Chapter 24A Swift Force

Defiantly he looked at us, watching me and Khuna for our reactions. I was mostly surprised that a strange guy, old-ish, knew her name. But there was something about him that made my skin crawl.

Not in a good way.

Khuna just stood there, shivering as if she wanted to run away any moment. She felt tense, very tense. There was something strange about how she looked at him. Not with fear exactly, but an incredible disgust. I had no idea what was going on, but I decided to let it play.

"Good to see you've found a friend Khuna. Pity you'll have to leave her and come with us." His voice again calm and cool. Cold even.

"No. I'm not like you." She spoke with barely contained anger.

"Do you have a choice?" He stood in the doorway, mocking her.

"I do."

Khuna dashed forward and time seemed to slow down as my senses picked up on her speed. She moved quicker then I'd ever seen her do, but my eyes could follow her like it was normal. I saw her arm moving to punch him in the side of his ribs, a blow meant to hurt. I saw him move his arm to block her punch and seemed to do so without even flinching. He blocked her and moved his other hand to push her, hitting her on her chest and sending her falling backwards against the bit machines. She folded back over them and panted, her eyes looking for me.

"Run. He's a killer." Her voice filled with her pain.

I couldn't run, I was angry. Very angry.

He hurt Khuna. The person who meant the most to me. Who protected me against the animal inside of me, learning to avoid the glorious kill. I was scared of him but most of all I was angry. Angry that he treated her so unfairly. I became aware of every muscle and nerve in my body, sharp senses, everything clear. I knew what I could do, knew what I should do. My eyes looking straight at him with nothing but my fury.

"Don't even try." He spoke calmly, seeing my glance. "You won't have a chance."

But I moved.

Instincts I never knew guided me. Moving as Khuna did I started the same punch, hoping he'd see it as a foolish move and act the same. I moved faster though and saw his block coming. It gave me the time to adjust my blow and avoid his block. All my new-found strength in that one terrible blow.

I noticed the surprise on his face as he crashed through the glass and the door frame, moving back with a slight arc all across the street where a brick wall was kind enough to stop his momentum. I turned around, wanting to help Khuna up but she was already standing, holding one hand against her back and just looking at me with a mixture of fear and surprise.

"How did?" But she shook her head, getting a grip on herself. She looked at the unconscious guy on the opposite side of the street and walked out of the store. A little red light on the ceiling near the door probably signaled the alarm having gone off. He did break quite a bit of the door and the frame. Well... I did.

"Leaving." Khuna spoke bluntly and dragged me outside, moving along the street and around a corner, pointing up. She looked around to make sure no security camera's would be able to see us and jumped up almost to the roof, having to climb the last bit in another leap.

I leaped as well, noticing my body was still very much fueled by the adrenaline rush from before. I reached the roof in a single, controlled, leap.

It felt good. Close to flying.

We walked the roofs and jumped from one to the other. The jumps weren't that far and we didn't move that fast. It seems the guy wasn't inclined to follow us. And as my rush gently subsided into more manageable levels I really wanted to know what just happened.

"Who was he?" I asked.

Khuna stayed silent for another jump until she finally answered. "Kryss."

I frowned. "That isn't helpful. Who's Kryss? I've heard you talk about him before but who or what is he?"

Khuna sighed. "I..." She sighed again. "Sorry. He's someone who's created a group of vampires that like to kill with him. Mostly boys I think, same age as him or younger."

She paused. "He... He thinks it's betraying your heritage if you don't kill when you feed."

I nodded. "You called him a killer."

"That he is, and worse." She shivered a we took another jump. "He's killed our kin too."

She meant vampires. I guess it was too horrible to plainly say it. Killing vampires. It made a dark thought enter my head.

'Would it be alright if I killed him... Would that be a crime or punishment.'

Khuna felt silent again and I decided not to disturb her any further. We crossed the rooftops for a while until we entered the industrial district, where it was too difficult. Back on the streets we kept looking back, making sure no one was following us. But we weren't sure. It was so hard to be sure.

Only when we were back on the streets Khuna spoke. "How did you do it? Hit him."

I shrugged. "I honestly don't know. I just felt I could do it and moved. No thoughts, just instinct."

In my head I added 'Because I wanted to protect you.'

Khuna smiled warmly. "Thank you."

We walked towards home, wondering what the night would bring.