Midnight Shadow

Chapter 19 - Drink

I had fought and killed vampires for five thousand years and never failed. This was totally different. My brother knew what I was. He knew how I fought. Again and again I was thrown across the room, slammed into pillars and walls, my face and throat slashed. He kept his thoughts hidden, his emotions as concealed as much as possible. The others had not known how I was always a step ahead of them. Cal could not sense me anymore, but he knew how to fight me. If his words were true he'd done it five times before.

The battle raged between us. Blood flowed as I attacked, each blow ripping through me as it dragged on. I knew the Hill's were safe but terrified beyond words. They knew now. Knew I wasn't just a boy in high school. They knew I was more than that. I struggled to control my anger, to stay focused on Cal. We ripped and shredded each other dancing through the pillars and through the air with blinding speed. I landed a kick to his chest which almost crumpled my own that sent him reeling fifty yards back toward the entry way. Before he hit the ground, I turned and ripped one of Mia's attackers to pieces. Mrs. Hill screamed through her gag. Mia, had killed another during the fray but she was critically wounded. I knew it had to be soon. I had to kill my brother now or Mia would not survive long.

With another blur I scattered her attackers and turned to face my brother. He stood there, twenty feet away, the ice cold glare in his eyes only for me. His fingers spread wide and I understood the sign. They were to leave me for him. He was done playing now. No more planning, no more games. Mia would die, the Hill's would die. The dramatic scene he's planned no longer mattered. His blood lust raged.

He lunged at me again so quickly I had only a fraction of a second to respond. The force of his attack sent us both flying into the concrete wall behind us. Slashing and ripping at each other through the air. I felt his arm wrap under mine and grab my head as he bore his teeth down on my throat.

"No!" I heard a voice scream. Mia had broken free and lunged at him. I felt the blood running over my chest. My own blood. He'd let me go to turn and defend himself against my love. I heard her scream of pain and then complete silence as she dropped to the floor with him. I saw his hand, buried in her chest.

For a brief yet eternal moment I saw my entire universe. I saw my family in ancient Memphis, the sunrise over the Mediterranean during the roman empire, the nights spent flat on my back painting with master Michelangelo, my old friend Otis, Mr. and Mrs. Hill. I saw myself with Mia. Years in the future, sitting in the Hill's living room with Rebecca and another man, little children with red hair and green eyes playing on the floor. I saw my life as it had been and what it was supposed to be. I saw it, and I would not lose it. Ever.

I heard the scream of rage before I realized it was me. I saw the blood splatter, drenching the shapes around me but didn't know who it came from. It didn't matter. My love was gone. Silenced forever. Revenge would be mine. Everything went black...

Mrs. Hill's muffled voice pulled me from the darkness. I realized I could still hear. I was still breathing. It was very quiet. My eyes were open but nothing registered. I was kneeling over a beautiful red haired girl. Mia. My Mia. Cold and still. I was dimly aware of the body parts on the ground around me. I heard the muffled voice again but pushed it away. I didn't want to leave her. My Mia was gone and I wanted to be with her.

More sounds assaulted me. A stifled cry. The movement of a hand. Three heartbeats. Resigned, I looked up. The Hill's were still bound and gagged. They had witnessed every thing. Rebecca had her hair buried into her mothers side. Mrs. Hill was lying on her side. Her eyes closed tightly, her muffled cries floating softly through the air. Mr. Hill simply stood there, hands still lashed to the over head pipe. His bleeding had stopped. Our eyes met for a flicker. There was no fear in them. He alone had understood. He'd known all along that I wasn't what I'd claimed to be. This had simply been affirmation for him.