Page 87 of Good Vampires Go to Heaven

Regina was about to leave and secure the catacomb entrances when Cnut deliberately feinted with his sword, pretending to aim right, but actually going left.

Hector deflected the sword with his shield, spun on his heels in a skillful move, and made a sweeping arc with his own sword, which sliced across Cnut’s chest. To her surprise, and delight, Cnut was wearing body armor underneath . . . thick padding which prevented what would have been a heart-stopping blow.

Surprised, Hector was caught off guard when Cnut immediately countered with a head butt that knocked the Roman back, sending him to the ground. His shield slipped from his fingers, and he struggled to adjust the sword in his other hand. Too late! Cnut knocked the high haakai’s weapon aside with his foot.

But instead of ending Hector’s demon vampire life in one pierce of the sword tip through his evil heart, Cnut slashed off one of the Centurion’s arms.

Hector screamed.

“That is for all the Christians you sent to the lions.”

Then Cnut cut off the other arm.

Hector screamed again.

“And that is for all the innocent Hebrews you slew in your marches through Judea.”

Holding his sword by the hilt with both hands, Cnut slammed it down on Hector’s genitals.

Hector only groaned now.

“And that is for all the women you raped and tortured. Men, too, you evil sod!”

Hector opened his reddened eyes and spat at Cnut. “I will fuck you in Hell, too, one day, Viking. That I promise.”

“I. Don’t. Think. So!” Cnut said, pulling his bloody sword out of Hector’s body, then thrusting it through his heart, pinning him to the ground.

Closing his eyes, Cnut seemed to be saying a prayer. Then said aloud, glancing around the battleground, “It is done!”

Within ten minutes, just as the police and news media were screeching onto the scene, Cnut and the vangels gathered together. They’d cleaned up the perimeter as much as they could. The only things remaining were piles of slime. Lots of piles. Which should have the authorities puzzled for a long time to come. Not to mention an occasional water pistol. How would they explain those?

The injured vangels had already been picked up and taken via teletransport to the Grand Key Island hospital. The dead ones rested in Tranquility by now, bless their souls.

“Let us thank the Lord for our victory today,” Cnut told them all. Then he shouted, “To Horror!”

The vangels immediately began to disappear as they teletransported to the last and undoubtedly biggest mission of their vampire angel lives. It wouldn’t be the final battle of good against evil in this world. There was still Armageddon to come someday. But it would be the biggest to date.

Zeb came up and took Regina’s hand.

“Are you ready?”

He was panting for breath.

She was, too, and not totally from the exertions of war.

“You have no idea,” she said.

Just before Cnut melded into the stratosphere, he passed Regina and Zeb and remarked, “Holy clouds! I miss my wife. I can almost smell Andrea’s cinnamon buns.”

Zeb chuckled. “I’m thinking about buns, too.”

Not to be outdone, Regina said, “Me, I’m in the mood for rain.”

It was a good day.

So far.

Chapter 18