Once Bitten

His earbud beeped. “We have movement, sir,” Beau Charming said. He and two of the wolf soldiers, Hunter and Goose, were located on the street level, ensuring that all parts of the apartment building were secured.

Alistair scanned right and left. Lifting his nose in the air, he suddenly caught the whiff of death.

These, however, were not normal times.

And the lone vampire walking down the street cemented his point.

Vampires sucked, and thankfully hadn’t evolved to be more than cockroaches that infested the night. The day-walking variety was a rare exception. They’d creep out of their holes and search for prey. Most of the time, the wolf-shifters would take responsibility to watch over the humans, but the seer was extremely delicate—special even.

Rushing to the edge of the six-story building, Alistair jumped, landing right behind the creeper into the refuse-filled alleyway. His footfalls cracked the asphalt, and in one swift move, he struck out at the rogue vampire, picked him up, and slammed him into the brick wall.

“You know better than to be around these parts.” Alistair sneered.

“So, it is true, then,” the vampire hissed, his fangs elongating, filling his small mouth. “This seer must be useful to call out the dragon prince from his perch in Scotland.”

“And they’ve sent you, fool, a newling, to do reconnaissance.”

“The battle is already lost. You don’t know what she is and have not been taught the truth.” The sanguineous bastard leaned back his head and cackled. “We know she is the one. There is nothing that can be done to protect her from us and our master.”

“Who do you serve now?”

“In the days of the grand resurrection, the gods will fall, and the truth shall rise.” The vampire removed a lighter from his pocket. “We are legion.” He flicked the striker, and his shirt lit up in orange, blue, and purple flames.

Alistair snatched his hand back and the magical fire grew, engulfing the body in an inextinguishable blaze. He cursed himself for not retrieving the answer he needed. This vampire’s death confirmed the Order’s activation.