Return of the Valkyrie

Chapter One Happy Demon Hunting

  It's day two in my refreshed body and I am itching to tear some low-life demons to shreds. I received an assignment late last night which has led me to the windy city today. My assignment was easy. I barely broke a sweat. I was able to dispatch of the human scum quickly considering who he was. The target never saw what was coming. He had used his influence to support crime for too long and he had to be stopped.
  Wiping my blade clean of his blood I stealth it beneath my leather jacket. Even now it's my favorite weapon and I don't leave home without it. I make my way to the rooftop hiding from the scene I know will arise when my target is found dead.
  Jumping from the roof of a building I land smoothly on my feet in the alley. I tie my hair into a tight knot slide my gloves into the back pocket of my faux leather skinny jeans and slip onto the busy street way. Being a mercenary for hire gave me a cover for my other duties. Sometimes my targets even happened to be demonic themselves which meant I could kill two birds with one stone.
  The sun is setting now and the roar of the city's nightlife is beginning to fill the air as I make my way further out of the city. The buzz of a bar draws my attention when I catch the smell of blood and decay.
  Maybe I will get to rip some demons apart like I want I think a smirk snaking its way onto my face.
  Getting closer I notice it's a biker bar, the beautiful machines line the side of the building their purrs exciting me. I will need to swipe one on my way out. A few gruff-looking men with tattoos lining their arms and thick beards covering their faces catcall me and I roll my eyes in disgust. Beer bellies are not a turn-on. Don't get me wrong a girl has to have her fun every once in a while but I would always choose a partner with an athletic build.
  Stepping up the stairs I enter the bar. It's dimly lit and smoke fills the air coating it in its thick foggy smog. The acrid smell burns my nostrils as I inhale while the stale poisonous fumes infiltrate my lungs as if it belongs there.
  A few of the patrons turn their heads in my direction and I ignore their stares as I walk toward the bar. I pass the beaten round tables filled with beer bottles and whiskey glasses stopping at the old stools lining the scarred bar. Taking a seat on the torn leather cushion I watch as another flake drifts to the dusty floor.
  "What can I get ya?" A middle-aged barkeep with a salt-and-pepper beard asks throwing his dishtowel over his shoulder. He takes a long drag of his cigar not caring that the disgusting smoke he blows out wafts right into my face.
  "Give me a double shot of whiskey," I order turning so my elbows land on the bartop and I can survey my surroundings.
  The one thing that keeps you safe when you do a job like mine is mindfulness. Maintaining a moment-by-moment awareness of my thoughts, feelings, bodily sensations, and surrounding environment has been key to always getting the job done.
  The slight swish of jeans from my right alerts me of the bartender's presence seconds before the glass hits the counter. "That'll be fifteen dollars," he says gruffly.
  I reach into my pocket sla twenty down on the bar "Keep the change."
  Grabbing the cool shot glass I lift the rim to my parted lips. The woody aroma has a sweet hint behind it and I find myself tilting the glass up easily. The cold liquid covers my tongue meeting the back of my throat and burning a path into my stomach.
  Lowering the glass I allow my tongue to dart out quickly tracing my lips as I gather the last few droplets onto it. I need to indulge myself more often.
  As soon as the thought crosses my mind I faintly hear the sound of a female screaming and my eyes snap to the darkened corner of the room. Two men sit with a frail-looking girl maybe in her early twenties lying over their laps. Her left arm dangles while the right is held up to one of the men's mouths. The other holds her chest close to him his face buried near her cleavage. The smell of blood is growing stronger by the moment.
  The one holding her wrist catches my gaze on them and looks up at me with a seductive smirk on his lips. He lifts his mouth from her mouthing come play. If only he knew how much I am dying to come play. His glowing red eyes flash mischievously as I hop down from my stool, release my glass, and start to make my way across the bar.
  My steps are slow and calculated getting the men to watch me with hunger. My hips sway side to side seductively as I approach.
  "Evening boys," I purr reaching their table. I might know what they are but they have no idea the trap they just walked into. Vampires don't stand a chance against me.
  "Evening gorgeous," the one who invited me over says huskily sounding a tad drunk from consuming the drunk girl's blood.
  With their ability to alter what humans see I'm positive they're projecting the girl having a wonderful time to me. Too bad I see them for what they really are. Vampires are gluttonous beings defined by their desire to consume endless amounts of blood. Rarely are the humans left alive. The way the other vampire has continued to feast on the girl shows me she would be no exception.
  I round the table and the vampire drops the girl's wrist placing his attention on me. Stepping up to him I position myself over his legs lowering myself until I'm effectively straddling his lap. His hands instantly go to my waist holding me in place.
  "Maybe we should go somewhere more private?" I suggest leaning closer and whispering directly in his ear. His hands tighten on my hips, his fingers digging into my soft flesh.
  "Don't worry baby, they won't see a thing." He growls grazing my neck with his sharp fangs.
  I let out a startled moan so he thinks I'm affected by his powers, honestly, I'm glad that he's confirmed he's altering the other bargoers' perceptions. I have no qualms about killing him right here.
  He reaches up releasing my hair from its bun and allowing it to flow freely around my shoulders. Tangling his hand in it he pulls my upper body closer to him so my chest is pressed securely to his. My head is tugged backward and I feel his cold lips meet my skin this time his fangs remain sheathed instead his tongue begins to trace the column of my throat. It might actually feel good if he weren't demon scum.
  He continues his tirade alternating between licking, kissing, sucking, and nipping the soft flesh around my neck and cleavage. With them both distracted I slide my hands down his chest to his legs and slowly reach behind me gripping the hilt of my sword. I pull it from my jacket in one quick motion slamming it into the vampire's heart through his back. His lips leave me in his shock his eyes going wide as they meet mine. I twist the blade yanking it from his body which quickly disintegrates into ash making my body drop a few inches onto the chair.
  His counterpart is no longer in his chair and I see him speeding out the door with his vampire speed as I stand.
  I'm always down for a chase.