13. Magnar

My muscles swelled and tensed as the writhing power of my gifts combined with my new abilities as a vampire. Callie’s blood fuelled me like nothing I’d ever experienced before. It flooded my body, charging my limbs with a euphoric feeling that was raw and brutal in its design.

I smiled as I chased after the truck I’d launched at the feral vampires and I slammed into them like a charging bull.

Bodies flew in every direction at the collision and I laughed as I tore through those who were unlucky enough to be left standing nearby.

I didn’t bother drawing my blades, opting to carve into them with my bare hands instead.

I bellowed a challenge as I ripped open chests and smashed hearts within my fists.

The rotters started screaming in panic. They were no longer running towards me but had turned away. They tried to escape but I was too fast. I was faster than the wind and swifter than death itself.

I broke bones, crushed skulls and bathed in blood so bright it was blinding.

Heat rose in my veins as the joy of the battle took over. This was what I’d been born to do. I was Clan of War and now I was a monster as well. The bloodlust rose in my veins like wildfire, taking root in every corner of my soul and driving me on to kill and kill and kill.

The screams of horror were like a song of joy to my un-beating heart and I waded forward endlessly as Callie’s blood powered me beyond all reasonable understanding.

As my mind caught on the girl I loved, I swung around, looking for her in the devastation I’d created.

She stood in the street behind me, staring on with her lips parted as she looked at what I’d done.

I shot towards her and she gasped as I slammed into her, lifting her into my arms before chasing after the rotters who had escaped us.

We flew down abandoned streets and the sound of gunfire called me on. Our allies were close and my brother’s scent trailed to me on the wind. He smelled delicious but nothing could compare to the intoxicating scent of the woman in my arms.

I raced down a long street before rounding a corner and skidding to a halt as I spotted a group of rotters trying to force entry into a large building at the end of it.

Dirt spewed into the air on the far side of the house and I stared at it in confusion for a moment before I set Callie on her feet again.

She gripped my arm before I could race into battle and I glanced down at her, my muscles coiling in anticipation of the fight to come.

“They have guns,” she warned. “Don’t forget you aren’t invincible.”

“I’ve survived death once already. I like my chances of doing it again.”

I pulled my arm out of her grip and charged to take on the opponents who were trying to gain entry into the house.

I pulled my swords from my back this time, wanting to see how my skill with the blades was escalated by my added strength and speed.

To death and back again, Venom purred in anticipation as I headed straight for the cluster of enemies.

A few of them turned and spotted me as I closed in and they shouted warnings to the rest.

They raised their weapons and gunfire rang out but I dove beneath the line of fire.

I twisted towards them with impossible speed and bullets slammed through my right side.

Pain flared in my stomach and I gritted my teeth as I swung Tempest in a wide arc, carving into the first of my opponents. I healed almost instantly and grinned in fierce satisfaction at the near invincibility of my flesh.

The vampires dove aside but ash trailed in the wake of my blade as two of them met their end.

More bullets were fired and I twisted Venom before my chest, shielding my heart with the sword while taking the gunfire in the rest of my body.

The pain from my wounds only spurred me on and I carved a line straight into the shrieking crowd, fighting to free my brother from the building behind them.

The wind changed and I looked up as Callie’s scent washed over me and she dove into battle at my side, Fury poised above her head.

A vampire raised his gun, aiming it at her and I leapt between them as he pulled the trigger. The bullet slammed into my chest, knocking me off of my feet and the pain of the wound blinded me momentarily.

Callie cried out furiously as she vaulted over me, driving Fury into his chest before he could fire again and finish me off.

The door to the building burst open as our allies spilled back out to join the fight and finish the rotters once and for all.

Julius ran forward as he spotted me on the ground but the pain was already receding and I regained my feet in a fluid motion.

A group of rotters had banded together and they charged towards us, raising their guns as our allies fought the few closest to us.

I turned towards the building beside us, dropping my blades as I ripped the heavy metal door from its hinges with a grunt of effort.

I raced forward as the rotters took aim and swung the door at them, knocking them all to the ground with the savage blow.

Callie and Montana ran on beside each other, the two twins working together to destroy our enemies with their blades.

Silence finally fell and I retrieved Tempest from the ground, listening to its assessment and grinning as it confirmed that we were alone once more.

“That’s all of them?” Clarice asked, looking to me for confirmation.

“It is,” I agreed, reclaiming Venom too.

Erik walked towards us from the back of the house, his gaze distant and his body caked in mud. He looked around at the blood and ash which lined the streets but it was hard to say if he took any pleasure in our victory. His gaze shifted across his family and Montana and a little of the tension left his limbs but that was it.

“Well, I suppose something good has come from your transformation, Savage,” Fabian commented as he took note of the devastation I’d caused.

“You’re welcome,” I snarled. His statement was hardly filled with gratitude considering the fact that I’d likely just saved his life.

“I take it you finally fed then?” Fabian asked, his gaze sliding over me. “Was it the bottle or the vein that corrupted your morals in the end?”

I snarled at him as his face fell into a smug smile and Callie shifted closer to me.

“You were demanding he feed last night and now you’re taunting him for it?” she asked Fabian angrily. “Make up your mind. The two of you need to stop this stupid bickering.”

I fought against the desire to cave Fabian’s head in and turned my gaze to her instead. Callie raised an eyebrow at me and I scowled as I realised she still expected me to apologise to him for last night.

The air was thick with tension and I rolled my shoulders, slamming my blades back into their sheathes as I tried to calm the swirling anger in my chest.

“Callie thinks I owe you an apology,” I growled, my eyes on Fabian though I could feel everyone else’s attention on me too as I spoke.

Fabian snorted in disbelief and folded his arms. “Let’s hear it then.”

“I’m sorry,” I growled and I noticed Julius staring at me like he thought I’d gone mad. Fabian’s brows rose and I could see the pleasure he was taking in seeing me forced to grovel to him but I wasn’t done. “I’m sorry that your puny body is no match for my strength. And I’m sorry that you felt you needed to go crying to Callie because I’d hurt your feelings. But mostly I’m sorry that I’m stuck looking at your fucking face for days on end while you sniff around her like a mutt begging for scraps.”

Fabian hissed at me and I snarled right back. Julius laughed loudly and clapped me on the back while the others stared on, unsure what to do about our exchange. I was happy enough to take the Belvedere on if he thought he was a match for me now but Fabian made no move to engage me.

Callie released a breath of frustration and turned her back on me, taking her sister’s arm before they strode away down the street.

My gut twisted, knowing I’d disappointed her. But I wasn’t going to be whipped into submission and I certainly wasn’t going to start grovelling to Fabian Belvedere for forgiveness.

“Well, now that we’re all friends again, maybe it’s time we got back on the road?” Clarice suggested, breaking the tension by stepping between us.

“Fine by me,” Erik muttered and he headed after Callie and Montana, the haunted look in his eyes unchanged by anything that had taken place.

I offered Fabian a taunting smile and fell into step with my brother while he scowled at me. I might have been a vampire for now but I would never see myself as one of them. We simply needed to get to the mountain and end this damn curse. After that I’d never have to see Fabian again.