Genesis 2.0 (Monster Apocalypse Survival) Sci-Fi/DarkFan/Horror

Chapter Thirty

"Let her go," Daniel warns in a voice barely above a whisper. I catch a brief glimmer of movement underneath his filthy, sweat-stained t-shirt and visions of white, blood-stained feathers, free-falling from the sky, fill my mind.

"Now, why would I do that?" the vampire challenges, and extends an open hand in my direction. I know it's crazy, I know I'm not getting close to him, but my feet move on their own. I fight each step, physically and mentally tell each foot not to move. I'm concentrating so hard on regaining control of my own body, that I don't notice until it's too late. I've left the safe confines of my bodyguards.

I place my hand in this mythical creature's, wincing when my warm, sweaty palm connects with his frigid, calloused one. Nausea rolls through my stomach, my gag reflexes kick into overdrive and it's all I can do not to puke. And it's not like the thing smells, he actually lets off a rather pleasant aroma. Something akin to peaches and vanilla, something totally not associated with a vampire.

"So, this is the Phoenix?" he asks. I watch, in frozen horror as his depthless black eyes study me from head to toe. "Not very impressive," he adds.

Yea, well eff you too buddy. My voice screams inside my head.

"Such fire," he responds dramatically, and reddish orange flames ignite inside those formerly black eyes. "No, I think I'll keep her a little longer. I find myself in need of a new pet."

A piercing wail soars past my ear, a tuft of my hair billowing in its wake, and a shimmering, golden arrow hits the vampire in his chest, directly where his heart should be. The creature hisses, his hand recoiling from mine as he swats at the fiery mist hovering between us.

"Curse you vermin and your holy relics."

A refreshingly warm hand grabs my bicep and once again, I'm standing behind Joe, however I still can't move on my own.

"You drink blood of the innocent, and you dare call us parasites?" Aeriel mocks, but never moves from her battle-ready stance.

"Release her," Daniel demands. "Or not even the treaty will protect you." He swings those impossibly blue eyes in my direction before rising to his full height, advancing on the emaciated creature like predator on prey.

"You wouldn't dare break the covenant."

Daniel merely stares at the vampire. After a few milliseconds, my entire body drops to the ground in a boneless heap. My lungs spasm and I try to recall how to breathe. The nasty bastard had been driving me like a forklift and his sudden absence leaves a greasy imprint I'll never be able to wash off.

Ember suddenly fills my fisted hand and I surge to my feet, shoving past my celestial roadblock, red-hot rage coursing through my body.

"You motherhubbing, son-of-a-geezer, how dare you?" Clenching my teeth, I ignore the sudden strange sensation of being in control again, and raise my sword arm.

"Halt!" Joe's voice booms through the air and everyone freezes, all eyes zero to the General. "Now, if everyone will just calm themselves, we'll attempt a civil conversation." He pierces Daniel with an especially hard glare and it isn't until my champion rescinds his sword, that I realize a dark haze cloaks his entire body.

"You can't harm him or everything we've done thus far will be for nothing," Joe murmurs. "There are many battles, but only one war." And like a balloon, slowly deflating from the smallest pinprick, Daniel's shoulders relax and his sword dematerializes. He gives Joe a curt nod and then extends his hand to me.

Ember's power pulses in my veins and it takes every ounce of strength I still have to will her back. She's been unusually quiet since we left Amarah, and I actually feel her hunger in my own stomach. The pangs jolt my system like a finger in a live electrical socket.

Soon. The word whispers through my mind and I promise myself I'll worry about the haunted, blood-thirsty sword after I find out just what the hell the Phoenix is.

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