Lyssa reached out and killed the interior light. She balanced the crossbow on the steering wheel, adjusted the sights loaded a bloodstained bolt. Pain radiated from her leg, more intense than any she'd ever felt. The rusty, salty perfume of her own blood forced its way up her nose. Her throat convulsed, she choked back an involuntary heave. The part of her that remembered she was still a child wanted to curl up in a ball and cry. The rest of her was already operating on training so deeply ingrained it'd become instinct. She concentrated on the feel of the bow in her hands using it to distance herself from the pain. Act now react later.
She waited patiently, still as a stone, lining up her shot with the weak spot on the windshield. The spot where it had already started to buckle. Her breath flowed in a slow, rhythmic cadence. Butterflies in her belly. This wasn't a game. The crossbow wasn't a paintball gun. If she missed…
She couldn't see her dad but judging by the direction the vamp from the Semi was skulking in she had a pretty good idea where he was. The vampire crossed in front of the motor home. He was so intent on trying to catch her father from behind that he paid her no attention.
Wait for it. Wait… for it. Wait…
The windshield exploded ….
X x X x X x X x X
Two figures emerged from the darkness that lay behind the headlights. Sam recognized Alexander but the blond man with the beetle black eyes was a stranger.
"Sam Winchester. It's been too long. I was just telling David here how long it's been and what happens? I run into you. How ironic." His voice was silk laced with the subtle hint of an accent centuries old.
He sniffed the air like a dog, grinned exposing long yellow fangs. "Smells like, mmmmm, you brought me a snack. Who's bleeding to death in that thing behind you Sam?"
Sam, still crouched, looked up from under knitted brows. One hand on the hard, uneven ground the other extended behind him. The machete's business end saluted the sky.
"Drop the knife." The command wrapped itself around him trying to invade his mind. The small red Celtic cross tattooed on his chest burned turning the vampire's mesmerizing voice away.
Most of the legends about vampires are false but a few are based in fact. They aren't all capable of influencing people. Just the old ones like Alexander.
"I said drop the knife."
Sam smiled at the look of bewilderment on Alexander's face.
"I'll get that knife and I'll use it to carve whoever it is you're protecting like a Thanksgiving turkey."
One small worm of doubt crept into Sam's belly. He pictured Lyssa bleeding out in the R.V. Jesus if he…..
He got the distinct uncomfortable feeling of eyes at his back. He concentrated on the weight of the massive Kukri blade in his hand using it to distance himself from his fear. Act now react later. He thrust the world away giving over to the hunter.
The sound of shattering glass was less surprising than it was expected. One down.
Sam launched himself off the ground, taking into account the bits of gravel littering the blacktop, adjusted his body. He charged Alexander but the demon jumped in his way. He closed the distance between them quickly. At the last second he leapt feet fist planting both of his boots in the demons chest. He pushed off and flipped to land once again on his feet. The demon flew backward and landed with such force on the hood of the little car the windshield spider webbed.
Sam turned to Alexander but found he was no longer standing next to the car. Confused he spun searching the parking lot.
The demon stood causing the car's ruined hood to crackle and groan. The noise grabbed Sam's attention. He dropped to the ground. Felt the air above him move. The demon sailed over him landing hard then rolling. He sprang to his feet. Sam mirrored him.
A flash from the corner of his eye. Alexander crooning softly through the R.V.'s broken side window. Sam's heart skipped a beat.
Then he was forced to move. He swung the machete around felt the resistance as it cut through flesh and grated against bone. The demon lashed out, clipped his shoulder. He had to twist to keep his balance landing awkwardly on the gravel and jarring his bad leg. He sucked in a breath but didn't stop. He attacked again ducking under one massive fist and thrusting upward with the machete aiming for the demons midsection.
He'd swear he heard that blade calling for blood as it whistled through the air. Then it was skating across bone again deflected by the demons meaty forearm. He took a glancing blow to the side of his head.
He tried to catch a glimpse of the R.V. but the demon kept him busy. Leveling blows with the speed of a martial artist.
Sam swept out a leg took the demon down hard. Threw a glance at the R.V.. Lyssa's pale face floated into view. She looked dazed.
"NO!" Distracted he took a strike to the face that sent him reeling. His turn to bounce off the hood of the car.
Fear and fury burned a hole in him. Instead of stealing his ability to think coolly they focused him further. This had already gone on too long.
The demon stood behind him. Laughed. "She sure does have a pretty mouth." Laughed again.
Sam looked down at his empty hands.
"Looking for this?" Another laugh short and sharp like a dart to his cerebral cortex.
He turned. The demon started. Uncertainty flickered in its eyes. Then it rushed Sam the machete held out in front of it like a sword.
Sam sidestepped it easily. He snatched another peek at the R.V. Lyssa was standing, the door open, her hands behind her back on the passenger side step.
The demon rounded on him, swung the knife in an arc.
Sam caught the demons hand and grabbed for the knife's handle. His hand kissed the blade then a slick scrabble and he had it. His hands weren't empty anymore.
He pushed the demon away swung the knife. Low and hard. This time it found its mark sinking deep into the demons gut. He twisted and yanked upward tearing a hole in the poor shit David was riding. God help him he didn't care. All he could think about was Lyssa.
He hacked into the demons neck while it was occupied with the mess trying to escape its' stolen body. It fell, black smoke roiled from its mouth.
Sam rounded on the R.V. "Leave her alone Alex."
The once comfortable night air was frigid against his blood drenched body. He shivered. His breath steamed in ragged puffs.
"Like you left my Tanya?" Alex asked turning to face him.
"She'd eaten half a kindergarten class Alex. There were witnesses."
"She always did have a soft spot for children," the vampire said shaking his head sadly. "Did I say soft spot? I meant sweet tooth. This one here smells sweet."
"Believe me she's anything but. Why don't you come over here huh? Let's settle this like gentlemen." Sam stopped ten feet from Alex. He bent and placed the knife on the ground. The vampire smiled. Lyssa stood on the step in a stupor.
"Stay here sweetmeat. I'll be back in a second." He said over his shoulder. He'd only taken a few light steps when….
X x X x X x X x X
…..She pulled the trigger and immediately loaded another bolt. The vampire pivoted slowly, stared down at the crossbow bolt sticking out of the left side of his chest. The look he gave her was one part anger one part disbelief.
Holding the crossbow one handed in front of her she pulled the neck of her shirt down so he could see the small red cross tattooed on her shoulder.
He growled, lunged for her.
She pulled the trigger again.
He dropped. The bright blue fletching was the only visible portion of the bolt buried deep in his forehead.
"Head means dead." She whispered.
Everything went quiet. She watched from miles away as her dad cut off the vampires head. From somewhere behind her the dog started to whine. She swayed. He walked to the front of the R.V. she tried not to hear the sick keening noise the other vampire made. Then her dad was there again. The stench of blood was so thick it felt like it was coating the back of her tongue. Everything started to swim.
"Daddy?" She said. Sound like a damn baby.
He looked up. Everything was fuzzy.
"Lys?"
"I don't feel so…..