Real Vampires: Glory and the Pirates by Bartlett, Gerry (red white royal blue TXT) 📕

show my people I can still lead. That I can seek revenge and carry it out.” She waved her gun at me. “Turn around again. You are going to jump, I think. Take your own life. I will enjoy hearing your screams on your way to death.”

“You will have to push me because I will never jump.” I pointed at the vague shape barely visible across the sea in the strong moonlight. “How do you like the view? Isn’t that Ireland over there?” It was a full moon, perfect for raiding. No wonder she had come so soon after Jeremiah had attacked her holding.

“You think I am too broken to push a bitch like you to her death? Can you fight, Mistress Gloriana? Even with only one arm I can take you down and toss you over.” She had put her gun in her belt and pulled out a long knife. This now looked like a fair fight. She didn’t know I kept my own knife under my skirt.

“I know you have killed men, Zarah.” That earned me a look of surprise. “Yes, I know your name. You killed Lord Ralph, the Guardian of the Coast. You have allowed rape and slavery, taking young girls from their homes.” I noticed she paled. “Did you know that?”

“No. Sometimes my men do things without telling me, things that I don’t approve of. But killing the Guardian? Why wouldn’t I? He killed my father. An eye for an eye.” She waved that knife at me, drawing blood when she nicked my arm.

I had a vampire’s speed and used it, pulling my own knife and darting around her to take a swipe at her arm. She gasped when I sliced that bad arm of hers.

“How did you do that so fast?” She wasn’t giving up. She gripped her knife and stood ready for my next move. “Never mind. You are going over that wall. Trust me, you will not survive the fall. I have dreamed of it as a fitting punishment for hurting me.”

“You think so?” I would survive such a fall but didn’t want to think about the pain or the process it would take to knit my bones together afterwards.

“If you came in through the tunnel, you must have passed our dungeon. How would you like to be locked up in there with the spiders and rats, waiting for a trip to Edinburgh and the hangman?” I dodged her stabbing motion. Then I darted under her thrust, bringing up my blade to pierce her thigh. It was a move Valdez had shown me. She gasped, limping out of my way as blood streamed down her leg.

“I didn’t think a woman like you could fight, damn you.” Her arm quivered as she pulled her gun. She aimed and shot at me, hitting me in the shoulder. I think she expected me to fall down, crying.

I did reel at the pain, but wouldn’t let her see how she’d hurt me. She hadn’t reckoned with a vampire. I still stood, ignoring the searing pain and the blood streaming down my arm.

“Want to try again? You missed my heart.” I mocked her. Why not? I knew such guns had but one shot and took time to reload. I went so far as to slap my shoulder. “You are pathetic.”

“Unnatural creature! Fall down. Give up. Most women…” With a curse, she flung the gun away.

“I am not most women.” I had tears in my eyes from the pain but would not give in. I was ready when she lunged, aiming her knife at my heart. I grabbed her wrist and twisted, holding on and pushing hard until she tripped and fell.

I threw myself on top of her until we lay chest to chest on the stone floor. She panted, her red face almost matching her hair which had come unbound. She stared up at me, her hatred like fire in her eyes.

“Damn you to the fiery pits of hell. I will not let you take me alive.” She twisted and bucked, trying desperately to push me off. She was pulling at her britches and I realized she was reaching for her sword.

I leaned hard on her good arm and took it away from her, throwing it across the tower. It landed with a clang, out of reach for both of us. I still had my knife and held it to her throat.

“Give up, Zarah. You have no idea what I am or what I can do.” Or what I wanted. I nicked her vein and her blood trickled down her throat. It was rich and called to me. No, I could not give in to my cravings. While I fought my fangs, she heaved me off with the last of her strength.

I still gripped her wrist, determined to take her knife, as she dragged me with her to our feet. I tightened my grasp, Zarah’s bones cracking under my palm.

She was wild-eyed and yet determined. “Bitch, strange creature!” She struggled, desperate to get away from me. She kicked my shins and I howled with pain. But I wouldn’t release her.

“Say what you will, you are mine now.” I shoved her toward the steps leading down. “You will spend your last days in the Edinburgh gaol.”

“I will not!” She threw herself at me, a last effort to force me to let go. She’d dropped her knife on the stones already, her hand turning dark as I increased my pressure on that wrist.

“You have no choice.” I grabbed her jerkin and turned her toward the steps. “I’ve won.” I finally released her wrist and she held it against her chest.

“Whatever you are, I will not let you lock me up.” Tears ran down her cheeks and she took a deep, shuddering breath. To my horror, she bolted, took a running jump and dove off the battlements. She screamed a war cry as she leapt.

Shocked, I ran to the edge to see her broken body below. Was she moving? I