Be Still My Vampire Heart(100)

 

Jean-Luc swished his foil through the air. "Let us settle this now, Casimir."

 

Casimir paled. He glared at Katya. "You traitor! You led me into a trap."

 

"No!" Katya shouted.

 

Casimir zoomed toward her and grasped her by the throat. "I will remember this betrayal."

 

Jedrek dashed forward and whispered in Casimir's ear. Casimir released Katya and stepped back.

 

She fell to the ground. "I didn't betray you. I swear I didn't."

 

Angus's friends jumped from the stone wall and slowly advanced.

 

Casimir eased behind his bodyguards and glared at the Russian vampires. "You will die tonight. You deserve to die." He and his bodyguards shimmered.

 

"Nay!" Angus ran toward Casimir just as the evil vampire vanished. "Damn!" He'd wanted to kill Casimir tonight. A sword swiped close to Angus's ear, and he jumped back. Alek was trying to kill him. "A sword!"

 

Alek lunged, aiming his sword at Angus's heart.

 

Angus leaped to the side and caught the sword Ian tossed him. Ian whipped his dagger from his sock and ducked when Burien took a swing at him. Robby jumped in to engage Burien and protect Ian.

 

Angus parried with Alek, drove him back, then skewered him through the heart. He watched with satisfaction as Alek turned to dust. No longer would the bastard stick a knife to Emma's throat.

 

Angus swiveled, looking for Emma. Jean-Luc was fighting Miroslav. Jack was taking his time with Galina, no doubt uncomfortable with the thought of killing a woman. But where the hell was Emma? Burien cried out as Robby stabbed him through the heart. The two mortals dropped their rifles and ran for the woods. Zoltan and his men chased after them. Galina screamed. Jack must have gotten over his hesitation.

 

Angus froze when he spotted Emma. Katya was dragging her toward the barn. Emma struggled, but was too weak to escape. He zoomed toward them, but Katya saw him coming and vanished, taking Emma with her.

 

"Nay!" Angus halted where they'd disappeared. There was no telling where they'd teleported to. And Emma was too damned weak to fight. It was all his fault. Guilt slammed into him, doubling him over.

 

Robby lay a hand on his shoulder. "We'll find them."

 

Angus nodded, unable to speak.

 

"Spread out and search!" Robby yelled.

 

The Vamps blurred as they all zoomed around the property and into the woods, hunting for Emma. Minutes ticked by but felt like hours. Robby and Ian ran from the barn, declaring it clear. Seconds later, Jean-Luc and his two coven members emerged from the manor house, yelling that it was clear. The others had fanned out into the woods.

 

Angus jumped onto the stone wall and listened carefully. He turned north. Was that a scream? A woman's scream.

 

"This way!" He dashed into the woods. His companions spread out behind him.

 

"Emma!" Angus heard no response. God, he hoped he wasn't too late. If Katya kept teleporting, she could be far away.

 

He charged into a small clearing and skidded to a halt. His heart stuttered.

 

Ian stopped behind him. "She's still alive."

 

Barely. Angus knelt beside Emma. His heart twisted at the sight of her torn neck. Damn that Katya. She'd almost drained Emma dry.

 

A large amount of dust covered Emma. Her stake lay in her limp hand. She'd managed to use it while Katya was feeding. The slayer had killed one last vampire. Angus thanked God he had made her a stake. But he'd also made her weak.

 

"Oh, Emma." He pulled off his T-shirt and pressed it against her bleeding neck. His eyes

 

welled with tears.

 

Tree branches and bushes rustled as more people rushed into the clearing.

 

"How is she?" Austin demanded.

 

Darcy gasped. "Oh my God. Are we too late?"

 

Robby squatted beside Angus. "I'm so sorry."

 

Angus gritted his teeth. "She's no' dead yet. We can give her a transfusion." He looked at Ian and Robby. "Doona ye have some bottles of blood in yer sporrans?"

 

Robby looked at him sadly. "We doona have the equipment for a transfusion."

 

"Then we'll teleport her," Angus said. "Roman can fix her."

 

Jean-Luc knelt on the other side of Emma. "It's still daylight in New York. There's only

 

one way to save her, Angus, and you know what that is."

 

"Nay!" Angus blinked back tears. "I canna transform her. She couldna stomach being a vampire. They killed her parents."

 

"But she can be changed back," Darcy suggested. "I'm living proof of that."

 

Angus blinked. Of course! He'd been too panicked to realize there was another option. Did Emma still have the scrap of stained cloth? If not, he could leave her his T-shirt. It was soaked with her mortal blood.