I huffed and took a step forward but something gripped the collar of my jacket, pulling my legs out from under me and I was yanked backwards into the woods. Naomi’s warning followed me into the darkness and I had a moment to flash to a bad horror movie I once saw. It snapped out of my head the moment I hit a tree, knocking the wind out of my chest. Dazed, I stared at a set of fangs dipping toward my neck.
I blocked the bite with my arm, but the beast’s teeth sank into my flesh. I roared at the sting, but it was nothing compared to the vampire’s scream. I hadn’t had the pleasure of seeing what the cure did to a vampire before, like Naomi had and the frothing blood bubbling from his throat was enough of a view. She hadn’t been kidding when she said the cure ate vampires from the inside out. Horrified, I backed away a few steps, then turned and bolted toward the clearing, silently announcing to CJ and Steve that I was okay before breaking through the wood barrier. The burn of the bite faded as my blood flowed, cleaning the puncture wounds, but I was left with a dull throbbing ache.
Naomi stood on all fours blocking the rest of the group, her growl sending a warning through the woods. I stopped a few steps inside the line and looked down at my arm. Blood dripped from my hand and Naomi’s expression changed. Even on a tiger, I saw the concern.
“I’m fine,” I said to her, although my heart still hammered from the adrenaline rush that fear afforded me. “I can’t say the same for the vampire.”
I looked up at the huddled group, Naomi in front and then the three men, guns drawn and pointing in three different directions. Jennifer and Raven stood behind them with the lake at their heels. Even Ty made an appearance, standing in the center of the ice, raining light on the dark alcove.
I crossed to Naomi and she licked my hand, cleaning off the dark drips before nuzzling her head against my leg.
“It’s probably a good idea that you stay in tiger form,” I said and crouched down. “I think you can protect yourself better like this.” Her tongue swathed my face and I gave her a hug before pulling back. I stripped the coat and inspected my punctured arm. The bastard’s teeth had gone into the meaty flesh of my forearm but at least he hadn’t torn a chunk out.
“Jesus,” Steve muttered and I looked up.
His gaze scanned the woods behind me and I turned, pulling the jacket back on and digging the revolver out of the pocket. At least a dozen vampires stepped into view, brought forward by the smell of my blood. While Naomi and I were immune to the virus, the others weren’t and a bite meant a highly unpleasant death.
They stopped, collectively smiling.
“The great Damian Andreas,” one of them growled and I focused on him. The face looked familiar, like someone I’d met in passing, but it didn’t matter when or where. I had to rid the earth of these monsters, otherwise they’d find a way to keep multiplying.
“I’ll give you to the count of three to leave, otherwise, you’ll be burning in hell before you can blink.” I raised the gun, pointing it at a spot on the bastard’s forehead. Naomi growled at my side and I heard the click of the safety on all the guns behind me.
Burn them. Torch their asses when I get to three, understand? I sent the thought out to Steve and CJ and got a resounding Got it from both of them.
“One,” I said and paused when the vampires laughed.
“You’re going to shoot us?” the lead asshole said and chuckled. “You should know better.”
I smiled, looking over the gun. “Two, and yes, I know better,” I said and his cocky stance waned.
“Platinum?” he gasped and took a step back, fear transitioning his features from shadow back to the pale white of Lilith’s brood.
“And we’re all expert shots,” I said and didn’t wait for them to attack or retreat. Instead, I yelled, “Three!”
A wave of heat passed by me, joining with the power that leapt from my core, fanning out to encompass the mass of vampires. The stench of burnt flesh filled the air along with the dust of the decimated vampires.
Chapter 21 – Damian
A shift in the wind blew the dust into the woods and I turned, my heart lurching at the sight before me. Ty stood on the ice surrounded by a host of angels. I stared at the assembly and my gaze locked on one pair in particular.
Michael stood, revived in his youthful form but without wings. Beside him stood a similar wingless angel with a face I barely remembered, but one that made my arms drop to my side.
“μπαμπ???” I asked in my native tongue. “Papa, is that really you?” My throat closed around a lump that formed. I hadn’t seen my father since I was little and the fact he stood ready to do battle at my side pulled at my heartstrings.
The emotions that flew through my body left me numb. All the wrongs I had done flushed me with shame, and all the heroic actions counteracted, and I dropped my gaze to the ground, not knowing how to react.
“Damian,” he whispered and just his voice triggered fond memories of fishing on the banks of the Mediterranean. “My son,” he added and I met his gaze.