Page 40 of Of Flame and Fury

“Death,” Bridette answers.

Chapter Fourteen

I don’t see the Nytes emerge. But Sparky senses them well enough.

Shadows twist and lift from the darkness, coiling around Emme and Bridette. They take shape from one breath to the next, forming into vampires more akin to Nosferatu than the sinfully beautiful creatures they’re known as.

My right hand shoots out, casting a glow and scaring off two Nytes who rush me. The closest Nyte hisses, his long tongue slipping in and out between his crooked fangs. I edge away, the light Sparky emits keeping him at bay. Celia ducks and dodges the pair of shadows who round on her. She leaps backward, landing at my side in a crouch.

Shayna spins, using the momentum to unsheathe her sword, swinging it at the Nyte who targets her.

Sharp steel cuts into the partially shadowed creature. As it takes shape, it glances down at the wound, curious like a child. The Nyte beside him pokes at the slice in the skin, moistening the tips of his claws with dark fluid. The way Shayna struck and swung, she should have cut it in half. The only thing that saved it was that it hadn’t solidified.

Sparky’s glow intensifies, stretching out into a circle. The Nytes hiss, keeping just outside the edge.

Emme and Bridette couldn’t escape. These Nytes are too fast; Emme and Bridette can’t do more than stand. Thin, knotted fingers wrap over their mouths and throats. The one holding Emme gives a squeeze. Emme winces, whimpering in pain.

With an expert flick, Shayna tosses her dagger. It spins, jetting through the translucent skull of Emme’s captor. The thing giggles, I think. His concave chest pushes in and out, and several high-pitched wheezes escape. His friends join in. I’ll give Johnny this, his kids are creepy as fuck.

Shayna’s initial attack worked against us. They’re learning our weaknesses and building one hell of an offense.

Celia’s claws protrude from her hands and bare feet. Luckily, only the side of her foot grazes mine. She waits within the protection of my light, ready to act. Shayna is at my back, flexing and relaxing her grip over the hilt of her sword as the remaining Nytes circle us.

The Nytes giggle and shove each other, trying to force the weaker of their brethren into my light. One of the smaller Nytes falls forward. My light neither burns it nor causes any damage. Still, it scampers away, frightened.

The real vampires of this world aren’t affected by light or sun. These fear something that can’t harm them. I take a chance and step toward Emme and Bridette, hoping to use their fear in my favor.

They scramble away, taking Emme and Bridette with them. I try again, Celia and Shayna moving with me.

“Let them go,” I say, putting every bit of my anger in each syllable. “Right now.”

“Or what?”

I angle in the direction of the voice, just enough to catch the owner. Anger stabs each word I say, erasing the shock I would have otherwise demonstrated when I see who it is. “Or I will fucking fry you, bitch.”

The vampire, the one I saw flirting with that Lesser witch in the hall earlier, grins. Bridette might have paved the way for Johnny to enter over time, but the Lesser witch, the one this vamp chose to sacrifice, was the final key that allowed Johnny and his army in.

The vamp rakes his gaze down my body and laughs. The Nytes join him since, well, this shit isn’t disturbing enough. “My dear,” he tells me. “Even you, so wickedly hot, can’t burn a shadow.”

I can if it takes enough form, asshole. I don’t offer him that little tidbit. These freaks don’t need to know anything more.

“What do you want?” I ask. It’s not like I don’t know. I just need time to figure things out and catch him off guard.

His sleazy features lock onto Celia. He licks his lips, taking her in. “You know what I want,” he says.

Man, this idiot is so going to fry.

Shayna presses closer to Celia. Me, I keep talking. “What will you give us in exchange?”

“Life,” he replies.

I suppose he means to sound tempting. “Is that what you offered Bridette over there?” I shake my head. “I don’t know, moron, it doesn’t look like it’s worked out for her.”

Bridette glares at me. I roll my eyes. This witch will go down kicking and screaming that she made the right choice.

“She had her purpose, now it’s fulfilled.”

“That’s some bullshit purpose,” I say. I swing my light back and forth, just to freak out the Nosferatu bastards and make like I’m the one in control. The snapdragons click their little mouths and little teeth at them when they draw too close. I grin. Maybe I am in control.