Lisa’s pupils expanded rapidly until nothing remained of her blue irises. It was a reaction all too familiar to Robert. Unfortunately, without the assistance of holy water in his veins, his initial reaction was too slow and uncoordinated. He flung the hot tea where Lisa’s face used to be. Her fangs were now inches from Kimberly’s neck.
Buttons clattered off the wall as Rob tore open his shirt to get at the heavy iron cross. The leather cord snapped near the knot behind his neck. The right side of the vampire’s face was the closest piece of accessible flesh.
Black smoke roiled from her high cheekbone as Rob pressed the cross firmly against the right side of her face, his left hand on the other side of her head to give him added leverage. The vampire’s high-pitched shriek felt like a dagger in the middle of his head. So strong was his hold that when she flung herself backward off Kimberly that he went with her over the table and to the middle of the room.
Rob landed first, his back burying itself in the plush maroon carpet, but physics and years of practice and practical application of hand-to-hand combat made it possible for him to end up straddled on top of the vampire’s heaving chest, her constantly flexing upper arms under his knees. He held the cross a fist’s distance from her face, one of her eyes blocked from his view. Her ability to affect his judgment was something he did not want to test further at the moment.
“Put the fangs away, lady. We’re just here to talk.”
