“Damm you Malachi.” I muttered, “Raphael said surveillance only, we’re not here to fight.”

Malachi didn’t answer, a large black panther now stood on the roof beside me, its tail swishing from side to side, teeth bared in a silent snarl. “If you go down there now the whole street will see you. “ I hissed through clenched teeth. “Do you want to expose us?”

The rush of air as Malachi jumped past me was my only answer. He landed silently in the square below, his black fur blending in perfectly with the shadows. Thank God for the rain I thought, the humans were all too preoccupied to notice what had just landed in their midst. The two that did notice were most defiantly were not human. The vampires had caught Malachi’s scent; I could see the blood lust in their eyes. Cursing I launched myself off the roof, landing with cat-like grace behind them. “Two against one “I said, drawing a knife from my boot.” That’s not very friendly.”

Malachi growled in warning. Too late I registered movement at the edge of my vision and suddenly I was on the floor fighting for breath. A pair of army-style boots stepped into sight and a hand shot out, gripping my throat and pulling me to my feet. Panic seeped through me as the grip tightened cutting off my breathing.

“Three against two.” The vampire’s voice was silky smooth and cold as ice. He smiled, showing pointed teeth and wound his free hand in my hair, yanking my head back to expose my throat. I reached up to pry his fingers from my neck, but his grip was like iron.  From further away I could hear Malachi’s growls punctuated by grunts of pain. I hoped he was having more luck than I was. It had been years since I’d been caught off guard. If I lived through this I’d take it out of Malachi’s hide.

The vampire pulled me against him and I gasped in pain as his fangs pierced my skin. My fingers tightened around the knife and I brought it sharply upward, aiming for his heart.  The blade bounced off a rib and raked across his chest, the wound healing too quickly to even bleed. Annoyance flickered in his eyes as he shoved me backwards. I hit the ground, hard, the air knocked from my lungs. The creature moved forward and stood over me, ready to deliver the killer blow.  I kicked out, catching him squarely in the knee and just managed to roll out of the way as he fell heavily, a howl of rage tearing from his throat. The vampire lunged toward me again, knocking me back against the ground, teeth snapping inches from my face.  There was a sickening crunch and the next thing I knew his body was slumped lifeless over mine.