting to their feet.
And
Verity is in trouble. A male and a female vampire either side hold her by the
upper arms. I aim at the female and crash into her, knocking her back, but she
holds on to Verity. The kid heads for the male and punches him in the gut,
following with a clean uppercut to the jaw. It does little more than annoy the vampire,
but he lets go of Verity who immediately turns on the female vampire. The kid
and the male vampire slap together chest to chest. The vampire’s mouth pops open
as they thrust against each other. The boy steps back, my long knife in a hand bloody
to the wrist. He must have plucked it up when he tackled the vampire. He gutted
this man from pelvis to ribcage.
That did
more than stall the bloodsucker. He’ll be down for some time.
The
thunder of shoes and clatter of heels on board floors warn of more vampires.
Verity drops her limp opponent into the hall where she falls in a pile of satin
and flaccid flesh.
“Go!”
Verity takes two strides and leaps to the top of the wall, dress furling like a
great exotic red bird. I race after her and reach the wall as she disappears
over it. The boy follows a step behind. We go up the wall side by side as if we
have air in our bones.
Verity
waits on the other side. She moves off and barrels through the apartment
block’s backdoor as the kid and I drop to the ground. We race along the passage
on her heels.
No
one comes after us as we burst into the street after Verity and run along the
sidewalk, nor do they pour from the Greché mansion’s entrance.
The
fire hydrant has been capped but the children are still here splashing in puddles;
lace mantilla billowing, hem dragging in the water, Verity skirts them. With me
and the boy in tow, she hurriedly leads us half a block before cutting down a
side street which takes us to a broad avenue busy with traffic, bright with
street lamps and store lights. She stops walking and thrusts her hand in the
air. “Taxi!”
“A
cab?” the kid says incredulously.
Is
he a new wraith, head crammed with Upside nonsense, who thinks vampires can
move faster than a speeding bullet? Or is that Superman?
I
anxiously look over my shoulder. “Vampires are faster than the average human,
but not a car.”
“Why
do you think they are not on our heels this minute?” Verity says. “They are
heading for their vehicles to try and cut me off before I reach the bridge.”
The
notion stifles my breath. “What if they get there before us?”
“Then
we have a problem.” Verity smiles and waves at a taxi as it pulls to the curb.
We
almost fall over ourselves getting in.
Verity
gives the driver the address and adds, “And put your foot down. I can be very
appreciative; the sooner we get there, the bigger your tip.”
Chapter Eight
Castle
once said I fight efficiently because I don’t let
mouth swoops down.
This
is it. I’m coming, Castle .
My
peripheral vision catches a pair of heavy black boots as they impact the vampire’s
head and knock him sideways. The vampire behind me still holds my wrists but
his arms relax. I thrust my fists forward and together and haul him in, ramming
my head back. His nose crunches and he lets go altogether.
The
boots are attached to the Goth boy, who has crashed down with the other
vampire. He rolls up to his feet, loses substance and regains it as he jumps on
the vampire’s chest with both feet, creating a squelchy snapping sound.
I
don’t have time to think. I spin as I sense the vampire behind me coming back
in. Unbelievably, the boy performs a home plate slide and clamps his legs
around the vampire’s. As the vampire topples, the kid untangles, bounces up,
jigging like a boxer in the ring. He kicks the vampire in the head with those
heavy boots.
Holy
Mother, he’s a wraith. He was watching me, not the café. He followed me.
He’s
good, but fights as if he tackles a human opponent. Both the vampires he downed
are already getting to their feet.
And
Verity is in trouble. A male and a female vampire either side hold her by the
upper arms. I aim at the female and crash into her, knocking her back, but she
holds on to Verity. The kid heads for the male and punches him in the gut,
following with a clean uppercut to the jaw. It does little more than annoy the vampire,
but he lets go of Verity who immediately turns on the female vampire. The kid
and the male vampire slap together chest to chest. The vampire’s mouth pops open
as they thrust against each other. The boy steps back, my long knife in a hand bloody
to the wrist. He must have plucked it up when he tackled the vampire. He gutted
this man from pelvis to ribcage.
That did
more than stall the bloodsucker. He’ll be down for some time.
The
thunder of shoes and clatter of heels on board floors warn of more vampires.
Verity drops her limp opponent into the hall where she falls in a pile of satin
and flaccid flesh.
“Go!”
Verity takes two strides and leaps to the top of the wall, dress furling like a
great exotic red bird. I race after her and reach the wall as she disappears
over it. The boy follows a step behind. We go up the wall side by side as if we
have air in our bones.
Verity
waits on the other side. She moves off and barrels through the apartment
block’s backdoor as the kid and I drop to the ground. We race along the passage
on her heels.
No
one comes after us as we burst into the street after Verity and run along the
sidewalk, nor do they pour from the Greché mansion’s entrance.
The
fire hydrant has been capped but the children are still here splashing in puddles;
lace mantilla billowing, hem dragging in the water, Verity skirts them. With me
and the boy in tow, she hurriedly leads us half a block before cutting down a
side street which takes us to a broad avenue busy with traffic, bright with
street lamps and store lights. She stops walking and thrusts her hand in the
air. “Taxi!”
“A
cab?” the kid says incredulously.
Is
he a new wraith, head crammed with Upside nonsense, who thinks vampires can
move faster than a speeding bullet? Or is that Superman?
I
anxiously look over my shoulder. “Vampires are faster than the average human,
but not a car.”
“Why
do you think they are not on our heels this minute?” Verity says. “They are
heading for their vehicles to try and cut me off before I reach the bridge.”
The
notion stifles my breath. “What if they get there before us?”
“Then
we have a problem.” Verity smiles and waves at a taxi as it pulls to the curb.
We
almost fall over ourselves getting in.
Verity
gives the driver the address and adds, “And put your foot down. I can be very
appreciative; the sooner we get there, the bigger your tip.”
Chapter Eight
Castle
once said I fight efficiently because I don’t let
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