Page 76 of Obsessed in Blood
They moved quickly. Not quite a run, but as fast as Ginger’s shorter legs could move. The vampires caught up to them as they reached the car. Lucas had time to hit the button to shut off the alarm and unlock the doors. There were only two vampires, which made sense. The parking lot was public, and there were visitors in the building that could come out at any time. And others could unexpectedly drive up.
Two vampires could be swift and efficient, leaving little evidence behind. But four could get messy and would be more obvious. He stayed with Ginger but didn’t have time to open the door. They spun around in perfect synchrony, and Lucas moved toward the one on their right. He didn’t want to leave Ginger’s side, but they were in a position where they had to work one-on-one. Ginger’s skill with the dagger had greatly improved. She’d almost beaten Sergi on two occasions, and even with the number of fails, she was still impressive.
Since there weren’t many better than Sergi, she should be alright, but one mistake, one second of hesitation could be her death.
His best option was to kill the one in front of him as quickly as he could.
He attacked, surprising the vampire who must have thought Lucas would first seek conversation.
He ducked the vampire’s swing, barely missing the edge of the blade. When he came up, he pivoted on one leg while kicking out with the other. His strike hit the vamp just below the knee.
The vampire didn’t go down, but he stumbled, and Lucas swung up with his knife. His strike was true, and the blade sunk into the vampire’s stomach. It gave him time to check on Ginger.
Lucas turned to find her facing the vampire as he rushed her.
They must have been staring at each other while the vampire considered Ginger, assuming her a mere human—nothing more than a Blood Ward. It was rare to find a Blood Ward who’d been trained for battle. That occurred after they became a vampire.
So, when the vampire advanced, Ginger waited until he was ten feet away. Her knees had been slightly bent, and she took a step before jumping straight into the air, swinging her right leg out and hitting the vampire mid-chest. The air rushed out of him as he was thrown back.
A grunt from behind made Lucas spin back toward his own foe. The vampire made it to a standing position, but it was clear Lucas had hit a vital spot. Not enough to kill. The vampire took a step toward him, dagger raised, but he doubled over on his second step. Lucas took advantage and kicked out, his leg swinging high and wide as it struck the vampire’s chin. He went down.
Lucas spun around and moved toward the vampire who was advancing on Ginger.
Her blade was out. She stood in a standard vampire stance the other vampire recognized. It slowed his steps. He was probably wondering why a Blood Ward would have been trained for that particular stance. It wasn’t one of defense but of attack.
When the vampire noticed Lucas approaching, his knife already bloody, the vampire glanced at his fallen partner and ran. He didn’t run for the library but toward the far side of the parking lot where the other two vampires waited in a black sedan.
Why hadn’t they come to help their friends?
He glanced at the library where the four females stood just outside the doors. They had stopped a few yards from the entrance as one searched her purse. Their attackers hadn’t wanted to create more of a scene. The only reason the fight hadn’t caught the interest of the females was because they were talking and laughing, but it wouldn’t be long before they headed for their cars.
He turned back toward the downed vamp. He was gone.
“He was still in pain, but he ran off that way.” Ginger waved toward the street.
“His friends will pick him up. Let’s get out of here.” He waited for Ginger to get in the car, then shut her door before running around to his side.
They were through the gates before she asked. “Who were they?”
“I don’t know.”
“How did they know we were here? Or do they work for the library?”
“I don’t know that, either. But something is very wrong.”
ChapterTwenty-Six
I trailedbehind Devon with mixed feelings about another round with Colantha. My body was in good shape, but my head was still fuzzy. I would have preferred lounging in bed with Devon, watching an old black-and-white movie, and munching on Cook’s multi-flavored popcorns. Something with Katherine Hepburn and Cary Grant. But Devon preferred war movies. Go figure. PerhapsFrom Here to Eternitywould be a decent compromise once this was all over.
He glanced over his shoulder. “Are you up for this?”
“Haven’t gone off the deep end yet.”
“That’s not funny.”
It was, but I thought it best not to irritate him. He seemed all cool and calm while I dreamwalked, but it bothered him. I was someplace he couldn’t reach me—at least not easily. I understood, but it didn’t change what we had to do.
I rubbed my stomach, stuffed with Cook’s souffle and glazed asparagus paired with a lovely Bordeaux, then finished with an espresso and chocolate almond flan for dessert. Colantha would be pissed if I nodded off in a food coma.
