IT’S UNUSUAL FOR BLADE to send us out on a mission late into the night. Along with inhibited visibility, evil thrives in the dark. Daylight has always acted as a shelter for good. Blade always takes advantage of that when she can, but this target is a rare exception.
No one has been able to find where it stays during the day or the night. The only thing we’ve learned from it is its attack pattern. It seems like it’s been making its way through a well-to-do neighborhood in Philadelphia while draining bodies of blood throughout different parts of the city on the side. It’s been through one house after the next, based on the fact that everyone in this neighborhood has been “moving,” one after the other. It’s clear that its next target is the next house in line in this neighborhood.
Blade thinks the creature we’re hunting is a vampire. The bodies drained of blood and the people in this particular neighborhood all “moving” abruptly, without taking anything with them, most likely means this monster has turned the people who lived in these homes into thralls, mindless creatures tethered to their creator. Some made demons, and even their offspring, can pass on a piece of the curse they were originally given by forcing a human to consume their blood, but a thrall is something that can no longer think or make decisions. They’re monsters that crave only to feed; however, while their creator is alive, they’ll obey their creator’s wishes. Since thralls can’t think through anything logically, they aren’t good for much, but they can kill as well as the worst of monsters.
The only way to deal with this cleanly is to find the vampire creating these thralls and to convince it to give its thralls the command to kill themselves. That’s the outcome Blade is hoping for, anyway. None of us know how a bond between a vampire and their thralls works exactly.
This vampire is trying to become more powerful. If they can’t do it alone, they’ll do it by building an army. If Imae has taught me anything about demons, it’s to never underestimate them and the things they’ll do for power.
There’s this annoying itch in my hands that won’t go away. The people inside of this house are still human. I’m a soldier. I do what I’m told. Our top priority is to take out this vampire. I’m ready for that, but what doesn’t sit well with me is the fact that we’re basically using this family as bait. My orders are to follow Blade’s orders. She’s set up a perimeter around the house, confident that we’ll be able to take the vampire out like this. I’ve been assigned the front of the house. Without fail, Blade’s been keeping a sharp eye on me. She usually sets me up in places where she’ll be able to watch my every move, or she’ll just assign herself to me. I know she doesn’t trust me. Just like Miguel doesn’t trust me. But lately she has been giving me more freedom, and that’s why I’m stationed by myself tonight.
My eyes flicker to a shadow of movement. It seems the vampire is planning on using the front door after all. It’s not even sneaking around. It’s walking up to me with a steady pace, with confidence. It oozes darkness.
I strain my eyes to see in the night. I can see the vampire’s figure now. It’s undeniably female. The sensual curves of her body, the way she walks, and the skintight dress she’s wearing to accentuate those curves make her gender quite clear.
“I didn’t know angels worked alongside humans,” she coos. “Ah, you are an angel, right? I’ve never actually met one, but I’ve heard stories. You feel like you could be one.”
I shut out every word she says. I don’t make small talk with demons. Demons will do anything to corrupt you. As an angel, I’m protected from them in a way, but Imae assured me that even an angel can be taken by darkness if we allow ourselves to be swayed. There are stories, dark stories, of angels who have fallen. It’s very uncommon, but it has happened.
I have a stake made from golden ash wood ready in my hand. She’ll probably see my first strike coming and dodge, but I’ll take her on the rebound. I pose to leap when a piercing pain explodes inside of my chest. It hurts so bad I wonder if the demon hit me first, but I didn’t even see her move. Dumbfounded, I feel my chest with my free hand to find… no wounds.
The vampire’s eyes sparkle with interest as she inspects me. She’s standing on the porch now. I can’t believe that none of the other hunters have arrived yet. I can’t believe I just let her slip past me.
“You look rather pale, angel.” She smiles, flashing her white teeth and parting her plump lips. “Whatever could be the matter?”
My chest still hurts. There’s something wrong, but it’s not the kind of wrong that comes from a physical wound. It’s something else, like my heart is trying to tell me something. A thought pops into my head: Tasia needs me.
No, I shake my head, trying to clear my mind. She’s fine. She’s safe at the base. Imae is watching over her.
Tasia needs me.
Unable to focus, I fail to notice that the vampire is no longer standing on the porch. When her hot breath caresses the back of my neck, I know I’ve made a grave mistake. I react reflexively and dart forward, but she grabs me easily enough. She’s strong.
She forces my body to hers, making it impossible not to feel her curves. She hums and I can feel the rumble throughout my entire body. I’ve never been more repulsed in my life. The very smell of her, like rotting flesh, makes me sick. Her body’s contact with mine seems to sap my strength. My knees are weak.
“You are a handsome one,” she says, running her nails across my cheek.
Her touch is like acid burning through my skin. I never knew anything could be so painful. I only manage to half stifle my scream before she silences me herself, placing her hand firmly against my mouth.
“Believe me, boy. I don’t exactly enjoy touching you either, but it’s worth it to see you squirm.”
My vision is fading to black. I’ve been overpowered so easily, and this is how I’m going to die? Instead of my thoughts receding into all the memories that make up my life, I think of Tasia. She’s the only thing I can see in my mind’s eye.
She needs me.
Horrid, ear-piercing shrieks bring me out of my daze. I realize I’m on the cold ground, icy wind biting against my skin, but that’s the only discomfort I feel now. I’ll take it over being touched by a demon any day.
“Rynne, get up!” It’s Blade. She pulls me up with one arm as I grunt in protest. She continues speaking, “I shot her, but it wasn’t a fatal wound. Still, the wood should poison her body. Follow my lead. She bolted inside of the house. We have to stop her before she hurts this family.”
Blade dashes to the blown-in door and peeks inside, while keeping mostly hidden from sight. She has her gun ready, but she seems to think the room is safe for her to enter because she disappears inside of the darkness.
I chase after her without taking any precautionary measures. I stop her by blocking her path before she makes her way farther inside of the house.
“What are you doing?” she demands, though she manages to keep her voice hushed.
“You have someone watching Tasia, right? She hasn’t left the base, right?” I ask.
She hisses. “Of course! Now follow my lead. You’re going to get us all killed if you don’t get your act together.”
She’s right. What’s gotten into me? I know Tasia’s safe. Imae’s watching her. Imae’s watching her…
Tasia needs me.
I step out of Blade’s way. She eyes me suspiciously before taking the lead again. I follow close behind her, reminding myself I need to do whatever she says. I need to do whatever it takes to keep the hunters and this family safe.
Tasia is fine. She doesn’t need me right now. She’s safe inside of the base.
Please, Imae. Please keep her safe.