Lightning and then pounding thunder made for dramatics.
She looked up and laughed.
A torrential downpour opened up and covered us. I was
already up and steady on my feet. I took a step towards her instead of away.
She took a wide stance in the pouring rain. She was soaking wet and laughing. “I love the rain. It gives me more time to do more things, things like ripping the hearts out of witches like yourself. You stupid girl. Did you think I would not come back to settle my grievances with you?”
The rain had drenched her long blonde hair and the water made rivulets down the black leather pants outfit she wore.
She looked, in the tight leathers, like she was dressed to kill—she had come to kill me. Oddly enough, standing there with her, just the two of us, no help on the way, I was totally calm and composed. A plan had already formulated in my head.
Although a healthy smart part of me said, Run…you are a stupid girl and she is an ancient vampire, but the other part, my Shama, made me stand my ground.
I had skills, skills my dear Aunt Elle had insisted I learn. Aunt Elle, I had to call her soon or I was going to definitely find her on my doorstep, and I sure didn’t want her walking into this mess.
One of the skills Aunt Elle had insisted I learn was good old fashioned self-defense. “Karate,” she said. “Even a witch needs to know how to take down a beast and hurry off.”
I learned early on just how to throw a kick, jump, and how to land. I know how to surprise my opponent using different parts of my body. I never went for the belt thing, but I know my stuff.
I let her reach and grab hold of my arm. I stared into her blood burning eyes before I used leverage and twisted her so that her arm was at her back.
I kicked her in the rump and waited for her to land on her knees. She did. But holy good God she was fast, she was up and facing me, with her fangs distended and ready.
However, as I said, I had a plan and knew what I had to do to kill the ancient vampire. I knew what I needed, but before I could put my hand up and call for my sword, she was on me with that damned vampire speed and strength. That is what happens when you get too cocky. Oh, I have a plan, I jeered at myself.
She barreled into me, sending me onto my back once again and onto the other side of the Blood Ward, where, if she had any vampires with her, I would be in a great deal of trouble.
I took another karate position when I heard a low hard growl and saw a familiar horse-sized gray and black wolf move in close.
She did have vampire help, but they had not been able to get to me. I had a wolf, you see, and the notion made me grin.
My wolf had two vampires in his sights and he had them at bay. I saw he was in position to lunge and kill.
I smiled and used my witch power.
I was on my feet. My hand went into the air where my sword always waits in my invisible space. Many earthbound witches are able to carry their wands in an invisible space, and call on their wands when needed. I have a sword. Very handy.
Allora used this sword to kill my grandmother, who before she died infused the blade with her magic. It had responded to me and was now mine.
It is heavy, but my witch strength was ready for it, and I held it pointed right at Allora’s dead heart.
This was going to be tricky.
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw the shifter wolf…Hawkeye, take a vampire by the neck and rip his head off its body.
The other vampire jumped on the wolf’s back, but the wolf rolled over on him, crushing and disabling him before he flipped and took the vampire’s head off, and snapped it into the wind. Blood covered his dear nose.
Allora saw this even as I did, and bellowed, “NO!”
I smiled at her.
She screeched like a banshee, and yes, banshees really do screech.
The wolf stood his ground beside me and waited.
We were all drenched with rain.