Chapter 67

I parked at the usual place but Jimmy wasn't on, it was Keoki. He waved excitedly when he saw me; recognizing a big tip when it drove in. I let him take the car and then ran off without my ticket as usual. My purse was already in the hidden compartment, but I had a little stash of cash tucked down my vest. I knew this wasn't just a hunting expedition; it was also a stakeout and stakeouts required coffee.
Waikiki is always busy. They say New York never sleeps, but I think Waikiki wants second place because, at most, it takes power naps. It was ten o'clock and the bars were blaring their music; sending out their siren's calls to lure in tourists and locals alike. The night had just begun.
In all my black, I must have looked Goth, or is it Emo now? Ridiculous. Back in high school, I wore a lot of black so I guess I was Goth before they had a name for it. They just called us weird. Now, everything had labels and whole lifestyles to go along with the looks. Well, my look wasn't Goth or Emo, it was Godhunter, and I'm pretty sure my lifestyle was a little too hardcore for the Emotionals. I fit right in with the club crowds though, except for my sword, which was blurred under its protection spell anyway. Then again, with all the Asian influence in Hawaii, people might dig the sword.
I wandered into a Starbucks and grabbed a drink before taking a seat at one of the wrought iron tables outside. I was trying for casual club-hopper; just another lady in leather fueling up with caffeine before the next round of dancing. I needed to blend in while keeping a lookout. The kills had all been in this area so I figured it was the best place to start. Blue couldn't have been more obvious if he'd drawn a big red X on the sidewalk. I chose Starbucks in particular since it was raised a little off the sidewalk; giving me a good vantage point of both clubs and alleys. They also had a restroom in case I drank too much coffee while I waited. It was perfect.
A six-pack of Marines stumbled up the street, and I tried desperately not to make eye contact with them. They didn't seem to need encouragement, though. The simple fact that I was sitting alone was enough for them. They wandered over to my low balcony and leaned against the railing to leer at me. I couldn't stop my annoyed groan.
"Hey, cutie,"the more loquacious of the bunch started, "we're headed to The Red Lion, wanna come?"
"No, I'm good, thanks."I lifted my cup to show them I was busy enjoying a hot beverage.
"But a woman like you shouldn't be sitting alone."Another one puffed out his chest. "Haven't you seen the news?"
"My boyfriend will be here any minute."I looked away, trying to scan the alleys, and thought I saw a flash of violent movement.
"We'll just wait with you then."The first one climbed over the railing and slid into a seat next to mine. Evidently, he knew a lie when he smelled one. Even if the scent of beer rolling off him was strong enough to mask any odor.
I frowned at him for a second but then I caught the tail end of a scream on the breeze. "Dang it!"I stood and jumped over the railing. "Gotta go, boys."
I threw my cup into a trash can as I ran by. The Oorah Boys shuffled about in confusion, but I didn't give them much thought as I headed across the street and down an alley; unsheathing my kodachi as I went.
Sure enough, a woman was lying on the wet asphalt beneath a feeding vampire while another waited for his turn. I didn't even pause, just ran up swinging. The vamp in line heard the thumping of my boots and turned towards me, but it was too late. His head bounced off the alley wall and hit the ground with a wet thud. Shocked eyes stared out of the severed head as its body toppled into a heap.
"Holy shit!"Someone exclaimed.
I looked over my shoulder and saw the Marines at my back.
"Get out of here!"I shouted as I spun back around.
It was all the distraction vamp #2 needed. He was on me in a blur of speed; knocking my sword out of my hand to send it clattering across the alley. Fingers dug into my collar and side as he pulled me forward and tried to latch onto my neck with his bared fangs. I struggled to cast a spell as I dodged his bites.
I didn't struggle for long, though. Our country's first line of defense had come to my aid. The vampire was hauled off me, and I was freed long enough to release the knives from my gloves. I didn't have time to go after my sword; the claws would have to do.
"Shit, woman, who the fuck are you?"The Marine holding the vampire stared at my gloves with a mixture of jealousy and lust.
"Drop him and back away fast!"I kept my eyes on the strangely docile vampire who was suddenly staring at me as if he'd found the prize in a box of Cocoa Pebbles.
"Don't worry; I've got him."The Marine smirked at me just as the vampire lunged back; dropping him like a bag of bad blood.
The Marine's friends rushed forward, but the vampire was nearly on me. I did a roundhouse kick and slashed his neck open; splattering the oncoming cavalry and dropping the vampire to his knees. The Marines started shouting but whether it was in horror or appreciation, I'll never know. Any further conversation was cut off by the arrival of five more vampires.
"Damn, damn, damn!"I swore as I scooped up my sword and chopped the wounded vamp's head off. Then I ran over to help my rescuers.
They were trying to fight the monsters like humans—trained soldiers but still humans—and they were no match for them. I couldn't cover them with a protection spell because they were already hand-to-hand with the vampires and the spell wouldn't distinguish vamp from human. I had to wade into the mess.
I started a stun spell as I approached so I was able to lop off the head of one vampire while striking out with the spell towards another. I beheaded the stunned vampire easily since the spell froze him in place. Two down, only three to go.
The remaining three were tangled up with the humans and things were getting bad. Blood was flowing and screams were echoing. I didn't have time to cast another spell and with the way they were fighting, I wasn't sure who I'd hit if I tried. I couldn't get the right angle with my sword either so I swiped my claws at the back of one of the vampires; separating muscle from spine as I gained his attention in the worst way. He screamed and fell away from the man he'd been trying to maul.
"You may be his little witch but for that, you'll die!"The vampire lurched at me.
Okay, so I wasn't a narcissist; this really was about me.
"Bring it on, gimpy!"I smirked at his left arm that hung uselessly from his ruined shoulder.
The Marines behind him may not have been faring so well, but they were still alive, and they were keeping the other two vamps busy for me so I was grateful for their help. One vampire I could handle, even two, but I hadn't counted on fighting seven. I focused back on the vamp in front of me but before he got close enough to engage, a bolt of lightning hit him, and he fell to the ground, writhing and screaming.
"Holy fried fangster!"I leapt back.
A haze of magic sealed the entrance to the alley as five forms shimmered into view. Ull, Brahma, Horus, Pan, and Finn came running toward the fight. I was never so happy to see gods in all my life. I started to race in to help them, but a large hand grabbed my shoulder and pulled me back.
"You just can't stay out of trouble, can you?"
I'd know that rumble anywhere. Hell, the lightning really should've given it away.
"Thor,"I whispered his name as I turned and the sounds of battle seemed to fade. I heard a few grunts and the soft tingle of magic crept up my back, but my eyes were all for him.
"Come with me."He started pulling me away, but I stopped him.
"Thor, wait, I—"
"I don't have time for your protests, Vervain."He bent down and swung me over his shoulder. "Sheath your blades. Now!"
I yanked the latches to pull up the claws as Thor traced us to Bilskinir. When we stepped out of the Aether, he dropped me rather roughly on his bed.