On the other side of the clearing, the bloodied up vampire groaned as he fell to his knees. He put up his hands. “You got me. Fuck, Lance.” He growled. The guy used a hand to wipe the blood from his eyes.
One of the practically naked women on stilettos, which Alex noticed with satisfaction were dug into the dirt, jumped up and down. The heels plowed even further with each little leap and clap of the hand.
“Like fuck.” A low growl from Lance. “Get up.”
The bloody dude shook his head. “We’re done. Someone needs to teach you the meaning of the word practice.”
The prick shook his head. “On your fucking feet, pussy.” Lance’s nose was bloody and he had a cut across one of his biceps. He threw his sword from one hand to the other and back again.
“Fuck you!” The downed one growled, his eyes firmly on Lance. As if to prove a point, he tossed his sword down. The blade made a ringing noise as it made contact with the dirt.
“It’s done!” Lazarus shouted. His deep voice rang across the group.
Lance chewed the inside of his cheek for a second or two. His eyes narrowed on the downed guy. “Pick it up right fucking now.”
The guy on the ground shook his head. “I said that I’m done, Lance.” His eyes blazed and he gave a shake of the head. “It’s finis—” He groaned as Lance slashed his arm with his sword. Fresh blood blossomed. All around her, women gasped and shrieked. This time the excitement was gone. The guy on the ground squeezed his eyes shut and gripped the wound, blood seeped between his fingers.
“Pick it the fuck up or lose the arm. I’m not done.” Lance gestured to the sword on the ground with his own weapon.
“Stop!” Sarah shouted. “Leave him alone.” She took a step closer.
“It’s fucking over.” Lazarus growled. It was so deep and so low that Alex felt it deep down inside her. His eyes had darkened, they looked black even in the bright morning light. His fangs were all over the place. His hand was clasped so tightly on the hilt of his sword that his biceps were even more defined.
Lance shook his head. “You stay out of it.” He didn’t take his eyes off of the bloodied guy. “We’re the elite, the fucking ten. We are not a bunch of pussies. Pick. Up. The. Sword.”
To his credit, the guy on the ground didn’t look afraid. His eyes narrowed and his jaw clenched. “You’re such a fucking dick.” He reached for his sword, fresh blood spilled from a stab wound on his chest. He grit his teeth. The poor guy had to use his sword to help him get to his feet.
“You don’t have to do this.” Lazarus all out growled.
“I’m not a pussy.” The bloodied up guy swayed on his feet.
“Fuck this,” Lazarus growled. “Leave him alone, Lance.”
The asshole smiled. He looked more like a wild animal than anything resembling a human. His fangs were long and thick. His eyes looked crazed. He glanced at the poor guy in front of him, his smile widened. In a graceful arc, Lance slashed his sword across the other guy’s throat. The poor schmuck tried to deflect the blade but he was just too weak. His attempt deflected Lance’s blade to some degree but not enough.
Blood squirted. Sarah screamed. It wasn’t just Sarah, lots of the women were all out screaming. Some had hands over their mouths. The girl that was vomiting earlier, was back in the bushes, this time she had company.
It was horrible. Blood pumped from the wound. Although pumped was the wrong word, it squirted in time to his heartbeat. The guy somehow managed to stay on his feet. His eyes were big, they radiated shock. He slowly brought his hand to the wound but it didn’t help. There was a splattering noise which she realized was blood dripping onto the hard ground.
Shit!
Alex couldn’t breathe. Couldn’t believe what she was seeing. Fucking barbaric. “Call an ambulance!” Alex shouted. Why wasn’t anyone doing anything?
Lazarus looked pissed. As in storm clouds had descended and taken up residence inside of him. His teeth were clenched, his lips curled away. His eyes were midnight, the darkest shade of deadly she had ever seen before.
Sarah was all out sobbing, as were many of the other women. Lance lifted his sword…again…what the fuck? He was going to hurt the…dying…did vampires die from wounds like these? She didn’t know. It was a damned miracle that the guy was still on his feet.
“Don’t you fucking dare,” Lazarus growled.
Lance chuckled. The guy was totally fucked in the head. Like as in, he needed a straitjacket and medication.
“No!” Sarah screamed. “Leave him.” She ran, easily avoiding the closest guard who belatedly tried to grab her. You couldn’t blame the guards for being surprised because who actually chose to run towards a sharp sword and a deranged vampire? Sarah flung herself in front of the poor guy who finally fell to one knee. His wound was still bleeding profusely but not nearly as badly as before. She put her back to the guy, facing off with Lance.
“No, Sarah!” Alex screamed.
“Leave him alone.” Sarah said as her eyes locked with Lance’s. “You’re an asshole and a bully.”
“Get away from him, human,” Lance spat back at her.
Lazarus moved forward. “Get Griffin to the healers.” He growled, as he addressed two of the elite.
The poor guy’s eyes rolled back as he fell. He had to be dead. Sarah screamed, her hands moved to the wound on his neck where she tried to stop the bleeding. “Help him. Call an ambulance. They could send a chopper.” She pulled off her shirt and used it to try and staunch the flow. “Help him! Oh god!”
Two of the guys bent down and picked the poor guy up. His head lolled. He looked dead. His chest was still.
“Oh god!” Sarah shrieked.
“He is fine.” Lazarus pulled off his leather vest and handed it to Sarah. Her bra was white lace. She may as well have been naked but it didn’t look like she cared. She ignored Lazarus’ offer. Everyone was more focused on the bleeding vampire anyways.
“He is not fine,” Sarah sobbed. “How can you say that? He looks dead. He has to be dead…” She wrung her hands together.
Lazarus shook his head. “He will be fine. Our practice blades are made from steel. Griff will be fine. I promise.”
“He wasn’t breathing…” Sarah’s voice broke. “Don’t patronize me. He’s dead. He’s dead.” She said the last on a soft whisper.
“Human…” Lazarus touched her arm and she flinched. “You are right, his heart is no longer beating.”
A collective chorus of gasps and sighs sounded. Sarah threw a hand over her mouth and groaned. Her eyes were wide. Tears coursed down her cheeks.
“He is not dead though. We are vampires. It takes a lot more than that to kill one of us…especially an elite.”
“What the fuck?” Sarah looked angry now. “No heartbeat means that a person is dead. First Aid 101.”
“Like I said, he is a vampire. His heart has most likely already started up again. It will take a few hours for him to regenerate. I promise you that he is fine.”
“I want to go to him.” Sarah finally took the vest from Lazarus and pulled it over her head.
Lazarus shook his head. “Not right now. Give our healers a chance to work on him.”
“I thought you said he was fine.”
Lazarus nodded. “He is. Give him an hour or two and I’ll take you to him myself. I’m sure he will want to thank you.” Lazarus smiled. “You are a courageous female but please do not ever pull something like that again. Vampires are hard to kill, whereas humans are…” he shook his head. “You could’ve been gravely injured or killed.”
“You vampires are crazy.” She glared at Lance. “You should be ashamed of yourself.”
The prick lifted his chin and folded his arms. “I was well within my rights.”
Lazarus growled and Sarah jumped back. “Take her to safety.” Alex’s big, badass vampire bellowed. Urm…not hers…
“You are a fucking asshole,” Lazarus growled. One of the ten physically picked up Sarah and ran from the action. The guards stood ready this time, determined to stop anyone crazy enough to try and enter. As if.
“Fuck off, Lazarus. It’ done. I am permitted to fight until my opponent surrenders or falls.”
“He surrendered.” Lazarus took another step towards Lance.
“He picked up his sword.” Lance smiled.
“Like fuck.”
It was really wrong, given the situation, but Alex couldn’t help staring at Lazarus’ chest. His leather pants rode low on his hips. His abs made her want to drop to her knees and lick them. As in, right here, right now. They were in such a heated argument that they probably wouldn’t notice. His chest was magnificent. She sighed loudly. Perfectly hairless. Pecs, lats, quads, biceps. They were all well-defined. Alex wiped her mouth expecting to find drool, surprised when she didn’t.
Oh. Oh. Oh.
She might just be having herself a mini orgasm and just from looking at him. Her eyeballs were ruined. No other guy would ever look this good. It was impossible. Muscles shifted, bulged and corded as he moved, which was with infinite grace. He reminded her of a blazing fire or a raging wave…beautiful, infinitely strong yet deadly and potentially devastating.