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Problem was, I didn’t have my sword with me and Noriko did. She was also armed with the obvious intent to use hers for something more permanent than teaching me a lesson. Why the hell did the girl want me dead? Sure, I could have been a little more pleasant at the bar, and yeah, I’d put Nolan in harm’s way tonight, but she couldn’t have known about that.
Could she?
“What the fuck?” I queried eloquently.
Noriko let out an enraged shriek, still attempting to rid herself of the hungry fledgling vampire on her back.
“Bri, get off,” I commanded.
The vampire, her eyes oily black, snarled at me with her canines elongated. Two could play that game, and I was geared up enough for it. My own fangs descended and I growled right back at her, my still-human eyes flashing a warning. Brigit hesitated, and that was all it took for Noriko to throw the blonde off her.
Brigit thumped to the sidewalk but quickly regained her footing. She did not relaunch her attack on Noriko, but watched the sword-wielding vampire hunter cautiously, waiting for any indication an attack should be resumed. Noriko was panting, and her eyes looked wild with anger rather than fear. She still had the sword pointed at me.
I stepped in front of Nolan again. God help me, but I felt responsible for the kid and I didn’t want to see him turned into a human shish kebab if this all went south. This time he didn’t try to skirt around me, he just kept close enough I could feel the rise and fall of his chest at my back. Knowing he was alive made me feel stronger somehow.
“What’s the meaning of this?” I asked. This time I was a little more rational.
Her sword hand hadn’t once trembled or shaken. She obviously knew how to use the weapon well enough to swing it, even if she hadn’t landed any hits. I was still amazed Nolan had managed to move us in time. There might not be a killer instinct in him, but I now knew for sure there was a survivor’s speed.
“Step away from the boy,” she demanded.
“Put down the sword. ” As far as counteroffers went, I thought I was being fair.
“I know what you are. ”
That gave me pause. My eyes had returned to normal, and at the moment my fangs were withdrawn. There was no way for Noriko to know all of what I was, but I was willing to play along.
“So?”
“So?” Her voice welled with astonishment, but I knew fake surprise when I heard it. “You think you had everyone fooled. ”
“Fooled how?” I gave her a quizzical look. “I don’t know what you think I am, Noriko, but I assure you I’ve never tried to fool anyone. ”
“You’re a monster. ”
“We’re all monsters here. ” I inclined my head towards my former roommate, who bared her fangs for good measure. My gaze darted to Noriko’s sword. “You aren’t so innocent. ”
She kept looking around the street, then back to Nolan before glancing away again. After a beat, she advanced a step with her sword raised, anger turning her eyes the flat color of a nighttime ocean. Nolan and I shuffled back a step in response. Brigit didn’t move, but she was coiled like a spring and at any instant she might launch. I was going to do my best to not give her an opportunity.
I raised my hands, palms out and up in a gesture of peace but not surrender.
“Put down the sword,” I repeated.
“No.
”
I hadn’t expected her to agree, but it would have been nice. “Noriko, no one has to die here tonight. ”
She snorted.
I continued as if I hadn’t heard her. “But, you should know, if it comes down to it, the person who dies won’t be me. ”
“You’re already dead. ”
Oh. So she knew I was a vampire. That narrowed things down a bit. At least now her attack made more sense.
“No. I have a beating heart. I breathe. ” I took Nolan’s hand without looking at him and placed it on my neck. “Tell her, Nolan. ”
