Kanin and I took off running toward the sound, as the scent of blood and smoke drifted to me over the breeze. I pushed my way through a weed-choked space between two buildings and caught sight of my brother in the road ahead. He was sitting against a dead car, his ax lying in the road beside him, one hand pressed to his chest. The pavement beneath him was spattered in red, and Jackals fangs were out in a grimace of agony.
I darted across the road and dropped beside him, blinking in shock. The scent of blood was everywhere, but I couldnt see a wound until Jackal dropped his hand. A tiny hole had been torn through his duster right below the collarbone, no larger than a dime. It didnt look big enough to account for all the blood...until Jackal slumped forward and I saw the exit wound.
I winced as Kanin joined us, his dark gaze going to the massive hole in Jackals back, nearly the size of my fist. It was healing, but I knew it had to hurt. Kanins eyes narrowed, and he peered through the broken glass, scanning the street.
Where are they? he muttered as I cautiously poked my head around the hood. A booming retort rang out, and something struck the car a few inches from my face, sparking off the metal. I flinched and ducked behind the barrier again, and Jackal gave a strangled laugh.
I wouldnt poke my head up if I were you, sister, he said through gritted teeth. A rifle shot to the forehead might not kill you, but itll give you one hell of a headache. He grimaced, pushing himself off the car, leaving a dark smear behind him. I think the bastard is in that house, he told Kanin, nodding to a two-story ruin at the end of the street. Shooting at us from the attic window. His eyes gleamed, and he bared his fangs in an evil grin. Cocky little shit, isnt he?
I risked a quick peek through the broken glass of the car window, and caught the glint of metal from the tiny darkened window at the very top of the house. Okay, I mused, ducking back down. We know where he is. How do we get past without getting shot full of holes?
Get past him? Jackal glanced at me and snorted. You think were going to sneak around our trigger-happy friend and continue our merry waythats cute, sister. Me, Im a little Hungry right now, and a lot pissed off. Im planning to shove that rifle so far down his throat, hell feel it out the rectum.
So, were going to charge the crazy mans house while he has an open street to fire on us. That sounds like a great plan.
And what were you planning to do? Offer cookies and ask the psycho murdering bandit to please stop shooting us?
Kanin sighed and half rose, taking in the street, the cars and the house in one practiced glance. Ill draw his fire, the Master vampire said calmly. You two stay low, and keep moving. Ill meet you upstairs.
He stepped into the street, and instantly a shot rang out, shattering the window of a truck behind us. I flinched, but Kanin kept walking, a black silhouette against the snow and cars. He moved like a shadow, fading in and out of the darkness, always visible but sometimes no more than a blur. Shots echoed in the street and sparked off metal and pavement, but nothing seemed to touch the vampire, who continued down the street as if out for a stroll.
Jackal swatted my arm. Quit gaping, he ordered, ignoring my glare, and jerked his head up the road. Come on, while the old man has his attention.
We raced up the street in a half crouch, darting behind cover when we could. The human, whoever he was, continued to fire, but not at us, though I had no idea where Kanin was after the first few minutes. Whatever he was doing, however, seemed to work. We reached the doorway of the rotted, half-crumbling building and ducked inside, the reports of the gun now echoing somewhere above us.
Jackal stalked forward with a growl, his eyes glowing a vicious yellow in the darkness, but I paused. Something about this felt wrong, though I couldnt put my finger on what. Cautiously, I followed Jackal through the house, tensing as we passed old rooms full of dust and rubble, overturned chairs and rotting furniture, remnants of the time before. I was wary of ambushes, but the rooms were abandoned, and Jackal moved swiftly up the floors without slowing down.
A peeling, broken staircase led the way to the third floor, and we had just started up it when a shout rang out overhead, followed by a flurry of cursing. A moment later, footsteps clattered across the floor, and a human appeared at the top of the steps, gazing down at us, wide-eyed. He was dressed in dusty leathers, and clutched the long barrel of a rifle in one hand.
At the sight of us, the man let out another curse and quickly turned to flee back up the stairs, but Jackal gave a roar and surged forward, grabbing him by the neck and lifting him off his feet.
Ah ah ahhhh, where do you think youre going, minion? Stalking into the attic, the raider king threw the human into a wall with enough force to put a hole in the plaster, and the man slumped to the floor, dazed. Jackal loomed over him, his eyes murderous. I think youre going to sit right there and tell me what the hell is going on, before I start ripping off important body parts. If you tell me what I want to know, right now, I might start with your head, and not your arms.
I caught a glimpse of a dark silhouette in the corner by the window: Kanin, watching impassively from his place against the wall. Briefly, I wondered how the Master vampire had gotten in without being shot...but it was Kanin. There was a whole lot I still didnt know about him.
The man groaned, pawing weakly for the rifle. With a growl, Jackal reached down, grabbed him by the throat, and slammed him into the wall. I forced myself not to interfere. I knew Jackal had to be starving, on the brink of losing it, the blood from the gunshot wound still wet and glimmering against his back. But he smiled evilly at the raider, his voice ominous but under control when he spoke.
I believe I asked you a question, minion, the raider king said in a conversational tone, though his fangs were bared and fully extended. And I dont have a lot of patience to spare right now. So, if you dont want me to rip the arms from your sockets, Id start talking. Why are you attacking us? Whos involved? Is this some offshoot of discontents Im going to have to wipe out, or does the entire city have a death wish?
The human gagged, clawing futilely at the hand around his throat. But, shockingly, he looked up at the raider king, his eyes bright with pain and fear, and gave a raspy chuckle. Youre...not in charge...anymore, Jackal, he gritted out, with the defiance of someone who knew he was dead. You promised immortality...and you never delivered. Well...we have a new king now. One who agreed to Turn...whoever got rid of you.
My insides went cold.
Is that so? Jackal continued, his voice gone soft and deadly. And does this new king have a name, or do I have to guess?
He said...you would know who he is, the raider choked out. And...to come find him...in the flooded city. He coughed and held up his hands. One was empty, but the other held a tiny metal box, which he clicked open to reveal a small flame. Glancing at the raider king, he gave a last defiant sneer. If you make it that far.
Against the wall, Kanin straightened. James he began, but it was too late. The raider opened his fingers, and the item, whatever it was, dropped to the floor.
A few things happened all at once.
As soon as the flame dropped from the raiders hand, Jackal leaped back, flinging himself toward the wall. Abruptly released, the raiders body hit the ground at about the same time as the metal box. There was a short hiss
and a wave of fire erupted from the tiny flame, racing across the floor and up the walls, turning the room into an inferno. It engulfed the human on the floor, who screamed and thrashed, flailing about in agony as his clothes caught fire. I barely heard him. Terror rose up, blinding and all-consuming, and I looked wildly around for an escape route. The walls were a mass of rolling orange flames, snapping and tearing at me; I could feel the awful heat against my cold skin and cringed back with a hiss. I had to get out of here, but there was nowhere to go; wherever I looked, there was fire....
Allison!
Something grabbed my arm as I stood there, on the verge of panic. Calm yourself, Kanin ordered, as I snarled and tried yanking back. Listen to me. We cannot take the stairs; the lower rooms are completely engulfed, and it will take too long to reach the door. We must go through the window.
The window? I looked to the far wall, at the opening where the human had been shooting. I could barely see the window through the snapping flames, and cringed back. Youve got to be kidding me.
No. Kanins voice was ruthlessly calm. It is the only way. Jackal has already gone through. We must follow him if we are to survive this.
The flames roared at me, filling my mind, until all I could see was orange and red. I couldnt think; I could almost feel the skin peeling from my bones, blackened and bubbling in the heat. If it wasnt for Kanins grip on my arm, I wouldve fled, though I didnt know where I would go. All I could think of was getting away from the flames. And Kanin wanted me to leap through the fire? I cant! I told him, baring my fangs in fear. Ill never make it.
You must. Ill be right behind you.
Kanin...
Allison. Kanin grabbed my other arm, forcing me to look at him. His voice compelled. I felt it reverberate through me, a quiet, undeniable thrum. Trust me.
I bit my lip, and squeezed my eyes shut, blocking out the flames. You can do this, Kanin went on, in that same soothing tone. I focused on his voice, ignoring the roar of the flames around us, the heat burning my face. The fire wont touch you. It will be over in a few seconds, but you must be quick. Are you ready?
Swallowing, I clenched my fists, pushed back my fear, and nodded.
Then go. Kanin released me. I turned and sprinted for the wall of flames.
They loomed before me, horrifically bright, snapping and clawing in the wind. For a second, I almost balked, my vampire instincts screaming at me to stop, to run away from our deadliest enemy besides the sun. Kanins voice echoed in my head, pushing me forward. I reached the roaring, living wall and dove through the flames, praying I wouldnt catch fire.