Chapter Fourteen

It was snowing when the Brothers showed up at the penthouse. While Zsadist, Rhage, Ehnvy and Phride went in to fetch Sam, Tohrment and Vishous stayed outside with Mehrcy and Nightmahre to make sure the streets were safe. Palming the hilt in his hand, Mehrcy couldn't get the right feel. The sword felt strange in his hands. It was clearly made for his son and only him. There was no way Mehrcy could fight with another person's weapon.

While the others kept a close eye on the streets, Mehrcy leaned his head back and watched the snow fall. Even though it was only November, the snow was early. Mehrcy didn't know if that was a good or bad sign. All he could do was draw in a freezing breath and watch the snow fall around him.

As he took in that deep breath, his head snapped over to his left. His whole body vibrated for battle and the scent he had caught was strong. The only reason why he would react that way was if something filled with darkness was around. And from his reaction and the smell, there was only one person who contained all those traits.

Mehrcy didn't think. Taking another whiff to confirm the location, the male dematerialized and reappeared on a bunch of buildings until he was on the other side of town. Appearing on the last building, he inhaled and coughed. The scent was strong. His target had to be only a couple of blocks away from him. And that wasn't the only scent Mehrcy picked up. There was someone in that direction and blood. Lots of blood.

Keeping his hand on the hilt, Mehrcy inched over to the edge of the building. Looking down, there was a light shining in an alley across the street. There were little shops occupying the alley and had shutters and bars protecting them for the night.

A lamp post illuminated the alley. There was no mistaking the soaked snow. The white was no longer white but red. Surrounded in red snow were three bodies. None of them had the scent of a lesser and they were too scrawny to be vampires. It was clear the people dead were human.

Dematerializing and appearing next to one of the bodies, Mehrcy knelt down to see how long they had been dead. Their wounds were still fresh. Whoever made the kill had just done it and wasn't far. In fact, they were still in the area. Feeling his body stiffen, Mehrcy took a steady breath and stood up very slowly. He wasn't surprised that he was waiting for him. What was surprising was that he didn't attack the male with a sneak attack.

Ahnger always liked using sneak attacks.

Leaning against one of the shops was Mehrcy's son. Covered from head to toe in black, the open black jacket flapped in the wind. While his black hair was short and spikey in the back, Ahnger's bangs were so long in the front that he had two braids on the side of his face and the rest curled around his eyes. They were no longer dark gold like his brothers'. They were completely black.

Strapped to his waist were two sheaths. Over the years, it seemed Ahnger had picked up a fighting style which required twin blades. They were smaller than Mehrcy's sword that they barely reached the same size of the male's arm. They were so small that they were deadly. Ahnger learned how to use them and the style had made it harder for Mehrcy to kill him.

Tossing his head, Ahnger's bangs drifted over his eyes. He gave his father a sly smile. There were faint blood stains on his clothes that one could miss them. Mehrcy saw the stains instantly.

"Killing humans again?" he asked.

"Please. Those sons of bitches had it coming. Thought it would be wise to mug me. It's been decades since I killed humans and I needed an outlet. They willingly volunteered."

Still smiling, Ahnger pushed himself from the wall and stalked over to his father. A dark energy rolled off the male's body. It was the energy of the darkness that lived inside him. The darkness fed Ahnger its madness which made him stronger. There were times where he was almost stronger than Mehrcy.

To prove the incredible strength, Ahnger attacked. He didn't have to get in a position or anything. He didn't even reach for his blades. The males simply charged at his father and jumped in the air. Out of habit, Mehrcy brought out Nightmahre's sword and used it to block Ahnger's attack. Mehrcy grunted when he brought the sword out too fast and flinched when Ahnger came down on the sword with a kick.

The weapon was too light. Mehrcy's sword had been made specifically for him and it was clear Nightmahre's was the complete opposite. Since it was so light, Ahnger's attack sent tremors down the blade and to his arm. He flinched from the vibrations and pushed his son away. Ahnger must've noticed Mehrcy's reaction because he snickered.

"Isn't this awkward? What happened to your sword? Lose it or something?"

Mehrcy attacked. Swinging the sword, he had to hold a firm grip on the hilt brought it across Ahnger's stomach. He missed but almost made it all the way around his body. The sword was too damn light that Mehrcy could barely feel it. Because of the situation, Ahnger took the opportunity and pulled out one of his blades.

Coming down, he caught the sword in mid-swing jerked it up. Mehrcy brought his arm up in time when Ahnger rotated his blade and attempted to slice him across the shoulder. Jumping back, Mehrcy decided to sheath the sword. It wasn't working. Mehrcy would have to rely on his martial arts if he wished to make it out.

"Whose sword is it? I mean, it's not like you can go to a store and buy one."

"You're brother's."

Ahnger's smile faltered. Placing his blade back in its sheath, he narrowed his black gaze. "What do you mean?" he questioned.

"Nightmahre. This is his sword. And he's not far away. Ehnvy and Phride are with him. And so is the Black Dagger Brotherhood. So enough bullshit and lets do this unless you feel like being interrupted."

Nothing more was said. In one fluent movement, Ahnger drew his blades and took his stance. One sword faced Mehrcy and the other one was drawn around Ahnger's waist with the blade curving around his back. Mehrcy spread his legs and raised his arms with his hands open.

"La pomme ne tombe pas loin de l'arbre."

The apple does not fall far from the tree.

The voice came behind Mehrcy. He didn't get the chance to turn around. Someone had kicked out his legs and he buckled to the ground. Catching himself with his hand, something swept at his hand and knocked it under him. Falling to his chest, he looked up to see who his attacker was. Ahnger backed up an inch and that coy smile was back.

Right when Mehrcy was about to get up, a sheath flew inches from his face and crashed hard against the pavement under him. When the person released the sheath, it stuck up in a perfect line. Mehrcy's knew the sheath. It was his sword. When he looked up to see who had brought it, his eyes widened in disbelieve.

Victoria stood in front of him.

Holding a case slung over her shoulder, her hand was placed on her hip and she leaned on one leg. She wore a black sleeveless turtleneck that was missing a back. The only things connecting the top were two laces that were stitched around the shoulders and went under the arms. Victoria wasn't wearing a bra which meant Mehrcy could see the giant tattoo of Sköll and Hati perfectly on her back. Covering her arms up to her shoulders were black fingerless gloves. Covering her black skinny jeans and strapped all the way up her calves were laced combat boots.

"Is this backup?" laughed Ahnger.

"Dit l'enfant en utilisant deux lames au lieu d'un."

Said the child using two blades instead of one.

Both Mehrcy and Ahnger cocked their head. Raising her hand, Victoria sighed and waved her hand. She wasn't wearing much and it was freezing outside. The way how she acted and looked at Ahnger seemed as if the cold wasn't touching her at all. Even Ahnger took another inch back when his eyes scanned her clothing.

Looking over her shoulder, she looked down at Mehrcy. He had one hand clamped around his sheath but couldn't lift it. The weapon was deep in the concrete that it would take him a while to get it out. As Mehrcy looked at Victoria, he felt something come from her.

It was annoyance.

"How about we call it quits and continue this later?" she suggested.

"Oh! She speaks English! I thought I would have to find a dictionary and start translating. French, right?"

"Et le trou du cul a vraiment un cerveau."

And the asshole really has a brain.

"Why do I get the feeling you just cursed me out?"

"Maybe I did. Maybe I didn't. You want to take my offer?"

Ahnger laughed. "Foolish human," he snickered. "You shouldn't be here. You have no idea what you've just gotten yourself into."

Victoria held out her hand and gave Ahnger the finger.

He charged at her. Mehrcy yelled at her to move but Victoria stood her ground. Ahnger brought both of his blades from the side and would've sliced Victoria right in the middle when they were stopped. Angling the case to block the attack on her left, Victoria caught the other blade with her bare hand and stopped it. Not a single blood drop rolled on the blade. Using her hand and the case, she pushed the male back and he skittered at least seven feet back.

A dark presence rolled off her body. It wasn't only Mehrcy who felt it. Ahnger drew back his lips and hissed. From all his years tracking his son, Mehrcy had felt something like that coming from his son. But this one felt different. It was the darkness that Mehrcy was feeling. Unlike his son's darkness which was ready to go into battle and kill, this one felt old and wary. And it was coming from Victoria.

Rolling her neck, she brought case around. Flicking her fingers against the locks, they opened and it fell open. Almost in slow motion, the case opened and two objects fell out. Releasing the case, Victoria's hands reached out to two hilts and time resumed with her holding one blade above her head and the other one around her side.

"You have got to be kidding me."

"Did you really think you were the only one, Ahnger?"

"How do you know my name?"

"Please, I could smell you a mile away. Your scent was so strong that it topped everything else. Just standing here makes me want to gag." As if to prove her point, Victoria sniffed out loud and made a gagging sound. "And like I said. Did you really think you were the only one? You do know your old man never killed his twin?"

Mehrcy jumped up to his feet, forgetting his sword. "How do you know about Rihgor?"

Victoria laughed. Not a snicker or a giggle. She raised her head and laughed out to the sky. Bringing her head back, the air around her changed. And it wasn't only the air. Her appearance began to change. Her nails extended to where they turned into claws. Her teeth sharped, especially her canines. Then her eyes changed. Her pupils dilated until they almost engulfed her dark blue.

"You haven't figured it out yet," she growled. "And you don't recognize these," she gestured to Ahnger. Another laugh came from her and it was mixed with a growl.

"These twin blades and darkness inside me once belonged to Rihgor."