Night Unbound(90)

“Ugh.” Lisette grimaced. “I smell them now.”#p#分页标题#e#
The four of them eased back into the shadows.
 

 

Eight vampires loped into view. Scraggly, unkempt hair partially concealed eyes glowing from a recent kill. Multiple blood types stained clothing that reeked of stale sweat and unwashed bodies.
With her sharp eyes, Lisette could see dirt and she didn’t want to know what else caked beneath their fingernails. Some hands still bore the blood of their latest victims, sticky and glistening like strawberry jam.
All were of the usual variety of vampires, infected for a few years by the looks of them and well on their way to becoming totally psychotic. All but one.
One vampire ate up the ground in long, confident strides rather than slump-shouldered lopes or shuffling steps. Both his body and his clothing were clean, his hair cropped short and recently shampooed. He walked at the back of the pack, curling his lip at the others while he studied his surroundings with a razor-edged gaze.
One of the new breed of vampires is with them, Lisette thought to the others.
Richart took Jenna’s hand.
Lisette, Zach spoke in her mind, does Seth intend to awaken tonight?
She glanced up at him. Tonight or tomorrow.
Zach’s eyes narrowed as he watched the vamps.
Why?
Because I want to try something.
Apprehension pricked her. Zach—
Remain here, he said. This time she could tell he directed the command at all three of them.
Richart held up a hand. Seth said not to engage any of the new vampires.
Seth told you not to engage the new vampires, Zach corrected. Not me. Have you a tranquilizer gun with you?
Lisette, Richart, and Jenna each drew one and held it up.
Lisette’s had just been delivered by the network that morning. Usually she only carried EpiPen-like auto-injectors full of the sedative.
Only use them if you have to, Zach ordered.
Zach! Lisette protested, afraid he intended to do something reckless.
Dipping his head, he brushed a light kiss across her lips. I’ll be fine. Stay here.
He vanished, then reappeared only a few feet in front of the pack.
Lisette raised the tranquilizer gun and aimed it at the big vamp.
The vampires shuffled to a halt.
“Who the fuck are you?” one demanded, either too insane or too stupid to be afraid.
Zach smiled. “It doesn’t really matter. You won’t live long enough to tell anyone.” Drawing katanas, he shot forward.
Lisette gasped as he tore through the vampires like a tornado.
Holy shit, he’s fast! Richart thought and took a step forward, his fascinated gaze glued to the tempest below.
It didn’t take long.
Zach stilled in the center of the pack, knees bent, blades dripping, face marbled with blood. Seven vampires sank lifelessly to the ground, their bodies spread around him like the petals of a flower, as the virus went to work and they began to shrivel up like mummies.
The newbie vampire, eyes wide, swiftly raised a tranquilizer gun nearly identical to the one Lisette carried and aimed it at Zach’s chest.
Zach straightened and lowered his arms to his sides, hands loosely clasping the hilts of his swords. Face impassive, he arched a brow. “Well?”
What the hell is he doing? Richart demanded.
Lisette’s heart began to pound. I don’t know.
The vamp pulled the trigger.
Lisette expected Zach to leap aside and dodge the dart, or drop a sword and catch the dart between two fingers. He certainly possessed the speed required to do so.
Instead, he just stood there.
The dart lodged itself in Zach’s chest.
She bit back a cry.
Zach stared at the vampire and shifted his shoulders a bit. Tilting his head, he pursed his lips. “Sort of tickles.”
The vamp’s eyes widened. He pulled the trigger again.
Zach’s face darkened in a blink, twisting into a snarl of rage that caught even Lisette off guard. He dropped a sword, caught the dart, and let it fall harmlessly to the pavement. Before the vamp could get off another shot, Zach zipped forward. Wrapping the fingers of his free hand around the vampire’s neck, he shoved him up against the nearest building.
The vampire struggled at first, swinging a meaty fist that connected with Zach’s jaw, then went still.
Dangling in Zach’s hold as though paralyzed, he stared at Zach with eyes full of terror. His mouth opened in a silent cry as his face contorted with pain. Blood began to trickle from one nostril. The trickle became a streaming rivulet.
Lisette lowered her gun. Striding forward, she stepped off the roof.
Richart and Jenna appeared beside her.
“I told you to stay on the roof,” Zach snapped.
None of them moved.
Blood emerged from one of the vamp’s ears and slipped down to soak his collar. His other ear began to bleed, too. Then his eyes.
Zach’s hand at the vampire’s throat began to glow.