The Vampire attempted to stand but couldn’t with a broken leg. Red and purple colored his brutish face. Unfortunately, his hunched shoulders and the position made it impossible to snap his neck. Even that wouldn’t kill a Vampire. Had he been facing up, Christian would have plucked out his heart. Assuming he could get through all that muscle.
“I feel like I’m on a broken mechanical bull,” Christian grumbled.
The wheezing Vampire collapsed onto his forearms, his rear end high in the air. Christian didn’t dare let go of the man’s neck. Just a little longer and he’d fall unconscious, especially at the rate he was bleeding. When Christian felt himself sliding off, he anchored his feet on either side and realized he needed to pin this guy all the way to the ground. Christian desperately bumped his crotch against the Vampire’s rear, squeezing his neck tighter until another bone cracked.
Hercules finally fell onto his side, but Christian didn’t let go in case it was a ruse. He kept squeezing, his right leg pinned beneath the big fella.
“Christian? Do you have the situation under control?”
Christian looked up at Niko standing near a side hall. Blood stained his sword and stoic face.
The love song filled the room as Christian lay there, spooning a man in his underpants. “It’s not what it looks like.”
Niko’s lips twitched. “And what does it look like?”
Christian scooted back and sat up. He’d swallowed his gum at some point during the fight. “Is the upstairs clean?”
“There was only one, and I’ve eliminated him. I searched downstairs but found no one else. Did you see another?”
“No. Not unless someone’s hiding under a tablecloth.”
“I guess Sparrow’s strategy was hiding one armed man upstairs, just as we predicted. Not the intellectual he makes himself out to be.”
Christian grabbed the Vampire’s arms and dragged him into the front room.
“Do you require a sword?” Niko asked.
“Not just yet. I made a promise, and I’m a man of my word. I want to be sure he gets a gander at his new best friends when he crosses over.” Christian held his breath as he lifted a corpse and threw it over another. Then he strode to the wall, snatched up two heads, and placed them in front of Dunderhead so they looked right at him. “Ahh, Niko. ’Tis a shame you can’t see this.”
Niko slowly approached. “Something tells me I’d rather not.”
“Ignorance is bliss.”
“Precisely.”
“Did you happen to find Lenore’s bedroom?”
Niko furrowed his brow. “Why?”
“Just wondering if you could be a good lad and put the other shitebag under the covers.” He stepped forward, leveling his voice. “Don’t pretend you have any respect for that woman.”
“Perhaps just the head on her pillow will suffice.”
“On second thought, check her closet for a suitcase. She’ll probably be packing her things and moving out for a spell when Sparrow’s men retreat.”
“You might consider refraining from theatrics. We’ll have no acceptable explanation for defiling a higher authority rep’s home.” Niko’s phone vibrated. “That must be Viktor. One moment.”
Christian went outside to turn off that infernal music and wondered about Lenore. She would never accept living out her immortality as a ghost. Raven mentioned that Sparrow coveted Lenore. He must have recognized her power and influence and how that would benefit him. She had spent her life climbing over people to gain power, so if Lenore betrayed the higher authority, she would do everything to ensure his success.Theirsuccess. She would never take a risk without the certainty of success.
He reached inside the car and shut off the music. Now that Viktor wasn’t putting her on a pedestal, she might set her sights elsewhere. Especially now that Viktor didn’t have a home. But where would she go? To whom would she run?
“Christian! We have to leave.” Niko emerged from the front door and slowed down until he found the first step. “That was Viktor.”
Christian cursed under his breath. “If we’re leaving, I need to finish off the fanghole.”
Niko reached the car. “No need. He’s dead. I took care of it just now.”
They got in the car.
