Swift and I could only watch as Simon and Certus pulled alongside the caravan of cars. The escort vehicles, one in front and another behind the armored truck, kept formation. Simon took the initiative and slammed the side of his car into the front escort. The car fishtailed until the driver regained control and tried to return the compliment. Simon pulled away and stepped on the gas. His antagonizing did the trick. The escort followed him away from the truck. Certus performed the same trick and we were left alone with the unknowing armored vehicle.
Swift eased us within two yards of the truck. "Now's your time."
The wind whistled over us as we took the corners at a clip greater than the recommended speed. I shrank down away from the sun roof. "I-I can't do this."
Yes you can! Specter insisted.
I shook my head. "I can't!"
Swift reached over and grasped my hand. I looked at him, and he gave me a grin and a wink. "Of course you can. You've got my blood in you, remember? And with that you can do anything."
His immodesty made me snort. "You're something, you know that?"
He nodded. "Yep, and you're going to make something more of me by getting out there and jumping."
Sounds reasonable enough Specter retorted.
I swallowed my fear and stood on my shaky legs. I stuck my head out the sun roof and was met with a blast of cold air. My hair whipped behind me and a few bugs lodged themselves into my teeth. I leaned down and climbed over the sun roof and onto the thin gap between the windshield and hood. Swift sidled the car beside the rear of the truck so I only had three feet to jump to the bumper.
Three long, deadly feet.
With or without that idiot's blood, you can do this Specter encouraged me.
I pursed my lips and lowered my body for the spring.
Oh, and if you don't make this and we both become ghosts, I'm never speaking to you again.
"Great vote of confidence. . ." I muttered.
Just saying. You know, just in case.
I took a deep breath and leapt the short distance. My leaping skills over-performed, and I ended up slamming into the rear doors of the armored truck. I got a foothold on the bumper and clung to the thick handles. My heart thumped so hard in my chest I thought it would slam the doors open. I performed a small prayer to the god of jumping and straightened.
My turn.
I watched Specter float from my body and drift through the thick doors. With my footing firm and my heart less firm against my rib cage, I risked standing on my tiptoes and peering over the top of the armored vehicle. The treacherous road ahead of us grew narrower as we traveled farther from the city, and I could just make out the tail lights of four vehicles as they duked it out.
Specter's head shot out of the top of the cab. It was surreal to see his hair perfectly still while everything around him blew backwards. "We have a problem!"
The truck swung to the left and slammed into its rear into the front of Swift's car. I clung to the top and gritted my teeth. "That's not what I want to hear!"
"The driver's a vampire!"
My mouth dropped open. "Seriously?" The outline of a fist slammed the top of the cab and created a large bump. That was as good an answer as any.
Specter floated to the passenger side of the cab. "Now do you believe me?"
"All right, but what do we do about it?" I shouted.
Specter floated free of the car and slammed his transparent body into me. I nearly lost my grip as he melded with me and entered my mind. We fight him.
"You're joking, right?" I asked him.
Speak in your mind! And I'm not joking! he shouted.
I winced. All right, don't give us both a heart attack.
A car horn honked and I glanced over my shoulder at the Shadow car. Swift waved his hand through the sun roof. I pointed at the front of the truck. Swift pressed on the gas and flew past us. I leaned over the side and watched him sidle up to the driver's window.
That's when the driver turned the wheel and slammed the side of the truck into Shadow. The car swerved away and I saw a sizable dent in the passenger door.
We've got to get that vampire out of there!
Like how? Ask nicely? I retorted.
You ever seen those action movies where the person swings feet-first into the cab and knocks the driver out the other door?
I snorted. Are you serious? That's your suggestion?
Do you have a better one?
I pursed my lips. There really weren't too many options, and the vampire had left a nice hand hold above him.
Wish us luck I told him.
I took a deep breath and climbed atop the truck. The slick roof and skittish driving swept me left and right. I lunged for and succeeded in grabbing the fist-shaped knob.
I looked up at the coming road. The scenery around us was now changed. The forest still stood off to our left, but to our right were the tall cliffs of the bay. I shook my head and ignored the long, deadly drop.
I scooted my feet so they hung over the driver's side of the cab.
On my mark Specter offered.
No countdown!
What about a count up then?
No!
I took a deep breath and pushed off using my hands. I swooped through the window and into the cab. My feet connected to the side of the driver's face, and he tumbled to the other side of the interior. I landed neatly in his place, but at an angle so my feet still faced the passenger side window.
The vampire didn't quite roll out as we'd hoped. His back hit the other car door and rattled the truck, but the door didn't open. Instead, the vampire driver lifted his head and his red eyes fell on me. A hiss escaped his pressed lips as he crawled towards me.
I scooted back against the driver's door. "He didn't drop out!"
I can see that! Just keep kicking him!
I flailed my feet and grabbed the steering wheel as we careened down the road. A loud horn caught our attention, and the vampire and I looked through the windshield.
A sharp corner was coming, and if we didn't make this one we were going to go for a swim.
My eyes widened and I slid into the driver's seat. The vampire grabbed the steering wheel and tried to push me out of the way. We shoved each other as the truck careened towards our doom.
Specter floated out of my body and shoved himself into the vampire's face. The undead jerked back, and I slammed my elbow into his gut. He doubled over and I turned the wheel and slammed on the brakes just as we reached the corner.
The truck performed the turn on two wheels and a lot of prayer. All three of us leaned to the left and gritted our teeth as the glistening waters of the bay invited us for an eternal swim. Numerous fresh skid marks from the road to the edge of the cliff told me Simon and Certus were either good at their jobs, or this had been their last job. There was no doggy-paddling for me that night, though, as I navigated the corner and the truck dropped back onto all four tires. Swift drove in front pf us, and he honked his horn as a form of clapping.
The vampire jumped at me and tried to shove me out the driver's door, so I gave him what he wanted. I fumbled for the handle and opened the door. I flew out, but kept a firm grip on the bottom of the open window. The vampire lost his balance when he lost me to shove, and he dropped out. He performed a few bounces before he tumbled to a stop.
I swung back into the truck, slammed the door shut and took a deep breath. "If I ever get a hold of Simon I'm going to kill him."
Specter floated back into me and chuckled. Maybe he'll give you a nice reward.
I glared at the windshield. "I told you not to-" Something caught my attention. I glanced in the rear view mirror. The vampire stood up and raced after us, and he was just as fast as me. He pumped his arms and closed the gap between the truck and him.
Behind you! Specter yelped.
I gripped the steering wheel and slammed on the gas. "I can see that!"
Even with the added speed the vampire kept gaining on us. We flew past a thick patch of woods with an abandoned road. Two black shadows flew from the darkness and tailed us. They looked like bad news that I didn't need to hear, or see.
"You've got to be kidding me!" I yelled.
That's not who you thin it is Specter spoke up. Just watch.
The cars gained on the vampire and the pair of vehicles flanked him. The vampire looked from left to right, and I could see the whites of his red eyes widen. He threw up his arms just as the cars slammed into his sides.
I looked away, but I couldn't drown out the horrible, pain-filled scream of the vampire. I risked a look in the mirror and watched the former driver disappear beneath the wheels of the left-hand car. What came out the back wasn't pleasant.
The two cars sped up while I slowed down. The left-hand car took the lead in front of Swift while the other one guarded the rear. I didn't need three guesses to know it was Simon in that vehicle.
He led us a few more miles down the road before we turned off onto an abandoned road. We stopped out of sight of the main road. I shut off the truck and dove out so I could kiss the gritty dirt. Mother Earth never felt so good.
CHAPTER 12
A shadow fell over me. I looked up and glared at the tense face of Simon. Specter floated out of me and glanced at both of us as our other two companions crowded around us.
I jumped to my feet and jabbed a finger into Simon's chest. "What the hell were you thinking making me deal with a vampire?"
He grasped my hand and shook his head. "If I had known the security team was comprised of other undead I would not have placed you in such a position."
I leaned back and arched an eyebrow. "So you're saying you didn't know?"
He nodded. "I am."
"That's a first," Specter spoke up as he floated closer to us. He folded his arms and crossed his legs. "I thought you knew all the night businesses."