Lethal Beauty

XXXV - His Blood

[TW: This part contains content that some might find disturbing, reader's discretion is advised]

"Hey, man...I'm only trying to be nice. If you don't want to, forget it."

The goth boy retreated back to his group and left the four newcomers to enjoy their silence. Both the waitress and the cook behind the counter watched the exchange with trepidation. Lux was still at the jukebox, sensing the aura of the four shtriga were on high alert due to the presence of the vampires in the vicinity.

A cold breeze passed but only one person felt it.

Abel...

He whirled his head outside the window and found the dark alleyway with only the diner's signboard serving as a beacon of light. There was nothing behind the trees or even across the street yet somehow, Abel felt HIM. He felt him NEAR.

"Something's wrong?" Iris asked.

"Did you hear something?"

Before the other could respond, the television that was hanging on the ceiling suddenly turned on, and the stark graphic of the emergency broadcasting system accompanied by a hollow tone filled the diner. Everyone in the place stopped and turned to the television. Everyone except the four shtriga sitting in the corner pretending to read the menu.

Do you remember me now, Abel?

This time, it wasn't only Abel who heard it. Iris growled and his eyes blazed as he stood from the table, "Where the fuck are you?" he muttered.

A resounding cackle from somewhere, even the humans were rattled, unable to tell where it was coming from. Abel knew it was Cain. All of his nightmares were made for him to remember every bit of detail about the man, including the sound of his voice.

Abel wondered if this Cain was a psychic after all. He must be using some kind of long-distance telepathy to connect to his mind. He was really reaching, he thought with disgust. Surely, there had to be an explanation, however odd and pragmatic---there must be a reason why this man who called himself Cain filtered into his dreams.

Don't worry yourself about that. It'll be over soon...

Unsure of what to make of that response, Iris met his sister's gaze from across the room. Lux quickly noticed one of the shtriga standing from his seat and in his hand, a silver blade ignited with blood appeared. The goth girl saw this too and screamed, but she didn't finish as the weapon swept above her forehead splitting it in half that her brain strewn on the floor.

The bloodcurdling scream of the waitress sent everyone into a feat of panic. The siblings moved at the speed of light, but the shtriga were equally faster. Lux kicked the slimmer one holding a silver dagger across the stomach and he was sent flying to the end of the hall. While Iris pulled the bigger one following behind, their bloodhound, who kept sniffing the air, twisting his head.

The goth group scattered, running towards the door. Even the waiter and the cook locked themselves in the counter. The female shtriga turned to one of the teenage goths and bit a chunk of flesh from his neck, red juice dripping down her chin. Gaining some strength from it, she hurled one of the tables toward Abel, CC pulled Abel to the side and Lexus broke the table into splinters. Milo turned to a fox, then slipped outside through the door and ran along with the humans, but not before Iris threw the keys at him. He caught it with his teeth and he headed straight to the spot where they parked their van.

The shtriga that was put down by Iris and the bigger one of the four twisted his head back in place and lunged at Abel. CC again pushed him aside and Lux kicked him to the stomach sending him back to her brother. Removing the respirators, they had finally revealed their true form. Their pallid faces, were ghostly pale and their mouth filled with razor-sharp teeth.