"It's open," he wheezed. "The sound barrier... the lock... anything I materialized reversed well before the sun came up, woman. Please, I'm begging you. Just a few hours of sleep."
She laughed and covered her mouth for a second. "No, tell me the sound barrier stayed intact."
"I tried..." He couldn't even muster the balance of his response.
"The monks! Are you crazy?"
A low, lazy chuckle rumbled up from Carlos's chest. "Yeah... I know."
"Father Patrick, it's almost noon!" Padre Lopez walked in a circle, wringing his hands. "I have heard of the Neteru's legendary stamina, but she's been battling a master vampire all night, and even into the day. He should have lost strength, should have been vanquished by now. He must have had the advantage, if she wasn't able to escape his lair. It sounded like they were killing each other - now I don't hear either of them! This was a very bad idea, we have much to explain to her guardian team!"
"I know." Father Patrick sighed, glancing at the other seasoned spiritual warriors who had manned a post outside all night. "But calm yourself, Padre Lopez."
"Calm myself?" The youngest cleric was incredulous. "But... but... he was murdering her! Torturing her! I don't even hear her cries to the Almighty anymore!"
"Yes," Father Patrick said in a weary tone, standing with effort, using his sword to assist him, "and she killed him, too. The storm has passed."
The young cleric's panic-stricken gaze bounced from one snoozing elder to another. "But we have to reclaim her body. We cannot let the Neteru's body be desecrated!"
"Too late," Monk Lin said on a yawn. "Think I should check the blood supply?"
"That would be advisable," Asula replied, stretching. "Better make an emergency run. He's probably near extinction."
Father Patrick nodded.
"You would again revive the beast that - "
The appearance of Damali halted Padre Lopez's argument. The four men watched her slowly open the cabin door, adjust the strap of her dress on her shoulder, smooth the front of it, and rake her fingers through her locks. She squinted hard at the sun, and glanced away with a sheepish smile.
"Uh... gentlemen... can I get a lift home?"
"Neteru! Oh, thank God!" Padre Lopez rushed to her, grabbed her by the arms and held her back, inspecting her throat. "She's been wounded!" He looked at his brethren for support, and they only lowered their eyes and smiled.
"Yeah," Damali murmured, weaving a bit. She covered the wound on her neck with her hand. "You guys have any more blood in the fridge?"
"She needs a transfusion. We should get her to a hospital!"
Damali chuckled, and pecked Padre Lopez on the cheek. "Naw, I'm good, but Carlos could use a case or two."
The Neteru, bitten? Willingly? Interesting. The darkness of her lair gave the darkness in her mind room to breathe and expand. The huntress was on the move, out in the open, yet she could smell the stench of clerics all around her... just as she could detect the unmistakable scent of sex on her. Very, very intriguing.
A sudden smile graced her mouth. No wonder the master didn't answer my call. She cocked her head to the side. How had he gotten beyond what were obvious prayer barriers, laid down by seasoned warriors, to corner such worthy prey? The thrill of that conquest might have been more of a seduction than any vampire could have resisted, but it still annoyed her that the young Neteru had such pull.
Yet, in a very odd way, it increased the level of anticipation within her. If Master Rivera could accomplish such a wanton feat, then he was indeed worthy of all she had to bargain with.
Again, she surveyed the wounded Neteru. The huntress's throat had been ravaged, her own self-protection in shreds... and her telepathy was down, no barrier to a scan in effect, and her focus was still singular - Carlos. She laughed out loud and dropped her scan of the Neteru to preserve her energy for the coming night.
They had been wrong. This man was obviously so much more than a mere vehicle to amass limitless territory; he was a consummate professional. This morning he'd gained her respect.
She raked her fingers through her hair and shook her head at the dilemma. She might have to find a way to keep him without killing him - at least for a little while.
"It's past noon, Marlene!" Shabazz shouted. He paced back and forth within the weapons room, intermittently pounding his fist on the table. "The man is a master vampire, and nature is nature, Mar! Fuck all this philosophical rhetoric about him not killing Damali! You hear me! Bottom line, he's still a vampire! He'll flat line her."
"That's right, Mar. I told you we should have done the sonofabitch when we had him in the compound," Rider added, going over to stand by Shabazz.
"Yeah, Mar," Big Mike argued. "Noon? We need to be real. She's toast. Our baby went outta here without her blade..." Tears stood in Big Mike's eyes. "He done killed our baby girl... and I'ma kill him up good for this!"
"Aw... man... I never thought he'd do her," Dan murmured. "I never thought - "