Suddenly uncertain, I froze. My indecision was just long enough to allow another figure to burst through the trees and onto the moonlit lawn.
Stooped and reeking of fresh blood, the newcomer released a ferocious growl and lunged toward Valamir. Valamir! — My warrior vampire from the Vegas nightclub. How could I have mistaken the seducing creature for anyone else?
The snarling, slobbering mutant-monster was horrifying. About as far from appealing as you could get. Saliva and blood dripped from his jagged fangs. Who had he been eating?
Furious, the thing snapped at the air just in front of Valamir, who with his lightening speed countered each attempt. The mutant, enraged by his adversary’s offensive prowess, roared and dove for the vampire. Instead of sinking his massive claws into his prey, the mutant found himself hugging a swirling cloud of glittery silver.
I didn’t bother turning when the double doors behind me burst open. I was too mystified by Valamir’s hasty vanishing act. Apparently, the mutant wolf was too. He swung his massive head both directions seeking his missing prey. One second Valamir had been in the clearing, wanting me; now he’d disappeared leaving me with an unexplainable unexpected sense of emptiness.
Why did I feel empty? How could he make me forget Zane for even a second? I wasn’t in love with the vampire; nor was I a fickle woman.
“What the hell?” Zane shouted before catapulting over the railing. He landed with an ominous thud in front of the mutant.
“Get in the bar!” Zane roared at me. Then, so fast that I barely registered the movement, he pulled out a gleaming blade concealed beneath his pant leg.
He plunged the blade into the mutant’s neck. Dark crimson spewed from the fatal wound, darkening Zane’s white dress shirt.
In a flash of shimmering light, Alcuin appeared next to the fallen creature. He gripped its arm and they both vanished in a cascade of silver sparkles that reminded me not only of the fake fairy dust I used to keep in a little bottle as a child, but also of Valamir’s departure a few moments earlier. One thing was obvious; both vamps shared the same traveling techniques and special effects.
The whole incident had happened so fast a camera probably would have missed it. My feet were frozen. I couldn’t have moved to make it inside.
“What’s going on out here?” several voices chorused, as more footsteps rushed onto the deck.
“Animal attack,” Zane pronounced. “A large cougar was stalking Chloe. I got here before it pounced.”
“Thank God you’re all right all right; someone inside mentioned spotting a big cat recently.” Misty patted my shoulder. I couldn’t tell if she was buying Zane’s story or helping him make it more believable. I assumed the later.
“Should we hunt it?” someone asked. “We could get our guns.”
“There’s no need. I got it good with my hunting knife. I keep it with me at all times. I’ve learned the hard way that nature doesn’t always behave the way we expect.” Zane brushed off his jacket and stalked up the steps at the patio’s far end, the crimson stain on his shirt the preternatural struggle’s last remaining evidence.
“Are you okay, Princess?” I thought I told you to get inside.
Choosing to ignore his second comment, I nodded, still not sure what to say. For some irrational reason, I’d already decided to keep my Valamir-sighting to myself. The thought of enduring the barrage of questions Zane and his pack were bound to ask seemed too overwhelming. Besides, Valamir was trying to help me. Maybe he knew something about the murders. I also knew if Zane found out about Valamir’s presence he’d get all over-protective and forbid me to talk with the vampire. Overprotection was really going to be a challenge. Very nice when I was agreeable but hell when I wasn’t.
Zane looked down at his dress shirt. “Let me change. The cake is waiting.”
I just nodded, still unable to make my mouth form words.
Our guests appeared unruffled and were already returning to the party. Free drinks had that effect. People would forget the excitement if it meant an opportunity to consume unlimited quantities of alcohol on somebody else’s dime. And unlike me, they hadn’t witnessed the brutal fight between a mutant and vampire. I doubted even free booze would have done the job had they caught a peek of the otherworldly spectacle.
Now the last remaining evidence of the violence was the blood soaking Zane’s shirt. In a few minutes that would be gone too, and