Christian took out a pair of binoculars. âI make out two vamps upstairs. Counting the two in the kitchen, that makes at least four. Obviously, there could be more than that,â He whispered.
âIf you go in the back, then you might be able to surprise the ones upstairs,â Sam said to Christian.
âIâm ready, Dad,â Donovan said, âJohn and I can take the two on the first floor, while you and Uncle Sam head up to the second floor.â
Sam chuckled. âYeah, I donât think thatâs a good idea.â Christian considered for a moment.
âDonovan, youâre with me. Weâll take the top floor. John and Uncle Sam will take the first. Sam and John will throw their garlic grenades, and weâll breach the back door after we hear them go off. That will confuse them and make it hard for them to react. You have been practicing your throwing, right?â
Sam, John, and Donovan nodded.
Christian and Donovan swept around the side of the house. Apparently, there were a couple more windows on the other side, which made for a good entry point.
âAll right, John, are you ready?â Sam asked, shouldering his weapon. âHuh, sure, I guess I am, sir,â He answered. His hands were shaking. âLook, these are probably very young vamps, so follow my lead and donât shoot anything unless I ask you to. If you do shoot at anything, make sure Iâm nowhere near it. This is a training mission. Got it?â
âSir.â
âAnd stop calling me that when we Hunt. Out here, weâre brothers.â Sam grunted as he crouched and stepped toward the front of the house.
âYes, sââ John began, then caught himself. He followed Sam. They hid under the bay window facing the kitchen. John felt his heart racing. Time seemed to slow as he shivered.
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On Samâs signal, John got out his garlic grenade, and they threw them in after Sam counted down from three. They were rewarded with the sound of shattered glass, then two loud bangs, a flash of light, and a garlic smell. They soon heard a crash from the back of the house, but Sam and John were already in the kitchen, ready to shoot.
The two vampires in the kitchen choked and swung wildly. They bared their sharp teeth as they coughed. John watched as Sam caressed the trigger and an arrow released from the crossbow.
It pierced the vampireâs heart. The vampire cried out and exploded into dust.
Sam jumped through the window and quickly ran across the room, where the other vampire was starting to get focused again.
It swung a wild left at Sam, who blocked with his right arm and answered with his left fist. It connected with the vampireâs jaw. Somehow, a wooden stake had snaked its way into Samâs hand, and his sword was in the other. John just stood there, dumbfounded.
The vampire pulled out his own machete and slashed at Sam, who sidled backwards until his back hit the stove. He turned around and nearly vomited as he saw what was boiling in the massive pot: blood. He turned to face the vampire again.
Sam scored a cut on the vampireâs upper thigh with his sword, and the creature cried out as his leg sizzled. The vampire began swinging wildly with his machete, trying to keep Sam away.
âShoot any time, now, John!â Sam shouted, giving himself some distance away from the vampire.
John had almost forgotten he had a crossbow with him. He quickly raised his crossbow and shot at the vampire. The arrow missed completely. Fortunately, the arrow distracted the vampire enough that he turned to face John. John stepped back in fear.
At that moment, Sam took his sword and chopped off the arm that was holding the machete, and the vampire howled in pain. His snake eyes flashed hate, and he swung at Sam with his one arm.
Sam leaned back and struck downward. The other arm fell, flopping wildly on the floor. Sam rushed in and staked the heart as he almost simultaneously lopped off the vampireâs head. The creature crumbled into dust.
âKitchen clear!â Sam shouted. Sam and John quickly restocked their arrows, checked all closets, and rushed through the dining area and up a narrow stairwell in the back of the house. John and Christian were finishing off the last vampire as they reached the second floor.
âClear,â Christian said after his sword sliced off the creatureâs head in a smooth, diagonal motion. John and Donovan looked at each other, breathing hard.