City of Fire

Chapter Twenty

Zane"

His breathing was heavy, his body ached, his head pounded. He sat up, his body screaming in pain but he ignored it. He spit the blood from his mouth, running his tongue over his pointed teeth and curled his fingers into his palms.

"See, told you he wouldn't put up much of a fight." Snickered a voice and Zane snapped his head up, his silver gaze alight with cold fire. The three gangsters drew back slightly but their leader only snorted.

"You can't frighten me with those eyes," he spat and kicked him harshly in the ribs. Zane gasped, rolling over as pain flooded his brain.

His fangs lengthened...

His ears pointed...

And he was gone...

"Then," his voice was a ragged whisper, "how about these?" He shot to his feet, his crimson eyes shining brightly and he smelled their fear.

"What the hell?" One of the gangsters said but that was all Zane remembered. He lunged forward, the bloodlust filling him.

Seconds...

Minutes...

It all blurred together in swift movements of sound and color until finally it was over. He stood above the four men, his chest rising and falling with his breaths. He felt their blood on his knuckles, on his face but he ran his tongue over his fangs and found them clean. He felt the wetness on his shirt and knew that his wounds had reopened but he let the pain engulf him.

Until he was numb...

He turned, disgust whelming up inside him at their pathetic existence before heading up the alley. The street was abandoned and he raised his eyes to the stars overhead. They glittered far above him and the silence of the night seemed to penetrate his walls. It seeped into him until there was nothing but sweet blackness. He closed his eyes, drawing in the cool night air.

Then he felt it...

Felt her...

His eyes snapped open just before he disappeared with a flash of black light.

!Ib7