“Do you think I’m stupid?” I bared my fangs. “You’ll try to kill them either way, and that’s not going to happen.”
Mom let out a shrill scream behind me as Dean tried to comfort her.
He leaned against the door frame. “True, but you can’t obliterate an abandoned. Only the Dravens can. I’ll have it tear your humans apart, and then I’ll take you to Viktor on a silver platter…but not before I have a taste first.”
My stomach churned, hunger vanishing.
I had one chance to use my mental power and not screw it up. If I could take out the vampire, I could focus on the abandoned.
Curving my lips into an innocent smile, I stepped one foot forward. “You wanted me to share my secret, right?”
“I’d be honored.”
I closed the distance between us quickly, catching him off guard, and wrapped my hand around his neck, squeezing as hard as I could.
I hope this works. Otherwise, I’ll be fucked.
Looking into his eyes, I pushed away my fears and focused. I remembered what Thaddeus had told me about killing a vampire and pushed all my will into it. “Tear off your head or rip out your heart. I don’t care which. You choose.” My words were sharp, deliberate.
The vampire’s expression switched from amused to fucking terrified in a split second. “What—” he sputtered, and I let go of my hold around his neck.
His wide eyes didn’t stray from mine as he plunged his hand into his chest. The sound of his hand tearing apart the flesh filled my ears, and his rib cage broke with a loud crack as he forced his way into his chest. His long, bony fingers wrapped around his heart as it thumped one last time.
A silent plea was exchanged between us before he yanked his heart from his chest, black blood spraying out and dripping onto the floor.
As his heart dropped against the floor, the vampire fell back and disintegrated into ash and black goo. The only thing left of him was the heart itself.
Vampire blood smelled like dusty metal, and my stomach heaved at the thought of consuming it. A new vampire’s blood must smell more appetizing than that. Otherwise, I was sure Viktor wouldn’t bother.
Petrified screams sounded from behind me, and I gritted my teeth.
An eerie crackle came from the abandoned who smiled at me with sharp white teeth that reminded me of razor blades.
Blood drained from my face, and I didn’t even know it could do that anymore. I’d never seen an abandoned’s mouth before. I thought they were more of a humanoid shadow than an actual monster with teeth. Even the green and yellow-eyed ones didn’t open their mouths, and they screamed.
My breath caught. It was as if the vampire had the thing on a chain, but the thing was freed from whatever control it was under when he died.
Before the abandoned lunged forward, Jax launched himself at it, causing deep scratches until it threw him off.
More high-pitched screams came from my mom.
“Jax!” I gasped.
His furry little body hit the wall with a sickening crack before sliding to the floor. Fear splintered my heart.No.
He sprung up and shook his fur like nothing happened as he took an aggressive stance toward the abandoned.
I noticed little notches on the abandoned. Were those puncture wounds? I didn't think that was possible. I’d never seen anything harm one except for when they were obliterated. Dark smoke seeped out of the marks Jax had left, and it seemed bothered by that.
“What the fuck is going on?” Hunter shouted from behind me.
Taking my chance, I charged the abandoned outright. It swung a dark claw my way, and I barely dodged it, swinging my leg up and landing a hit on the creature. The abandoned stumbled back into the end table, knocking off a vase that smashed to bits on the floor.
I could hear Dean and Hunter freaking out behind me, but I blocked it out as the creature charged me again. I was too late to dodge, and I took the hit. I launched into the wall, breaking the plasterboard with my body.
I groaned, thankful for vampire healing more than ever before. My vision blurred as the creature approached my family.
Mom screamed, and I pushed myself up and barreled toward the abandoned. I threw a punch, distracting it from my family. Hit after hit, the abandoned was unfazed. I was able to keep the abandoned away from my loved ones, but I couldn’t do an ounce of permanent damage. Even upgraded to vampire, this body was starting to wear out.
