head, in his veins, as if his blood boiled, but he was free of the terrible paralysis. He clapped his hands together and spread his fingers wide, arms outstretched toward the vampire, which was already dissolving into vapor. Lightning forked and sizzled, sending multiple bolts across the night sky.
The furious vampire screamed once, and a putrid smell polluted the night air. Clearly one of those white-hot whips of pure energy had struck, inflicting wounds.
Kill her. Kill all of them, the master vampire commanded his followers.
Thunder splintered the sky. The earth rolled and bucked and the storm raged, a wild hurricane slamming into the forest and village as the vampire raged against Traian. Trees toppled and branches fell, some onto the rooftops of homes on the outer ring of the village.
They throw tantrums, Joie said, her breath in her throat. This time there was fear in her voice. She could feel the fury behind the storm, a foul thing bent on the destruction of humans and Carpathians alike.
Traian raced across the night sky toward the inn, doing his best to countermand the killing storm. He was still leaking too much blood, his body weakened by the multiple attacks, a common warfare for vampires against an experienced hunter. Still, he fought back, countering the vicious winds and the onslaught of rain pounding the village.
Valenteen, the vampire at your door, is dangerous beyond belief, Joie, a master vampire long sought after by Carpathian hunters. Whoever this master is, he commands Valenteen, and that is both shocking and terrifying.
I think I really made him angry, Traian, it might not have been such a good idea to tell him I thought he was nasty.
The entire inn shook, the walls swaying as if from the shock of an earthquake. The door to the verandah sagged, splintered again as something struck it with tremendous force.
Hurry, Traian, they’re breaking through the door. Joie’s heart was pounding so hard she was afraid it would burst through her chest.
Whispers filled the room, soft, insidious whispers made with sweet voices entreating them to open the door and allow entry. The bracelet on Jubal’s wrist glowed brightly. A series of curved, wicked looking razor-sharp blades sprang out.
Gabrielle cried out and put her hands over her ears. She took several steps toward the door, nodding her head, her lips beginning to move.
Gary leapt to her side, dragged her back, his hand over her mouth. He put his lips against her ear. “They’re trying to command you to invite them in. You must not listen to them.”
They heard something large thump hard in the room above their heads. Someone pounded on the upstairs floor, sending a spider-web of cracks along the ceiling of Gary’s room. Pieces of debris fell and the light fixture swayed and then crashed to the floor. Jubal leapt back as the bracelet slipped from his wrist and spun close to him.
“They’re breaking through above us,” Jubal said. “Gary, keep Gabrielle close to you. If anything happens, get her out and somewhere safe. Joie, I’ll take the ones coming through from upstairs, you keep the ones at the door out.”
Jubal and Joie each knew the way the other worked, what they were capable of and that each would have the other’s back. Gary was an unknown and they preferred to rely on each other despite his expertise.
“I’ve got it,” Joie replied, not certain what she was going to do to prevent vampires from invading the room. “I need a shotgun.” She kept her eyes on the door.
“Gary, do you have one? Where is it?” Gabrielle asked.
“Under the bed.” Gary indicated his bed with his chin, his eyes remaining on the door.
Gabrielle retrieved the gun and handed it to her sister.
The ceiling shook a second time, and more debris rained down. Wood splintered and cracked, caving in just as the door burst inward, splintering through the middle. A swarm of insects flew straight at Jubal, bringing in the wind and the wild rain. Above their heads, a creature with glowing red eyes and stained teeth glared triumphantly down at them. The whirling blades of Jubal’s bracelet rose swiftly into the air, spinning, giving off a low hum as the metal grew hotter and began to glow red.
A second dense cloud of stinging bugs swarmed through the hole in the door, attacking exposed flesh, biting viciously. Gabrielle screamed as she fought them off, slapping at them as they