Damian's Assassin

"Dusty!"

He turned, irritated to see Bianca held by the neck by one of Talon's vamps.

"I told you to go to the car," he said, leveling a glare on her. Her cheek was red as if she'd been struck, and there were tears on her face already. Her large eyes were fearful once again.

The others found him at the same time, and his blood ignited. He drew a deep breath, refreshed by the idea of slaughtering six bad guys at one time. The vamp holding her grinned, his eyes glowing. He placed the tip of a gun to Bianca's head.

"Tell us where the kid is or-- "

Dusty didn't let him finish. The vamp's head exploded with the first shot of his hand cannon, the bullet missing Bianca by a couple inches. He snatched her and shoved her down beside a metal dumpster. The two vamps behind the first went down with one shot each, and he grunted as the others racing down the opposite side of the alley managed to plant two rounds in him before he blasted all of them to hell.

He glanced down at the bullet holes and splashes of blood in his chest, agitated at having to change clothes so early in the day. His body rejected the bullets, and they popped out of his chest.

He'd never gone a day without silently thanking Damian for the gift of self-healing.

Pissed that his morning hadn't gone as planned, he strode forward and put another bullet in the heads of each of the vamps to ensure they weren't returned to life by their brethren. He tucked the gun away at the small of his back and looked at Bianca.

Her face was white, her eyes glassy. Dusty didn't think twice about offing anyone who posed a threat to him, and he didn't remember what it felt like to be a human who witnessed what looked like a mass murder. Naturals got over it soon enough.

"We don't have much time," he said, pulling her up.

Her whole body trembled. He fished his keys out of her pocket and hurried her towards the parking lot.

She didn't move the entire trip back to the condo, as if afraid he'd blow her head off next. Sofi would chew him out if he gave Bianca to her like she was, and he himself couldn't help but feel somewhat concerned that she'd gone unresponsive. Her beautiful eyes no longer sparkled, and he was surprised to find he felt the absence of her warmth and liveliness.

She showed no sign of life until he locked the door behind them. Only then did she woodenly move forward to the bedroom and close the door.