Page 43 of Marked for Execution

The guys got their blows in, but each of the bloodsucker’s hits were three times harder than theirs.Shit. In a last-minute decision, I ran up the back of the car’s trunk and onto the roof, aiming my crossbow again.

“Hey! Bloodsucker!”

His fist threw Gunner against Reed, and all his attention focused on me. His nostrils flared after a step.

“Well, well, what do we have here? Didn’t think I would ever run into one ofyouduring my existence.” His smile widened on his face, showcasing his extended fangs glistening with blood from a prior victim. He wiped his chin with the back of his hand and licked the remnants away, moaning suggestively. “Hunting does bring outanotherhunger in me…”

“Yeah, that so?”

Swoosh! Thunk!My bolt hit him right in the chest, knocking him off his feet. As I got another bolt ready, the guys slowly got up and made their way towards us.

The stranger laughed maniacally and rolled to get back on his feet as if he didn't feel a damn thing.

“Oh, yes. We’re going to have fun, you and I. I need someone who can keep up with my carnal cravings. I have a feeling you’re going to taste delicious while you’re under me.”

Eliseo tackled him from the side. He dodged, only to get stabbed by Reed. The stranger snapped his jaws right against Reed’s neck. Luckily, Reed leaned back just in time for Gunner to shoot a hole right through the back of his head, knocking him face down. Eliseo came up behind him and cut the back of his neck deeply with one of his larger blades, separating his head from his body. The blood pooled beneath him, and I let out a breath of relief, climbing down the car.

“What the hell are these bloodsuckers doing out in broad daylight? This is the second time this happened.” Reed rubbed a hand down his face as he stared at the dead body at our feet.

“I don’t know, and I’m not hanging around to find out. Let’s drag the bodies into the wooded area so they don’t attract anything else.” Samuel was already grabbing the vampire by the feet. Gunner grabbed under the body’s shoulder, and they started moving.

“The other body is over there,” I told the rest of the guys as I shouldered my crossbow.

“Yeah, we got it.”

All three of us walked towards the dead human that was still intact. I looked over at the other one in pieces by the fallen tree, wondering how I should collect his remnants.

“I’ll get…the other guy,” I mumbled as I broke away from them and looked around for all the limbs. I was not going to be able to get much of him, just the bigger chunks. His body basically exploded against the tree.

Bending down, a breeze whipped my hair in my face. Footsteps from behind me crunched on leaves, and I called out, “I’m coming. I think I can only get this leg. I’ll come back for the arm.”

Grabbing the limb, I turned around and dropped it. There, standing a few feet away, was another bloodsucker who looked like he just finished snacking. His face was still coated with crimson from his last meal.

“Would you do me a favor, sweetheart? I’m feeling kindahornyright now.” His voice was gravelly, like it was raw from swallowing flesh and bone. It sparked a memory—I had witnessed this before.Some of these vampires didn’t just drink blood but consume so much more.

“Don’t look at me like that.”

He walked forward and I took a step back, my hand going for one of my blades because of how close he was getting.Where the hell are the other guys?My mind went through different tactics and my eyes searched for different exit strategies.

“I’ll take it slow. Would you like that? I’ll fill you up until you beg for more of it. We could use more of us in this world.”

He was rubbing his pants over his dick, and I could see the impression there, straining against the fabric.

Not wanting him to get the upper hand, I lunged, only to have him twist and wrap his arm around my neck from behind. He licked up my neck and I flinched, expecting him to bite.

“You smell utterly delicious—a scent I haven’t come across. But you’ve got something in you that calls to me. Be a good girl and get on your hands and knees. I’ll make sure to make you like it,” he mouthed against my neck.

I struggled and dug my nails into his flesh, drawing blood, but he didn't react. Trying to force him over my shoulder didn’t work. He outweighed me by too much. He laughed and continued to nip at my skin until I twisted my body to get behind him and kicked his feet out from under him, taking us both down to the ground.

“Sili!”

The guys came running, but the stranger was faster, jumping up and landing on Eliseo with a hand dug into his shoulder, ripping his flesh.

Reed fired his gun and hit the stranger in the shoulder, throwing him off Eliseo, but he landed on his feet, snapping his head up with a grin.

“Sili,is it? Seems you’re a greedy little cunt with all these men around you. Couldn’t even let old Josh stick it in that hole of yours, hmm? What makes your pussy the golden goose?” he sneered right before he attacked Reed.

Gunner was checking over Eliseo, who was still getting up from the ground, his entire shirt stained with blood. Samuel had his gun aimed at Josh, still in hand-to-hand combat with Reed.