Torment (Craving 2)

I have never killed anything with a sword, but I was game to try. I would have to aim for Allora’s neck, and it was going to be a tricky maneuver.

My top and jeans were soaked through, making maneuvering not as easy with the weight and tightness of my wet and clinging clothes.

She stopped to have a good look at me, glanced over at the wolf and said, “I didn’t know witches and dogs socialized.”

“Learn something every single day, huh?” I said.

“You know, I don’t think you even know how to use that weapon, little witch,” she said. “Look at you…no more than a newbie nothing, hardly skilled.”

“Is that what I am? Yet I got the sword away from you the first time we met,” I told her.

She actually hissed.

“Hissing, you are good at it. Me, I’m ready for some action. Come on…let’s have a go and see how this newbie does.”

At my side, the wolf snorted. We looked at one another before I turned and grinned at Allora. I could see she was hesitant. She was also infuriated and that was good. Anger sometimes gets in the way of clear thinking. Might give me an edge.

“Do you think a wolf and a slip of a girl can challenge me and live?” she screamed.

Yup, she was outraged, but she still employed caution and began circling us. My wolf moved in rhythm with me, and I matched my steps to Allora’s.

We were like two cats sizing one another up before we lunged, except I knew who she was. She had no idea who I was and from what she had just said, she was underestimating me. Good, I needed whatever advantages were available.

My wolf stood aside, I assume to give me space to attack and defend. I liked having him in the wings.

All at once, I felt my Shama, or is that me now, it feels like I found the spell and enacted it. Hell yeah, my Shama and I were merging. I was being guided by my inner magic, but it all felt so natural, like when you get on a bike you haven’t ridden in years.

I cloaked myself and the sword. Invisible was a great advantage.

I heard the wolf’s voice in my head, Smart little witch.

Allora stood still. “You think going invisible will help you?” she shouted.

I looked at her and knew she wanted to get my position by making me speak. Ha.

I took a step towards her on the driveway and swung the heavy weapon with both my fists around its hilt.

Allora is ancient and smart.

She listened for the swish of the blade in the atmosphere with her vampire hearing and managed to jump neatly out of its path. However, my aim was spot on and she couldn’t get completely out of the way.

My blade caught her arm and made an ugly gash. One that would, of course, heal, but it hurt and she screamed with pain and something else, surprise.

She bled heavily onto the blue gravel. I wished she could have seen the eyebrow I gave her. It said, Score one for the newbie!

Her fury grew, her face was set and determined, but her eyes were blood-red with primal rage.

I raised my blade again and made ready to strike. She was an ancient evil and killing her would save so many, I told myself. Killing her was the only solution.

I moved in, but I couldn’t get close enough. My mark had to be across her neck. Her head had to come off…eeeee…but I had no choice.

Evidently, she wanted to keep her head.

She was not going to play my game. Her vampires were dead, their bodies had already burst into flames in the harsh rain, and the wet ashes had been washed away. She was on her own and she suddenly saw that I was not an easy target. Her bleeding had already stopped from the wound my blade had inflicted, but…I saw her rein in her temper.

“Another time, witch, you won’t be expecting me,” she said. “This is not over.”

Vampire speed took her away from us, and into the woods away from MacLeod.