The Beasts of Baye Road

Paranoia

‘Oh, Blanca relax! You didn’t even bring me my cupcakes and now you’re talking nonsense.’ Gianna broke free of Blanca's hold.

Blanca and Gianna tucked themselves under a tree in the park. The streets were getting busy and the park was filling up with wanderers.

‘I’m being serious Gianna, they know you’re here now.’

‘Geez, they were going to find out eventually. I hope this means I get to leave Kathleen’s cottage.’

‘What do you mean?’ Blanca looked behind her, two men walked down the street.

‘I told you she was acting weird. She doesn’t want me to leave my room anymore. She doesn’t want to see me. She called Anneska and demanded she come over. They had a screaming match!’

‘She sounds paranoid.’

‘She is. I snuck out of my room and I heard their conversation. Kathleen told Anneska to hand me over that she couldn’t keep me anymore.’

‘Hand you over to who? The Guardians?’

Gianna shook her head. ‘No! Stop interrupting me. Anneska told her she needed more time because she thought someone was following her.’

‘We shouldn’t have come here Gianna. It’s getting dangerous. A beast attacked me outside the mansion.’

‘What? Why didn’t you tell me!’

‘Nothing happened, the guardians saved me.’

‘And you still don’t trust them? We have to tell them I’m here Blanca those monsters could have killed you. Kathleen doesn’t want me anyway.’

‘I do trust them Anneska doesn’t. I don’t think there’s a traitor in the guardians the traitor must be someone else.’

‘We need to talk to her then.’

Blanca didn’t know how she’d tell Matteo the truth. She didn’t want to see the look on his face when he found out the truth.

Blanca nodded, they didn’t want to waste time. They had to get to Anneska. When they girls took a close look around them, they were surrounded by people. Reds eyes and pale skinned people filled the park. Blanca could see the market filled with people yelling and kicking stands.

‘Vampires everywhere.’ Gianna grabbed her sister’s hand.

‘You need to get out of here.’ Blanca whispered.

‘We both need to get out of here! Blanca you’re more likely to get ripped to shreds than me.’

Blanca bit her lip. None of them had spotted them yet. A man picked up a bin and lunched it at a*****e. The window caved in and other strigoi dove through the window. Gianna and Blanca walked hand in hand through the street, praying they wouldn’t be spotted. The vampires concentrated on destroying the abandoned stands and stores.

‘Why are they doing this?’ Gianna whispered.

‘Hey! Get in! Are you guys crazy?’ Kyla yelled from the window.

Susanna opened the door quickly and ushered them in. Kyla and Susanna pushed a heap of junk in front of the door. They hang old sheets over the windows.

‘What’s going on?’ Blanca asked.

‘The vampires have gone crazy! They’re rioting either the guardians leave Baye Road or they destroy it!’ Susanna exclaimed.

‘That’s stupid!’ Gianna exclaimed.

Susanna crossed her arms and nodded.

‘They just want action. They’d do a better job than the guardians anyway.’ Kyla said.

‘What? Didn’t you hear a scratch from the beasts is enough to kill a vampire? The guardians managed to run off one beast yesterday? The vampires wouldn’t be much difference. The guardians might be wounded but they’re our only hope.’

‘Blanca’s right Kyla! Do you not see the crazy blood suckers out there! They’re taking advantage of the situation to finally take over Baye Road! Ugh, so much better being a witch.’

Roars came from outside, something heavy smashed into the door causing the girls to running to the counter. The door stood firm despite the hammering. A rock flew in through the window, knocking the sheet off the wall.

Angry blazing eyes glared at them. The rest of the window came off, the vampires threw themselves into the tiny window.

‘Get back!’ Susanna stretched her hand and the two vampires trying to enter the store slammed into the pavement.

‘This isn’t good.’ Blanca said.

***

Matteo and Karl marched into the market. Vampires hurled items at windows, groceries littered the streets. The park was full of raging strigoi, climbing on benches and hanging from trees.

‘Shit.’ Karl spat.

Matteo grabbed a strigoi running at him by the need and threw him across the road. Heads snapped in their direction. Fangs flashed their way.

It was a hundred to two but Karl and Matteo weren’t fazed. Matteo relished the idea of smashing a few strigoi.

‘Guardians!’

‘They’re dead!’

Matteo smirked. ‘We’ll see about that.’

Matteo's claws connected with an onrushing strigoi, Karl’s boot sent a another one to the ground. Together they ripped out necks and broke bones, they were outnumbered but the strigoi were out matched.

Matteo grabbed a strigoi trying to climb into a*****e window. He held him by his collar midair. Karl pinned a vampire to the ground and held another one in the air by his neck.

‘Enough! What the hell do you idiots think you’re doing?!’ Matteo barked, the sound of his wolf vibrated through the market.

The crowd was quiet. He grumbled and tossed the vampire on the pavement. His bones crackled.

‘We want you out!’

Matteo turned to Karl who rolled his eyes.

‘You idiots can’t even take the two of us. I wonder what makes you think you can take care of the town!’

‘The locals don’t trust them either.’ Matteo mused.

‘You werewolves can’t protect them! The beasts are only multiplying! You weak dogs!’

Karl threw the vampire he gripped by the neck and kicked the one at his feet.

‘Get lost! All of you!’ Karl barked.

The vampires dwindled, their faces held challenges.

‘Go! Get lost!’ Matteo’s eyes transformed to hellish yellow, his claws threatened to rip them in two.

The vampires scattered like flies, leaving behind dismembered parts of their kin.

‘Oh! I’ve never been happier to see the guardians.’ The feminine voice came from behind them, in the butchery.

Matteo spotted Blanca emerge behind the counter. He abandoned the street and rushed inside. Three other girls came out from behind the counter. Matteo didn’t care what they would think he took Blanca in his arms and pressed her body against his. It took her a few seconds to wrap her arms around his waist.

‘What are you doing here?’ He whispered into her hair.

He caught glimpses of the other girl’s raised eye brows and knowing grin.

‘Is this your sister Blanca?’ Karl pointed at Gianna.

‘It depends on who’s asking!’ Gianna raised her chin.

‘Gianna please. We should leave.’ Blanca grabbed her sister’s hand and Matteo grabbed hers.

Blanca's heart ran a marathon, she didn’t want to expose Gianna. She had to get her sister out of there but Blanca didn’t know where to take her. The guardians would surely find out at the Manor and Kathleen’s didn’t seem like a great idea.

If only she could confer with Anneska.

‘We should all get out of here. You girls are welcome to take refuge at the Manor. There’s no telling whether the strigoi will return.’ Matteo said.

Susanna smiled and was about to accept Matteo’s gracious offer when Kyla gripped her hand.

‘No, as you can see we have a lot to clean up.’ Kyla narrowed her eyes at Matteo.

‘But Kyla!’ Susanna whispered.

‘Thank you, anyway.’ Kyla offered him a pressed smile.

Karl rolled his eyes and marched out of the butchery first. Blanca still held on to Gianna's hand. Matteo tugged on her arm and guided her out.

‘Relax Blanca, everything’s going to be okay.’

‘I’m not so sure Gianna. I have a bad feeling things will only get worse.’ Blanca whispered.