Page 91 of Slayer

I wanted to know everything about this world. It felt like three years of school wouldn’t even be enough time to learn it all.

“But these guys, those memory spells don’t work?” I peered up at the giant brick stacks that vented vertically a hundred feet into the sky.

“Nope. Which means there is probably hunter blood in their lineage, but not enough for them to be one of us. We call them allies. Then there are rivals, humans that know of our kind but choose to help the vampires.”

Rivals. That was a thing? Okay, new fear unlocked. A human that was working with the vampires?

“Four o’clock,” Asher called out and stepped closer to my side.

My gaze flicked in that direction, and my stomach tightened when I saw a vampire feeding off a woman who was leaning against her car. Her purse lay abandoned on the ground, keys splayed across the concrete as she stared up at the moon with a blank, zombified look on her face.

“You can take him, Asher,” Derek said, raising his clipboard.

Asher crossed the street, checking both directions before moving, his body loose but ready as he gripped his sword. Blue runes glowed along the hilt, disguising it from human view.

Holy crap, this was happening right now? We hadn’t even stepped inside the restaurant yet.

The vampire must have sensed Asher coming because he ripped himself away from the human and spun. I watched Celia tense, moving a few steps closer, her hand hovering near the stake hanging from her waist, ready to intervene, but Asher was faster. He gripped his sword between his palms and came across the vampire’s neck in one clean, brutal arc, severing his head from his body.

The woman blinked down at the head on the ground, then at her car, confusion clouding her face.

Holy crap, no matter how many times I saw a vampire beheaded, it never felt normal.

The professors made tally marks on their clipboards as a few of the guys congratulated Asher. Two hunters swooped in to retrieve the woman’s purse and keys while the vampire’s body decomposed on the ground behind them. They began to help her into her car and whisper something softly to her. Probably that she was mugged but was safe now.

“All right, Asher, that’s two confirmed kills including last time. You can officially get your marks,” Derek said.

Asher lit up, a grin sweeping over his face. “Really? I thought I’d have to get two again tonight.”

All the professors shook their heads.

“Congrats, Hunter Voss. Stick with me so we can get these others to pass.” Celia clapped him on the back.

Hunter Voss. The words settled in the air, and I felt a surge of pride for him. He totally deserved it.

We joined the rest of our party just outside the main doors of the building.

“Okay, this is going to be different from the raid on Crimson,” Professor Silex said. “There are fewer vampires here, and there are many rooms. The owners have given us permission to break up and scan the entire building. Just try not to damage the property.”

Right. I’ll be mindful of the glass vase as I’m trying to kill the monster.

We went inside in three groups. Asher, Celia, Professor Walters, Silex, and one other student, Madison, were in my group, and we entered the building last. Madison and I led the way up the staircase, hands on our weapons as we followed the sounds of laughter and clinking utensils echoing from above.

A scream cut through the air, followed by the pounding of running feet.

“Hunters!” someone cried, and Celia stiffened to my left.

“Prepare for anything,” Celia counseled Madison and me.

Just as she said it, I heard movement above the stairwell and looked up to see a female vampire launching herself down toward the staircase, aimed straight at Madison. I didn’t hesitate. I pulled my stake and shoved Madison hard into the wall and out of harm’s way. The vampire landed with a hiss right in front of me, and I lunged forward. She pivoted, grabbing my braid and yanking my head backward. Asher shouted behind me, but I ignored it, fisting my hand and ramming the spiked brass knuckles up into her jaw. She shrieked, stumbling backward, and I drove the stake into her chest.

I was praying it was her heart. The metal sank into her sternum, and she began to decompose.

Holy crap, I did it!

I heard Asher sigh in relief behind me and spun to see Celia restraining him as if he’d been about to interfere. “Do you need to wait outside, Voss?”

“I’m good,” he said, red-faced.