Chapter 45 Killian
forty-five
Killian
Killian cursed himself for failing to spot the swarm of Voresta’s allies.
He counted ten Humans, brandishing weapons that varied from their fists, to bats and blades.
They clogged the air with a menacing energy as they glared at him.
Killian’s hand moved for Cataplexis , unclipping the sheath and freeing the dagger in one swift moment.
Voresta skirted the other side of the square to join the throng. He stood at the centre of the line, folding his arms across his chest as a satisfied grin spread across his face. Every muscle in Killian’s body tensed, readying for the fight he knew was moments from exploding into action.
“Tear these fuckers apart!” Voresta roared, and the gang surged forward.
Killian swapped Cataplexis to his off-hand and pulled a throwing knife from his bandolier, flinging it at the first guard that rushed him.
The blade speared the guard’s chest, and he dropped instantly.
Killian quickly snatched up another pair of knives and tossed them at the next two guards.
One staggered to a halt as the blade lodged in his thigh, and the next caught the blade in his neck.
The band of brutes closed the distance before Killian could arm himself with a fourth knife, and he was forced to fend off the attacks of four opponents. When he spared a glance at Voresta, he noticed he was still on the other side of the square, watching the action with his arms crossed.
The scent of blood permeated the air, and it served to enhance Killian’s aggression.
He ducked a right hook from one of the guards and swept his leg out to knock down another.
He spun and delivered a savage kick to the chest of his third opponent, and he heard a sickening crack as the guard’s ribs shattered from the force of the blow.
The guard was launched across the square and landed on his back on the ground, writhing as he coughed up blood.
The fourth guard side-stepped around Killian while he was occupied and swiped at him with a knife.
The blade sliced through his shirt and cut the flesh of his side, but Killian didn’t feel pain from the wound.
He wasn’t sure if it was from the surge of adrenaline, or if these guards were foolish enough to attack him with non-lethal blades.
Killian spared a glance at Finare, and he was battling three opponents with surprising ferocity.
He’d managed to disarm one of the guards and was brandishing the bat he’d stolen from him.
One of his opponents was on the floor, nursing a head wound that was gushing blood, and the scent of it made Killian’s hunger roar to life.
He couldn’t dwell on it though, because his opponents were gearing up for another attack. It was now two-on-one, but the third guard was collecting himself up off the floor.
One of the guards backed away before dashing across the square in surrender, but the other two moved forward, and Killian stormed towards them.
He swiped at the first with Cataplexis, but the guard parried the blow with his own knife.
The second guard leapt towards him while he was faced away, but he underestimated Killian’s speed.
Killian whipped around and caught the guard by the throat and slammed him to the ground.
The body landed with a thump and fell still.
Killian risked another glance in Voresta’s direction, and he noticed the scowl lining his features, but he still hadn’t joined the fray.
Killian set his concern aside to deliver a brutal punch to the face of his final opponent, mashing his nose into his face with a horrific crunch.
The guard crumpled to the ground, freeing him to help Finare.
Finare was overwhelmed by the two remaining guards.
They were both larger than Finare in height and bulk, and Finare had various injuries from the fight that had healed but left traces of blood on his skin.
The bat slipped out of Finare’s grip as he was tackled to the ground by one opponent, and the other started delivering a series of brutal kicks to Finare’s midsection.
Killian stormed over and grabbed the standing guard by the back of the neck, dragging him backward.
Killian allowed his hunger to take hold as he sank his fangs into the male’s neck.
The guard’s blood was sickly sweet, but Killian was forced to drink to Rubicon before letting the body fall to the floor.
The wound continued to gush blood as Killian’s saliva eroded the guard’s flesh.
The renewed scent of blood seemed to enliven Finare’s fury, and it enabled him to surge upward and overpower his opponent as they grappled on the dusty floor.
Killian watched as Finare flipped the guard over and wrapped his hands around his foe’s throat.
Killian turned on his heel and started towards Voresta once he knew that Finare was back in control.
Voresta’s eyes bore into his as he approached, and a hateful grin was plastered on his features. Killian stopped a short distance away and glared back at him. His head began to throb with pain, but he ignored it.
“Well done, Maurell. Truly impressive work.” Voresta raised his hands and gave Killian a slow, mocking round of applause.
“You know as well as I do that ten Humans were no contest. If you wanted to give me a challenge, you should’ve given them better weapons.” Killian brandished Cataplexis to emphasise his point.
“They weren’t meant to defeat you. Your Ending belongs to me.” Voresta’s eyes darkened to almost black as he stared Killian down.
“If you think you can take me, then bring it on, motherfucker.” Killian raised his hand to beckon Voresta forward.
Voresta advanced slowly towards Killian, a measured look of hatred on his features. Something about his self-assured swagger set Killian’s worry alight. It was at that moment that Killian’s vision swam, and he felt the world tilt beneath his feet.