Page 132 of Beds and Blades

She came from the side with a cry that was part fury and part grief. Her blade found the seam beneath its shoulder and drove deep into the flesh beneath.

The creature twisted toward her. That was what she wanted.

Flavia ripped the sword free and struck again. Once at the throat. Once behind the knee. Once through the hand it raised to catch her blade.

Speed was the vampire's advantage, so Flavia decided to counter it. She used the council table to restrict its movement.

She used the council table to restrict its movement, forcing it into the narrow space between the chairs. When it lunged, she slipped inside its guard and drove her sword through the gap beneath its raised arm.

The blade sank deep. The vampire screamed. Flavia tore the weapon free and struck for its neck.

The second vampire abandoned me and caught her wrist.

“Save him!” Flavia screamed at me.

For the first time, the path to Skip was open.

I ran.

Behind me, Flavia turned with the vampire’s grip instead of fighting it. She planted one boot against the edge of the council table and drove the other into the wounded creature’s chest. It flew backward into the wall.

“Get your fucking hands off me!”

Her free hand pulled a knife from her belt.

She buried it in the second vampire’s eye. Its scream shook the rafters.

The grip on her wrist loosened. Flavia twisted free and slashed her sword across its throat.

The cut opened wide. Then it began to close.

I reached Skip, dropped my hook and sword beside the chair, and grabbed the rope around his right wrist. The knots were too tight to pull apart. I reached for the knife at my belt.

“Meghan!” Flavia shouted.

I looked up.

The wounded vampire had risen behind her.

Flavia turned and caught its strike on her blade. The impact drove her back against the table, but she held.

The second vampire tore the knife from its ruined eye.

Flavia saw it coming.

She shoved the first creature away, pivoted, and met the second with a cut across the face. The blade opened its cheek to the bone.

For a heartbeat, she stood between them.

Blood streaked her face. Her breath came hard.

Neither vampire had managed to bring her down.

“Cut him loose!” she shouted.

The first attacked from her right. She blocked it. The second came from her left.

She ducked beneath its hand and drove her elbow into its throat. Then she turned and slashed the first across the knee, forcing it down.