Salvation

Chapter 34

1941
London,
The Blitz

For eight strenuous months the Luftwaffe dropped bombs on London. Mass destruction and hysteria. The shrieking sounds of the air-raid sirens shattered the afternoon peace. Civilians scrambled to safety, seeking refuge. The blackout curtains were drawn as the ominous alarm went on. Its menacing pitch deepened and the lights from the bomber planes could be seen through the silver clouds. The appearance of the German bombers was Hitler's attempt to subdue Great Britain, but she was resilient and refused to give up. The air crafts whooshed across the sky dropping their missiles. From the left came the splitting sound, the ground quaked and a wave of dust swirled above. I leapt forward, soaring through the air. The shouts and wailing of children grounded me. My ears pricked as I focused. Closing my eyes I narrowed my hearing, dulling out the excess cries of the war. My sole purpose was to locate the children in need. It came from my right, under the rubble. With a swish of both hands the ruins separated, revealing the three thin girls, huddled together, arms around each other and on clinging for dear life.

The brown skinned girl in the middle snapped her head up, eyes large and frantically searching. She struck her hand out attempting to do a spell but in her weak state the magic abandoned her. Our gaze met and instantly her shoulder fell back and let out a huge exhalation of pent-up breath. She had mistaken me as one of the Nazi soldiers. They were terrified. Their frail bodies flinched at each step I took. "It's okay, I won't hurt you...it's okay." I crooned, lifting them out one by one. The petite dark brown-haired girl swayed. My arms shot out, breaking her fall. I looked closely at their faces. The three girls pallid and drawn.

"Who are you?" The youngest I assumed, groaned. I stroked her hair tenderly as she lay in my arms, under the ruckus of the sky.

"There's no time for questions now..." I surveyed the street. A damned wreck. I spotted the only corner safe from the ceaseless bombing and monsters. "Run and hide under there! NOW!" I shoved them forward. Without hesitation they scrambled and concealed themselves from sight.

I looked up at the blazing sky as the sirens continued to wail. The rapid gun firing shook the earth and the hidden cowered and trembled in their spots.
Boom. A second one came louder and closer. The hunger and thirst in me insatiable. I marched; each step powerful. The hood of my cloak dropped as I whizzed through the battleground, stopping in the vast and wide field. With a swift flick of both hands the aircrafts groaned. The pilots struggled against the force pulling them down. Swiping both arms down, they plummeted, crashing down.

The wings tore free from the fuselage, veering off to the end of the field. Explosions from my left; to the right and up ahead. Screams. Wails. Gut wrenching cries and pleas of help. The rich scent of blood wafted through the air. Toxic yet inviting. Throwing my head back, I inhaled it in. For a second, I closed my eyes revelling in the moment. It was their turn to cry. To be torn limb from limb, flesh by flesh. Movement came from all directions as the surviving soldiers clambered out of the wreckage, reeling. A cruel smile crept up on my lips and my eyes snapped open. "Incendia."

Flames chased after the fleeing men, devouring them whole. I stuck my right hand out. The larger group crumpled to the ground, knees snapping under their weight. Raising my right hand, it hovered in the air. A wincing Nazi endeavoured to crawl away. I scoffed under my breath. "Nice try." He clawed at the ground, thrashing against the force that hooked its talons into him and dragged him backwards. His tugging and clawing were futile. His body lifted and i had him in my grip. I cared not to look at his beastly face. His thundering heart meant nothing to me. Fangs slipped through my gums and bringing my head forward to his sweaty, blackened neck, I tore into him.

Pulling my head back, I let the body drop to the ground with a thump. Beads of sweat dripped down the frozen men. The burning rage I felt within me was my guide. One by one I ripped through them, consuming their blood, tearing them limb by limb and discarded of them. The pile of bodies grew. The remaining begged and pleaded for their lives but it fell to deaf ears. Stepping back, my arms out, palms facing up. A banshee like scream came from me and a blast of power flowed out of me. My scream destroyed everything in its path, creating a rippling effect.