The beast sinks his teeth into the forearm of the vampire intending to rip it from his body, but Dario is prepared. He grabs the massive jaws of the beast and pries them apart, only to feel the massive claw swipes across his rib cage. A screech of pain, echoes in the rainforest and birds take flight.
The assembled group leans over and watches the battle with bated breath.
Now that the beast has had a taste, he seems to lose all control of his reasoning. Its attack grows more ferocious and Dario struggles against the pain and blood loss. He needs blood, and not just any blood, but the enhanced blood of the beast. Dodging the bite of the beast, he grabs both enormous arms at the wrist and swings the beast in a circle, slamming its back into a tree.
It drops to the earth with a grunt and Dario does not wait, he dives onto its back sinking his fangs deep into the thick hide of the gorilla. Blood bursts into his mouth, rich, metallic and powerful. The elixir flows into his system and the council members smell it. Blood lust fills their mind, and they vibrate with the urge to join in the kill.
Leaping to his feet the Silverback werewolf reaches its long eight-foot arm back and rips Dario off, only to scream out in rage when Dario shifts to mist and drifts away.
Dario rushes through the night, leaving a trail of blood behind for the animal to track him. “Damn! The stream blocking his way is a problem. Vampire do not cross through running water, but Dario did not squander his time in the rainforest. The stream leads to a large waterfall and he is able to cross behind the waterfall and wait for the beast.
Seizing as many thick sticks he can find he hopes they will be strong enough to stop the monster hunting him. Dario stares at the five spears at varying lengths. Each one has been sharpened to a wicked point. They are his only weapons against the beast. Picking up one in each hand, he feels the weight of them in his hands and listens. Holding up his healed arm, he slices across it and lets the blood call to the beast.
Running along the stream it sniffs the air and growls crashing up the stream and straight into the waterfall. A scream of pain and Dario is standing over the beast as it shifts back to a gorilla. He leaps on it and drinks the blood of the beast. Caius whispers, “Wait for it,” and laughs when Dario is tossed through the waterfall and into the stream.
“Nooo!” Dario screams and rolls, his skin smoking from the water, hoping to get away.
The beast leaps through the waterfall, landing on the rocky shore and beats on him with its massive fists.
Lord Emmanuel watches and growls low in his chest. The urge to leap to the ground is almost unbearable. Other members of the council are gripping the railing in a desperate attempt to block the sounds, tastes, and scents from drawing them into the battle.
The first punch to Dario’s jaw breaks the bone. He reaches up and grabs the two broken off spears still lodged in its chest and uses them to toss the beast off him and into a group of rocks. The impact shears off one spear but pushes the other deeper into its body.
Dario doesn’t give him a chance this time, but leaps onto his back, giving a twist and a jerk, he attempts to rip the head from the shoulders. He manages to tear it halfway before a devastating blow sends him flying across the ground. Panting in pain and terror, Dario glances around and finds hope in the sight of a formation of layered rocks. If he can pry one lose, he can use it, to finish the job. The beast is struggling with its head, as blood pours from the ripped section of his neck and the spear lodged in its chest. It watches wheezing as Dario rushes away, swinging out a long-clawed arm he rakes it down the back of the vampire as he zips by. Exhausted the beast falls forward onto the ground.
Dario screams in pain but does not stop. Reaching the formation of rocks, he rips, and pulls, finally prying a long flat piece loose. Staggering back to the beast he swings it like an ax, sinking it deep into the damaged part of its neck. He rages as he hacks at the thick rope like muscles until finally severing the head.
The beast lies twitching on the ground and Dario stumbles down against it, leaning back on the dead animal. Picking up the leathery hand of the beast, he turns it palm up so he can drink the last of its healing blood. “Thank you,” he whispers and exhausted his head falls back to rest on the animal.
“Tell us more,” Lord Emmanuel says with a red flame of desire burning in his eyes.
Chapter 11
“He’s out back, Da.” Anya leads the way to Christian’s body. Keane has seen death, but this boy had a heart of a warrior and a special place in their family.
“Have I failed you all?” He wipes a tear and watches as his daughter drops to Christian’s side on the ground. She sobs as she kisses his brow.
“I will seek them out, Chris and make them all pay for this,” she promises him.
“No, Anya. This was the work of a fallen,” Katie starts to say only to stop and step back in shock when her best friend turns on her with a hiss.
“Don’t talk to me about them!” Anya screams and her eyes begin to glow. She rises to her feet in a flash and Keane steps
