her goggles and silently implored that she keep her trap shut. Poe looked away. Her chest constricted with guilt. Kaleb Sainvire was her first real love outside of John Cusack, Paul Newman, and Steve McQueen. She knew his strength improved with every second.
From the corner of her eye, the little Latino guy named Ed quietly injected hope back into her heart. In his unassuming way, the debris hauler began a cleanup of his own on the roof. Without any weapons save from his hands that were smaller and more delicate than Poe’s, he received every blow from taller opponents only to pounce on them with enough force to puncture holes through their chests and stomachs.
He brandished an easy Mona Lisa smile.
Go, Ed! she silently rooted.
A solitary figure landed on the roof, swathed in an old-fashioned cloak. Poe’s heart rejoiced. It was a feeling so foreign and devoid the past few days that she was at a loss. They weren’t alone anymore. She thanked the stars that Raspair’s back was turned and he couldn’t see the intruder. Vampires are seriously defective, Poe thought bitterly.
“And I flattened your butler, too.” Poe swallowed, continuing her cockamamie story until she felt brash.
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“He’s in the tunnels butlering hungry babies. Some I’m sure are your very own spawn.”
For the insolence, the Council Chairman cuffed her across the temple. The blow nearly obliterated her sight.
“As I was saying, Sainvire,” Raspair continued, “I will strike permanent death to you and those who insist on continuing their allegiance to the proliferation of Plasmacore. Did I not declare that you would pay for every vampire this girl has killed? Isn’t that so, Rodrigo?” he said without turning around. He knew that Rodrigo Jacopo was there.
“Yes, sir.” Rodrigo answered. “I believe we’ve done that twice over this night.”
For the traitorous act, Georgette quickly swung two babies off of her so she could hold a spear tip against Rodrigo’s heart. “Son of a bitch! You’re the one that blocked the tracks–”
“And did I also not say that Sainvire would die if we ever found a trace of Plasmacore anywhere near downtown?” said Raspair as if Georgette hadn’t spoken.
“Yes, you did,” Rodrigo stated boldly, staring down Georgette who looked upon him with disgust, the tip of her sword inches from his heart.
“That’s beside the point now, isn’t it? Cattle theft is a drawn-and-quarter offense at the very least.”
“I’ve always known you were crooked,”
Georgette accused.
“Georgette, you think everyone’s crooked.”
Jacopo flashed a smug smile.
“But you, I’m sure about,” she laughed bitterly.
“You set us up.”
“Hush, woman,” said the Council Chairman.
“This entire charade reeks of greed. You and a handful of idiots want to herd our food source.” He turned 357
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around to look at Rodrigo and then found Sainvire’s eyes, “So, Rodrigo Jacopo, councilman in these parts, what do you think we should do with a turncoat drug trafficker, vampire killer, and cattle thief in our midst?”
Every pair of eyes looked expectantly at Rodrigo.
“Councilman, that is a very difficult question.”
Rodrigo quelled Poe’s disbelieving look with a smile and rested his green gaze on Sainvire. Ancient undead surrounded the downed vampire. “But I believe death by impalement would suffice – from mouth to orifice.”
In a blur, Rodrigo broke the spear aimed at his heart and stabbed the jagged edged handle into Georgette’s chest. The force penetrated the rusty chain mail easily.
“Georgette!” exclaimed Sainvire, attempting to stand. The pain in his chest was still too great. The bullet was inches away from his heart.
The vampire, who looked like she had fought the bloody Crusades, collapsed instantly and was borne by the wind to fall on the rocky ground below. Full of good tidings, Rodrigo walked to the Council Chairman and patted him on the back.
Poe tried to pry away Raspair’s hand, muttering the most terrible epithets she could remember directly at Rodrigo. She didn’t care that her arm wound began bleeding again. “You pinche cocksucking roach!”
“Poe, enough!” Sainvire ordered. “It’s alright. I imagined a worse death for myself. Be patient and wait.”
He wants me to stall for more time. She inhaled deeply and exhaled slowly, counting to three in Tagalog, Japanese, Spanish, and English. Only then did she find hope in what Sainvire had said. His wounds must be mended. It just has to be!
The yoga breathing exercises didn’t quite work when she stood face to face with a very smug Rodrigo.
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But she did place certain perplexing pieces together.
Like a bright bulb flickering to life, she understood.