Agony felt a cold rage bubble up deep within. They were here to find their parents. He could relate to the brave little wolf’s stand to try to protect its family. So, these vampires thought it was funny to toy with the little one? He would disabuse them of that notion.
Allowing himself to be seen, he stepped into the clearing, quickly taking the head of the male who was watching his friend, his movement a graceful arch of one hand. His talons cut deep, blood spraying onto the back of his accomplice. Agony took a moment to bring his mouth to the spray, closing his eyes as the hot blood slipped down his throat.
“What the fuck?” The second male turned around as the blood hit his back, his furious expression turning to one of horror as he saw what was occurring behind him.
Agony dropped the headless corpse to the ground and wiped his mouth with the back of his hand, aware of the sight he presented and luxuriating in the growing terror he could sense in the other male. “I hope you were as attached to him as that young pup was to its parents,” he said, his tone conversational.
The sound of his voice seemed to break through the vampire’s shock, and he moved at lightning speed, fangs and talons elongated. To Agony, it appeared as if he moved in slow motion, and he sidestepped the intended attack with barely a movement, punching his fist hard through the vampire’s throat.
The male dropped to the forest floor with a tortured sound, lying dazed on his back as Agony stepped over him to check his supposition was correct with the wolves. The little pup barked and nipped at him as he knelt beside the corpses, and he allowed it to savage at his hand, understanding its need for vengeance.
“They are gone, pup.” he said quietly, turning his head to watch tiny teeth ripping at his flesh. “Your bravery does them proud; however it will not bring them back and I am not the instigator of their demise. I can help you seek vengeance though. Would you like that, little one?”
Gathering the pup by the scruff of its neck, Agony held the wriggling, snarling animal high and then turned to the slowly healing vampire. “Do you want to play, little pup? I do.”
Before he had finished speaking, he brought his booted feet down on both arms of the vampire, crushing the bones easily. Lowering the animal to the gaping wound in the other male’s throat, he buried its face it the pulpy mass. “There you go… enjoy your vengeance.”
As the wolf pup began ripping mindlessly at the vampire’s throat, Agony used a talon to slice both ruined arms at the shoulder, removing any chance that the animal’s efforts would be hampered. “I live in a wolf pack, vampire, and as such, they are mine to protect whether they belong to my pack or not. I will let you live… after the pup has excised its rage. When you heal, you will leave this place and travel far. You will tell everyone you meet that the wolves are off limits. Blink once if you understand me.”
He sat back against a tree, watching blood and flesh pump from the vampire’s neck even as the wounded male blinked his understanding. Smiling coldly, Agony sat back to admire the ferocity with which the pup went about its pain. He could understand its bloodlust, craved to do the same to those who had taken his own parents. “Yes, you will tell all that Agony is here. You will warn them all of the coming storm, vampire, and they will quake in their boots.”
It was with some regret that he finally had to pull the wolf pup from the torn up vampire an hour later. He needed to continue on his own journey; otherwise, he would have sat there for days watching the agony cross the other male’s face. He had thought the wolf was feral by now, but the fact it didn’t attack him as an enemy when he pulled it away told him that there was still reason in the animal.
“Come, we must find you a pack, little one.”
The pup yelped, growled its displeasure.
“I cannot take you with me. Where I go is not safe for one such as you. However, should you ever find yourself stateside look me up. I will be easy to find. Now we must go.”
Agony paused long enough to retrieve the vampire’s arms and place them back against the shoulder sockets. He was a pulpy mess as it was and it would take hours for him to heal. It was pointless creating a vessel of enlightenment should he maybe be discovered before he could heal sufficiently to defend himself. “Remember my words, vampire. Make sure all know of my coming.”
When he turned back to the pup, he found a little girl standing staring down at the ruined vampire. She was about five years old, her once blonde hair matted with blood and flesh. He was surprised to note the pup was female; he hadn’t paid any attention to her gender while in animal form. It took him no effort to conjure up a tiny pair of jogging bottoms and T-shirt with his magic, handing them without a word to the child.
Even before she had taken them, Agony had uttered a short incantation, her small frame losing the blood and gore, so that when she took the clothing from him, it was as if she had dipped into a lake and cleansed herself.
“Magic…”
The sound of her voice brought a curl to his lips. He was oddly relieved to hear rationality in her tone. There was no doubt she would forever be scarred by what had happened this day, but there was an inner core of strength about the girl. She had a chance of making it.
“Yes, magic,” he agreed, holding out his hand, which she took without hesitation.
Scenting the air, he detected a wolf pack a few miles away. Knowing the history of the packs in Europe, it likely wasn’t the child’s pack but they would take in a young one. That’s what packs did. “Would you like to fly, little one?”
“Pippa,” she whispered, turning haunted blue eyes up to his face. “Yes please.”
“You are a very brave, strong wolf, Pippa. You will be fine,” he answered solemnly; as he reached down to pick her up. “Hold onto my neck tightly.”
Taking a running jump, Agony soared into the nearest tree, swinging effortlessly from branch to branch, sailing through the treetops until they were within half a mile from the pack he’d scented. The child’s grip never loosened, remained tight as he dropped back to the forest floor.
“You know you cannot stay with me, Pippa. I have already explained that to you. If you walk that way for a little while, there are wolves who will take you in, protect you.”
“They can’t protect me from the vampires. No one but you can protect me from them.” Her big blue eyes filled with tears, her arms holding on tightly.
Agony stared at the child, unaccountably moved by the trust she placed in him, but knowing she couldn’t remain at his side. His hands were gentle as he removed her arms, turning her in the direction she needed to go. “Run now, Pippa. Run to the safety of the pack. If I can, I will return. I will remember this place and I will return.”
He watched her go, her steps at first hesitant and then moving faster as she scented her own kind. He would keep his word. He would seek out the pack on his return journey to ensure she was safe. He may be many things, but he always kept his word.
As he turned to leave, something caught his attention, a vague scent that teased at his nostrils. His head whipped around sharply, his eyes trying to pierce through the thick foliage surrounding him. The scent vanished as quickly as it came, but it left him feeling edgy, that something was out there… something dangerous to his mission. He didn’t have time to investigate it though. He had to stay on track and he’d already been diverted.
It was time to visit a coven… one his parents had visited not too long before. It was time to wreak havoc and bloodshed on those who had taken those he loved from him. Turning away, he headed back the way he came, back towards Louis’ coven, and the answers he was seeking.