20. Magnar

Igrabbed the last biter by the back of his neck and launched him through the air towards my brother. Julius swung Menace up to meet him and the monster screamed a moment before the heavy blade ripped through his heart and reduced him to dust.

Julius offered me a savage smile and I looked around at the town hall, double checking we’d finished them all as the last of the humans raced out through the back exit.

The far end of the building was engulfed in flames and I had to hope that Callie was still safe out there as I turned in the opposite direction and strode after the humans. My heart beat with worry for her but she was a full slayer now; the strength of her gifts were unparalleled and I had to keep faith that she could hold her own against the creatures who hungered for her blood. I would only feel whole again once we were reunited though and I hurried outside after the humans, hoping to find her quickly.

The rain slammed down endlessly as Valentina wielded a storm above our heads, the gift she had been bestowed to help her fight alongside the slayers now turned against us.

The humans raced away from us, heading for shelter on the far side of the town but the sounds of the battle reached us from beyond the town hall.

I turned towards it just as a terrified scream drew my attention back towards the fleeing humans.

A group of biters raced after them, colliding with those unfortunate enough to have been caught at the rear of the crowd as they tried to outpace them.

I snarled in anger, rotating my blades in my grip as I ran to intercept the vampires instead of heading into the thick of the fight where Callie had to be.

Julius fell into pace beside me, offering me a ferocious smile as we raced into battle side by side once more. This was what we’d been made for; we were born to fight and win. My muscles came alive with the power of my gifts as we dove into the fray and I relished in the power of the Clan of War.

I leapt at the closest biter, striking his head from his body with Tempest before driving Venom through the heart of the next.

I slammed my boot into the chest of the decapitated vampire hard enough to shatter bone and crush his heart beneath my heel, ending his eternal existence.

Julius leapt over the fallen body of a human man, colliding with the vampire who was sucking on his neck and knocking her off as they fell back into the dirt.

I hoisted the human to his feet and he staggered, blinking at me in surprised gratitude.

“Thank you! You saved my life, I-”

I gave him a shove to get him running after his kin, not needing to hear his thanks.

Another biter leapt from the shadows and I threw Venom at him, the heavy blade spinning end over end before slamming through his heart and clattering to the ground as he died.

Julius rammed his blade through the heart of his opponent and rolled to his feet as I ran to retrieve Venom.

The humans raced away but more demons poured from the shadows, chasing after them with a desire for blood lighting their features.

Julius bellowed a challenge at them as he placed himself between the vampires and their quarry, and I moved to his side as they rushed at us.

“Just like old times,” Julius said as he raised Menace before him while I held Venom and Tempest aloft too.

“Let’s remind them why they feared us a thousand years ago,” I growled in agreement.

The biters swarmed around us, using the force of their numbers to their advantage as we fell into a savage battle.

I placed my back to Julius’s and we worked together to carve through the monsters like two parts of the same body.

I swung my blades again and again, blood and dust flying in their wake as we carved through the vampires, forcing them back beneath our combined might.

The familiar rhythm of our battle set my blood singing in my veins and I released a laugh as I cut through the parasites who hungered for our deaths. Even fifty lesser vampires such as these could pose no challenge to our combined fury, and Julius laughed with me as the joy of the battle filled us. We were Clan of War; this was what we’d been born for.

I slammed my boot into the chest of a large male and he flew back, knocking his companions over as he crashed into them.

We leapt into the space his fall created, delivering death to all those who floundered to recover and their ranks suddenly broke. The remaining biters turned and fled, and I grinned as I chased after them with Julius at my side.

They led us around the town hall which continued to burn and we emerged in a huge square which was filled with the sounds and smell of battle.

The Belvederes fought fiercely and I noticed other vampires fighting alongside them too; their backup clearly having arrived. I spotted Erik locked in combat with a group of biters and my skin tingled as I tightened my grip on my blades. I still couldn’t believe we were fighting alongside him, and I had to turn my face from him before I allowed any memories of our vendetta to cross my mind. Now wasn’t the time for second thoughts.

I scanned the square in search of a new prey and energy coursed along my spine as I found Valentina. She had clambered up above the mayhem, standing on the roof of a truck as she raised her hands to cast her power. Her dark ponytail whipped about in a wind I couldn’t feel as she wielded her gifts, and I gritted my teeth in anticipation of her gifts.

Lightning scorched the sky above her and the storm flared in response.

I snarled at her, raising Venom in a silent promise as I set my eyes on the former slayer who had betrayed us all.

I dove into battle once more with one goal in mind. Today I’d end my betrothal once and for all.