Page 54 of Vampire Bite

Before Damien could respond, Lucas stepped forward and spat in his face. The act was so defiant, so visceral, that it left me stunned.

Damien wiped his face slowly, his movements controlled, but the rage in his eyes was unmistakable. “You’ve made your choice,” he said, his voice quiet but deadly. “Don’t think for a second that I won’t make you regret it.”

“Do your worst,” Lucas growled, his stance unwavering.

Damien’s gaze flicked to me, and I felt a chill run down my spine. “You’ll regret it too,” he said, his tone almost mocking. “This… girl you’re so fond of. Do you think she’ll survive what’s coming? What we have in store for her?”

Lucas moved so fast it took me a moment to realize he’d drawn his blade and had it pressed to Damien’s throat. “Don’t. You. Dare.”

Damien didn’t flinch. Instead, he smiled, but it was a cold, empty thing that made my stomach turn.

“Such fire, Lucas. Let’s see how long it burns.”

With a snap of his fingers, he stepped back into the shadows, disappearing as quickly as he’d come. Just when we thought that he had run away, chaos erupted like a storm.

One moment, Damien was stepping back into the shadows, and the next, he lunged forward, striking at Lucas with blinding speed. His blade clashed against Lucas’, sparks flying between them as the sharp clang of steel filled the air.

I barely had time to process what was happening before the shifters emerged, snarling and growling.

“Take them all!” Damien barked like the traitor that he was.

The first shifter came at me, fangs bared, claws extended. My heart pounded, but I didn’t hesitate. Raising the blade Lucas had insisted I carry, I sidestepped, striking it across the ribs. It yelped and fell back, but another was already taking its place.

My movements were instinctual, driven by fear and adrenaline. I swung, parried, dodged. It was a skill I didn’t even know I had. My arms ached from the effort, but I couldn’t let myself falter. I wouldn’t be a liability.

Between strikes, my gaze flickered to Lucas. He and Damien were locked in a brutal dance of blows, their movements almost too fast to follow. Lucas was skilled, every move deliberate and powerful, but Damien... Damien was relentless.

“Is this the best you’ve got?” Damien taunted, slashing forward with a wicked grin. Lucas blocked the attack, as their blades locked.

“I’ll make sure you regret every word,” Lucas growled, shoving Damien.

My attention snapped back to the shifter in front of me. Fortunately, I noticed its claws swiping toward my face. I ducked just in time, slashing upward and catching it across the shoulder. It roared in pain but didn’t back down.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Lena and Callum fighting bravely, taking on shifters twice their size. Another shifter came at me, and I spun, slicing low and forcing it back. My breaths came in sharp gasps, and my muscles were screaming with effort.

Lucas let out a yell, drawing my eyes to him again. Damien had him pinned, their blades crossed between them. Lucas’ face was twisted in fury. I could see his teeth bared as he pushed back with all his strength.

“Lucas!” I shouted, stepping toward him instinctively, but a shifter cut me off, snapping its jaws dangerously close to my arm.

I couldn’t get to him. I couldn’t do anything but fight and watch as Damien pressed Lucas harder and harder. My chest tightened with fear.

“Stay back!” Lucas shouted, his voice raw as he glanced at me. His momentary distraction cost him, and Damien’s blade grazed his side, drawing blood.

“No!” I cried, but Lucas recovered quickly.

He continued to fight with renewed strength, but then it all happened in the blink of an eye. Time slowed down, as if to make the scene before me even more painful. Damien feinted to Lucas’ left, and as Lucas turned to block, Damien’s blade came from the other direction, slashing deep across Lucas’ side.

“Lucas!” I screamed, the sound tearing from my throat as he staggered backward, and as blood was already staining his shirt and dripping to the floor.

He dropped to one knee, clutching his side. He was breathing heavily. His sword wavered in his grip, and for the first time, I saw something in his eyes that terrified me: doubt.

Damien smirked, the note of triumph in his voice unmistakable. “You were always too soft, my dear nephew,” he sneered, stepping closer. “Also, too idealistic. And now look at you. Bleeding out like the weakling you are.”

“No,” I whispered, my voice trembling.

The battle raged on around us, but everything else faded to the background. It was just Lucas and Damien, and I was frozen in place, torn between fear and the desperate need to help him.

Damien raised his blade, preparing for the final blow. My heart stopped. All I could do was watch in frozen horror.

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