Page 47 of Nazab

Xathan was caught up in the rush of adrenalin they all felt as they waded into the fray with their swords held ready. They could have used their guns, but it was more of a challenge to use their traditional weapons.

The cacophony of the murder spree was deafening as limbs were hacked off and heads were severed. The humans screamed in rage, fear and pain as they fought back. Xathan was shot in the stomach and the bullet exited from his back. He stoically ignored the agony as he lopped off the offender’s hand. His next slice removed the man’s head from his neck. Spinning in a tight circle, the normally civilized male took down five humans who were trying to hack him to death with knives.

Lachial’s insane laughter continued to peal throughout the area as he used his formidable skills to defeat his foes. Vetis giggled along with him as he sliced and diced everyone within his reach. Their guards were just as covered in gore when the last survivor finally fell.

Breathing harder than usual from the agony of the wounds in his stomach and back, Xathan took stock. He counted twelve soldiers still standing and breathed a quiet sigh of relief. He wouldn’t have to face Rahab’s wrath as he’d feared, since they’d all survived the battle.

“That was fun!” Vetis said as his dull silver sword with rubies adorning the hilt vanished. “When can we do that again?”

“Damn it!” Lachial said with a sudden scowl. “I lost count of how many humans I slaughtered.”

“So did I,” Xathan said ruefully.

The others murmured in agreement. “It doesn’t matter,” Vetis said with a sunny grin. “We’re all winners and they’re a bunch of pathetic losers,” he said, gesturing at the pile of bloody bodies.

“Does anyone need a medic to dig bullets out of their flesh?” Xathan asked. Three soldiers nodded. “Let’s head back to Manhattan and you can visit the clinic,” he said. They would use mind control on the prepper to make him forget about treating their injuries. Normal humans wouldn’t still be walking around with slugs stuck inside them.

Lachial frowned when he thought he sensed someone on the edge of his radar, but they vanished before he could make out who it was.

Chapter Thirty-Four

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JAZMINE GAZED OUT THROUGH the living room window at her sire far below. Vetis was with him and her upper lip lifted. They couldn’t see her peering down at them through a crack in the drapes. Lachial had been lurking around her apartment building too often for her to risk sneaking out lately. She was itching to go outside and use her talents again. “Can’t you just leave me alone for one night?” she complained softly.

As if summoned by her plea, another soldier joined them. It was Xathan, the hairless male with dark skin. She remembered him visiting her in the holding cell. He spoke to Lachial and Vetis, then they sprinted away with their guards in tow.

“Where are they going?” Jazmine asked in puzzlement. She hadn’t heard any alerts on either of the walky-talkies she’d stolen. Curiosity had her pulling on her black sneakers and racing outside. She’d stuffed the walky-talkies into her pockets, but had turned the volume down low.

Keeping her sire on the very edge of her radar, the shadow wielder followed the group from Manhattan. They took a long bridge to New Jersey, then stopped a short while later. She halted as well and hid herself with shadows. They were too far away for her to hear them and she didn’t dare move closer. Lachial would sense her and she would be busted.

“I can sense some humans,” Jazmine said as she stretched her senses out. Xathan and his two guards went on the move again. Lachial and Vetis headed in opposite directions with their guards on their heels.

She moved closer to where Vetis and his companions had shifted to and waited. After a minute, Vetis let out a happy chuckle, then they began hunting down the survivors.

“They’re going on a killing spree,” Jazmine said enviously. If it was alright for them to slaughter humans indiscriminately, then why shouldn’t she be allowed the same pleasure?

Her sire would be kept busy for a while, so the cambion seized her chance. She sprinted southward and searched for some victims to rend and tear apart. Something made her veer away from the area she was heading for and she ended up at a rundown bar. Seven people with black souls were inside. From their slurring words and boisterous laughter, they’d stockpiled alcohol.

“They won’t even know what hit them when I walk into that bar,” Jazmine said with a cruel smile.

Sauntering over to the door, she shoved it open and stepped inside. A grizzled dude with long straggly hair seated at a table with three of his friends turned to look at her. “Look what we have here, boys,” he said with a leer. He and his buddies were playing cards. The other three guys were sitting at the bar, watching the match.

“I haven’t seen a woman that clean and pretty since before the Rapture,” one of his friends said, eyeing her like she was a tasty treat.

A short man with receding hair stood up from the table. “I call first dibs,” he said, then giggled drunkenly. Two mostly empty bottles of whiskey and four glasses sat in the middle of the table. Even from a distance, the males reeked of dirt, sweat and greasy hair.

Jazmine examined her targets, searching for weapons. Assault rifles lay on the bar and four more were sitting on the table next to the men playing cards. They had pistols and knives in holsters and sheaths.

“You’re really cute,” the human said as he staggered towards her. “I’ll try not to mess up your face while I’m having my fun with you.”

He giggled again and the smell of alcohol wafted towards her. Jazmine waved the stench away and glanced at the lamps that lit up the room softly. She darted away when the disgusting creep reached for her. Reaching the first lamp, she switched it off and the room instantly dimmed.

“Get her, you idiots!” a guy sitting on a barstool shouted while his friends laughed.

Jazmine dodged aside when another goon lurched to his feet and came at her. She flicked the second lamp off, leaving only the one on the bar. The room was now dim enough for her to use her talents, so she left it on. “I want them to see what’s going to happen to them,” she murmured in anticipation.

Moving too quickly for them to see her, she shrouded herself in shadow and came to a stop in a corner of the room.