Torn Desires 2(3)

“What have we here?”

She yelped in surprise as she snapped her head in the direction of the voice. The man that stood in front of her was freaking huge, almost as big as the vampires. He wore a pastel blue robe complete with silk sash and pixie boots.

Who the hell in their right mind wears pixie boots?

Maybe he was wearing a costume. He smiled revealing a single row of sharp teeth. Not human. Okay so maybe he wasn’t wearing a costume after all.

“It’s a little rabbit.” His thin eyebrows arched, his golden hair fell in a sheet across half his broad back.

He advanced.

Tanya knew she should be petrified but there was no time for such luxuries. She whimpered and made a show of pulling herself into a tight ball. Pixie boy was so arrogant that he kept advancing. He strode up to her and bent to pick her up. Using her position to her advantage, she kicked out nailing him with both her boots straight in the face. There was a crunching sound and he was knocked back. The bastard managed to stay on his feet though. She leapt up while he righted himself.

Using the back of his hand, he rubbed away the blood that dripped from both nostrils. He looked at his bloodied hand with a shocked expression. “I’m to take you in dead or alive. Which is it to be little rabbit?”

“Screw you.”

He chuckled and regardless of the satin robe and cute pixie shoes, shivers ran up her spine. He lunged at her. Somehow she managed to twist away just in time. Tanya sprinted for the kitchen, more precisely, she made for the big butcher’s block where she’d spied a set of steak knives when she’d first come in.

Pixie boy grabbed hold of her waist as she reached the block, he yanked her back. Tanya kicked down hard on his foot and elbowed him using every ounce of strength she had. Air was forced out of his lungs and he released his hold enough for her to pull away. Ignoring the butcher knives, she grabbed one of the smaller blades instead and turned to face him.

His eyes were stern. His mouth a thin white line.

“I will use this.” Tanya waved the knife praying that she would have enough guts to do as she threatened.

“I’m losing patience. Surrender or die.”

His hard eyes told her that he meant every word. She widened her stance and gripped the knife with both hands.

Big arms banded pixie-boy’s neck, followed by a sickening crunch. He dropped, eyes open, mouth gaping. Tanya was certain by the vacant look in his eyes that he was dead. She shuddered. Tanya had never seen a dead person before.

Zane’s chest heaved, he was covered in blood and gore. He rocked for a second or two before falling to one knee. “I think you had him, Ysnaar.”

Tanya gasped. “Best you keep that in mind,” she paused. “Aside from the arrow wound, are you hurt anywhere else?”

“Why? Would you kiss it better for me?”

She choked out a laugh trying to sound braver than she actually was. “This is no time for silly jokes.”

“Do I look like I’m joking?” Using all his strength, he rose to his feet with a grunt. His face a mask of pain. Zane had a washed out pale coloring that scared her. Dark circles were forming under his eyes.

“Help me to the sofa.” He leaned on her, sinking himself into the soft cushion. His jaw was locked and his brow furrowed. Drips of sweat beaded on his forehead. “You need to get it out.”

“Don’t joke.”

“Still not joking, sweetness.” His head rolled back. His breathing coming in short pants. “The arrow tip is poisoned. I’ll die if you don’t remove it soon.”

“Fuck. Tell me what to do.” Panic seized her.

“There is a shed outback. In it you’ll find”—he paused and grimaced for a few beats—“tools. Bring pliers, a hammer….that knife you had a second ago…I need you to push the arrow out.”

“As in…” She shook her head instead of finishing.

“You can do it, Ysnaar. The arrow tip is already at the other side.” He reached up and ripped his shirt at the shoulder, groaning as he tore it from his enormous body. She leaned forward examining the wound.

“God that must hurt like a bitch.”

He started to chuckle and moaned between gritted teeth instead. “Not so bad, I’ve had worse. It’s the poison. You need to get it out.”

Tanya jumped to her feet and made for the back door. She ran for the wooden shed and worked the bolt. The door sprang open as the bolt slid free. There was a whole array of tools. She grabbed two sets of pliers, a sturdy looking hammer and some screw drivers for good measure before running back the way she came.

Zane lay perfectly still on the sofa. If not for the rise and fall of his chest, she may’ve thought him dead. She sat next to him. His eyes opened slowly. “Hit the arrow out enough to be able to use the pliers to pull it free from the other side. Do it now.”