22. Callie

Iraced away from Fabian and Danielle, searching the streets for Montana.

She’d definitely come this way so I knew she had to be close. I just couldn’t figure out where.

Come on, Monty! Where are you?

Fury tingled in my palm, urging me to turn left and I skidded to a halt on the wet concrete. I spun back, flying down the closest alleyway as Wolfe’s voice carried to me in the echoing space.

“You’re going to beg for deaff before I’m finithed wiff you,” he snarled.

Fury burned hot in my grip as I rounded a corner and spotted Montana unmoving on the floor with Wolfe stalking closer. My lungs seized as I looked at her, lying vulnerable on the ground at that monster’s mercy.

I won’t let you hurt my family again.

I whipped my hand back, launching Fury at him with all of my strength. It spun towards him but he shifted aside at the last moment so it lodged in his shoulder instead of his heart. Wolfe cried out and wrenched the blade from his flesh, throwing it away down the alley.

“Even better,” he growled as he turned his icy gaze on me. One of his eyes was destroyed and bright red blood poured down his cheek. “I’ll kill both fiffterths.”

I released a snarl of pure hatred as I launched myself at him. He shot to meet me in a rush of motion and I took a deep breath, standing my ground, my gifts flooding into me as adrenaline filled my muscles.

I slammed my fist into his face, feeling something crack beneath my knuckles just as he drove his palms against my chest. I was hurled into the air and crashed into the wall of the building beside us.

Pain flared along my spine as I fell to the ground and he was on me again in an instant. He lifted me off of my feet by my throat, raising me above his head as he bared his teeth. I stared at the holes where his fangs had been, the gums bloody and swollen as if his body couldn’t recover from such a wound.

He noticed my attention and hissed at me, bloody spittle flying through the gaps in his teeth and coating my face as he lifted me higher and squeezed until I couldn’t breathe.

“You’re the reathon my fangth were taken. But once the Belfedereth are dead, I’ll take them back and drink from the vein for all eternity.”

I clawed at his hands then gave up and slammed my knee into his chin instead, forcing him to release me with a curse.

I rolled as I hit the ground, swiftly springing to my feet again before sprinting away from him towards Fury.

Wolfe tackled me before I got ten paces and I smashed into the ground once more. He flipped me over beneath him and wrapped his hands around my throat, crushing me in his grip so I couldn’t draw breath.

I punched him in the side again and again, feeling his ribs crack beneath the strength of my blows. But he didn’t loosen his hold as he sneered down at me, taking the punishment I was dishing out while knowing I was running out of time. I tried to buck him off of me then swept my hands above my head, searching for something, anything to use as a weapon.

“You’re going to rue the day you crothed me thlayer.” he snarled, his remaining eye alight with glee as he sensed his victory.

My fingers brushed against Montana’s cold leg but she was still unmoving as her body fought to repair itself from whatever he’d done to her. I moved my hand back as stars blossomed before my eyes and Wolfe started laughing.

You won’t kill me you murdering asshole. I refuse to let you kill me!

Something hot brushed my fingertips and my heart leapt with hope as I stretched my arm as far as I could manage.

Hello, twin of Moon Child, Nightmare purred and I could feel it aching for blood.

I flipped it in my palm and thrust it at Wolfe as hard as I could, catching him in the thigh as my vision continued to darken.

He swore, his grip on me loosening and I stabbed him in the arm.

Wolfe reared off of me and I coughed, sucking in air as I struggled to recover from his attack. I scrambled back on my elbows, bumping into Montana’s body as I fought to get away. I glanced at my sister’s still form and her eyelids fluttered. She was waking up, I just needed to buy a little more time.

You might be a match for me but the two of us are going to annihilate you.

Yes, let’s help Moon Child, Nightmare agreed enthusiastically.

I forced myself upright, backing away from Montana’s body and leading Wolfe after me along the alley. His one eye glared at me, his gaze filled with the promise of violence as he closed in on me again.

“Come on then, you fucking psychopath,” I growled. “Lethh thee what you can do.”

Anger flared in his expression as I mocked him and he screamed with rage as he shot towards me.

He reached for me and I slashed Nightmare at him, cutting the fingers from his left hand and sending them falling to the ground. Wolfe howled in pain and I smirked tauntingly as I backed up again. One of his fingers rolled beneath my boot and I crushed it into the concrete as he shrieked in outrage.

I glanced over his shoulder and noticed Montana stirring.

Wolfe leapt at me again and I batted his left arm aside, but his right fist connected with my jaw. I stumbled back as pain rang through my skull but I danced aside before he could press his advantage.

I threw Nightmare at him as he advanced but he dodged it by inches before crashing into me once more. The collision sent me flying again and I hit the concrete at the far end of the alley, skidding along the ground before landing on my back with something burning hot pressing into my spine.

My face lit with a wicked smile as I grabbed Fury and my blade hummed with excitement as we were reunited.

Feed me, Sun Child. I crave blood!

Montana groaned as she pushed herself to her feet behind Wolfe and he spun towards her, snarling with rage.

I sprinted at him with Fury raised to attack. “Not my sister, you motherfucker!” I screamed as I sprang onto his back, hooking my arm around his neck and stabbing, stabbing, stabbing until the whole world ran red with his blood.