Page 143 of A Bond Beyond Blood
Chapter Forty-Six
Elias
Though days passed without incident, it wasn’t long before Carmine Donati sent word of the discussions happening within the now-defunctCouncil of Lords.So I was prepared when the remaining members struck, ready for their sad attempt at taking me down.
Imagine.
Takingmedown, aking.
I snorted as I stepped outside, scanning the yard and the surrounding trees as two dozen vampire soldiers circled the humble home I’d been squatting in.
Canting my head, I listened to the breeze, counting heartbeats and footsteps until I had a better idea of how many surrounded the small glen.Another dozen or so remained hidden within the tree line.
Scanning the men nearest me, I snarled as I realized the traitors behind this little attack were not even present.A show of disrespect if ever there was one.
“Where is Frances?”I bellowed.“And Micheal?They couldn’t be bothered to show their faces?”I taunted.“Such mighty lords you all worship.”
An older vampire charged toward me, a long wooden stake held in one hand.With a roar, he released his weapon—
And I swatted it to the side like a fly.
“Do better,” I growled, baring my teeth at him.“Get on your knees.”
He did as I commanded, but I was forced to turn away before I could compel him to swallow his own tongue, as one of his brethren came at me from behind.He slammed into my side as I turned to face him, propelling me across the front yard and slamming me up against a stout tree trunk.
“Oomph!”I shook my head as I pushed the vampire off of me and righted myself.“That wasn’t very nice.”With one hand, I swiped his head from his body, curled my arm back, then propelled the man’s noggin into one of his comrades like a bowling ball, knocking the man clean off his feet.
“Strike!”I shouted gleefully.“Slice off your head,”I commanded as I passed the vampire I’d just knocked onto his knees.Eyes wide with surprised horror, he brought his sword up to do as he was told, just as another charged toward me.
I swung my arm, catapulting that one into the sky.
With a sigh, I straightened the lapels of my coat.“Are these your very best?”I shouted into the glen.
Then I crouched, raised my fists up to my face, and waited.
A brave little soldier strode toward me, a sword in one hand and a stake in the other, murder bright and crimson in his eyes.
“Well that’s not fair; I don’t have any weapons.”
He snarled, baring his fangs at me, then whipped both weapons to the side and curled his hands into fists.
Much better.
Not that it would be a fair fight, per se, but at least we’d both be fighting like men.He swung first—of course he did—and I dodged out of the way, then I swung my fist in an arc and slammed it into his side.He grunted but quickly responded with another punch.This time, he got me in the jaw and my head swung to the side.Blood dripped from my lip and I licked the wetness, then turned back to him and sneered as I charged forward.With two quick punches, one immediately following the other, I drove my fists into and then through his torso.He stumbled back and I strode toward him.I retrieved his sword from the ground as I loomed over him, then raised it quickly, shish-kabobbing one of the others as he charged for me.
The sound of his blood gurgling onto the sword curled my lip.I looked over at the vampire, watching him grasp at the sword, cutting his hands every time they scraped along the steel, then I jumped up, positioning myself above him so I could tilt him backwards and stab the sword inches into the ground, pinning him to the earth like the wings of a dead butterfly in a display box.
“Stay,” I said, then I turned back to the one I’d punched matching holes into and squatted over him.Grabbing his dark blond curls, I ripped his head off, then spun quickly and tossed it at the head of another advancing vampire, knocking his skull right off his shoulders in the process.
I shivered at the thrill of it all, then turned toward the next incoming vampire.
By the time I’d put all but one of them down, I was drenched in blood and bored out of my goddamned mind.
With a sigh, I surveyed the area.Blood stained everything in the vicinity.Body parts littered the walkway and unmanicured lawn.Brain matter and...oh, dear...are those entrails?...scattered across the front porch.
When the owners returned from holiday, they’d be none too pleased with my redecorating.
“Right, then.”I dragged the one remaining soldier behind me and strode to his vehicle.“Time to find a new place to live.”I chuckled as I tossed the badly-beaten vampire into the passenger seat, then climbed behind the wheel.“I hear the House of Lords has had a recent vacancy.”
