Damian's Assassin

Some vamps raced out of the hall while others crowded around them, the Black God forgotten. Still others torched the wooden chairs until a fire blazed in the back of the hall. Dusty's shout to Darian was lost in another burst of thunder. He pointed to his watch.

Suddenly, she was flung to the wet floor. Surprised, she twisted in time to see a tall form hack again and again at the Black God, whose own knife was planted in the attacker's chest. Lightning revealed Jonny's face.

"B!" he shouted, dropping beside her. He pulled the knife from his chest, tossing it on the still body of the Black God. His face was drawn and pale, his eyes wild.

"Jonny!" She flung her arms around him. His body drank her healing power. She squeezed him tight.

"I got you, B, don't worry!" he said, breathing hard. "I got you!" He shuddered as her magic worked on him and then wobbled to his feet, taking her hand. "Dusty's gonna blow this place up! We gotta go!"

"Blow it up?" she shouted above the storm, careening into him as he maneuvered around a fallen table.

"C'mon, B!"

She stopped him, heart wrenching. "Jonny, we can't leave him!"

"B, we have to go! Now!"

"No, Jonny, I-- "

He pulled her towards the dark hallway, staying close to the walls. They ducked into the hall, and she pulled away.

"Jonny, please! We have to-- "

"Bianca!" he said, shaking her. "Come with me, please! We don't have much time!"

His attention was drawn over her head, and his mouth went lax. She turned to see the hall in disarray, a mist darker than night slowly creeping through the crowd. Talon and Dusty no longer fought. Instead they searched their surroundings wildly in the light of periodic lightning and the fire at the far end of the hall. Talon knelt where Czerno had fallen and then rose, roaring in anger. His gaze turned towards the hallway.

Darian was a black hole for light and dark, both swimming around him until he appeared encapsulated by them. In the distance, she heard the familiar, unmistakable sound of an explosion. The dark mist slid to the floor and crept towards them. Vamps, chairs, the floor-- all disintegrated at its touch.

"I don't have much time," Jonny whispered. "Run to the end of this hall, then go out the double doors to the left. It'll take you outside to the west lawn. Run, B, and don't stop." He dropped her hand and started back to the hall.

"Jonny? Jonny!"

"B, go, please!" He pushed her further into the corridor, and she watched, horrified when he broke into a run, headed straight towards the dark mist.