Return of the Valkyrie

Chapter Two Into the Nest

    Running through the rear exit of the bar I pause as I step into a dark alleyway. The smell of blood leads me to the end of it and I look left then right catching a glimpse of the vampire his bright almost white hair glistening in the moonlight as he darts around the corner at the end of the block.
    I don't bother to catch up to him hanging back out of view so he can lead me somewhere secluded for his death.
    He continues at his vampire speed for a few more blocks before he begins to slow turning to a walking pace as we enter the warehouse district. He beelines toward an abandoned-looking warehouse away from the others. Its mere presence is stoic and sober as the overgrown vines climb its grand pillars seeping through the cracks in the foundation and clinging onto the building for dear life.
    The vampire slips beneath a jagged hole in the chain link fence that's meant to keep passersby out making his way to a rusty door. He pulls at the decaying handle which causes the hinges to screech in protest. The girl sways in his arms her body seemingly void of life. I need to act fast for her to live.
    I could use my wings to fly over the fence and into the open window I had spotted on the second floor but that could risk exposing me. So, I walk over to the hole in the fence and slide through avoiding the sharp metal. My boots hit the aging cracked pavement on the other side crunching the small pieces of debris. 'Great I'm going to be picking tiny rocks out of the grooves' I mentally groan.
    Edging closer to the door I'm welcomed with the stench of decay and the putrid odor of blood grows. The metallic rust smell competes with the actual rust lining the doorway. 'Ah, just my luck' the vampire failed to pull the door shut. I reach for the handle the sharpened edge greeting my palm with a pinch. I only need to move it a few inches to allow my body to slide through. Pulling slowly I try to avoid the creak of the hinges. Maneuvering my body inside I'm greeted with a sticky film of cobwebs and the sound of voices.
    "Where David?" A voice asks.
    "He is dead." Another voice, I'm assuming it belongs to the vampire I had chased here, answers.
    "How?" The first questions and I can hear the anger in his deep baritone voice.
    "A hunter—" he starts and is quickly cut off.
    "A hunter killed David and you returned to the nest?" the voice yells. I can imagine the vampire's face as he blunders over the rhetorical question. It almost makes me snort. This idiot had led me straight to their nest.
    "I'm sorry Liam, I wasn't followed, I swear." The first vampire says the strain in his voice indicating he's begging for forgiveness.
    I've been slowly creeping closer during their conversation hoping to get a count on how many vampires are within the nest.
    "Baby, he's young, dumb, if a hunter shows up here we'll handle him." A sultry voice purrs.
    "Her," the first vampire corrects.
    "See even easier, no female hunter will be able to resist your charms." She purrs again.
    'If only I were a mere hunter.' I think sarcastically pulling my sword from its sheath and curling my fingers tightly around its hilt.
    There are at least three vampires beyond this wall and with how they stick together I can assume there are more. The reason, these gluttonous creatures like to overindulge very much like the sin that created them. From blood to sex to expensive things vampires want it all. A fly buzzes past my head and I swat it down effortlessly. They're even attracting flies like their sin now. Turning my undivided attention back to their conversation I hear the deep voice let out a sigh.
    "Place the blood bag with the rest and stay out of my sight," he tells the younger vamp. I now have more than one human to rescue.
    I hear movement, the sound of footsteps retreating further from me and then they are above me. Dust particles drift from the ceiling as the old floorboards protest the weight of those walking along them. A secondary set of stairs lead to the upper level from this the room I'm in, although they are missing steps and look utterly unsafe.
    Quietly I cross the room placing my foot on the bottom step and gently testing it before putting any extra weight. It seems to hold and I carefully do this with each one climbing closer to the top. The door at the top of the stairs is missing the handle and I peer through the hole while listening for opposition on the other side.
    I'm greeted with a narrow hallway small rays of light spilling onto the aged floor from a doorway to the right. The stench of blood and other bodily fluids is much stronger up here. I would doubt if the humans were allowed to clean up or even release their bladders in privacy. The overpowering ammonia odor is extra proof.
    Straightening I place my left palm on the door and give a slight push. The door opens without a hitch allowing me to sneak into the hall. Cracks adorn the drywall, cobwebs decorate the ceilings, and debris scatters across the floor. Whimpers reach my ears and I glide closer to the door to my right.
    "Please, let me go." A delicate voice pleads.
    "Shut up," a new voice speaks "you know I like silence when I eat." At least two vampires are in this room which takes my total count to four.
    I'm growing tired of waiting for the perfect opportunity to strike. I've always been more hands-on jumping into battle and dealing with the consequences later. No sense in changing now.
    Gripping the handle I throw the door open stepping into the light and quickly surveilling my surroundings. Seven human females and four males sit huddled in the far left corner the girl from the bar scoots further into the pile fear shining through her deep brown eyes. The two vampires turn toward me in quick succession the one from the bar takes a step back his eyes wide. The other drops his late-night snack cracking his knuckles as he steps forward. He's at least six foot two with wide shoulders, bright red eyes, and a nasty scar down the right side of his face. Even before becoming a vampire, this man led a rough life.
    "So much for losing the hunter," I say winking at the blond vampire.
    The other snarls lunging forward with his hands outstretched as if he aims to choke me. I let him get within arm's reach then I dodge under his arm swinging my right arm backward into the center of his back and propelling him into the doorway. His hands go out gripping the frame tightly as he stops his forward trajectory. The moment he turns around he lunges again throwing himself right onto my sword. He tries to back off of it as he realizes his grave mistake. It's too late. I push my sword deeper anchoring it upwards into his heart. His body stiffens his skin turning a grey color and he bursts into thousands of tiny particles of ash.
    A girl screams and I turn seeing the blond vamp haul her to her feet by her knotted dull brown hair. He pulls her back to his chest looping his arm around her throat.
    "Don't come any closer or I'll kill her," he threatens.
    "I didn't come here to rescue a human demon." I spit "I came to kill you." I would save the humans though saving one and allowing this monster to live would be counterintuitive.
    My words hit home and he scrambles back a few steps trapping himself against the wall.
    "What is all the commotion up here?" A tall lean vampire asks entering the room his salt and pepper hair reflecting his age prior to his immortality. His eyes take in the situation pausing on the pile of dust near my feet as they come back to me. The crystal blue orbs change to red as he growls. "Liam we have a visitor," he shouts balling his fists and letting his fangs protrude.
    It's seconds until three more figures garnish the doorway. It was now one against five. Two had already fallen. The one called Liam scans the room much like salt and pepper did. When his eyes land on me the heat of his gaze sends tingles down my spine. This one has been alive a long time. He's trying to use his compulsion on me and for me to be able to feel it so strongly he's powerful. I'll have one decent adversary.