Remembering how it felt to scratch thatperra’s face off in my fury ignited a fire within me. I could do this. We could do this. We were getting out of here alive, together.
Together.
I needed him. And for once, I was okay with needing someone. If it had to be anyone, I was glad it was Vik.
I bit my bottom lip and his thumb pulled it out from between my teeth. My breath stuttered as I casted my eyes down and grabbed the hilt of the knife I pulled from that bitch’s chest.
Vik nodded as he twisted the machete in his hand and turned around to face what was coming.
I watched as Vik’s body relaxed, letting out a breath. How was he so calm, so confident? I admired him more in this moment.
“Get ready,” he said.
I bit my lip and gripped the hilt of my blade harder. My hands were getting clammy but I couldn’t mess up. I couldn’t let us down. I peered around his shoulder and saw two vampires coming our way.
“You get behind us. Inés cover our backs,” he instructed.
My eyes widened. Who was he talking to? Who was Ares? I looked behind me and saw no one. Did I hear him wrong?
“You there!” one of the vampires called out as they both started running toward us.
Vik roared as he ran toward them. I followed behind.
“Human!” they called out but the first vampire quickly gurgled in his own blood as Vik leaped and swung his machete across his neck.
Blood sprayed across Vik’s face and goggles, but he didn’t stop. The other vampire hissed as he dashed toward him. I screamed in fear for Vik and threw my blade. It landed on his shoulder, knocking him back enough for Vik to bring down the machete on his skull, splitting it in half down toward his eyes.
Vik pulled back with a wet sound and slammed the blade down again, taking the vampire to the ground. I ran toward him and pulled my knife out of his shoulder, stabbing it in his chest and neck. It was the only weapon I had and I wasn’t about to lose it in this little skirmish.
As I stood there catching my breath, Vik seemed to be in a trance. He swung his blade down like a butcher, dismembering the vampire’s limbs and finally his head, coating the ground crimson in his wake.
Time stood still as I watched Vik slowly straighten and point the tip of the machete on the floor, leaning into it. He was calm. Too calm.
“You motherfuckers have always wanted to bring death to humans well… death sent me to collect, I am the reaper of souls and your soul is mine,” he snarled, his chest glistening from the blood that splattered on him.
Whatever was happening to Vik, whoever this Reaper he claimed to be, I wasn’t sure how I felt about it.
“Vik,” I whispered.
He calmly turned to look at me, his goggles dripping in blood.
I audibly gulped but continued to tell him what was on my mind. “Y-you should take his clothes,” I said, pointing at the vampire that was still intact.
Vik chuckled then threw his head back and laughed maniacally.
“You’re a smart one, Inés. I forgot about that,” he said as if we were having a conversation about the weather. I patted down the dismembered vampire as Vik disrobed the other one.
I found a few things I could use and shoved them into my pockets. When I turned around, Vik was already fully clothed. He walked over to me and placed a gentle hand on my shoulder before disrobing the second vampire and grabbing his detached head.
“What are you doing?” I asked frantically.
Vik chuckled as he threw the head into a makeshift bag made from the dead vampire’s shirt. “Souvenir.”
My mouth dropped open, watching as blood began to soak through the bag. Vik began to whistle the same eerie tune as theperradid as he made his way to the other vampire and began hacking at his neck. He collected the second head into the same back and slung it over his shoulder.
“Why are you taking their heads?” my voice shook.
“How else does the Reaper collect, Inés?” he laughed as if I told him the funniest joke and began walking again. “We should be close. Let’s keep going.”
