Chapter 2

ALLISON'S POV

I smiled when he did, the force of his rage feeling like a cooling balm on my skin. There was no easier target than one driven by emotion. Especially when the emotion in question was one as volatile as anger. I easily evaded his careless attack, dipping under the arm he swung at me and moving to his back.

Maybe this was what I needed. A fight to keep my mind off the disconcerting changes that had been happening to me. Nothing lifted my mood more than a chance to pummel leeches.

For the first time in days, my head was clear and I was relieved of the noises that threatened to madden me.

The leech stumbled but hastily righted himself before throwing himself at me once again. Appearance-wise the vamp looked level-headed but appearances could be deceiving, I'd learnt that a long time ago. The way he moved was anything but level-headed.

He threw another careless fist in my direction. Was he trying to bore me with these overly predictable attacks? I almost yawned as I evaded him again. He growled loudly, baring his bloodied fangs at me.

Regrettably, my attention shot to the red that stained his mouth and my focus faltered. Suddenly I could smell the metal off his breath despite the distance between us and it was disorienting. My head began to pound. My mouth watered yet my throat felt drier than a desert. The unending thirst was back with vengeance and it had me so fucked up that I imagined licking the blood off this vampire's canines.

Dammit Allison. Now isn't the time for this.

I managed to gain my bearings back but a moment too late. The vamp forced me to the ground with his large body, knocking the air out of my lungs as my body hit the concrete. The pain that spread through my back hadn't even registered before his fist connected with the side of my face. I faintly heard a crack echo before yet another fist connected with the other side.

My head swam as stars dotted my vision. Not a good sign.

Dammit. The brute packed a mean punch. Another clean hit would knock me out.

I didn't let him land another blow before I threw my foot at his groin with all the force I could muster. Dirty move, I know but there was no such thing as rules when it came to fighting leeches. Their mere existence betrayed any form of fairness. He bellowed and clutched his balls while I took the opportunity to put some distance between us as I tried to gather my bearings.

The world around me swayed. I fell into a crouch, clutching my knees in a desperate attempt to steady myself.

As I did, the sound of rapid-fire echoed around me, so loud that my ears almost bled. I looked up to see the vamp shielding himself from the array of bullets slowly turning him into Swiss cheese.

"Allison, are you okay?" Lacey's voice called through my receiver. "That was a mean punch you took back there."

"I'm fine." I replied but we both knew it was a lie. I could barely stand on my own two feet and my vision was doubled.

Shake it off. You've taken worse hits. I forced myself to straighten up, ignoring the wave of pain that floated through my head as I did.

Bear it. You can take some painkillers and have a really long nap once the vamps are down.

A nap sounded really nice.

"Cease fire." I said through the receiver and suddenly silence fell on the scene. I was grateful for the reprieve.

I stared at the vamp before me with disgust. Holes dotted almost every inch of his clothes and red stained the dark fabric and the ground around him. A normal person would be dead after all that yet he still stood.

I silently made my way behind him, using his current agony as cover. Without a moment's hesitation, I plunged my blade into his back, relishing in the familiar sensation of metal cutting through skin. He gave a pained yell as he stumbled forward, clutching his side.

"You Hunter bitch!" He spat out with venom as blood seeped through the fingers clutching his wound. I hadn't hit anything vital, a wound like this wouldn't be fatal but it wouldn't heal. Not anytime soon at least.

That was the beauty of my sword. My most prized possession. Anyone cut by its edge would be cursed with a wound that never healed. No medicine or magic would ever be able to help. The curse would only end if it was passed on to someone else. Unless my blade pierced someone else's flesh, that wound would remain with him for eternity. Or at least until his death.

Still, even though it would never heal, it was still merely a flesh wound. With his vampire resilience, he was still a major threat. I needed to get rid of him soon.

Before his brother woke from his slumber.

I shook off the remnants of his blood that clung to my blade and poised to attack. Sensing the change in my demeanour, his posture straightened and tensed, his hands leaving the bleeding stab wound in his side.

"So you're the little Hunter we were warned to be cautious about. I didn't recognize you at first but seeing as my wound isn't healing, you must be the mortal reaper." his voice was deep and smooth with an almost melodic lull, very unlike the shouts he'd let out earlier. His demeanour all to suddenly changed, almost like I was faced with an entirely different person. Unlike before when he seemed so hasty to attack, his eyes now cautiously observed me, searching for weaknesses. "I'd thought the rumours about you were exaggerated."

I wasn’t the least bit fazed by his comment. It wasn’t odd that my targets knew of my reputation. In fact, some over confident abominations tended to search me out for battle, claiming they could claim the head of the ‘mortal reaper’. Seeing as I still stood, they were yet to succeed. I was yet to lose a fight against one of their kind.

"You must have heard how awesome and gorgeous I am, I assume. Gosh, I never thought I'd become a celebrity but here I am. I guess it can't be helped with all my unearthly charms." my eyes searched him as well as I began circling him. There was something unsettling about his sudden change and I still didn't know what was hidden underneath that trench coat. I needed to be extra cautious.

The abominations were usually fans of more primitive weapons like swords and Spears but on occasion, I met those who carried firearms. No matter how talented I was in hunting their kind, I was still human. A bullet could kill me like anyone else. I'd much rather not get shot at.

"Indeed. You're very popular amongst us these days. The beautiful dark-haired reaper is all the rave these days." he circled me as I did him, his eyes ever-focused on the long sword I held. His gaze looked covetous. Eyeing my sword? My grip tightened on the hilt. Over my dead body would anyone pry this sword from me. I worked hard to earn the sword, it was my most prized possession. No one would take my trophy from me.

"All this flattery will make me blush. Are you by chance trying to butter me up so I spare you? Let me just tell you, it won't work. I have no plans of letting you walk out of here alive."

He laughed, a hearty sound that was oddly pleasing to the ear. Sometimes I had to remind myself that vamps didn't cackle like stereotypical evil witches.

"I wouldn't dare imagine such a thing. In all honesty, I've wanted to meet you since the moment I heard about you. I wanted to meet the mortal who'd managed to fell so many immortals with nothing but a sword. The last possible thing I would want is for you to hold back."

"What are you? A Fan of mine? or do you have a crush on me?" The back and forth was fun but I could tell he was stalling. What for? I couldn't get a read on him.

"A crush seems very fitting." He chuckled, flashing his stained fangs in the process.

"And how do I fare in reality? Did I meet your expectations?"

"You've surpassed them even." he said with a teasing smile that lit up his handsome face. Damn. It had to be a crime to look that good. Why did their kind always have to be so easy on the eyes? It simply wasn't fair. "Looks like I'm not the only one with a crush. Do you like what you see, reaper?"

I fought back the blush that crept up my neck from being caught ogling the vamp.

"Very much so. It's almost a shame I have to cut you down." I said trying to mask my embarrassment with sass.

"You don't have to do that. You could always take me home with you. You'd find me to be quite... homely." there was an almost seductive look in his eye as his gaze trailed down my body. What a perve.

"Tempting but no thank you. I don’t dig biting." I pointed at my canines when I spoke.

"A shame, I would have taken good care of your lithe little body." he muttered off before I caught a glint in his eye. He was about to attack. He dove for me and from his stance I anticipated his attack. He looked like he was about to slash at me with his claws but I knew he wasn't stupid enough to try the same move twice.

It was a feint. If I ducked to dodge again, he would pin me with his boot. I almost laughed at his pitiful attempt. Did he think I was some novice that would fall for such an obvious ruse?

I didn't let it show on my face that I knew what he was planning. I pretended like I was about to duck when in reality the grip on my blade tightened as I readied to slice his neck off. Strike before he even lifts his boot off the ground. I imagined the clean cut of skin and bone as his head fell to the ground.

This was supposed to be a recovery mission but I was sure the leader wouldn't be too mad if I killed one of the vamps. I'm sure he expected that much from me.

When he was a foot away, I aimed for his neck and poised to strike but my blade wouldn't move. It was caught on something. Wide-eyed, I turned back to see the second twin grinning as he held the sharp end of my sword, the hole in his head almost fully mended. The blade cut into his palm and blood dripped down its length but he didn't seem to feel it.

"Got ya." He mouthed off with a wide grin.

So that was the plan. I cursed just as trench coat twin plunged a dagger into my midsection. A scream tore from my throat as pain seared me. Fuck! He’d been stalling for his brother to join the scuffle and I foolishly played into their hands. How hadn’t I noticed his brother rousing? He twisted the blade slowly, summoning another cry from my throat as more of my flesh gave way for the blade.

"I just knew your cries of pain would be as enticing as the rest of you."

"Fucking Bastard." I spat out through clenched teeth. I tried to get away but I was sandwiched between the two men.

"We have the mortal reaper weak and defenceless in our grasp. We can literally do anything we please with you." Trench coat whispered the words against the shell of my ear and I shuddered.

Earlier I imagined getting sandwiched by them would be hot but this was far from my imaginings. I struggled against them but I was no match for their brutish strength.

It was at this time I expected my backup to do their jobs but yet no shots had been fired at the vamps holding me captive. When I looked around, I understood why. The two large males that were supposed to back me up were on their knees, weapons dropped at their sides, eyes glazed over.

Even Lacey who I thought remained hidden this entire time was dangling from the roof, her green orbs equally glazed over.

"What did you do to them?" I screamed at the one behind me.

"Oh pipe down. They're not dead. Just out of commission for the time being." He rolled his eyes. "Are you even in any position to be worrying about others right now? You're in more danger than they are." as if to lay emphasis on his brother's words, trench coat twisted the blade again.

Another scream tore from my throat.