rested the tip on the grass, her left hand still aiming the gun at the Bloodseeker’s head.
Rahuman gestured towards us. “Don’t you see? The HASEA is finished. Hades is on the brink of winning the Ageless war. Pandemonia will be at his mercy. Earth will fall soon after. You cannot hope to stop him. So I will make you a counter offer.” “Oh and what would that be?” asked Delagio, the marbles picking up speed around his hand. “You surrender now and I promise that your death will be swift and merciful.” “It’s you who’s gonna die leech!” growled Midnight. Rahuman started to laugh and then stopped abruptly. I froze…his eyes were fixed on mine.
He cocked his head, staring through the gap between the two Golems. A dark smile slid across his face like a shadow. The rest of the pack emulated his action, thin lips slipping back over their bared teeth. A gravelly noise escaped their throats, providing an eerie bassline to Rahuman’s words.
“Now then, what do we have here? Could it be…I think, yes! I believe you have been so kind as to deliver me the very person I was sent to locate! I must remember to send the Alliance a thank you card after I tear him apart.”
A shiver ran through my body, so deep it rattled my bones.
“Leave him out of this Rahuman; he has nothing to do with it,” warned Gabriella. “This is between us and you.”
The Vampire tutted and waved a bony finger in the air. “Silly little girl. He has everything to do with it.” My friend turned to look at me, confusion and concern filling her face. The Bloodseeker’s eyes remained fixed on me, no longer blinking. “This is turning out to be a simply fantastic day. Hades will be very pleased with me. After we kill you all, I can take my time with the boy.” He tapped a daggered fingernail against his chin like he was deep in thought. “I think I’ll let my family eat the eyes first.” I balked. “You aren’t going to get anywhere near him,” snarled Gabriella. “I’m going to rip your head off, you bloodsucking parasite!” “Then let us not waste any more time!”
And with that, the battle began. Rahuman raised his hands. The pack sprang forwards — gnashing and snarling. The rattle of automatic gunfire shattered the silence of the forest.
Something shoved me backwards…hard. I tripped over a root and sprawled into the shrubs. The two Golems stood in front of me, creating an X shape with their staffs. Blocking anything from getting to me — I hoped.
From my position in the foliage, I watched with a mixture of horror and amazement as the two groups clashed. Several Hiveminds lay dead already, their bodies reduced to twitching heaps on the grass. Delagio thrust his hand out and the marbles shot out like bullets. They tore into a Vampire’s face, bursting out the back of its skull in an explosion of claret. He flexed his fingers and they circled back to his open palm, stained red. Immediately he fired them again.
Meanwhile, Gabriella dispatched another Hivemind with a well-placed shot to the chest. It joined its fallen brethren on the ground, smoke billowing around the edges of its twisted carcass. With horror I watched as two more leapt at her. Holstering her gun, she rolled underneath one, pulling a wooden stake from her belt and rammed it into the beast’s chest. It screamed and collapsed, writhing in torment as it dissolved into ash. The second landed on her back. Salivating fangs repeatedly snapped at her exposed neck. Only her wrenching fingers, tangled in its lank mane stopped them from connecting. She wrestled, trying to throw it from her back, but couldn’t get a good enough purchase.
I have to help!
Within seconds of making it to my feet, one of the Golems sent me spiralling back down again. Helpless, all I could do was watch. So I did the only thing I could.
“Someone help Gabriella!” I screamed as loud as possible.
Midnight glanced at me and then to his struggling leader. As he moved to help, a hidden beast vaulted at him from the trees. He dodged to the left and unleashed an almighty kick. His boot tore all the way through the Hivemind’s chest as if it were paper. The tip crashed out the back, severing its spine. He shook off the carcass, marched over to Gabriella and wrenched the Vampire’s head off with one colossal tug.
“Thanks Midnight,” Gabriella breathed.
My eyes switched to Sophia and Rachel. They were back to back, surrounded by three Vampires. There was a ripping sound and a large set of silvery insect style wings burst out of my Science teacher’s back. She furled them backwards around Sophia, giving her extra protection. The baby Witch pushed her arms through the gaps. The Vampire she fought looked enraged, perhaps aware of how many of its pack had already died. Snarling, it arched up onto its hind legs and slashed at her with razor claws. With incredible skill Sophia parried each blow, then smashed her tiny fist into its face. With a hideous squeal it shrank back. Sophia stretched her arms out towards the creature. A jet of flames shot out of both palms, igniting the Hivemind in a searing ball of fire. It thrashed about screaming in agony as it burned. One final gurgle escaped its throat and then it became a heap of dust.
Now I finally understood why they let a child on the team.
More Vampires flocked out of the trees to take the place of the ones which had died. Gabriella sprinted forward and ran up the chest of the nearest, driving her sword downwards into its skull. She wrenched it back out and vaulted off as it burst into a cloud of ash. Still in mid-air she lifted the sword above her head and brought it down on another. It sliced clean in half, before dissolving into two symmetrical piles of ash. Landing in a crouch, she jerked the blade through a third creeping up behind.
Rachel was making good use of protecting Sophia whilst dispatching her fair share of feral Vampires. Several lay dying at her feet, riddled with long wooden stakes. Her gun oozed smoke. Still, everywhere I looked, more Vampires appeared. Sophia had underestimated the amount by at least half. Even the Guards were busy fending off a few which had managed to get through. Then like a light switched on in my brain, a wave of panic washed over me.
Where’s Rahuman?
I scanned around, but only saw the feral Vampires locked in battle with Orion. That was when I felt a rough arm lock around my neck and yank me backwards.
Now I knew exactly where he was.
Rahuman sank backwards into the forest, one hand clamped over my mouth to stop me yelling. It was ice cold and smelled foul — like rancid meat. I watched helplessly as the Golems continued to fight Vampires, unaware of my disappearance. My heels raked lines in the dirt while my fingers clawed at the Bloodseeker’s arm, trying to break free. No use. His grip was too tight and my angle was all wrong. Bright spots splashed across my vision and my head started to feel light as the crook of his elbow cut off my airwaves. He was strangling me to death and there was nothing I could do about it.
“That was far too easy,” he snarled, his hot reeking breath pouring over my face. “Just like stealing a baby. It pains me to lose my precious siblings in the process. But your death will make up for their sacrifice. I shall take great pleasure in snapping every bone in your body as I drain your blood.” He drew his arm in tighter. My neck muscles strained against the pressure. As the darkness began to seep in from the edges like a puddle of dark ink, a single word flashed into my head.
Gun.
I had to let the word marinate for a moment before my oxygen starved brain could decipher it.
I have a gun.
Acting fast, I let my hands go slack, which made the iron grip across my neck double. Spittle flew from between my clenched teeth and onto my lips and chin. I grabbed for the gun, but it snagged on my waistband. I tugged again with no success. The grip coiled tighter still and the darkness spread. I knew I only had seconds before I was out, and then it was game over.
The Bloodseeker smiled. I could hear the wet slide of lips parting over teeth. “Ah…you are so close to the edge Alexander. I can feel it.” He sounded almost aroused.
With a final desperate tug, I yanked at the gun. It broke free into my hand. After thumbing the switch into the fire position I jammed the barrel into Rahuman’s arm, right underneath the elbow. I knew there was a chance I could hit my own face, but I didn’t care, I had to get this repulsive creature off me.
I squeezed the trigger.
There was a loud boom followed by a sickening scream. The grip around my neck went slack. I whirled around and collapsed to the ground, choking and gasping for air, which I took in greedy gulps.
Rahuman was doubled over, clutching at his arm, which was now a stump. White smoke billowed out of the
