Jack's eyes flashed open. He had no time to think of the impossibility of his fast reaction. He only knew that he'd caught Matt's wrist just in time, holding it steady as the human used all his muscle and weight to drive the stake deeper, trying to force it to Jack's heart.
But Jack had no problem holding him back. He looked up at Matt's face, pink and straining with effort. Then he heard Benson scream.
Out of the corner of his eye, he saw her rushing to the couch. She started pulling on Matt. "Get off him! Matt, get off him!"
But Jack held him fast. Suddenly, he gave a jerk, and the bones in Matt's wrist snapped like twigs. Matt screamed. Jack released his hold and Matt flew onto the floor, his useless hand taking the stake along with him. But his impact with Benny toppled her backwards over the coffee table.
"Benson!" Jack swung around, planting his feet on the floor.
She pulled herself up on her elbows, and her eyes widened. Matt was reaching for the stake with his other hand, the one that still worked. But Jack was quicker.
He kicked the stake away. Then he reached down, grabbed Matt, and threw him across the room. Matt hit the top of the love seat and sailed on over it, then skidded across the floor, only coming to a stop when he crashed up against the far wall.
Jack reached a hand down to Benny. "Are you OK?"
Benny looked up at him from beside the coffee table. Strands of her long hair lay every which way; the short skirt had slid even further up her thighs. Her eyes were wide and wild like a frightened animal when she looked from his waiting hand to his face. She raised her hand slowly to accept his, but he didn't give her time.
Instead, he grabbed her and jerked her up on her feet. She stumbled against him and his arms went around her, steadying her. He didn't smell her blood, but there was no doubt she'd have bruises and scrapes. He let go of her and shot a seething look across the room to the man curled up on the floor. Bruises and scrapes were far less than what her boyfriend was going to get.
Benson tugged on him, causing him to glance back down at her. She'd burst into tears, pulling his shirt up to look at the hole in his chest. "Oh god, oh god," she wailed, wiping at the small amount of blood. It was already congealing. Brushing her hands away, he turned his attention back to the other side of the room.
Jack saw flashes of red. After the initial shock of being attacked by Benny's date, all of his senses felt primed and ready to go. There was no more nausea, no headache, and no weakness. He was just ready to do more damage.
"Wait, Jack, wait." Benny took his arm from behind, trying to stop his advance. "Jack, please, stop."
Jack didn't stop.
Benson held onto him, trying to hold him back with all her might, but he just dragged her with him across the hardwood floor. Despite her pleading, he only paused when he was standing directly over Matt, who was moaning and shaking on the floor.
Jack glared down. "I should kill you. If I was fully vampire, you'd be dead already."
Jack finally realized Benson was still clutching his arm, and he shook her off easily. His gaze returned to the injured man at his feet.
"Maybe you thought you were doing a good thing here tonight, or maybe this is a way for you to play hero on your internet forums. I don't give a damn. But you used Benny to get to me, and that pisses me off."
Matt was crying softly, holding onto his broken wrist, his breathing labored. He tried to sit up a couple times, but couldn't make it.
I probably broke some ribs and who knows what else with that toss, Jack thought, satisfied.
A red mist winded its way through his vision, and he took a few deep breaths. He crouched down over Matt, who cowered further away. Jack liked the power that was rushing through him-the awakening strength and energy.
"Benny's begging for your life, so I'll let you go. Keep me off your website, and don't send anyone around me or my family. Come near any of us again, and I won't be so gentle. Understand what I'm saying?"
Matt just groaned and twitched on the floor.
Jack grabbed him by the throat and hauled him up so his feet were inches from the floor. It was like lifting a kitten. Oh yeah, the vampire strength was returning, and it felt great.
"Am I clear or not?"
"Y-yes," Matt choked out.
Jack dropped him back to the floor. Matt grunted and crumpled into a heap on impact. His hand went to his throat. He coughed and sucked in air.
"Good. Now get out of here before I change my mind and kill you slowly and painfully."
The idea appealed to Jack a lot, and he thought that should have bothered him. But it didn't.
He glanced over at Benny. She was standing a few feet away, her light brown eyes huge and filled with tears, hands over her mouth in shock. But he felt nothing at that moment except the desire to kick some ass.
He turned back to the man at his feet. Jack didn't know if true vampire slayers existed-people with superhuman strength and ability. He'd never encountered one before. But Matt sure as hell wasn't anything but plain ol' human.
Matt, holding an arm across his ribs, struggled to get to his feet again. Impatient, Jack leaned over, grabbed his arm, and started dragging him toward the door.
Benny found her voice, but it was garbled with tears. "I don't think he can walk, much less drive himself, Jack."
"He better. Cause if he's still on my property in two minutes, I'm gonna rip him apart piece by piece."
Jack yanked open the door, slung Matt over his shoulder, and carried him out to the black S10 where he dumped Matt behind the driver's seat. He reached in past the quivering man and started the truck. Then he shut the door and leaned against it, his hands draped casually across the open window.
Matt's body shook; he looked as if he was trying to get control of himself. "G-give me a minute. Can't shift with my right hand."
"You're not gonna have a right hand if you don't leave now."
Matt suddenly found a way to drive, because he threw the truck in gear and peeled out, screeching at the corner and disappearing into the darkness of the countryside.
* * *
Kim returned later that night, her mood bright, the tiredness visibly relieved from her eyes.
This is encouraging, Jack thought when he opened the kitchen door. "I take it the meeting went well with the good doctor?"
