Two of the vampires rushed at me simultaneously, their fangs bared and claws ready to tear me apart.I had no time to think, only to react.I spun to the side, dodging the first set of claws, and delivered a hard kick to the second vampire’s knee, sending him crashing to the ground.The first vampire recovered quickly and lunged at me again, but I met him head-on, my fist connecting with his jaw in a satisfying crunch.The impact didn’t slow him down as much as I’d hoped, so I followed up with a swift uppercut that snapped his head back.
I couldn’t afford to waste any time.While the vampire staggered, I grabbed his head, my fingers digging into his greasy hair, and with a surge of strength, I yanked it to the side and pulled with all my might.The vampire’s head came free with a nauseating rip, and his body collapsed at my feet.
The vampire I’d kicked down was already back on his feet, a snarl twisting his face as he launched himself at me.I braced for the impact, but before he could reach me, Rathiel appeared beside me, moving like a blur.His fist collided with the vampire’s chest with a force that sent the hellspawn flying back, crashing into a stack of garbage bins.
Rathiel’s gaze met mine for a brief second, then he lunged for the vampire, dragging him up by the collar and twisting his head clean off before tossing the body aside like it was nothing.
That left two.
The final pair of vampires exchanged a quick glance, doubt creeping into their expressions.Suddenly, they didn’t have the numbers anymore.But they were too deep into this to back out now.Lucifer wouldn’t accept failure, and they knew that.Their resolve hardened as they prepared for one last desperate attack.
“You take the one on the right,” I called to Rathiel, my voice steady despite the adrenaline still coursing through me.“I’ve got the other.”
We moved in unison, closing the distance between us and the remaining vampires.My opponent hissed, baring his fangs in a last act of defiance before lunging at me.I ducked low, feeling his claws swipe just above my head, and sprang up with a fierce punch to his ribs.Bones cracked from the impact, but he didn’t slow down.
Before I could react, he latched onto my arm with a vice-like grip and yanked me toward him.He spun me around, my back against his chest, then wrapped his other arm around me, pinning both of my arms to my sides.He was stronger than the others, his grip almost crushing as he lifted me off the ground.I struggled against him, trying to free myself, but his hold was relentless and unbreakable.
My muscles screamed in protest as I squirmed and twisted, but nothing seemed to break his hold on me.Dark laughter echoed in my ears just as hot, rank breath fanned my neck.Panic flared in my chest, my breath coming in short, sharp bursts as I realized I wouldn’t break free in time.
“Never had an angel before,” the vamp rasped before scraping his fangs against my throat.“Bet you taste good.”
Oh, gross.
I was about to throw my head back in a final, desperate attempt to break free, when suddenly the vampire behind me vanished.I staggered forward just as a sharp wail echoed through the alleyway.Spinning around, I saw Rathiel standing over the vampire, who now lay slumped against the wall, the impact having fractured the bricks.Rathiel had him pinned with one hand, his eyes blazing with fury.The vampire thrashed and tried to struggle, but Rathiel’s grip was unyielding, his strength fueled by pure, unbridled rage.
Rathiel pulled the vamp off the wall and slammed him to the ground with enough force to rattle the pavement.The vampire let out a strangled cry, but Rathiel didn’t relent.He was on him in an instant, his hand a blur as he grabbed the vamp by the throat, fingers digging in deep.
“You dare lay a hand on her?”Rathiel’s voice was a low, menacing growl, dripping with barely restrained fury.
The vampire gasped, his eyes wide with terror as he thrashed beneath Rathiel’s hold, but it was no use.Rathiel was beyond reason, his focus solely on destroying the creature who’d tried to bite me.Blood dripped from the vampire’s temple and pooled on the ground, dark and glistening under the faint light of the alley.
The other vampire hesitated a few yards away, his gaze darting between me and Rathiel.Without thinking, I surged forward, grabbing him by the neck and held him tight, knowing we needed one to question.His hands clawed at my grip, but I tightened my grip.I had questions, he had answers.He wasn’t going anywhere.
Rathiel lifted one hand, a ripple of crimson magic illuminating his fingers as he called on his ability to manipulate blood.I’d only seen him do this once before with a misbehaving hellspawn, and I knew it wouldn’t be pleasant to watch.
The blood on the pavement quivered, responding to Rathiel’s powers, then began to rise in a thick, sinuous stream.It gathered midair, in front of Rathiel, and coalesced into a dark, glistening mass under his control.I watched, breathless and horrified, as the crimson liquid hardened into dozens of needle-sharp spikes that shimmered under the dim alley light, poised for Rathiel’s command.
At his silent command, the spikes shot forward, piercing the vampire with brutal accuracy.The hellspawn thrashed violently, his screams tearing through the alley as his own blood betrayed him, stabbing into his flesh with relentless precision.His cries turned guttural and inhuman.
Rathiel clenched his fist, and drove the spikes deeper, punching through the vampire’s body with a sickening crunch of breaking bone and tearing flesh.The air reeked of blood and agony as the hellspawn’s thrashing slowed, his body twitching violently as the last of his strength gave way.Finally, his head slumped back, his lifeless eyes staring blankly into the night as his shredded body collapsed to the ground in a gory heap.
The remaining vampire, still locked in my grip, bucked violently, his elbow slamming into my side.Pain shot through my ribs, but I held firm.He snarled and twisted, his claws raking at my arm, leaving shallow scratches that stung like hell.I gritted my teeth, tightening my hold and slamming him against the alley wall.
I pressed my forearm against his throat to pin him.He writhed like a trapped animal, thrashing and clawing at me, his strength fueled by desperation.His knee shot up, catching me hard in the thigh, and I stumbled just enough for him to twist free.
He bolted, his boots pounding against the pavement, but he didn’t get far.
“Rathiel!”I called out.
Without even glancing up, Rathiel waved his hand, and the blood instantly ripped free of the dead vampire on the ground and condensed into a single massive spike.An instant later, it shot across the alley like a missile and impaled the last vampire in the back.The force of the blow sent the vampire staggering forward, his arms flailing as the spear punched right through him.
The hellspawn fell to his knees, clawing desperately at the weapon protruding from his chest.His lips moved, gasping for words that wouldn’t come.He crumpled sideways, his body twitching in the snow before falling still.The light in his eyes dimmed and died, leaving him lifeless in the alley.
Huh.Guess I should have told Rathiel to keep him alive.
The alley fell quiet, save for the faint sound of blood dripping onto the pavement.I scanned our surroundings, a grim smile tugging at my lips.We still needed to remove their heads, just to be thorough, but we’d killed them all.Guess we made a good team after all.
Rathiel whirled on his heel and crossed the distance to me in an instant.He cupped my face and tilted my head back and forth as he inspected my throat.His thumbs brushed lightly over my jaw, his touch surprisingly gentle for someone who’d just dismantled two vampires with the brutal efficiency of a war god.
