Part Nine
There are five of them. No change that to eight. They knew we were coming. Two of them grab hold of me, while a third tries to stake me. I barely twist out of the way in time to avoid turning to dust. Their grip isn't strong enough and I get loose. I manage to get them out of the way, we both do.
But before I can even congratulate myself on surviving I'm attacked by a Snarl demon.
Now don't blame me for the stupid name. The thing is actually called that way. Probably by someone with a very limited imagination. It's big, and bad. Out to destroy everything in sight and kill everyone unfortunate enough to be in its path.
The perfect demon mercenary.
It stabs at me with his claws and I'm still slowed down by the stake in my side. The Slayer attacks it from the back and I try and pull out the stake to use it as a weapon. It grabs my wrist and sticks the thing even deeper. I'm forced to let go as it pushes me to the ground. Its then that I let go of reason and push him away to the other side of the lot.
I rage in a loud growl and fly at him, releasing my fury in endless blows. If only for a second to forget the pain I'm in. Its dead before I'm even aware that I'm tearing it apart. I'm just standing there, waiting to see the Slayers reaction. Then I hear her scream.
I turn around just in time to see a set of vampires grab hold of her. I want to stop them. But some more grab me as well. It's then that I see their of my kind. Old ones. Enforcers probably.
"What the hell."
Their age radiates from them. Not as old as LaCroix, but much, much older than me.
I notice the carnage around us. What does it matter? They were only Demonbreed, killers, a threat to all of us anyway. I change my face as I throw one of them away. The second manages to get me down. They throw her in a dark van and I run at them, but they grab hold of me. My arms are pulled behind my back and tied with some kind of metal cuffs. They hurt my wrists as they touch my skin. The damn things must be consecrated.
I rage in pain, but its nothing to them. One of them takes a dark hood and pulls it over my head. There's a cross emblazoned inside the cover. I pull back, trying to avoid it. Each time I get to close to it, my skin starts fuming. I close my eyes in pain and stop struggling. They grab the chance to tie my legs together. The string hurts.
God, what did I do wrong? Did we go after the wrong gang? Was anyone getting worried?
I tried so hard to keep her away from the community. Didn't they see that?
I can hear Clarice insulting them, yelling at them. Her words stop as I hear a slap on flesh. Then all I hear is the rustle of her clothing as we're driven away.
Why aren't we death yet? I yelp loudly with every shake the van makes and can feel someone's boot kicking at the stake in my side.
By the time the van finally stops I'm too exhausted to move. I scream loudly as one of them pulls out the stake. And I touch my side, as if there's something missing. The hood is pulled away and I get to really look at them for the first time. I don't recognize any of them. Out of towners probably.
I hiss at the feel of the burns on my skin. They don't bother to say a word and one of them pulls me on his shoulder. I'm not even allowed to walk for myself. The Slayer tries to fight, but they're too powerful for her. Too old, too many.
She'll die and it'll be all my fault.
I stare as they drag her away. I call out her name, but it's useless as I too am dragged away and thrown in some pit of darkness. I hear one last snort from my guard and roll up as tight as I can. I try and get to my feet, but it's hopeless to even think I can loosen my ties. They're simply too strong.
The worst of it is the silence. Before I could still hear her heartbeat, but now even that is missing. The girl could be dead already and there's nothing I can do to save her.
My eyes never leave the door as I wait for anything. Any chance, any hope.
Any moment now they can come and I might do something … or not.
There isn't a sound though, not even a distraction from my own missing heartbeat or lack of breath.
Nothing.
And a silence that seems to go on forever.
I'm almost happy when they do show up. I almost thank the enforcer that pulls me up, our faces so close, as if he wants to spit on me. But I'm just happy to see someone.
Three others join me inside and one of them unties my legs.
Four guards for little old me. I'd be flattered if I weren't to busy being terrified.
Someone calls out my name as they push me into a grand hall. I pull my head straight and see it's the Slayer. She seems so small, tied to a rack as she is. I struggle for a moment, trying to get to her. Then I see the tribunal. Three vampires of immense age, glaring at me. Our judges apparently, I wonder who'll be the executioner. It's then as I look around that I find him. He's still as arrogant as ever. Even tied up as he is, they couldn't take his sense of self worth. His sense of menace.
The guard closes to me, pushes me forward again and I stumble, falling on my knees in front of the table.
I bow my head in submission, barely seeing Willow who's sitting there as well, bound to a chair.
"Alexander Lavelle Harris.
Childe of Janette du Charme of the bloodline of Lucius Constantinus.
This tribunal is brought aware of grave charges against you. "
I look up at them for a moment. They're completely serious. I want to mock them. To stand up against them and insult them for daring to judge me. But instead I say nothing, allowing myself to be ruled by silence for once in my life.
He is already reading a litany of my crimes.
Treason of my kind. Aiding and abetting a hunter, a Slayer no less.
"Is there anything to say in your defense?"
I try to catch my grandsires eyes. Even if only to ask for his forgiveness, but mostly for his advice, any idea on what to do.
"You even corrupted an elder of the community. Making him aid you in your betrayal.
For weeks now he has been hindering the Enforcers in their duty. Bullying them to stand aside. No more."
The vampire goes completely silent. I look at Willow, then at Clarice.
"What is your plea?"
"Guilty." I whisper, praying they'll let them go, if only they can have my life.
The tribune nods and both LaCroix and Clarice are pulled closer. They're both bound, unable to escape. I stare at Willow, willing her to tell me what was going on. But she had as little a clue as I had.
Clarice is still fighting, but LaCroix is dead calm.
Willow stares at me, accusing and begging at the same time.
Someone unties the cuffs that hold my hand and for a second I see the symbol of the trinity on the link.
There's a stake lying on the table. It looks dark, cold.
"You are given a choice young one.
A choice for the course of your life.
One of the two must die.
Only one death and you can leave, taking the other two with you.
A simple choice boy, one life for two.
Which do you choose. The vampire … or the Hunter."
My gaze is bound tightly between the two of them. I can't think straight. I'm hungry and I just know I don't want to choose. But they won't let me hesitate any longer.
I move up and take the stake. Holding it, moving it from one hand to another.
LaCroix doesn't even flinch as I turn to him.
His cold dignity doesn't waver for even a second. He challenges me to kill him. And I don't know what choice to make.
If I kill him it'll be all over. I could go back with Clarice and Willow. She'll have to accept me if I killed my own grandsire for her. What is he to me anyway? He's been nothing but pain since the first day we met.
It would be getting rid of him. Life without having to look over my shoulder for him coming after me.
I raise the stake, ready to plunge it in. I stare at him, trying to be cold and calculating about it. I turn to the tribunal one last time, facing them, as if to beg. But their eyes hold no mercy.
LaCroix or the Slayer.
Who ever said there was a choice?