Hello readers thank for coming to me to the end of the adventure. Don't forget an unmentionable is very powerful. So if it seems like it is hard get a good blow in, remember he is a formidable foe. But a dark creature doesn't understand the indomitable will or true love.
I didn't realize that replacing the hints with the real chapter 32 would bar those that previously posted on the hints from posting on the last chapter, oops.
I want to shout out a special thanks to Tommy14, Redickave, baileygirl12, and GarbanzoBeans for sending me a PM with their Ch 32 reviews. That is above and beyond and greatly appreciated. I will save them in my inbox thank you, thank you so much. Also a thank you to aruvqan who PMs me in general and encourages me with chit chat. Be well my friend.
To all reviewers since October thankyou for pushing me forward.
To all the readers out there of all 33 chapters as always, thank for reading.
Epilogue or no epilogue that is the question? You can vote at the end if you want.
POV 3rd person Omniscient.
Chapter 33
"3,000 dollars. Anymore and we'll sue you!"
"What for taking my bike? You're crazy!" Are these guys con men? He just came to pay parking fines on his motorcycle, when these yahoos in black surrounded him.
"For fraudulent sale of your bike"
"I NEVER said I'd sell!"
"I'm not buying. We're renting it for the resale price. If it is not returned to you, you're compensated. It's a more than a generous offer. Everyone knows your bike is not worth $3,000." Lester smiles ruthlessly eyeing the used motorcycle. Ranger is out of patience and scanning the area for other forms of fast transport. This is the best option. It'll be a few minutes until the Rangeman security teams are ready to leave with the parking lot exploding ever few minutes and panicked guests running around like a crazed mob.
Two minutes ago, Hayward control room reported Stephanie's SUV halted on the main throughfare. A minute before the SUV's following her also stopped. They haven't moved since. Other than a commotion heard on the commlink, they have no news. Either the vehicle's transmitter was damaged, or all the men are incapacitated. Both ominous situations.
"$3000 easy money and you're going to get it back. It's for your inconvenience and in case there's a scratch on your stellar paint job" Or Ranger totals it, but Lester won't add that part in. "You could repair the paint...or not" Lester raises his eyebrows and gives him a sarcastic grin as they eye the scratched and peeling paint. It may have a rough exterior, but underneath, Lester knows the bike has a powerful motor. He is losing patience. Lester estimates he has about 3 minutes before Ranger loses his shit.
Though Tank is currently trying to talk some sense into him. Telling him to wait and not to go after her alone. Maybe they're lucky and it is just a major traffic accident stopping all vehicles. But then why the silence on the commlinks?
"A few minutes won't make a difference. Her trackers haven't moved from their spot" Lester hears Tank's murmured voice. "If it is him, you need a team or two, at least. Charging in there blind and alone won't help anyone." Lester sighs. Tank is right. No one has ever faced an unmentionable alone and lived. Even the mythical vampire slayer Van Helsing supposedly had a regular partner whispered about in the shadows of history.
20 minutes tops and he and Tank can get a team to Stephanie's stopped SUV. Hayward is already mobilizing high tech weapon packs and additional men to converge on Stephanie's trackers. Bobby is loading up the medical kit and her blood supplies this very moment.
"Alpha and Charlie Lead this is the control room, we have tracker splitting and movement. Tracker Sierra remains near ground zero. Trackers November and Romeo are moving in unison north east at an extremely high velocity."
Ranger instantly turns and stalks over. His powerful frame looming over the man. "We have a deal. I'll take care of your baby" He pats the motorcycle's seat. "If anything happens to it, I'll buy you whatever bike you desire, minus $3000 of the sale price." His eyes burn with dark fire and his aura is so intense, the man takes a step back.
"Ah sure man. Chill!" Just don't kill me. What is up with these people!
"Lester, get the man transport until his bike is returned." Ranger's voice is cold and matter of fact as he snatches the keys and is roaring away before anyone can say another word. "Gather as many teams as you can and catch up with me ASAP, Ranger out." Are his final words through the commlink before he disappears completely from view.
"You know he'd never wait for a team to back him up. Even IF her trackers stayed put" Lester grimaces directing the men to transfer supplies from the damaged SUVs to the serviceable ones. Tank nods speeding up. He hopes his words of caution keep Ranger from attacking rashly.
Ranger plans to delay the vampire's final bloodlust until the Hayward teams arrive to destroy him. Tank agrees with his plan. But he worries that its Ranger going, because when Stephanie is involved, he tends to lose his head.
Tank scans the courthouse parking lot. The bombs have finally stopped going off. A few people are still wandering around hysterical, but they will leave it to the police. The close friends and family of Stephanie and Ranger are safe and secure. They don't have time to corral all the extra uninvited guests. If they did, they'd be tied up at least an hour. The bombs planted under the parked cars were focused with a determined radius. Since the cars were almost like blast shields, they caused no death, only limited injuries to people standing nearby. But the mess and chaos was spectacular. It has Drosera written all over it. His series of explosions strategically distracted but carefully did not kill anyone. Tank suspects this is because if he did, Stephanie would hate him forever and then Ranger would come after him. The sticky flower is playing both sides to the very end. Too bad Dros isn't more reliable, he is rather clever.
Arriving at the SUV's location, it's been 3 minutes since Stephanie's trackers moved. Ranger knew a motorcycle was the best vehicle. He can easily weave around any traffic snarl. His stomach tightens at the sight of the two trailing SUVs he sent after Stephanie. The first one didn't even get a chance to get in front of her vehicle. The last one is stuck in a tree. His man calls down to him signaling the number of wounded in the car. He signals back that help is on the way as he commlinks Hayward to call for ambulances and to send the back-up medics. He is not sure with the mess Dros created at the courthouse, how fast the city ambulances will respond to his men.
Spying Stephanie's SUV in a ditch, he jumps off the bike and he blurs to it.
"Zero" His voice is low and soft, anger burning in his eyes. No one stirs. The smell of blood greets him, but everyone is intact. He was expecting to see his men torn apart and a few of their throats ripped out. His heart relaxes in relief and surprise.
"Ranger?" Zero groans stirring. Luis murmurs from the front but doesn't move. He is bleeding but also alive. "I'm sorry." Zero moans on a whisper.
"You survived. You did good. Stay quiet." Ranger commands them and backs out of the upturned vehicle. "Control room, this is Ranger, send an extraction medic team for Stephanie's SUV, out."
"You can't go alone." Ranger glances back. Zero is standing outside the SUV tall and straight.
"I'm not taking you" Ranger responds a barely smile twitching at the corners of his lips. He scans his determined face stained with blood from a gaping head gash and continues on down cataloguing wounds and uniform riddled with blood.
"Most of the blood isn't mine and I'm getting better." Zero's ghost of a smile appears.
"Liar."
"No one survives alone." Zero's voice is determined
"I won't be alone. I'll keep him busy until backup arrives. Every minute counts." Zero understands. When a vampire has a person in their grasp, a minute is easily the difference between life and death. And 20 minutes is an eternity. How will Ranger survive that long alone?
"If I don't save her, it doesn't matter if I'm gone, because the world has ended." Ranger mutters getting on his bike.
It matters to Zero if Ranger is gone, even if Stephanie doesn't make it. If only a few men could ride with him to keep him rational and provide support in battle. He watches him speed away at 200 MPH following the last known tracker. The control room reports the tracker is an hour away in normal traffic. But at his speed, it won't take Ranger very long to get to where the trackers have finally stopped.
The Hayward teams are already in route following the tracker and Tank radios in that the teams from the courthouse are also in route. No one is following speed limits, but the larger vehicles can only go so fast as they maneuver through traffic. "We estimate we are 30 minutes behind you Ranger" Bobby reports "But we're working to close the gap to 20. Out"
It doesn't matter how far behind Ranger's men are, he will stop that hideous nightmare from hell. If he can't kill him, he'll hold him off until his men arrive. Together they will rain terror down upon his empty soul until he's extinguished forever.
"Control room to all hunting teams, tracker Romeo just went dead. Tracker November is still active, over."
"Good copy, Ranger out" so he destroyed her ring. He expected that. The necklace tracker is still intact verifying her current location, before the ring tracker went dark. The trackers in her shoes are still broadcasting 500 meters away from her fallen SUV. The only way the demon could slip away now would be to destroy the necklace and move their location again. But the creature is too arrogant to even consider trackers. Ranger increases the bike to maximum speed now he has cleared the winding road and zooms over 200mph.
'Five minutes out. Hold on, Babe.'
Out of the trees it suddenly looms, an old mansion from another time. He didn't realize buildings like this still existed. A rich hermit lost to the pages of history must have built this 200 years ago. The vampire obviously bought the property, probably a century ago, hiding his ownership as a family legacy property. If you have centuries to acquire wealth, power and properties, it is easy to pick and choose the things you like.
Leaving the motorcycle outside the old stone walls he leaps over blurring to the front door. Locked or unlocked, it doesn't matter. He is the one that no unlocked door can stop. In moments, he opens the door and enters the dark empty foyer. Surprisingly, the house is spotless of dust. The sapphire and diamond necklace lays in a glittering pile near the wall.
Mmm. Broken clasp. It did its job, weathering a vampire's tirade across 50 miles of terrain. Pocketing it in his suit pants, he'll repair it with a stronger clasp. He can't put it in his suit coat. He gave the coat with their wedding bands still safe in its pockets to his mother. Along with his bowtie in favor of a double shoulder holster. He needs ease of movement and the tailored coat definitely won't fit over his weapons with ease. It would easily catch on his stakes in his thigh holsters.
He is limited in the weapons available to him being on a motorcycle. The larger more advance toys are 20-30 minutes behind him. It doesn't matter even if they were here since he will be fighting inside at close proximity. He can't use flame throwers or acid when Babe or his men could get caught in the crossfire. Not unless he can lure the creature outside. Until then he is limited to stakes and to his handgun that uses smaller caliber bullets. He doesn't want Babe hit by using a larger caliber bullet that could pass through the creature and hit her. Unfortunately, smaller caliber bullets, means less damage.
Removing a gun from each shoulder holster he silently stalks forward at the speed a regular man would sprint. He doesn't know which room she is in. He has to move slower and more cautious. No blurring, just yet. His agitation grows. There isn't enough time to systematically search the whole mansion. Where is the most probable location a vampire would go? A large room with big windows that showcase the moonrise. That is his favorite room. Ranger's logical mind catalogues the outside of the building searching for a match.
"Ranger to control room, I'm inside the mansion, moving to the 3rd floor east wing. Out"
Rows of doors on either side of the hallway greet him at the top of the staircase. Trying the first 4 on each side of the hall, they are all locked. Holstering his weapons, he silently clicks open the lock, inching the first door open. Empty. Now the second. Nothing but a dark room greets him with small windows facing a wall. He skips the next few rooms calculating where the large picture windows begin when he comes to large ornate double doors. A ballroom or fancy sitting salon. This is it; his gut tells him.
A missing chunk in the upper corner of the old door offers a convenient peep hole. Standing on his tip toes he peers in. There Stephanie lays perfectly still and unmoving on a table, except for the rise and fall of her chest as a she breaths. His jaw tightens, all her glowing lily beauty is exposed to his eyes. The arrogance! She is bare except her garter belt with her mini stake weapon. Obviously he doesn't consider her weapon a threat. A volcano of fury erupts in his heart. Ranger clenches his fist thinking of the monster's black claws trailing over her graceful curves.
The vampire suddenly appears in Ranger's field of vision and sits on a chair facing the door. If he enters here, he'll walk right in front of the arrogant monstrosity. He'd be announcing is arrival and still be too far away to strike his heart without endangering Stephanie. She lays between him and his target. He spies a door frame over the vampire's left shoulders. It appears to be a servant's entrance.
Blurring down the hall he tears around the corner. Attacking from behind is the only way to possibly crush the abomination without injuring his Babe. As Ranger scrambles through the butler's pantry, an ear-piercing scream curdles his blood.
Bursting through the door his face instantly darkens with thunder as his eyes flash lightning. Laying limply in his impure claws, her delicate limbs tremble like a horrifying puppet. She is gasping a silent plea as her eyes roll backward turning eerily white. Her head thrust sideways at a maddening angle, the demon's teeth are buried deep inside her fragrant neck.
Leaping forward, a moment of insanity seizes Ranger. NO ONE touches her! Remove your vile mouth! He growls in fury and heartache at her pain. "STOP!" he snarls midair.
Firing both guns into the creatures back, Ranger drops them as he nears simultaneously yanking the stakes out of his thigh holsters. A stake in each hand, he plunges them in with all his might into the back of the vampire's chest. The monster spins around catching one in his left hand ripping it from Ranger's grip. The righthand drops Stephanie and then grabs the second stake Ranger is pressing into his chest. Too late bastard! Ranger presses the trigger button.
The trigger elongates the stake spear into the vampire's chest. Unable to avoid being stabbed, the creature shifts to the side at the last second and the stake enters his right chest missing his heart. The vampire howls in pain, his eyes burn with indignation and anger.
"Hunter you arrived early" The Dark Lord shoves Ranger squarely in the chest flinging him into the wall on the opposite side of the room. Crashing to the floor Ranger's head rings, but he is up, circling back toward the discarded stake on the floor. The other one is still in the creature's chest. Unfortunately, it's not embedded as deep as he would like, even if it is in the wrong side. That's because the Vampire caught it in his right hand at the last second, pushing back.
'I'll just run him all the way through next time.' Ranger thinks his dark eyes glitter dangerously. He spies the unused stake off to the left. Eyeing Stephanie's crumbled figure on the table, he circles towards it. Is she breathing? How much blood did the demon take? A vampire can drain a man in 8 second. A woman in less. How long were his fangs in her? How frantic his final bloodlust? The thoughts flash through his mind.
The vampire yanks the stake out of his right chest. "You're so troublesome. I wanted you to come, but not this" He sweeps his hand over his gaping chest wound that is already closing up. The bullets fall out of his back and the wounds slowly seal up. "Now I'm hungry" his eyes turn molten yellow like super-heated liquid metal.
Ranger realizes the vampire is healing at full capacity. He did not come for Stephanie needing a blood meal. "Now you've whetted my appetite. I'll enjoy her flavor even more." He grins flashing his cruel fangs.
Ranger blurs toward the last stake, fury boiling through his veins just as the vampire rushes towards him. Suddenly Ranger halts. Every muscle in him frozen. What is this!? The vampire stands before him his eyes glowing blood red. "Why Hunter, did your friends abandon you?" He licks his despicable fangs. If Ranger could move, he'd punch him in the mouth and knock one out.
Having a few of his men to attack from other angles would be helpful right now. That way Ranger wouldn't be the unmentionable's sole focus. Teamwork is the only way to take down something as insanely powerful and ruthless as a vampire.
He only needs to distract him, until his men arrive. If he could only move his hand. His fury and frustration increase. Now he understands what Babe meant when she explained her paralyzed desperation from her nightmares. The horror of being trapped with no way of fighting back builds in him. He is robbed of his power to keep Stephanie safe from the touch of this hellish monster.
Grabbing him around the throat, the unmentionable lifts him off the ground carrying him forward back toward the table. "I'll ripe your throat out, better yet, your heart. That is more poetic since you like my little thing" he looks down at Stephanie where she tumbled when he released her from his grip. She lays on her side on the white marble tabletop, her eyes half open in an staring unconscious daze.
Her skin is no longer the lily-white glowing marvel Ranger loves to unveil under the moonlight or any light, actually. Instead, she is alarmingly pale in the sunlight that shines across the lovely curves of her hips and shoulders. Ranger can't stop gazing at her form laying pale and still. He aches to reach out and protect her. Mostly, he is intently watching for any sign of life. There it is. The rise and fall of her breath right where her waist dips, before the sensuous curve of her hips.
"I invited you to come Hunter, but you arrived too soon. So rude. Even though you lack manners, you must see to how masterful I am. Only I preserve such beauty of from. She'll be white as snow with every feature perfectly intact when I discard her empty shell. Unlike you!" He sneers then smiles triumphantly and stands Ranger against the wall.
Straining with all his might Ranger wills himself to move. He will tackle that arrogant devil, slashing his throat. Then he'll plunge the knife into his heart. He can feel his giant hunting knife at his thigh just inches away from his dangling fingertips. He must make himself, MOVE. His eyes are burning black hot embers and his aura radiates murder. But he remains trapped in silent stillness.
"You're so delightful, Hunter!" The unmentionable replies watching his face "You gave me an idea" Buttons ping to the floor around them as he rips open Ranger's tuxedo shirt. Plunging the stake into his right shoulder, the Dark Lord pins him to the wall.
Ranger lets out a single cry. His face grimacing in pain for a minute before he is silent and frozen once more. "There, now we are even. Almost. If I plunged this sharpened club it into your chest, you'd die too quickly. I decided you can watch me work instead of just seeing the final beautiful white shell I will leave behind. Your heart will cry out at my brilliance while you watch me claim what is mine. Then I will rip out your heart and crush it. That way I've destroyed the thing that even tried to desire what is mine." His long black nails draw a circle on Ranger's bare chest as he speaks the last sentence threatening to rip his heart out. "This is true poetic justice and the punishment you deserve. Be grateful I am so merciful because I value and enjoy my little thing. I'll end you quickly because you show good taste. You may thank me for not treating you cruelly like I do others."
Rangers' eyes ignite into burning flames of rage.
"You don't believe me Hunter? I could have returned her in pieces. Be glad I didn't…Wait, what's this!?" The unmentionable inhales deeply, delight ringing in his icy smooth voice. "You are a surprise, Hunter."
His red eyes turn molten yellow and his gaze lasers in on the blood oozing down Ranger's right shoulder. Snaking out his long glistening black tongue he tastes it. "Ummm, I haven't tasted such a savory full-bodied flavor in centuries." His eyes burn brighter. "It is comparable in rarity to little thing's rich sweetness. I'd sample you too, if your savory dark did not compete with her sweet lighter tones. I prefer not to mix the two flavors today. I will grant you the highest honor and return to consume you completely another day." Pleased, his grin widens into a large smile his fangs glimmering in the sunlight. "Then I'll ripe out your heart, for your sin." he replies coldly tapping on Ranger's chest and shaking his head at him in stern disappointment.
Stephanie's eyes are blinking. She is no longer in the dazed unconscious oblivion of the bitten. But Ranger and the unmentionable are out of her line of vision. She is gazing straight ahead at the ornate doors at the wall opposite the table. Not up at them, who stand at the wall by the head of the table. Ranger sees her right hand slowly moving. How is she doing it? Pride swells in his heart.
IF only Ranger could speak, he could distract the creature longer to keep its filthy hands from touching her again. It doesn't matter if he torments him if he doesn't touch his Babe again. The men should be here in 15 minutes and get to them in 20 he estimates by the time they find the room. All he needs is a few partners to even the fighting field. The unmentionable was always ridiculously powerful. But his men hunted him down and almost killed him. They did that without losing a single member of their team. Strategy. It is all about strategy. Ranger may be at a disadvantage, but he refuses to give up. The creature is arrogant. If he could speak, he is sure he could bait him.
"Your view is poor here and little thing can't see you either" the vampire purrs wickedly. Pulling the stake out of his chest, Ranger winces. Lifting him by his throat the vampire walks to the wall where the door is located. Ranger dangles limply like a ragdoll unable to lift a finger, to protect himself. The unmentionables only needs to flex his powerful fist and he could crush Ranger's windpipe.
'Stay calm and focus.' Ranger centers himself. He watches Stephanie, she doesn't move either but her face crumbles. He knows that look and his heart aches as her eyes begin to glisten like jewels. Her eyes are breathtakingly beautiful, but he hates to see her crying. Because he can't wipe away her tears or comfort her close in his arms. Ranger can't ignore the fact that despite the obvious pain the vampire previously caused her, she only started crying when she saw him under the creature's power.
"Here. You can also stand guard against intruders." The unmentionable stakes him to the door. Ranger groans as the weapon scrape the raw edges of his wound ripping it open again to fresh bleeding. Pinned up against the double doors, he is effectively blockading the main entrance and keeping anyone from bursting through. He also has a full view of the table, and Stephanie. "This will keep you right where I want you." The vampire taps the end of the stake into the door harder and twists it causing Ranger to inwardly groan. Outwardly all is still and quite other than the slight tremble of his muscles in response to the stake. The vampire's eyes twinkle with amusement "Not like you can move without my permission, but no fainting on your face and missing my brilliant talent."
"It's going to be OK Babe" he whispers in his heart because his voice is frozen in silence. He better understands her nightmare and he will stop it. 'Stay calm and think,' he commands himself. His hand twitches. His eyes glitter in satisfaction at the movement. Realizing he is no longer filled with fury, but only with longing and ache for his Babe. He will protect her.
The unmentionable returns and straightens Stephanie onto her back again. He is careful in the placing of her feet and hands, so she is laying centered and neat on the rectangular table. He makes sure to place each foot perfectly at each corner of the odd crescent moon cut out. What's that all about? Ranger watches each movement like a hawk as he strums his fingers faster working his right hand. When everything is lined up the vampire arranges his chair at her right shoulder and then sits. He begins stroking her pale bare stomach then moves up to her chest.
Rage crackles in Ranger's chest and the erupts into flames. How dare he touch her again and in this way! But now he realizes his hands are paralyzed again. Concentrate on Babe and remain calm. That is when his hand first moved. Her delicate form appears alarmingly frail in front of the creature, laying on the cold table exposed and vulnerable. He must get to her. Her glowing skin has already turned pale. Slowly as if a 50lb weight is attached, he raises his hand to the stake at his shoulder and clicks the release button. The metal spear retracks back into the long wooden handle. He is no longer pinned and now holds a stake ready for use. Next, he needs to get his legs and other arm moving, and increase his speed.
The demon has her in his arms clutched close to his black heart. Thrusting her soft chest forward, he arches her back bring her upwards towards his mouth. Ranger's fury and desperation surge as he inches forward unable to make much headway. The vampire isn't watching. This is the time to attack! His mind screams to his sleeping muscles.
Think. Think how beautiful she is! She is vibrant and strong yet strangely vulnerable at the same time making her soft and hard and soft again. How does she do it, the way she draws him in so mysterious, yet so beautiful? She baffles his mind…he is dazzled by her color. It's like he was sleeping and suddenly awoke to her laughter and feelings he never knew existed. Good feeling, warm ones. Hot, powerful ones that turn everything upside down but make him stronger. And calmer. Wait for me Babe, Hold on! Don't fly out of my reach forever.
Her swanlike neck is bending backward. Growling, the demon's fangs strike deep into his strong beautiful Babe. She is as frail and beautiful as a flower! Racing forward, fear grips his heart. Stop she will wilt! His limbs are sluggish like running in water. He has to get behind the monster, his back is the only safe place to strike and not hit Stephanie. No one, especially this monster touches her. He will never allow her to become ghostly white and empty forever.
"AAHHIIIEEE" A single short scream rents the air exploding Ranger's heart and suddenly his limbs are no longer running in frozen mud.
Leaping into the air, he flies over the head of the unmentionable and plunges the stake through his back pressing the trigger. He feels it extend and crack through the sternum on the other side. He must have hit his heart this time.
"RAAARRHHAA" a tremendous roar rents the air. Dropping a convulsing Stephanie, she tumbles off his lap and back onto the table. Throwing Ranger back with superhuman strength the unmentionable's only thought is to get the Hunter pressing this excruciating pain off him. But Ranger holds onto the stake with all his might, intent on driving it deeper and twisting it harder. He will never let go until the vampire is dead. The superhuman force proves too much but Ranger won't let go so the stake flies out with Ranger still attached. Ranger skids to a stop on the stone floor, the stake still held tightly in his hands.
"Black hearted mortal!" the unmentionable screeches full of venom. How is this human even moving! The hunter should be frozen and silent, not stabbing him in the back! "Hateful thing!"
He will tear him apart. Turning the vampire charges but collapses the first step he takes. The wound along with the previous ones Ranger inflicted are excessive. He has used up too much power. Black blood oozes down his front and back. "You will make amends. Now!"
Ranger staggers to his feet pulling his backup gun from the small of his back. Aiming it at the vampire's head he fires. But the creature scurries under the marble table. He knows Stephanie is too close, for the Hunter to risk gunfire.
The bleeding has stopped. The unmentionable is healing , just not so well as before. Ranger can see the motion of his heart pumping through the hole in the front of his chest. The stake went all the way through him exiting out his front. But it was not a direct blow into the center of his heart. Ranger knows he injured his heart, by the thick black blood oozing down his shirt. He tightens his grip on his stake and gun. He only needs a clear shot of his chest or head, and he has him. Carefully he circles. The coward is still taking cover under the table where Stephanie lays.
"How are you moving, Devil's spawn!" He hisses.
"That's dark angel of fury" he growls watching Stephanie's silent curves for any sign of life through the corner of his eye. He's using her description of him to keep his thoughts only focused on her or he will become paralyzed and silent once more.
His shoulder aches and blood drips down his exposed chest and soaks his shirt where is touches him, sticking the material to the gaping wound. But it is getting stiff again, he knows the gaping wound is clotting once more, now he isn't moving as much. Ranger watches the creature his senses on full alert. His speed is still slow, and his legs feel like mud. A little further and he will have a clear shot of the demon.
Suddenly a flash blurs in his face and claws tighten around his throat, his weapons clatter to the floor. Red eyes burn into him and the icy dark pressure in the room is so heavy he can barely draw in breath. Ranger is frozen. He is once again a dangling rag doll held by the throat. 'Right now a team, even a partner, would be beneficial' he thinks coldly. Someone, anyone, firing another weapon is exactly what Ranger needs to end this. His heart beats in fury. He is powerless and helplessly trapped in stillness once more.
Think about Babe. It doesn't matter what he does to you if you save her. His fingers twitch as he struggles to breath, not only from the pressure in the room, but the iron fist at his throat. The vampire coughs and wheezes. He leans on the table. Stephanie's head is right below them, her eyes half closed in a glassy stare of oblivion. Her once rosy lips are pale white, and her skin looks almost translucent. Ranger's heart contracts with fear as he gazes upon her.
"I was going to feast on my little thing, but now my hunger is driving me insane." He roars. "Fine wines are not guzzled or used for healing. That is offensive. I did not think I wanted to combine your flavors. Perhaps I will indulge in multiple flavors today. Is not a gourmet steak paired with a rare and delicate wine? You're the perfect meal. You will pay for your sins and give me sustenance. She will not keep until tomorrow. I will not lose the pleasure of enjoying the final portion of my fine wine. When I am done consuming you and healed, then I will finish off my sweet wine. Like a desert is what you humans call it?" he winces and sets Ranger down. Pressing him against the wall he yanks his open shirt off his left shoulder ripping it at the collar and exposing his neck.
Ranger hears a small gasp and sob. Glancing down he sees utter devastation on Stephanie's face. Her heart is truly breaking as tears drip off her jaw that appears glasslike from the translucent paleness of her skin. Her round wet eyes glisten like exotic blue jewels.
"Babe, don't cry over me." Ranger whispers low. She was laying on her side in a heap, but now she is reaching, her right hand over her head, stretching out to him, almost crawling forward off the table. Her muscles tremble like she is fighting a tidal wave just to get to him. His heart swells with pride. She taught him the unmentionables paralyzing power was breakable and she is doing it again. Even after losing so much blood. "Conserve your strength Babe." He murmurs but nothing comes out of his silent throat. Slipping her hand behind the notice of the unmentionable, her gentle touch nudges his dangling fingers. Cold smooth metal softly drops into his palm. Then she collapses, her right arm and head dangling senseless off the edge of the table.
"Babe." He wants to leap forward and catch her up in her arms. She looks so precarious hanging off the table that way. But she doesn't answer or move, because his voice never speaks the name his heart calls out.
'It is probably good she won't see the outcome.' Ranger thinks bitterly. Gripping her gift, he realizes it's the mini stake he designed especially for her. She gave her all to give it to him because she believes in his power to fight. His heart roars back. He will get to her. Hold on.
"Wait for me Babe." Concentrating on that thought, he steadily raises his right hand moving the mini stake up the demon's body unnoticed.
Seizing Ranger's hair the unmentionable wrenches his head to the side. "It's been centuries since I've hunted savory. You're the perfect first indulgence."
Time is short. Concentrating his everything, Ranger slides his hand over the vampire's chest. He must go faster, but keep it steady. 'Remain undetected. Don't drop Babe's stake' Ranger coaxes himself as he ignores the vampires tightening grip in his hair.
The unmentionable is too resilient, the weapon must be over the heart, if possible. The stake is small but deadly, when it hits its target. It isn't a mini spear like Ranger's larger stake. It expands with multiple little blades unfolding inside the chest once the trigger is pulled. It completely shreds an area the size of a person's fist when fired. It only needs to be near the heart to work and is most deadly if directly over the heart.
Cold breath fans across Ranger's neck and shoulder yanking him out of his concentration and warning him, death is near. Almost there! He refused to miss and hit the right chest even as a distraction. Or deploy the blade next to the heart at the sternum. It will be over the heart. The filthy creature will never touch his Babe again!
A low guttural growl vibrates around Ranger. Suddenly a hot knife slashes into his neck and molten pain erupts in his head blasting away all thought. He lets out one agonizing cry.
'Is this what he did to Babe, twice?!' is the first astonishing thought that returns to his mind as he reels in shock. The white exploding pain in his head is unreal! In mere seconds it will overwhelm him destroying any coherent thoughts or body control. His hand is clenching tighter his fingers turning harder. Now his arms are twitching. He is losing control! His thoughts blasting apart, and his vision fades away into a sea of blinding hot static. He's out of time. Hoping he is close enough he desperately presses the rod down hard and blindly clicks the trigger before tumbling into incoherent darkness.
When he emerges from the darkness, he is falling backward onto the wall. Flinging his arms out, he catches himself gasping. He's Free!
"RAOAH" the dark creature is writhing and screaming on the floor. He knocked the marble table onto its side in his tumultuous struggle. Babe is on the ground somewhere behind it, shielded from the demon's thrashing.
Staggering forward Ranger's strength and fury surge up. The vampire is clutching the smooth metal handle pulling it forward. In one might step, Ranger stomps the little stake into his chest all the way to the hilt.
The creature's roaring sputters into a gasp, he convulses and then twitches. Then all is still. Ranger stagers over to his gun. It remains where he dropped it when he was picked up by his throat for dinner.
"Nowhere to hide" He narrows his eyes emptying 4 rounds into the monster's head. The vampire doesn't thrash or move. Satisfied he is dead, Ranger slides the gun into place at the small of his back. The room spins. Grasping the edge of the overturned table he steadies himself. Blood covers his left arm and soaks the left side of his shirt collar and chest. The bite at his neck is spilling blood. Clutching it with his hand it continued to stream through his fingers. It won't stop. At this rate he'll bleed to death.
"Damn vampire venom" he mutters reaching for his knife. A substance in his fangs keeps a person's blood flowing smoothly and continuously until the creature either drains a person, or purposely stops the bleeding with it's own saliva. Squatting, he grasps the slippery serpentine tongue between his thumb and forefingers and pulls it out quickly with a grimace. "Filthy thing" In one fluid motion he slices it off. Black blood squirts out burning his wrist and hand. Surprised he rushes to the water basin to rinse off burning goo and bleeding tongue. He wasn't aware their blood was so caustic. He bets it would continue to burn down to the bone if he didn't wash it off.
Running the tongue on his neck he is cautious to keep the oozing blood from dripping onto his skin and shirt. The bleeding slows down. But doesn't stop. He rubs the tongue on the bite wound some more hoping it will work. It's not like the tongue is attached and making saliva. It would be disappointing to survive the fight but end up dying afterwards because he couldn't get a little bite to stop bleeding. A burning builds on his skin followed by a cooling sensation, then a prickling pain of pins and needles. "That's disturbing." He mutters his face clouding over with darkening thunder. That is what he spread all over Babe? He drops the tongue on the unmentionable's chest. "That was long overdue." Ranger growls staring at him menacingly. He itched to cut out the creature's foul tongue the moment he saw the glowing designs all over Babe's petal soft skin.
The bleeding stopped he rushes to the other side of the table.
"Babe." She lays in a heap unmoving. Removing his shirt, he gingerly places it on her. It's ripped and bloodied, but it protects her from prying eyes and embarrassment. Only he is allowed to see her full beauty and her vulnerability.
Sitting on the floor he pulls her to him. Cradling her in his arms gently, his brow furrows. His eyes glitter bitter chocolate and his jaw clenches tightly. He softly caresses her pale lips that have a worrying bluish tinge to them. Her face is as white as a china doll. Is it white like snow? The vampire's words echo in his mind and his heart races as he strokes her wrist, pressing firmly. No pulse…he can't find one! Sweat immediately bead at his hairline and neck. Quickly he touches her neck. There it is. Relief washes over him, and he leans weakly back onto the overturned tabletop, releasing his breath.
Don't be so cruel "Stay with me Babe." he murmurs low.
"Always" she sighs so softly that only Ranger's hearing can distinguish the word.
Her eyes flutter open, unfocused at first. Gazing up at him, a perfect watermelon smile lights up her face. It's the most brilliant smile Ranger's has ever seen. He stares back unmoving, mesmerized. She's here, with him and so dazzling. Her eyes fill with tears glistening like blue sapphires.
"Why are you so beautiful?" She breaths as a tear slowly trails down her translucent cheek. He knows he is anything but pretty, all bloodied and wounded. Just the bruises alone from the vampire's choking grip are ghastly.
The corners of his lips twitch up and his eyes soften as he kisses her cold blueish fingertips. "I love you too, Babe" He whispers, gathering her closer to his chest to warm her. Contentment fills his heart.
Snuggling into his neck, her warm breath tickles him. He strokes her hair to comfort them both.
"Everything will be Okay, Babe." He murmurs softly. Only her stillness and silence answer him, and he knows she has passed back into oblivion. His men will be here any minute with her blood packets to start first aid immediately.
His head spins and black dots dance before his eyes. A strange fatigue is quickly overtaking him. Now she is in his arms everything is right in the world. He tightens his embrace around her as slowly his consciousness fades. No one will ever take her from him again.
This is the end of the main story. The original plot 4 years ago when I conceived the basic ideas stopped here with her asking Ranger why he was so beautiful and he smiling and responding he loved her too, because he finally understands what she is really saying, she is beyound happy to see him. It is her way of saying I love you. That's why he is beautiful to her no matter how battered filthy or smelly he is. Having overcome everything the story is complete, but as opinion posted so far is for an epilogue, i will complete the one I started and show the winding path out of the dark forest.