The Sanguine Seraph

Chapter Five - Clowns and Knights

He sneered, pinning her to the ground. His canines protruded from under his lip and had sharpened to predatory points. No longer teeth, but fangs.

Kat stared at him, still gripping her knife. She didn't stare because she thought he was an actual vampire, but more, she was trying to figure out why he had employed such a youthful scare tactic. The perp must have known that type of Halloween setup wouldn't actually alarm her.

He seemed to mistake her bewildered confusion for terrified fear. "That's right." The wannabe vampire flashed his teeth in a triumphant grin. "Your blood will free me this night, and I shall take revenge on this house." He leaned in closer as his eyes glittered like the low burning flame from a candle.

Kat had enough of his party tricks. She kneed him in the gut and rolled away from his grasp.

The man coughed but still lunged after her. His fingers dug into her wrists trapping her to the cold marble floor. "Do you think you can really beat me?"

"Depends on if you start making balloon animals, too." Kat chuckled between her gritted teeth. "You should've picked a clown to dress up as instead of some lame blood-sucker. Creepy clowns are much more scary."

"Hmm." He gave a small, eerie smile, then lowered his fangs to her neck. "Then, maybe I can make you believe me in another way." His warm breath made a shiver slide down her back.

She swore under her breath and twisted her knife hand free, aiming for his shoulder. Kat avoided his major vital points on purpose, but if he didn't back down soon, that might no longer be an option.

Before the knife could reach him, he snatched her wrist again, pinning her hand to the wooden floor beside them. The blade slid across the floor bumping into the wall.

Her eyes flashed. This wannabe vamp was strong and utterly insane. She needed to end this fight before he did something stupid.

"Miss Katharine? Miss Katharine, what are you doing?"

Her eyes darted down the hall.

No, Walter, she thought with a rising horror.

They didn't need to give this psycho any opportunity to take a hostage.

"I'll end your life once I take her's, old man," the intruder snarled. His gaze fixated on the limping butler. The perp's muscles tensed, and in turn, tightened his grip on her. Not quite hurting her, yet, but she began to worry how much power the madman actually had behind his lean frame.

Walter huffed out an irritated breath. "Now, I've already told you to stop playing around. We have a serious issue at hand."

Kat called out to him, "Run, now. Call the police. Hurry!"

The perp returned his gaze to her. "You would sacrifice yourself for that old dirtbag?"

"Damn you," she growled, shifting her body and tried to angle herself to use a takedown technique. "You'd better leave him alone. This is our fight." She twisted her hands and tried to grab onto him. She wanted to give Walter a fighting chance to escape. The perp sneered, then faltered as she wiggled her hand free. Her fist slammed into the side of his head, sending him toppling over.

Kat rocked her body with his fall, shifting her position over him. The man blinked and grabbed for her hand again. Thankfully, her training had prepared her for such an attack, and she clasped her hands around his, locking onto the pressure point between his thumb and forefinger. Her second hand released his arm and shot for his neck, pressing against a sensitive spot there as well. The perp gasped and tried to pull his hand free. However, her grip tightened enough for him to grit his teeth and release his hold on her. She knew the extensive pain one pressure point could cause, but two could make a man almost pass out.