***
Max waited patiently for the young half-breed to regain consciousness after taking the hard blow to the head. The blonde mortal had screamed and started to run when she saw the half-breed collapse. Max quickly had her within his grasp and dragged her back to the center of the warehouse where Cory was tied up. He turned her, so she was facing Cory, making sure she could see him as he pulled the hair back from her face. In a hoarse whisper, meant to scare her, he leaned in close to her ear, "Poor half-breed, he doesn't stand a chance, and neither do you. But I’d hate for either of you to miss the show."
Cory moaned and slowly lifted his head to see Madison in Max's grips. “Maddie!"
Madison struggled and tried to reach him, and Max only tightened his grip and laughed. Making eye contact with Cory, Max asked him, "Are you watching, half-breed? I wouldn't want you to miss this."
Cory's beast emerged as he struggled against his restraints, but he couldn’t free himself, and he looked on in horror as Max stroked Madison's neck before lowering his mouth to the pulsing vein, and slowly sinking his teeth into her.
Madison screamed and struggled. This felt nothing like when Cory fed from her. It was painful, and she could feel her life draining away. This vampire was going to kill her.
Cory struggled, calling to her, "Maddie! Please, don't hurt her. You don't have to hurt her!"
Max looked up with an evil grin, the blood dripping from his chin. “Oh, but I do, half-breed. That is the whole point."
***
Shade landed on the roof of an old building near the bay. It was dark here now, and he’d teleported slowly, staying just behind the setting sun. He looked across the bay to Alcatraz Island, and up and down the coastline. He honed his senses, trying to pick up Cory’s scent, but was only inhaling the smell of the salty air, and the fuel oil from a few tankers moored nearby. He telepathically talked to his son as he leapt from rooftop to rooftop. ”Hang on son, I am here, I’m coming, be strong. You are Medici.”
His son didn’t answer, but Shade felt his fear, like a stake through his heart, and he had no doubt Max would kill his son. Shade heard the loud caw of the large, black bird as Poe swooped down in his direction. Raven landed on the rooftop next to him.
Shade looked at Raven expectantly. “Tell me what you’ve found.”
Raven caught his breath as his long black hair was caught in the wind. “Poe has his scent. He picked it up in the city and I’ve been following him. Has Cory been able to send you anymore information?”
Shade shook his head. He couldn’t believe they must rely on a bird to save his son and his girlfriend. Poe cocked his head, looking and listening, before he took flight again, and both Shade and Raven followed, leading them further away from the city.
Poe landed on a large warehouse that looked like it was abandoned years ago. The bird pecked frantically at a rooftop skylight, making an intense racket. Raven landed beside him, as Shade signaled he was going to land on the ground. Raven squatted near the window, covered in decades of dirt, and used his hand to clear a section to allow him to peer inside the building. What he saw made his blood run cold. “Max has Cory tied to a column, middle of the building. He’s feeding from Madison.”
Shade felt his body shake as his beast emerged, his eyes now red, with intent to kill. “Get inside. You get Madison, I’ll get Cory. Max is mine.”
Shade slid along the outer wall and found a dock door that had been pried open. He looked inside to see Max holding Madison, too involved in draining her to sense any danger. Madison was struggling very little, which told him Max was close to ending her. Cory was tied to a support column and begged helplessly for Max to stop.
The next sound was that of breaking glass, as Raven dropped through the rooftop window, and landed right in front of Max. Max looked up, startled by the intrusion, and dropped Madison in a heap on the floor. Before he could respond, Shade appeared, positioning himself between Max and his son. Shade made quick eye contact with his son. His face was swollen, his mouth bleeding from a busted lip. The blood dripped from his hands from his struggles with the ropes, as they cut into his wrists.
Shade and Raven moved at once as Max took a stand against them, his beast ready for battle. Max’s eyes glowed red in the darkened warehouse, and it didn’t take him long to see the imposing outline of Shade. He dropped into a crouch, ready to pounce. The time for playing was over.
Shade pulled the sword from the sheath on his back as he hissed, "This night, you die, you black bastard. A half-breed and a mortal? You fucking coward! "
Shade swung the sword, aiming for the throat, but Max catapulted himself over Shade’s head. Shade spun, with shuriken’s flying, and instantly smelled blood as they hit their target. Shade pulled another sword from the sheath on his back and attacked. Max was armed with only a blade and was no match for the swords that were wielded, so expertly against him. The two flipped and rolled, in a game of cat and mouse, but each strike left its mark on Max, as his blood left a path across the dusty floor.
Raven kept an eye on Shade’s progress, but quickly moved to pick Madison up and move her away from the fight. He stood over her, legs spread, and sword drawn, waiting to help if his master needed him.
Poe flew through the broken window and went straight to Cory, where he began to methodically peck at the ropes until Cory was freed. Cory wanted to run to Madison, but his instincts told him to stay still and clear of the battle. He dropped to his knees and tried to follow the fight to the death that was taking place in front of him. The battle between the two master warriors was moving so fast it was hard for Cory to distinguish the action. He felt the hot blood splatter across his face, and prayed it was Max's blood and not his dad’s.
Dust and debris fell down around them, and the floor began to crack, like an earthquake had hit the building, as the two warriors battled nonstop. Shade felt the slice of his opponent’s knife in his arm, as he spun away. In the fraction of a second that the wound distracted him, Max used the diversion to go for Cory. If he couldn’t defeat the Medici, he’d at least take his son.
***
Kate knew the babies were safe and retreated to their bedroom, shutting the door behind her. She cleared her head and focused all her attention on Shade. She couldn’t follow him, because her duty to the coven was here, but she could stay linked to him telepathically. She’d feel what he felt. She knew they’d found Max, thanks to the guidance from Poe and she sent the bird her gratitude. She felt the encounter between the two masters, as they battled to the death, and Kate knew only one of them would walk away from this tonight. She paced the floor, her heart pounding, and she sent him her strength. She felt the sharp pain across her own arm and knew Shade had been wounded. She dropped to her knees as her beast emerged, and the roar that escaped her shook the house.
Shade felt the energy of his mate’s beast merge with his own, as he leapt skyward, both swords drawn as he came down on top of Max, slicing through both shoulders as he dismembered him. Max dropped instantly to his knees in front of Cory and they locked eyes. Cory's eyes turned red and his fangs punched as he growled. "Die, bastard!"
Shade swung the sword with his right hand in a wide arc, slicing cleanly through his rival’s neck. The power of the sword sent Max’s head into the air, spinning over and over, as his body collapsed in a heap. His beast was not sated, and continued to mutilate the headless body as the blood gushed like a river under his booted feet. He was covered in blood, skin and bone, and yet, he didn’t stop. His beast was out of control.