(1.3) A Date with Fire

Chapter 1, Part 3

When I picked him up, his eyes opened up immediately, yelling something in what I vaguely recognized as German. Instantly, a fire started burning its way up my sleeve and along my back.

I screamed. Fire and silver are two of the most lethal things to vampires in existence. It takes us a long time to heal when we’re injured by it. Needless to say… it was in my best interest to get my jacket off as quickly as possible. I jumped away from Rose, frantically tearing my jacket off as I landed.

When I was done, I had just enough time to draw my sword and turn towards my car before a lightning bolt struck me in the chest and sent me hurtling through the air. Fortunately a nearby building was kind enough to stop me after about 50 feet.

After I hit the ground I simply lay there, playing unconscious and starting to gather my will, though not enough to alert him to such. I heard him mutter some more German, feeling my entire body become suddenly constricted and seemingly weightless as I was lifted off of the ground.

Rose brought me face to face with him; the look he portrayed must’ve been what I looked like when I had just kicked someone’s ass.

I must really look like an asshole.

“Who sent you?” he said.

“A little fairy,” I said grinning. “Where did you learn to sling lightning?”

He grinned, “A little fairy.”

“I bet my fairy could kick your fairy’s ass.”

“Oh really?” he chuckled lightly to himself. “And how do you suppose he’d do that?”

“Like this,” I said, channeling magic into my will. “Aethra Manus!”

At that point, a fist of air the equivalent size of Mike Tyson’s caught him in the chin. It sent him airborne, causing him to lose his concentration on my invisible bonds and set me free.

I shouted at my fallen sword. “Gladius Ventum!” It stirred for a split second before shooting through the air towards my outstretched hand. Rose landed a second after.

There was no way that he would be able to cast in this state. The fall had apparently broken his arm and most likely his back as well. Walking over to him, I placed the tip of my sword against his neck, checking to see if he was conscious… let alone alive.

He didn’t flinch, he didn’t even breathe. The fall had killed him.

“Alrighty,” I said to myself, “Let’s see how discreet we can make this.”

I sheathed my sword and began rifling through his pockets, robbing him. Sounds wrong I know… but hey, I’m just following orders. He was carrying $300 in his wallet as well as a very nice, very expensive silver ring which I was unable to remove without using my shirt. When he was successfully robbed, I tore his clothing a little and broke his neck, making it look like someone got a bit rough during a robbery.

As I headed to my car, I picked up the remnants of my jacket, removing my wallet and badge from the pockets before depositing it into my trunk. I sighed to myself and wept inwardly at its charred and tattered state. That had been my favorite jacket. “Well,” I said to myself, placing Rose’s money in my wallet, “At least Mr. Rose can afford to get me a new one.”

I threw the car into gear and sped off, pulling out my cell phone and dialing Nick’s number. It only rang once before she answered.

“Evening James, how’s Mr. Rose?”

I could tell she was smiling. She probably knew that Rose was a mage and didn’t tell me.

“You knew he was a mage didn’t you?” I demanded.

“Maybe… but that doesn’t really matter if he’s no longer among the living now does it?”

“Not really… but for future reference, if you know someone can hand me my ass like that, please let me know.”

“Maybe,” she replied. She loves her little games one of these days I’m going to…to…

“Do what James?” She said.

I paused for a moment before responding. “I hate you,”

“No, you love me, you’re just jealous that I can read minds and you can’t.”

I paused for a moment, trying to figure out if that was something she gleaned from my mind or if she was just messing with me.

I decided it was best to just hang up on her.