Things had progressed in Seramanc, not necessarily in the direction she expected or wanted but she now knew without a doubt that someone or some group is responsible for the trouble in the city.
She?d been moving through the alleys of the city, going back to the townhouse after a meeting in a club, she was still playing the part of party girl so when she heard the movement behind her she pretended she didn?t. She paused at the end of an alley, leaning out to look up and down the road, one hand curling around the corner of the building while the other was set on her hip. The picture of a socialite who was playing at being part of the dark, rather dangerous under tow of the city, not knowing or understanding the consequences.
A figure moved up the main road and she took a half step back into the darkness of the alley, after all it would ruin her reputation to be seen out in this area. When the figure turned and walked toward where she was standing she took another step back, right into a cold, hard, object that shouldn?t have been there.
Her eyes narrowed for a second but by the time she turned around both were opened wide in surprise. ?Oh, excuse me. I am so sorry.? Her voice raised a little, a ruined reputation was nothing compared to the dark man she?d backed into, or his companions.
Large hands lowered onto and dug into her shoulders, making her wince a little. ?You do not belong here.? The statement was obvious, the tone menacing, the actual message very clear to her.
Still wide eyed she leaned back and looked at the others in fear, ?I beg your pardon, I will leave.?
The fingers tightened on her shoulders, ?Yes, you will.?
When the others moved to block her in, she knew they weren?t going to take her anywhere and that she wouldn?t leave the alley. The corner of her mouth ticked up a little as she again looked at the man holding her. ?Who are you??
He missed the subtle change in her stance, he was too focused on his job, already taken by the insanity that often marked these cases. Kate knew exactly what the report would say, she was attacked and killed by a band of Kindred who had succumbed to the madness that was infecting the city.
She slid her hands up his chest and smiled again, ?Could you escort me home please? I?m afraid I got lost, I?m not from here and the streets are not well marked.? As she spoke she leaned into him a little, one hand wrapping around him and brushing down his back to his hip. ?I would be very grateful.?
His fingers twitched and he hesitated, it was only a few ticks, a few seconds but she took the advantage and moved quickly, her fingers curling around the gun these types always had under an arm, not even bothering to take it out of the holster, simply turning it into his chest and firing.
The effect was instant, he roared, released her shoulders and stumbled back. She watched him long enough to determine if he was a threat, then turned toward the others, her knife out. ?Salve boys, shall we??
There wasnt? going to be any mercy, she couldn?t afford for them to go back and tell tales, the second biggest was targeted first, she stabbed one of the smaller ones in the neck as she moved toward him. She knew where to slide the knife in, into the stomach and up toward the sternum, then she smiled at him, kissed his cheek and pressed the button that released the nitro into his body. As he fell she was moving her fingers around his body looking for his weapons.
Her fingers curled around a gun and she rolled her eyes (m) ?What is it with these guys and guns? It?s always guns.? The other were finally coming out of the shock of seeing how she had just killed one of their allies when she turned and started firing. Those who were left weren?t the best of the best and she took care of them fairly quickly. One who had stayed near the back, didn?t have a gun and got in a few good licks with his knife as she took care of his friend.
It was the first one she?d taken down, the one she?d shot with his own gun that got the best hit on her. He was carrying a second, smaller gun, and when she turned to finish him off he fired, twice. He was in enough pain that she was only grazed in the side and the arm but it was enough to piss her off.
She took care of that last one, shook her head and moved back down the alley, away from the main road. She?d take the darker, back streets to the townhouse.
As distracted as she?d been, she did notice that the figure who?d started it all, who had moved toward her in the alley, had disappeared without a trace.