I trip backward slightly. “Knock it off, Zeke.”
He shoves his hands into his jean pockets and rocks back and forth on his feet. “Ah, come on, Tori, lighten up. It’s going to be a long life if you can’t have a little fun.”
“The only fun I need is slicing my sword into the heart of a vampire,” I growl.
I’m frustrated by how much power he has over me. I hate what he makes me want. Makes me crave. He doesn’t need to remind me of anything. I remember it all in great detail. The way his hands roamed over my body. His demanding tongue dancing with my own. The way he felt inside of me. I shiver at the thought.
Zeke’s phone rings, and he pulls it out from his back pocket. “What?” he barks. His eyes narrow. “Where?… I’ll be there,” he says, before disconnecting the call and placing his phone back into his jeans. “Vamps just outside of Jackson Square.”
They’re getting braver, coming out earlier and practically in the heart of New Orleans. Rage sweeps through me, the need to unleash the energy trapped inside coursing its way up my spine. It needs to be released.
“Are you coming?” Zeke asks, sounding far too hopeful.
I want to. I miss the days when we fought together, but falling back into our old routines is a recipe for disaster. Zeke doesn’t deserve to be my crutch. That’s what he was in the beginning, and that’s what he’d be now. There’s no sense in trying to deny it.
“No. Like I said, I don’t fight alongside humans.”
His eyes narrow. “If I ditch the humans, will you fight beside me?”
“Get rid of them first, and then we’ll talk.”
He grins, nodding in satisfaction. “I’ll be back,” he promises, before turning and jogging off to join the fight.
I have no intention of fighting with him. With or without the humans, my words still stand. I need to do this alone, and Zeke would only complicate things. Getting back to Heaven is my greatest goal, and staying the course is imperative. Angels aren’t supposed to enjoy the perks of Earth. They’re not meant to dabble in human emotions and pleasure.
Zeke surely does, and that can’t have him in God’s good graces. Battling demons or not, you don’t turn your back on God and get a pass. I’m hoping that atoning in more ways than one will convince Him to give me a second chance. The truth that nobody knows is that I fell to Earth for an angel—one who deceived me.
MONSTERS
My leather-clad leg kicks out as I twist in the air, slamming my steel-toed boot into the back of a demon’s head. It hardly registers the impact, shaking off the hit with a simple sneer in my direction. I land on my knees, fist to the ground, ready for the next attack.
I’m outnumbered three to one, but this isn’t the worst position I’ve found myself in. On a typical Friday night, I’m lucky to not find myself smack in the middle of a dozen demons, frothing at the mouth to taste my blood. I might be immortal, but I bleed just like any human, and these creatures crave it.
Despite all the movies and books that romanticize vampires, they’re grotesque. Vile doesn’t even come close to describing the three disfigured demons in front of me. No two are alike, having been molded into a foul version of their former selves by the torture they earned in Hell. Closer to animal than human, they only slink around in the dark shadows, unable to go unnoticed in the streets of New Orleans.
The city itself breeds evil, but the residents and tourists have no idea how evil. Luckily for them, I have built-in demon radar. If I’m within ten miles of demons, I can track them. And I do. Nightly.
“I’m going to enjoy draining your blood,” he jeers, moving toward me with his two buddies flanking him on either side. “It smells”—he sniffs the air with his pig-like snout—“divine.”
I titter. “You could even say it’s celestial.”
He growls at the confirmation of what I am. His two friends remain quiet, taking their orders from him. He’s in charge and because of this, I know he’s going to be the hardest to take out. They’ll protect him at all costs.
There’s a vampire hierarchy, and in this particular group, he’s king. That’s not saying much, as from the looks of their clothes and abilities, they’re on the bottom of the totem pole of vampires. The higher up the rungs, the more powerful and better dressed you’ll find them. The top of the top are swathed in gaudy jewels and designer wear, showcasing one of their greatest sins—greed. I can see them for the monsters they are, but the top echelon have the ability to cloak themselves to humans.
You’ll rarely see a top-rung vampire on the streets. Those spineless swine choose to let the others do their dirty work, while they enjoy the spoils—much like their savior.
I stand to my feet, motioning for them to bring it.
The vampire in charge nods his head, giving the others clearance to attack.
“Aww, isn’t that sweet,” I mock. “You two need permission. Must suck being the weakest links.”
The one closest to me bares his teeth, showcasing his elongated canines. Pretty pathetic compared to others I’ve seen. Tonight alone, I’ve gone up against scarier.
I quirk a brow at his pathetic attempt to frighten me.
“Honey, I’ve seen scarier things roaming Jackson Square in the daytime. You really need to practice your fear factor,” I goad, trying to get a rise out of him. The angrier they get, the sloppier they fight. Demons are too proud for their own good. Injure their pride and you’re already ahead.
