I jerk when someone grabs me.The chill of a blade presses into my neck.
Damn!I let my guard down.Let myself feel guilt for taking blood from a living being.And now—
I lift my thigh and execute a back kick, freeing myself from the assailant.His blade slices into me, a searing pain on the side of my neck.But it’s a shallow cut—one that won’t slow me down.
Vamp vision is good.Usually.In the midst of all the traits bestowed on me that I don’t want, I didn’t inherit that one.Still, I hear the distinct heartbeats of not one but three individuals.They’re pumping quickly.Adrenaline is surging—in them and in me.Testosterone is abundant.They’re all men.
My vision adjusts, and I make out the forms.All taller and wider than I am.That’s okay.I’ve taken on many a man in the Taekwondo sparring ring and emerged victorious.
I’ve never taken on three men at once, though.
The guy who first attacked me is panting.I knocked a good wind out of him, but he’ll regain his breath eventually.The other two circle me.The one to the right’s heart is thumping faster.He’s frightened.Good.I’ll take the one on the left first.He’s more of a challenge and more of threat.
I race toward him, jumping into the air and executing two front snap kicks to his chest.He lands on the ground with anoofand a “fucking bitch!”
I take the few seconds I have to turn and roundhouse kick the other in the face.
Shit.The third guy—the one with the blade—has regained his composure.He advances on me, and I turn and swiftly take down his shoulder with an axe kick.He falls to his knees.
But I can’t see all of them at once, and out of nowhere, a fist punches my cheek with athud.
It’s the third guy, the one who’s frightened.
Not so frightened anymore.I sway but hold my ground.Adrenaline minimized any pain.I land an uppercut to his jaw and turn swiftly, but a kick lands on my abdomen.
I double over, grunting at the dull ache, but I keep my neck tilted upward so as not to lose my line of sight.
Two.Two of them are circling me, coming in for the kill.Where’s the other?Where the fuck—
“Aauugghhh!”I fall to the ground.
A blow to my back.
Stand up, Hannah. Get the fuck up!
But another blow comes, this one to my head.
I widen my eyes, stars dancing around my vision.
Get. The. Fuck. Up.
I pull up one knee, and then the other… Can’t make them work.Can’t stand.
Yes, yes, you can.
Both knees have weight now.I’m in a squat, bracing myself for the next blow.
It doesn’t come.
Finally I manage to rise.Two of the thugs are on the ground, unconscious.The other is in a fist fight with—
I don’t need to squint to make out his form.
My nose tells me exactly who it is.
Leather.Pine.Wolf.
Victor Rogan.