I open my eyes. I am the slayer. Here me roar.
A quick roundhouse kick takes out one of the guards. The other I head butt and then kick in the groin as he’s reeling backward. I’m punching and kicking so hard, so fast, I’m not quite sure where my body ends and my target begins. It’s like I’m on some kind of superhero autopilot.
And let me tell you, it rocks!
Having knocked out both guards I turn to Maverick. He’s standing there, backed up against the wall, looking a lot less smug than before. “You can’t kill me,” he says, sounding a bit hoarse. “You don’t have your stake.”
“Stake, schmake,” I say, suddenly realizing something. “You ever see the movie Dumbo?”
He stares at me as if I have two heads. “Dumbo?” he asks.
I laugh, suddenly feeling in complete control of the situation. “Yeah,” I say. “Dumbo’s a flying elephant. But the thing about Dumbo is, he only thinks he can fly because he’s got some stupid magic feather in his trunk. But turns out,” I say, circling Maverick, hands raised in front of me, “he doesn’t need the feather at all. He can fly all along.”
“As charming as this Disney fairy tale is—”
“But don’t you see, Maverick?” I interrupt. “I’m Dumbo.
Well, except for the big ears. And the actual flying bit. Okay, maybe bad analogy. But the point is, I don’t need some special stake to slay you. The power is in me, not some chunk of wood.”
And before Maverick can reply, I fluidly grab the chair, break off its leg and slam the piece of wood into his evil heart. He explodes instantly into a pile of dust.
Whoo-hoo! I am the SLAY-ERRR BAY-BEE!!!!!!!
I contemplate slaying the unconscious guards as well, but realize they may just be evil for the paycheck and now that their fearless leader has gone all “ashes to ashes” they may reform and become model vampire citizens. You never know.
The important thing is I did the job. I slayed Maverick. Fulfilled my destiny. Saved the day.
Yay, me!
But then my exultation dampens as I remember that while I may have saved the Blood Coven, I failed to save myself. I drop the stake and fall to my knees, sobbing uncontrollably.
I’m going to die. In three days I will no longer exist.
That totally bites.
29
TUESDAY, JUNE 12, 11 P.M.
Fangs for the Memories
“Rayne! Are you okay?” I look up, trying to focus through my tears. Jareth and another man rush into the room. Jareth throws his arms around me and squeezes me so hard I practically lose my breath.
“Rayne,” he murmurs. “You’re all right, you’re okay. I was so worried!” He strokes my hair and kisses me softly on the cheek. “I got backup. I was coming to save you.”
“Silly vampire,” I say, laughing through my tears. “I’m the slayer, remember? I can save myself. Well, sort of. But we can talk about that later.” Now is not the time to tell him about my swiftly approaching expiration date. We’ve still got too much to do.
I can feel his smile against my cheek. If only he knew. “Right. Of course. So you finally figured out how to wield your magical stake?”
“Actually, I finally learned that the stake didn’t have any magic. When it comes to vamps, any old piece of wood will do.”
Jareth pulls away, looking at my bleeding neck. I’m sure it’s nice and crusty-looking by now. “You’ve been bitten!” he cries, reaching out to touch the wound. I stop him before he does. The last thing I need is for him to get infected, too.
“It’s okay,” I lie. “It doesn’t hurt.”
“You have done well, Rayne,” the man who entered with Jareth says. I look up in surprise. I forgot he was here. “Teifert will be pleased.”
My eyes widen as I recognize the guy.
David?
Mom’s boyfriend?
“You’re . . . but you’re . . .”
David laughs. “Yes, it’s me, Rayne.”
“But how . . . ? Who . . . ?”
“I work for Slayer Inc.,” he explains. He pulls out an official-looking Slayer Inc. badge to back up his claim. “As your guardian.”
“Guardian? I have a guardian?”
“What, did you think we’d leave you floundering out in the world alone on your first slay?”
“But why didn’t you tell me? I thought you were a vampire!”
David laughs. “Is that why you tried to feed me garlic and squirt me with holy water when I came to dinner?”
Jareth raises an eyebrow. “You did what?”
I can feel my face getting sooo red. “Well, I didn’t know he was my freaking guardian. I thought he was just some evil vampire Mom picked up in the frozen foods section.”
David shuffles his feet. “About that, Rayne,” he says. “I have to admit, I was told to get close to your family. To watch you and see how you do. Your first slay is a test. So we observe carefully. Anyway, I figured dating your mom would get me into your house, so I could get a better idea of your home life.”
“That’s a rotten thing to do,” I interrupt, not at all happy about this. He may not be a vamp, but I’ll find some other way to dust him if he’s been screwing around with my mom’s head just to get close to me. “My mom really likes you. And you’re just using her?”
“Hey! Wait a minute!” David holds up his hands. “Hear me out. As I said, that’s how it started. But then I actually met your mother. And she’s . . . wonderful.”