Page 8 of To Save a Vampire
Ky glances at his watch again, and then back at the compound.
“I think Char will be off in a few. Let’s wait in the shade until she comes out.”
It’s an odd suggestion, but I follow behind him. Warm sweat drips down my neck and I start to lean against the closest tree. But Ky walks further into the woods, sticks cracking under the pressure of his metal leg. I can tell he’s up to something, and it now involves me.
Great…
He paces the length of the tree line, keeping his eyes on the gray metal door of the compound as Ripper and I watch him.
A sound cuts through the quiet like a knife, an alarm. The noise rings out from the compound. My heart jumps, though the sound isn’t very loud. The lights on the front of the building remain off and the siren they use to update the public is quiet, while an internal alarm is sounding from within. I wonder if another pike lashed out, and a pain stings my chest at the thought of Forty-four getting his last strike.
Ky on the other hand, doesn’t even flinch. He’s as calm as ever, unaffected by whatever issue seems to be happening within my mother’s workplace. There are incidents that occur, but my mother is never harmed. The pikes respect her more than I’ve ever seen them respect another human.
But Ky’s too calm.
It doesn’t make sense.
“I didn’t see you stuff your pockets with chicken slop before we left, so what are we eating?” I say trying to break his silence. I wait for an answer that never comes. A twig snaps, and Ky turns toward the sound, his palm brushes over the gun at his waist. But he’s too slow, a knife is already straining against his throat.
It takes me a second before I realize it’s Forty-four holding Ky’s own blade to my friend’s neck. Forty-four grips Ky’s head at an abnormal angle to one side.
I blink a few times like I might be in a dream, seeing him outside the compound walls. He’s breathing rapidly and looking from me to Ky. Ky holds his hands in the air to pose less of a threat. I take slow steps toward him, but he shakes his head as he backs up with Ky in tow.
Ripper growls at the stranger and stands protectively in front of me. The tiny dog is the only one showing aggression toward the dangerous pike.
“Let’s calm down,” Ky says in a slow, steady voice. “I’m on your side.”
Forty-four pushes the knife closer to Ky’s throat at his lame attempt at an explanation. Ky is tall, taller than Forty-four by a few inches. His body bows backward by the strength of Forty-four. Ky was in the military, yet his training and broad stature are nothing in comparison to Forty-four’s unnatural power.
I must never forget he is a vampire no matter how human he appears.
How did he escape? They’re kept under so much sedation, it’s alarming seeing him move with such planned precision.
Ky’s terrible reasoning didn’t work so I take a breath and try to speak over my anxious anger. And slight fear. “You’re joking, right?”
Okay, not the best intro, I think to myself.
Forty-four narrows his eyes at me, but does not try to speak or release Ky.
“I mean, it just looks a little embarrassing, don’t you think?” I say with a spiteful smile as I take a cautious step closer.
Forty-four stares at my feet before taking a step back. A diversion isn’t going to work, but I am holding his interest. He tilts his head up at me.
“It’s embarrassing that you’re a vicious, bloodsucking pike who’s threatening humans with a little mortal knife.” He clenches his jaw tighter at the description I paint of him. “Clearly you’re the monster society fears. It’s a good thing they kept you behind those brick walls for all these years,” I say with a mocking voice.
I expect anger towards me, anything to get the blade away from Ky’s throat. Instead of anger, he laughs. It’s a low sound that still sets the device in his neck off. I see him flinch, but the animalistic smile doesn’t fade from his face.
Distraction falls over me momentarily and my stomach dips at the sight of his smile. Then he jerks Ky back more aggressively, and I remember the situation we’re in.
“There’s no reason to hurt anyone,” I tell him, trying to think of what to do. Trying to quickly think through how to negotiate with him. I could attack him, but it would be a sad sight.
I bend down slowly with my hands in the air to show I’m not a danger to him. It seems to work until I pull the small knife out of my right boot. He instantly becomes tense and jerks Ky’s body to show me he still has control.
I nod but open the blade with a fast clicking noise. A small noise, but it sets Forty-four on edge. The two of us are making a far from perfect team; the terrible negotiator and the impatient terrorist. He growls at me, and I see a small trickle of blood leave Ky’s throat. The sight sends my heart and breathing into overtime. I hold my blade in an almost steady hand.
Ky closes his eyes now like he could accept death as long as he doesn’t have to watch it. There is no pain in his face, like he’s been through years of far more painful moments. I put the warm blade against my sweating palm. Forty-four’s attention is entirely focused. Ky stills and even his breaths appear cautious. I clearly have the floor. Forty-four looks intrigued. His metallic eyes flash in the rays of sun.
Quickly I slice the blade against my palm. In an instant, blood begins to drip through my fingers. Ky gasps, now watching me with wide eyes. To keep the throbbing down I clench my teeth.
