The Aftermath ✔

31 BEAUTIFUL FACE OF DEATH

Frozen to the spot, Slade kept her gaze on the green eyes that studied her as well. There was a fury behind it that she couldn't quite place.

Slade didn't dare speak; this wasn't the time.

Knife or talon, it pierced flesh, tearing a flinch from Slade who struggled to stop herself from vocalizing it.

In Slade's peripheral, Manny approached. He fished out the egg and kept it close to him. Slade stayed still, intent on not alerting the angel of the vampire behind her.

Judging from the smirk and the power coming off the angel in waves, planned to drag this game out to her satisfaction.

The angel scoffed and smiled before turning to strike. "Too slow!"

Without touching Manny, she recoiled then jumped back. He disappeared in a flash and caught up with ease. Trixie turned only once. Manny took the opportunity to put his hand on her forehead. The bright powder that left the other repeat-phantoms swirled, seeping into the egg at a rapid rate.

The egg fractured.

Trixie turned to run but a force brought her back and she arched, screaming.

"Just hold still, harpy," Manny reasoned. "This will be fast."

"You were supposed to break it," she cried. "You swore it."

"Yes. Well, I am a vampire after all."

"No." Each struggle she made to break free was fruitless.

The egg in Manny's hands cracked in two and a bird-like being darted after Trixie. It caught her in the face, latching on.

"What in the...?" Manny backed away.

Trixie, mouth gaping, dropped to her knees in tears as the small animal continued to consume the power pouring out of her mouth. Her skin dulled.

Slade worried for her enough to run to them. "Is it working?"

The little creature continued to feed, and Manny sounded unsure for the first time. "I do not think this is... It's hurting her."

Slade held his hand before he could try and take back the offspring. "Wait. Give it a second. Maybe—"

"Maybe nothing. It's hurting her!"

Getting emotional was unlike him but he caught the bird with two hands and pulled with all his might.

"Get her," Manny demanded. "Get her!"

Slade, unsure of his meaning, looked from him to Trixie then pounced, knocking the angel to the ground.

The bird in Manny's grip thrashed, pecking at him despite its human face and bird body. It had a beak, however, and it was as sharp as any knife, a fact Manny learned the hard way.

Slade looked Trixie over but the former-harpy wasn't watching her, she instead stared at the flight of creatures heading their way.

"Harpies," Manny said, gasping.

Trixie rose, fists clenched and with a gleam in her eye that had Slade frightened beyond words. She intended to fight.

Ten minutes previously, maybe she could have. But not now, not this weak due to the offspring's feeding.

Flames came from Trixie's hands and she readied herself.

Manny stared out at the approaching flock then met Trixie's gaze and begged, "Go."

She blinked at him. Slade did as well.

But Manny didn't repeat himself, he held on to the creature in his grip, his hand bruised from the pecking as he muzzled the child.