| Chapter 37
Kevin stood near the front door, his eyes scanning the hall. The word had gotten out that Brian could feel Raven. Everyone was on their toes. He gripped his short sword, fingering the blade. Usually he�d only fight with his hands and his stakes. The sword was kept for special occasions. Well, this definitely qualified as a special occasion. If they didn�t stop Raven here, there would be no stopping her. The world as they knew it would be no more. Kevin jumped as a few screams were heard in another part of the building. He glanced at the slayer next to him, pulling the sword completely from its sheath. �This is it,� he whispered, saying a quick prayer. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Nick and Brian stood still, listening. At first it sounded faint, and they weren�t sure it was even a scream. Now they knew it was nothing but. More seemed to fill the air, and they were getting closer. Both men glanced up, looking through the glass to the floor above. Several people ran by, followed closely by several more. Nick swallowed hard, sweat forming on his brow. �Bri, I want you to know that ....� Brian held up his hand, �I already do. And I love you too.� Nick half smiled, adjusting his grip on his sword. Suddenly a loud noise came from above. Both looked up to see someone leaning on the glass, blood pouring from their neck. Hands covered in blood, slid down the glass as the man fell to the floor. �Dear God,� Brian whispered. Nick took a deep breath, fighting the urge to run through the door and join the fight. No, he had to stay with Brian. He was their last hope if everything else failed. Brian sucked in a breath, causing Nick to look over. He was staring up. Nick followed his gaze, seeing a petite woman dressed in what looked like a ball gown staring down at them. �That her?� he asked, raising his sword. Brian nodded as Raven smiled down at him, her fangs glistening in the light. He watched as she turned and seemed to direct someone out of sight, then she turned back. Walking to the glass, she peered down, slowly licking her lips. A chill ran down Brian�s back. Quickly, Brian grabbed Nick and pulled him to the side of the room as the glass suddenly shattered and rained down on them. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ A.J. and Howie stood back, watching as Tracy adjusted her weapons. She had her hair pulled back in a pony tail, black leather pants, boots, and black tank top. She looked like some futuristic crime fighter, knives strapped to both forearms, and both calves. She had a short sword fastened in a back sling. All she had to do was reach back and grab it. �Guys, you�re staying here,� she said, adjusting the straps on her arms. �Oh hell no,� A.J. said. She turned around, �Yes, you are. This is to dangerous for you to be there. Not only are we possibly fighting Raven and her crew, but also the slayers. I don�t want you guys getting caught in the cross fire.� �Well, that�s really our decision Tracy,� Howie said. �Yeah, our brothers are in there. There�s no way in hell I�m not going,� A.J. added. Tracy sighed, staring at the two. She could see their worry, and also their determination. �Alright, but you do as you�re told. You stay behind us, and if things go south, you get the hell out,� she sternly told them. �Got it,� they both said. Jennifer walked into the room, clad in a similar outfit, with just as many weapons. Howie walked over to her and kissed her cheek, �You don�t have to help. This isn�t your fight.� She shook her head, �I made it my fight. I never agreed with Raven�s beliefs anyway, now it�s time she knew.� He grinned, pulling her into a hug. �Dude, get a room,� A.J. scoffed. �No time,� Jennifer said, looking at Tracy, �We�re ready.� Tracy nodded, �Alright, let�s do this.� ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Brian covered Nick�s body with his own as the glass rained down in shards. He could feel several hit his back, gritting his teeth at the pain. As soon as it was over, he stood up and turned around. Raven and several others were descending from the floor above. Nick got up, his sword at the ready. Raven stared at Brian, grinning. �Love, it�s time you came home,� she said, reaching the ground and gliding closer to him. Nick moved in front of Brian, �That�s not gonna happen.� She glared at the blonde, then laughed, �And who�s going to stop me? You?� Nick readied himself, �Yes, me.� She laughed again, the wretched sound echoing off the walls. �Silly boy ... no one can stop me,� she spat, gesturing at the men behind her. Brian watched as they moved in front of her, surrounding them. He knew he had to do something before they struck. He swept his hand in front of him, and the two men that stood there flew across the room and into the wall. He quickly turned and did the same with the two Nick was facing. Raven snickered, �You have learned much, love, but that will not stop us.� Brian glared at her as the men got up and resumed their positions. Nick glanced around, �Well that might not stop you, but this will!� he yelled, going down on one knee and sweeping his sword across the stomachs of the men in front of him. Blood covered the floor in seconds. Nick then stood up and in one motion took off their heads. Brian turned and grabbed the IV stand that was attached to the bed, ripping it away. Together, he and Nick faced the two remaining men. This time Brian took a knee, sweeping the stand across the back of their legs. The two fell to their backs, Nick on them in an instant. He quickly dispatched one, and was moving to the other when something hit him from behind. He fell to the floor, losing his grip on the sword. It clanked to the ground. He looked up to see the room full of vampires. It was like they just appeared from nowhere. Brian stood between Nick and the vampires, swinging the stand in front of him. �Get away!� he yelled, fear starting to cloud his mind. Nick made it to his knees, feeling something warm and wet at the back of his head. He reached back, gently touching it, and coming back with a hand covered in blood. He fought to keep his vision clear, as he used the wall to help himself to his feet. Raven approached them, �Enough of this!� she yelled, grabbing the stand away from Brian and throwing it across the room so hard it broke into pieces. Staring into his eyes, she grabbed his wrist, �You are coming with me. Kill the other one,� she ordered, turning to drag Brian out of the room. �No!� Brian yelled, yanking his arm back, stopping her. Several of the vampires had grabbed Nick, as he struggled against them. �Wait,� Raven said, staring at Nick. He looked down as best he could. She sniffed the air, then walked over to him, running her finger across the back of his neck. Brian grimaced as she licked the blood. A slow evil smile formed on her face, �So, they were hiding you as well?� Nick continued to look down. If he didn�t look at her, she couldn�t see how scared he was. Raven laughed, �Well, well ...... now we have everything,� she mused, �Bring him!� she ordered, turning and dragging Brian out of the room with her. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Tracy readied herself as the van sped down the street. �Ok guys, remember, stay behind us,� she said. �We got it,� Howie answered. The van came to a screeching halt and everyone piled out. Tracy no more than took two steps when she stopped, her heart sinking to the pit of her stomach. �What the hell ...?� Frank said, staring the front door. It was half open, blood smeared down one side. �Christ, we�re to late,� Jennifer said. Tracy glanced back at Howie, pulling her sword out, �Come on.� Slowly the group entered the building, carnage meeting them every step of the way. Howie covered his mouth with his hand, the smell of blood overpowering. People lay everywhere, blood covered the floor and splatted as they walked. A.J. stopped and leaned against the wall, his stomach threatening to spill the little he�d eaten that morning. Jennifer glanced around, �These are all slayers.� �Or parts of them anyway,� Frank said, seeing a detached arm laying in the path. �Spread out, look for any survivors,� Tracy ordered. �Even slayers?� someone asked. She nodded, �Even slayers.� The group spread out, searching every room. Howie and A.J. found themselves huddling close to each other. It seemed just when they thought they�d seen everything, they�d come to another room that was even worse. �God, how could they do this?� A.J. asked, turning away from yet another gruesome sight. He was about to head to the door to let his stomach have it�s way, when something caught his eye. Movement in a darkened corner. He stood straight up, fear clenching his soul, �Guys,� he whispered. No one seemed to hear him as they continued on down the hall. �Guys!� he yelled, seeing it again. The group turned around. A.J. pointed, his hand shaking, �T-there�s something alive in there.� Tracy quickly moved into the room and to the corner. Frank helped her move several dead bodies to get to the one that was moving. �Slayer,� Frank said, as he rolled the last body away. She nodded, reaching over and turning the man to his back. He moaned, but was in no condition to do much else. She stared at his blood covered face, not believing her eyes, �Kevin?!� At the sound of his name, Howie and A.J. were instantly by his side. �Holy fuck!� A.J. cursed, seeing his condition. �Quickly, let�s get him in the van and back to the house,� Tracy said. Frank easily picked Kevin up and headed out of the building with him. He laid him in the van, turning to Tracy, �You guys go on, I�ll stay and keep searching with the others.� �Thanks,� Tracy said, jumping in the drivers seat and starting the van. She was already pulling away before Howie had a chance to shut the door. Frank watched them go, then turned back to the building shaking his head, �Ok, I take it back,� he glanced up at the setting sun, �I really didn�t want all the slayers dead,� he said, going back into the carnage. Chapter 38 |