Reality Bites - Wattys 2018 Shortlist

Chapter 10 - A Wad of Cash

Without a word Dimitri stood behind me, resting his back against mine. Reaching into his duster, he pulled out a silver stake, placing it in my hand. Worried he'd left himself unarmed, I was relieved when he pulled a second stake out from a pocket on his upper thigh. I used to scoff when Dimitri advised me to always carry two stakes. If we made it out of here alive, and I graduated, I swore I'd always do the same.

Narrowing my eyes, I looked about, counting five sets of red-ringed eyes. The one in front, the one who'd spoken to me, was watching with almost detached disinterest as Dimitri and I got ourselves into our battle stance.

"So rude of me not to introduce myself," the one I took to be the leader greeted me, his speech oddly stilted and formal, with a heavy European accent. "My name is Igor. You knew our maker Isaiah," he continued, gesturing to the other Strigoi around him.

Isaiah! And without being told, I knew why Igor and the others were here. Why they'd been waiting for me. The realization obviously spread to my face. Igor nodded, seeing my understanding.

"You know why we're here, then. We've been sent to destroy you. Isaiah's death cannot go unpunished." A statement of fact. "I'm sorry about your friends," he added, gesturing in the direction of the tents. "We were hungry."

Looking at the other Strigoi standing beside Igor, I mentally calculated our chances. Even with Dimitri's formidable skills, and the recent improvements in my own technique, the likelihood we'd both live through this was slim at best. And oddly, I was ready. I had plenty to fight for, more than I'd ever had before, but if today was my last then so be it. I'd spent the perfect day with the love of my life, and I'd die fighting to give him any chance of surviving. Gripping the stake he'd given me tightly with one hand, and reaching back to lightly squeeze Dimitri's leg with the other, I whispered "Always, Comrade. Always." And then I threw myself at Igor.

Like a spark hitting kerosene, the fight exploded around me. The air was filled with snarls and growls, two Strigoi racing around to take Dimitri. As one passed me, I kicked out, causing her to stumble. Before she'd had a chance to right herself, I shoved Igor away from me, taking the opportunity to lean down and stake her. Two against four now. The odds still weren't great, but they were getting better. Turning back to Igor, he wasn't there. He'd moved around to engage Dimitri, probably appreciating he was the greater threat. The two remaining Strigoi were circling in front of me. One male, one female. The male had formerly been Moroi. It was obvious from his physique, but also his technique. Unfortunately, the female had been a Dhampir, and if her moves were any indication she was Guardian trained.

Crap!

She came for me first. She had some good moves but lucky for me she was obviously out of practice. Of course, being Strigoi and Guardian trained, her 'out of practice' was still very much a match for me. From the corner of my eye, I could see Dimitri with Igor and the other Strigoi. He was getting in some good blows, but worryingly so were they.

The female Strigoi and I circled. I managed a couple of good kicks but not enough to give me an opportunity to stake her. We were circling one another again when she landed a kick to my right side. I heard the cracking bones before I felt the pain as three or four of my ribs fractured beneath her foot. Winded, I dropped to my knees. The Strigoi looked at me greedily, moving in eagerly to take her kill. A little too eagerly, as it turns out. With my head lowered, I waited until she was almost above me, throwing the top of my head back and into her jaw. A satisfying crunch and a howl confirmed I'd done her some damage. Regrettably, she'd heal in moments, whereas I'd need weeks, and that's without factoring in the risk of a rib puncturing my lung.

Still, I couldn't pause to think about that now. I was literally fighting for my life, and Dimitri's, too!

Behind me, I could hear Dimitri combating. I was injured and tiring, and I had no way of knowing how much damage he'd sustained. It was reassuring to know he was still battling, but we couldn't go on forever, and it was still four against two.