Page 100 of Dark Embers

Plastic bags rustled behind us, and my rage swelled.

Slamming my fists on the ground, I heard a sizzle, the acrid odor of burning plastic and food filling the air. With one fluid movement, I swung around with my leg in the air. My foot made contact with the jaw of the approaching vampire, and I heard a crack that I knew was a broken bone. The vampire with the broken jaw buckled inward with his head in his hands.

With a sinister sneer, I turned and prepared to fight the rest of the vampires circling us. Two vamps were trying to inch their way closer to Arya. I spun and spread my arms, blasting two large balls of fire directly at the heads of the encroaching vamps.

Two down, two to go.

The first vampire, the one whose jaw I’d smashed, was back up. He joined the remaining vampire as she turned to fight me, rather than attempting to take Arya. I smirked. That was exactly what I wanted.

They charged at me with the speed of a bullet, but the buzz of the shift was still with me, my senses enhanced by the lingering fire within me. I watched them as if they were moving in slow motion, easily ducking out of the way.

Snarling, they turned to strike again, coming at me from either side. I jumped and spread my legs in a perfect, symmetrical split kick. Both vampires fell to the ground, momentarily rocked.

I formed the same rope of fire, slinging one strand around each of the vampires. I squeezed my hands into fists, and they screamed in agony as the ropes tightened around their torsos.The ropes sliced through them like butter, their severed bodies toppling to the ground in a magnificently gruesome display.

I raced back to Arya, who watched in shock. Turning Arya’s head to reevaluate the gash on her neck, I stared in confusion. It didn’t look nearly as bad as I remembered. In fact, it looked like it was almost…

BOOM! BOOM!

A loud blast exploded, causing the ground to vibrate. I looked around frantically in search of the source of the noise. Three groups of vampires stood directly in front of Niko. He was surrounded.

His red scales bristled in panic, and my heart sunk to my stomach. In horror, I watched the closest vampire pull back on the top piece of her cannon-like weapon.

At any moment, Niko would be blasted. I couldn't leave Arya, but I also couldn't watch the boy I’d been in love with for months die.

I squeezed my eyes shut, and, pulling on my fear and rage, I took a deep breath and opened my mouth to send my shriek of fire to every vampire that threatened him.

BOOM! BOOM!

I screamed. But I was too late. My fire had defeated several more vampires—enough to dampen their attack. Through the thick smoke, I could see Hadrian’s silhouette and what was left of his cronies fleeing into the darkness, abandoning us to fight—or die—another day.

I pulled Arya to her feet, and we ran toward where the guys had last been, my heart broken into millions of pieces.

“Breathe, Ash. He’s going to be okay.” Arya’s gentle voice helped keep me steady, but nothing could soothe the dread that poisoned my veins until I knew for myself that he really was okay.

As their bodies came into view, my heart beat faster. I ran the rest of the way, then froze in my tracks.

The bloody body I was staring at wasn’t Niko.

It was Tobias.

I gawked down at his limp and battered human form, a lump balling in my throat.

Overwhelming relief washed over me to see Niko kneeling unharmed beside him, which triggered a pang of guilt in my gut. I wouldn’t have traded Tobias’s life for Niko’s, but thank the gods he was alright!

With his head on his knees, Niko trembled. I wanted to console him, but the grim remains of the fight were all around us. I wouldn’t know where to start.

I went to him, making sure he was okay enough to help me figure out our next step.

“Why did he do that?” Niko moaned. “He didn't have to do that! He shouldn't have saved me. He shouldn't have!” Niko's pained and angry shouts pierced my eardrums and shredded my heart.

Arya threw herself on the ground by Tobias's body, tears flooding down her cheeks. When she shouted my name, I rose and ran to her side, thinking nothing but the worst.

“Look!”

I looked down at him, confused as to what she saw that I didn’t. But then I realized. An open wound on Tobias’s face wasslowly shrinking.Healing!I frowned at Arya, who looked just as confused.

Suddenly, Tobias sucked in a sharp, shuddering breath, then groaned.

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