Page 91 of Bound by Vengeance
“Nathan!” Vicky screamed when he grunted.“No!”
Fury shook her to the core as one of theSavage’s reared back to sink its fangs into Nathan’s neck. Shepulled her arm back and drove it into the monster’s mouth, knockingits teeth down its throat before it could bite Nathan.
Nathan swung his head back, battering theSavage’s chin and then reaching behind him with one hand. He snakedhis arm around the vampire’s head and yanked it to the side beforetossing the thrashing creature aside.
Turning, Nathan stepped into Vicky, keepingher secured against the wall with his back as another Savage lungedat him. When the vamp reared back to strike, Nathan plunged hisstake into its throat at the same time he smashed his fist into theSavage’s chest. Breaking through flesh and bone, he grasped thecreature’s pounding heart as it reeled away from him. The vamp’sheart remained in his hand when it fell backward.
“Go!” Brian shouted when the Savagespouncing on the man created an opening behind them. “Go!”
Nathan clutched Vicky’s hand and turned tofollow Asher and Logan back the way they’d come. They raced intothe darkness, leaving behind the chattering Savages, but drawingforth those who didn’t have a meal to occupy them.
“Keep running,” Nathan said to Vicky.
He nudged her forward before falling back torun with Brian as Brian pushed Abby ahead of him. Duncan surgedpast them, racing toward the front.
“Follow me,” Duncan commanded when he tookthe lead from Logan and Asher.
Their feet slapped against the concrete asthe guttural cries of the Savages chasing them echoed over thewalls. Duncan’s flashlight flicked on; he led them unerringlythrough the tunnels.
“The children!” Vicky gasped. “We have toget the children and Sister out of here!”
Duncan took such a sharp right that Asherskidded past the tunnel opening before regaining his footing andturning to pursue Duncan and Logan. They traversed so many twistsand turns, Nathan had no idea where they were until they shovedpast the blanket and into the home Sister and Duncan had createdfor the children.
Most of the children were sleeping, but theones awake gawked at them when they burst into the room. “We haveto go!” Duncan said brusquely.
“What?” Sister asked as she put down herbook and rose with Elmo at her side.
“Go! We have to gonow!” Duncanshouted.
The wildness of his eyes propelled them intoaction. When Elmo started filling a bag, Duncan pulled it away fromhim. “There’s no time.”
The color faded from Elmo’s face as some ofthe sleeping children stirred. Duncan bent and scooped one of theyounger ones into his arm before turning to lift another. “You mustbe quiet,” he commanded when one questioned what was happening, andthe other started crying. “We’re going to play a game, and only theones who don’t speak can win.”
The crying child sniffled but held back histears as the other little girl stopped speaking.
“How bad is it?” Sister June asked as shegazed beyond them to the blanket.
“Not bad at all,” Vicky said with a falselyupbeat smile.
“Okay, good,” Sister replied, and Vicky knewshe understood death was coming for them.
Vicky turned to Elmo. “You’re not going tolike this, but you have to let one of us carry you.”
“No way, I’m fast—”
“You’re not as fast as us,” Vicky said.“We’re older and stronger.”
When this was over, they’d have to changethe children’s memories, but first, they had to get them out ofhere. Elmo opened his mouth to protest, but Sister steppedforward.
“Let Brian carry you,” Sister commanded in atone that radiated her power of persuasion.
A blank look came into Elmo’s eyes, and henodded. Brian lifted Elmo while Vicky picked up April and theothers all gathered a child into their arms.
“This way,” Duncan said and led them intothe smoke tunnel.
Behind them, a howl erupted as the Savage’scaught their scent again. The smoke would help cover their trail,but with only one other way out, the monsters would know wherethey’d gone.
CHAPTER 40
