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Before anyone could react, I jumped on top of the first guy and stabbed him in the chest too. This time, the bloody stake was too slippery to remove, so I jumped back just as it and he went up in flames.
I turned my back on the two smoldering piles and faced the rest. I was barely winded, but panic made my heart race as I realized I still had four vamps to kill and no weapons. The odds were better, but I’d have to do some serious maiming in order to escape.
I lifted an eyebrow at Dumb and Dumber. They traded glances and then both ran at me. I managed to fell Dumber with a stomping knee-joint kick. He fell instantly, grabbing his broken knee. It wouldn’t slow him down long, but it bought me a few seconds. I turned to Dumb, who flashed his fangs with a snarl.
“I’m going to enjoy this,” he said. His body fell back into a classic martial arts pose. I felt my lips curl into a smile.
“Bring it on, ass**le.” I swiveled my body sideways and went at him with a roundhouse aimed at his ribs. He grabbed my ankle before it made contact. He jerked my leg toward him. My arms windmilled as I tried to keep my balance. I managed to grab his free hand and take him down with me. He might have been bigger, but I had speed on my side. I straddled him quickly, making sure to land high up on his chest to pin his arms.
His facial bones were like steel, and after a few punches my hands felt like tenderized meat. He used his massive body to buck me off. In a flash, he had me. His arms snaked under mine and he locked his fingers together behind my head, pulling me up. I scraped his shin with my boot heel. He jerked his hips back, out of range. Then he laughed in my ear. “Not so tough now, are you?”
His breath felt hot in my ear and his voice caused my spine to shrivel. His friends came forward, laughing like demented hyenas. I fought like a wildcat, trying to break free. At best, they would stake me. At worst, they’d rape me, drain me, and then stake me. As they surrounded their friend, they hurled insults and groped me with their paws.
I knew if I didn’t keep my head, I’d never make it out alive. My training kicked in and I took a slow, deep cleansing breath. I refocused my rage and let it fill my limbs like steel. They might have me trapped, but I’d be damned if I was going down without leaving at least a few scars.
The male in front of me leered. “Hey, boys, I think she likes being manhandled.”
I leaned back into Dumb and used the leverage to kick up with my legs. My boot heels caught two of them in the face. They fell back with howls. My face snapped to the side as I received a slap for my impertinence from Dumber. Pain bloomed in my cheekbone and I tasted my own blood. That was all right. Pain was my friend. It meant I was still alive.
“Okay, enough horsing around,” Dumb said. He tightened his arms and held me closer to him. Another one crouched and grabbed my legs. I struggled against them as Dumber came at me with fangs extended. I reared my head back, trying to evade him, but it was no use. His hot breath on my neck made my skin crawl. When he scraped his fangs over my artery, my eyes stung with revulsion. I didn’t close them. That would be a sign of acceptance. The idea of this cretin vein-raping me made me want to vomit, but I’d never give him the satisfaction of showing my fear.
Before he could break the skin, his body flew backward. I heard a loud thump and then a shriek. I tried to look up, but the one holding me threw me behind him. My head smashed into the floor. Stars of pain exploded behind my eyes, but I shook it off quickly. Behind me, the lot filled the sounds of crunching bones and male grunts. I turned and my mouth fell open in shock.
The mage from Ewan’s bar stood several feet in front of me. As I watched open-mouthed, one of his boots made contact with a vampire’s face. I jumped up, confused but determined to put an end to this. I ran toward Dumb, who was coming at the mage from the side. The air crackled, making the hair on my neck tingle. I tackled the male from behind, and on my way down, I saw a spark of blue light shoot through the air like a missile. A wave of heat followed as another vamp bit the dust.
I didn’t have time to ponder what kind of spell the mage was using. Instead, I whacked the leader’s forehead into the concrete. He went limp, but not for long. My eyes scanned the area for something I could use as a weapon, but found nothing.
A whistle caught my attention. I looked up to see the mage holding up a knife. “Catch,” he said. He threw the knife to me, and I caught it by the apple wood handle. Without hesitation, I jabbed the blade down through the leader’s back and straight through his heart. When the handle made contact with his blood, his body exploded, throwing me back a couple of feet. I lay stunned for a moment, before jumping back up to rejoin the fight.
Only the fight was over. The mage leaned against my bike with his arms crossed. Six piles of ash in various stages of smolder littered the floor.
I brushed off my jeans and walked toward him. He wasn’t winded. I gasped for breath. He didn’t even look dirty. I felt as if I’d been dragged through a dumpster.
“Thanks,” I said, panting. “But I didn’t really need your help.”
He chuckled. “Liar.”
I stopped a couple of feet away and eyed him. His sandy hair and goatee shouldn’t have made him look dangerous, but they did. He wore a white tank that displayed his nicely muscled arms and chest. His chinos hung low on his slender hips, and battered brown boots filled out the urban commando look.
“So are you going to tell me why you’ve been following me?”
His full lips quirked into a lopsided smile. “Let’s just say I’m a friend. By the way, how’s your new roommate?” Before I could react, he waved a hand in the air. I blinked and he was gone. The Ducati stood alone where the mage had been only a second before.
“Well, that’s just great!” I yelled, hoping he could still hear me. When no answer came, I ran a hand through my tangled hair and sighed.
“Asshole.” The insult lacked heat because he’d saved my ass. The idea was unsettling. I made my living with my wits and my fists. The idea that those bastards had almost bested me didn’t sit well. Not to mention the fact I still had no idea who the mage was other than the one who’d summoned Giguhl.
At least I now knew who sent the demon. What I couldn’t figure out was why. It didn’t add up. Why would he summon a demon to try to kill me and then turn around and help me in a fight? It was just one more mystery to solve in the riddle my life had become.
8
One benefit of growing up in the Temple was my knowledge of its complex floor plan, which included several hidden passages meant for quick escapes. They worked equally well for sneaking in if you knew where to look.
