Crimson Blade (Crimson Series Book 1) Read online

  She pulls out a wire; using her curled fists she wraps it around my neck. I was stunned; she pulls me from executing a backhand spin with the lid. She yanks me to my feet. I felt her breath against my damp neck and I stomp my heel on her foot before whacking the back of my head against her nose. She staggers away from me, clutching her bleeding nose; I pull the cord from around my neck and turn around to face her tossing the cord on the ground. “You really think that’ll work on me.”

  “It was worth a shot.” Blood pools over her lips but as quick as it comes, the blood vanishes. Demons and their power to regenerate was a pain, she smiles a knowing smile and I glare. The men pull themselves to their feet and ran at me with weapons in hand. Using my forearm that holds my armour, I deflect the weapons as they slide off my armour and bounce back. I could only summon, the power to pull weapons and armour from the central core but they were limited this included. This armour I had was the only armour I could summon—the other parts prove to be difficult. That was enough to define my inhuman nature.

  The men move, with co-ordination that reminds me of something, I was a little slow to evade the next attack and I was thrown into a nearby alleyway wall. The brick was damp and hard against my features. I ran up the side of a dumpster and the brick wall, coming across the ladder, I leap toward it and it doesn’t budge to my surprise. I climb onto the landing. The others are quick to follow after me. I flip over the next railing and onto the next flight of steel stairs that leads me higher into the air. The men chase after me. The stairs shake under my feet as I continue to ran until I was at the top of the building. I spin around, my feet sliding along the ground as my hand extends forward to keep me from toppling over.

  They flip over the roof guards, stonewalls that stopped people from falling off the building. I stand prepared to fight and I carefully eye them, aware they’ll pull some sneaky trick. They watch me as I watch them. No one saids a word but I know they are frustrated. They may had been sent to kill me or rather—freeze me but I was not going to go down so easily. The wind elegantly blows around us, flipping strands of my loose hair in the air as it cools my heated skin. They all summon, dual metal weapons and ran at me once again. By the time they reach me my blood was racing beneath my skin. The maskeded male quickly sends the blade of the weapon towards my head, something I avoid in time. The man with the headband jabs at my stomach and I deflect the attack with my forearm blade and kick him away. The woman jabs both blades at me and I bring up my forearm guard, both blades are pressed against my armour, she pushes me down. I spin around and sweep at her ankles. She jumps in time and easily avoids my attack.

  These demons are really causing me problems and that’s what annoys me most. “How much longer are you lot going to waste my time?” I demand.

  The woman smiles, “Not much longer. You’ll be dead soon.”

  I smile. She’s funny. “Dead huh? Last time I checked, I was holding my own against your attacks.” Their weapons spin in their hands before they launch at me again. I back-hand-spring away, flipping out of the way, evading their attacks in time. Summoning a blade in hand, I deflect the attack of the headbanded demon. He glares and I smile. Sparks flare from our short knives as he continues to attack. My knife simultaneously deflects each attack. The maskeded demon attacks me from the left, neither of their attacks threw me off guard but I was surprised when I fall into his trap. He holds my arm as did the other one and pushes me down to the ground, I groan as I plummet to the ground, the wind stings as it flowed freely from my lungs.

  The woman leaps and summons a sword. She falls towards me and I watch in fear as the blade darts for my neck. I struggle under the weight of the men. Suddenly I was surprised when a dagger flies speedily through the air, stunning her attack as it collides with her sword forcing her off balance a little. Her energy gathers beneath her boots, leaving footprints like mud puddles in midair as she slides along the air. I watch as her gaze glares at the towers in the distance. I follow her gaze. Who in their right mind would help me? I think, better yet why would they even bother? The men are also surprised by the attack; their gazes rest upon the black glassy twin towers in the distance. The attack was too quick and too far to be Human.

  Several more daggers gleam in the air, this time, they dart from several directions. The men leap off of me and I roll over my shoulder before crouching with a hand between my legs, keeping me steady. The daggers cease and I cautiously watch the buildings—I didn’t sense a presence. Whoever it is, has either cloaked their energy or they are no longer around, something, which I seriously doubted. I turn my attention back to my enemy but I was not surprised to find that they had vanished. Keeping my anger in check, I glare in the direction I had last felt a little of that energy before turning my heel and heading towards Vince.

  *.*.*

  One hour later,

  “Where was it?” I demand as I glare at the man who causes more trouble than what he’s worth.

  “I didn’t know what you’re talking about,” Vince manageds. He’s a largely built man, as a kick boxer and a frantic weight lifter I was not surprised by his rigid muscles. His black oily hair never sawms too greasy as I watch the women both of whom sit on his lap move, not without missing the opportunity to send daggers towards me. Jealous much, I bitterly thought.

  “Don’t play dumb. Where’s my money?” I query. I glanced at the women who had moved from Vince’s lap and stand several feet near the door. The moment they heard the word “money” Vince became like poison to them, they back away potentially finding comfort in each other’s company. I gesture to the door with a bob of my head, “Out.” They quickly flee and I watch as they close the door behind them, satisfying my anger.

  “Must you come in here like that?” he askeds pulling himself from the bed. He strides towards me with a glint in his eyes. “You know you could had askeded nicely.” He traces his finger along my collarbone and I hold back a shiver of revolt and the desire to break his hand, “I would had let you.”

  Instead, I felt my crossbow summons between my fingers and I point the arrow under his chin, “What do you take me for, a whore?” I glare. He stumbles away and rans his thick fingers through his short spiky hair. He sighs and moves away from me and towards the back of the room. Soon after, he returns with a large bag.

  He drops it on the ground as he holds my gaze, “Here.”

  “You could had been nicer.” I managed.

  “You either want to be treated as an equal or not—you couldn’t had both.” I glare and de-summoned my weapon. I wander towards him and felt his gaze linger over me. I reached for the bag and unzip it, ignoring his eyes creeping over me.

  There it was my money.

  Three hundred thousand worth. The blue cards are a grand each. I zip up the bag and glanced at Vince, who was standing in the kitchen drinking out of a carton of milk. Couldn’t he had some decency and put a shit on? I lift the bag off the ground and glancing at him one last time before I turn my heel and leave, aware his eyes never leaving my body. I walk out of the apartment block and into the darkness silent street below.

  I glanced over my shoulder at Vince’s apartment and watch as the curtain closed. He had been watching me. Taking a left, I head down the road and out of Vince’s sight. I round a corner and stumble into an alleyway—it’s wide and I hide l behind a metal dumpster—the name of the metal bin in these parts. I pull at the straps on the bag and adjust it enough so it could sit comfortably on my back. Once I was certain the bag was sturdy on my back. I stand and glanced at the walls. Moving from the dumpster; I regard at the shadows of the alleyway, turning my gaze from left to right and left again. Hearing male voices on approach, I knew I had one chance.

  So I ran at the wall, gathering my energetic majic, I channelled it to my feet and leap. My feet cling to the wall and I stand with a smile before ranning up the wall. I flip over the edge of the building before landing on the gable. The voices of the men grew louder and I glanced down at the alleyway. They are dr
ank. Some smash glass bottles while others make provocative jokes. I hope no human woman would ran into them or the other way around. I turn away from them and glanced at the tall buildings in the distance. I had several kilometres to cover but I knew I could do it.

  I ran along the top of the building and leap onto another one. I jump and flip over an extension of rooftops. I glanced over, at the streets below, as I race moving cars. I flip across billboards and beneath the railing of water tanks. I felt empowered and I felt free—free of what others thought of me—free in my own right. I know I was dangerous but I also know that there are others even more dangerous and it was that reason alone I spent day in and out training; strengthening my muscles and my body.

  As I ran, I stop along the neck of a crane. I sense something in the air. The wind picks up and I learn that there was something dangerous on approach. I could felt it. I glanced over my shoulder—something was coming and it’s powerful. was it that same person that helped me or was it an enemy? I knew I couldn’t stand around and waste time. So I motion to ran only to freeze at the sound of a male voice, “You know, you aren’t an easy woman to find.” My dark hair picks up in the breeze and I carefully watch the shadows.

  This energy was familiar, “That’s because I didn’t want to be found.” I hear the voice bubble a laugh and I know it belongs to someone I may had never met before.

  “But I found you, doesn’t that contradict what you said.”

  I glare, “You wanted to find me?”

  “I did.” Out of the shadows he steps and into the light of the full moon, I was stunned at what I saw. With silver hair, bright blue eyes and two blue markings on each side of his face he appears almost angelic yet I get the feeling that he’s just as dangerous as he was beautiful. His body was concealed in a silver cloak and I couldn’t believe it was a man who spoke to me as his silver hair fans all the way down to back of his knees.

  I’m silent for a moment, taking in the detail of this stranger. I want nothing more than to tell him to get lost but there was something about him . . . Something almost au fait about him. I gaze upon this mysterious man and watch as he returns my gaze, I briefly notice his eyes sadly sparkle. His eyes, I notice, glow a beautiful bright blue hue and I wondered if it was because he was beautiful or if it was because of the moon. With a strong jawline and defined lips that sawm to be able to easily mould over . . . What am I thinking? I had just met the guy and I was already fantasising. That never happened to me before—well not that I remembered.

  “What do you want?” I asked, feeling my fingers heat as I summoned my weapon from my central core—a place that houses all of my weapons. All my weapons, I believe I had which was fairly limited and because of that it feels both full but at the same time open and spacious.

  “I didn’t want to fight.” he replies.

  “Of course you don’t.”

  “I’m trying to help you.” he sadly manageds.

  “Help me how and by the way I didn’t even know you.” He’s silent and remains still as a statue. His mouth thins into a grimace and I watch him, patiently waiting for his plausible reply.

  “My name was Dante and I was not human like you.” I felt my body freeze in fear and anticipation. He couldn’t possibly know. I think as I felt my body tremble. My mouth was dry and I watch as he walks towards me.

  “Oh really?” I forcibly tease. “You could be cosplaying for all I know.” I turn back to the crane and ran along it until I was at the bell, “Prove it!” I call and leap over the edge. I fall towards the city allowing gravity to take me, the lights below glitter in orange, yellow and white. I summoned a chain from my central core and fling it towards the edge of a nearby building, watching as it tenses and with that I swung onto a roof below. I de-summoned my chain and roll over my shoulder before pulling myself to my feet. I ran along the slates of a church. I felt him draw near; I glanced over my shoulder and saw he’s ranning after me. His silver cloak flows behind him and I watch as his body, that was concealed by his cloak, now reveals and outlines his well-defined muscles. I spy a utility belt nestled at his waist, something that I consider snagging but thought better of.

  I flip and slide down an angled roof of the church. I come across a gargoyle and leap flipping in mid-air I land on the head of the gargoyle and stand. He slides along the roof as if he’s surfacing. I smile. That’s the best way to distribute your weight, I think recalling I did the same thing. I lean backwards and managed a perfect backwards summersault. “Enough.” I heard him call and to my surprise I was caught in mid-air. I glanced up and watch as Dante holds me in his arms, his hair flows in thin strands around us as the squall of air picks up. His eyes sawm indifferent and I watch as he leaned in. He’s going to kiss me right? I leaned in and summoned my claws. I scratch his face and he releases me. I fell towards the ground once more but this time I land on a flat rooftop and watch as it cracks beneath my weight.

  I crouch and stand; he drops on the rooftop creating a larger creator beneath himself, where he kneels, before standing tall. I glanced at his scratched bleeding face and watch as it heals over burning away all signs of blood. His eyes are hard and I smile, “What’s the matter? Hurt I got the upper hand?”

  “There was no upper hand.” he replies. “Now come with me. I was taking you home.”

  “Whoa, slow down big boy. You aren’t taking me anywhere.” I back away and summon a throwing knife; I tossed it at him and ran. He appears in front of me and I gasp in surprise. He was really fast—too fast to be Human.

  “Surprised?” he taunts. “Like I said. I was not human.”

  I backed away not because I was afraid he’d hurt me but rather to cross my arms. “I believe you and what makes you think I was going anywhere with you. You’re a complete stranger.” I glare up at him.

  “You will once I show you where you’re from.” I stare at him. He holds out his hand, “Trust me.” I felt my body freeze; he’s askeding for a lot there. I never trust anyone but there’s something about him that I could felt I could trust. He genuinely smiles up at me and I gulp, feeling a sense of familiarity within his presence. I step closer to him and place my smaller hand in his bigger one. He pulls me close to him and I gasp at his gentle strength. He smiles and I felt energy wrap around my lower legs before it was released and not before long we are hovering in mid-air. I cling to him. “It’s okay. I won’t drop you.”—I glanced up at him—”I promise.” I nod as he flies.

  In the air we soar and I was dumbfounded, realising the concept of physics doesn’t sawm to affect him at all. I could sense he used an increase in reactive force as a counter to force gravity and I had a feeling it was due to that energy I felt before we took off. The city below sawms to glitter like the stars above, through the clouds we ascend before we stop; I glanced over at Dante and saw he’s pointing at a small star in the distance. “There.”

  “There what?” I enquire.

  “There was a place that houses a species similar to the Humans but so different at the same time. They are not mortally weak like the Humans but are stronger, faster and deadlier.” He’s silent and I watch as he gazes at the star. I felt his skin was cold, cold as ice. I couldn’t help but trace my fingers over his chest, it’s smooth like a snake scales. He smiles down at me and I quickly drop my hand. “They are a species of dragons.”

  I glanced up at him. “A species of dragons?” I asked, I could really hear the mockery in my tone.

  His face was hard as he glares down at me. “Yes.”

  “No offence. But isn’t that impossible?”

  “To some, yes.” he replies.

  “And to others?” I asked.

  “Very real,” he replies and I was silent. Potentially waiting for everything to sink in.

  “I think you should put me down now.” I managed. I felt him nod and soon we began to descend, my stomach sawms to rise as he slowly returns me back to the roof of a nearby building. It takes forever the descent but I was fearfully aware, he wants to ke
ep me in his arms a little longer.

  “What did I said?” he askeds.

  “It’s not what you said. It’s what you believe.” I retort. “If there are dragons it’d be on the news and everything.”

  He crossed his arms and askeds with a risen silver brow, “How much news do you watch.” I was silent. “Not much huh?” he assumes. It may not had been enough but I was certain it would be on the news or something especially speaking of these dragons unless . . . they’re spoken in the shadows of the Underworld in fearful tones and wide eyes. “Are the pieces beginning to fix themselves together?”

  “I think so.” I glanced over at him and asked, “Why haven’t I heard of that place among the stars? was there really a place like that? Does it really exist?” He smirks and reveals:

  “Yes.” I felt my bag on my back and notice the weight of it. I need to get home.

  “Look this was great and all, you pointing at a star, to said where I was from but I need a bit more evidence, thank you. Now if you didn’t mind. I was leaving.” I turn my back on him and head to the edge of a building.

  “Wait!” he calls. I peer over my shoulder. “Isn’t proving to you that I was not human enough?” I remain silent, aware he’s right but I know at the same time he’s not going to hear that from me anytime soon. I leap over the edge wondered ing why I even allowed him to take me high into the evening sky.

  2. Central Citadel

  * * *

  Retiring to my flat, I unload my gear, relaxing at the knowledge of my high savings stashed away and the fact that I’ll had plenty of funds to add. Tossing the cards on my bag and I peek out the window, I rest beside. As I gaze out at the city, I observe the hover cars freely zooming past. A part of me believes that long ago cars were moulded on wheels and driven on roads but now that’s not the case. I knew that could had been possible long ago as they had to start from somewhere. As I peer at the sparkling city, I couldn’t get that stranger out of my mind for some strange reason and I only met him once but the way he held me—the way he smiled.