Page 16 of Amaros
Chapter Nine
––––––––
“IDIOT,” AMAROS MUTTERED.He was still kicking himself about how he’d broken the news to Zoe that she couldn’t have children with humans.He wasn’t even bonded to the cambion yet, but he’d felt her pain as if it was his own.It was like a phantom stab wound right through his heart.
He felt his companions’ eyes on him as he strode towards the gas station.The men standing guard spotted him when he reached a lamppost.Even armed, none of these humans were a threat to him.
“Stop right there, son!”the oldest man called out, lifting an antique shotgun to his shoulder.From his stance and practiced movements, he knew how to use it.The old man stood on the bed of a pickup truck, all the better to lord his new position over his lackeys.
Amaros kept going and sized up his opponents.A few were seniors with white hair like the man who was aiming his shotgun at him.The rest were young yokels, excited at the prospect of shooting an unarmed man.They all wore jeans and t-shirts.Some had jackets around their waists, ready to don them once the sun went down completely.
“I won’t warn you again,” the elder said, then shifted his finger to the trigger.
Unwilling to traumatize the females, Amaros decided on a non-lethal approach to deal with this trash.All Knights of Order were imbued with inhuman speed and strength.He became a blur of motion as he launched himself at his opponents.Startled squawks and yelps of pain came from the men as the warrior used his fists to subdue them.He started towards the pickup truck last.A shot rang out, making the girls gasp in reaction.
“Amaros!”Zoe shouted from inside the car.She’d chosen to sit in the back with Grace to keep her distance from him.He heard the car door open, but he was already taking care of the elder.The shot had missed him, of course.It hadn’t even come close to hitting him, since he’d already anticipated the attack.
“What are you?”the old man gasped.His throat was held in the firm grip of the creature that had leaped onto the truck and now loomed over him.
“I’m here to judge your worthiness, human,” Amaros growled, staring into the terrified man’s bloodshot eyes.“You and your minions reek of evil.Your souls are tainted by the ill deeds you’ve performed.Give me one reason why I shouldn’t eradicate you all right now.”
“We’re Godfearing Christians!”the human stammered, clutching the steely wrist of his assailant.“The Lord didn’t take us because he wants us to remain behind and protect our town!”
“Wrong,” Amaros said, squeezing a bit harder.The human’s face was turning purple.“You were left behind because none of you deserved to ascend to heaven.”
“We’ll change!”the human bleated.“I swear to the Holy Father we’ll be good!”
“Let him go,” Zoe called out.She’d climbed out of the car and was examining the unconscious men sprawled on the ground.He’d made sure none of them would wake up in a hurry.“Let’s just get some gas and keep moving,” she added.
“You owe your worthless, pathetic life to her mercy,” Amaros said contemptuously, then snatched the shotgun out of the old man’s hand.Letting go of his throat, he snapped the gun in half, then tossed it to the ground.
Zoe waited for him to drag the bodies out of the way, then drove her car to a fuel pump.Amaros filled the tank, keeping his eye on the cowering elder.He was on his knees in the truck, praying loudly to the God who’d forsaken him.
“We’ll be seeing a lot of this,” Grace predicted, eyeing the unconscious men.Amaros could have killed them all, but he’d merely rendered them senseless.They barely even had any wounds.
“The vilest people will take any advantage they can over anyone who’s weaker than them,” Zoe agreed.