Thicker Than Water

Chapter Six

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*This chapter presents graphic imagery of violence and gore*

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"Give me your hands!" Lenora screamed, and the look on her face frightened me. She didn't look panicked or afraid- she looked pissed. My instincts told me to RUN.

Using my slightly diminished vampire speed, I ran as fast as I could- straight through the wooden door that trapped me inside the room. Wood splintered in my skin and all around me- pain seared through me, but I just kept going.

"Don't let her leave!" I heard behind me. A flash of light zoomed past my shoulder, crashing into the wall in front of me. A small explosion ripped through the concrete foundation, spraying chunks of stone everywhere. I saw a staircase to my right, and I ran for it. More flashes of light soared past me as I bounded up the stairs. Explosions on all sides of me erupted and I felt the impact of more debris. Just as I reached the top step, something hot and painful hit my left arm. I screamed in agony, feeling not only a searing pain, but the loss of movement in my hand. I used my right hand to rip the door that sat at the top of the steps right off its hinges.

"Bridget! Where are you?" I heard a voice shouting from around the corner. I cradled my arm against my chest, and I ran toward the sound.

As I went around the corner, twenty men in skin-tight black armored body suits- battle suits, really- stood in formation in the living room with guns raised and pointed right at me. They all wore helmets that were darkened so I couldn't see their faces. One of them raised his hand, shouting, "Don't shoot- it's her!"

I hardly paid attention to what they were saying. The adrenaline pumped through me as my fight or flight kicked in. I knew the witches would be right behind me any second. I had to get out.

"They're coming- the witches are coming!" I yelled, spotting the front door. The soldier readied his men, taking a couple steps forward. 

"Bridget!" Apollo's relieved voice rang out behind me. I turned and saw him coming toward me. Over his shoulder, I saw the young male witch appear from the broken basement doorway. He and I locked eyes- resolve formed in his eyes, as if he knew what he had to do. He raised his hands, creating some kind of bright, crackling light between them. I looked back at Apollo, who noticed the panic on my face. He turned around in time to see the young guy launch the sparking matter in his hands right at me.

And that was when he jumped in the way.

The electric charge hit him in the abdomen, and he hit the floor like a rock.

"NO!" I screamed, my heart nearly shattering into a thousand pieces. I heard a soldier shout, too, but I was oblivious to what was said- I was too busy dying inside. 

Something inside me snapped, and a fragment of a memory surfaced- I was fighting brutally, tearing into someone's throat with my mouth. Dark red blood splashed onto my green dress and face as I smiled in gruesome victory.

Holy. Fucking. Shit. That was me. I could do that?

I was about to do that again.

My mind came back to the gruesome scene in front of me. Only a second or two had passed since Apollo had sacrificed himself. The young witch raised his hands again, preparing for another attack. 

"AFTER HIM!" the solider screamed, but his men didn't have a chance to follow his command. I raced across the room, fury boiling in my veins. Everything was in slow motion as I enacted my revenge. I ran furiously and leaped into the air, aiming right for him. Before he could react, my body landed on his, and the flickering magic diminished from his palms. He smashed into the linoleum floor, and I heard a few bones break under the weight of me.

"Hold your fire! Do not fire!" I heard the soldier shout.

Pure terror crossed the young man's face, as blood poured from his mouth.

The blood did not stir me. I was thirsty, yes. But in that moment, I didn't want to drink his blood- I just wanted him to bleed.

"She said... you couldn't hurt us." he choked, his chest pinned by my one functioning hand.

"She was wrong." I snarled. I lurched forward and sunk my teeth into his throat as hard as I could. The skin tore so easily, like paper under my sharp teeth. Blood sprayed from his neck and he thrashed for only a couple moments. I ripped my mouth away, taking a chunk of him with me.

"Bridget?" a soft, gentle whisper came from behind me.

I turned, spitting out the flesh. It wasn't Apollo speaking like I'd hoped. Standing in his battle armor, helmet removed, was Hermes.

Knowing the guy I'd mauled was dead, I rose, wiping my face with the back of my good hand. Thankfully the paralysis in my left hand was receding, even if it was extremely slow. Hermes crouched down over Apollo, checking his pulse. Apollo's eyes were closed, and his face was formed in pain. He wasn't moving.

My heart burned. I don't know how, but it felt like my chest was on fire. It was like everything I had in the world had been destroyed right in front of me. The revenge had felt good, but it was short lived. Seeing Apollo laying there brought the terror right back to me.

"He's still alive." Hermes breathed a gigantic sigh of relief. "Medics!"

Several men ran forward, gently lifting his body off the ground. As they took him away, a sudden realization hit me.

"The others!" I whispered, frantically turning to the basement doorway.

"What others?" Hermes questioned, throwing his helmet back on. He lifted his weapon again, ready to go to war.

"There were two others. A heavyset brunette woman and an older woman with short gray hair- Beatrice and Lenora." 

I had to fight. I crouched slightly, mentally preparing myself for walking right back into the place they'd had me trapped. But why hadn't they come upstairs?

"Bridget, stop!" Hermes raised his voice, which startled me out of my thoughts. "It could be a trap. If they haven't come upstairs, they could be waiting to ambush you. Go out with Apollo. Me and my men will sweep the area." he lifted an arm and waved it. Five men appeared behind him. Following their leader, the men raised their guns and headed down the stairs slowly.

Hermes was right. He clearly knew what he was doing, and he had it covered. I needed to get the fuck out of here and help Apollo- we needed to get him medical attention, and I knew the cops were likely on their way after all the explosions that just rang through the neighborhood.

I ran out to the black Range Rover with tinted windows where they had loaded Apollo. I climbed inside along with two medics. They tapped on the ceiling and the driver took off, most likely back in the direction of our home.

"What happened to him? Is he going to be okay?" I nearly whimpered, my eyes resting on his nearly lifeless body laying on the seats in front of me. I reached down and took his hand.

The two medics removed their helmets and my jaw dropped.

"You two?"