Canyons of Steel – Valley of the Damned Pt. 4

The bullets were starting to pile up. Walker and Annie were hunkered down behind a makeshift bunker as they were forced to retreat into a small storage area. However, they managed to push back the largest wave of soldiers and keep firing. Every so often, one soldier would become brave enough to try and come up to an area close to their flank. This only served to be a futile effort, as Annie’s keen sights always managed to find the target. This also added to the growing stockpile of weapons and ammunition that Walker and Annie were using. As John would often say there’s no such thing as a Hollywood clip, but there’s unlimited resources b’hind enemy lines.

Annie looked to Walker as the gun fire from the opposite side was starting to lessen. Not that they weren’t being effective, but Annie could sense a retreat. Walker popped up just enough to see soldiers crawling back deeper into the sewers. “What the hell’s goin’ on?”

“No idea, Sir.”

And suddenly, the gun fire ended completely. If there were crickets, they would be the loudest thing in those sewers. Neither of them moved, sensing that someone or something was soon to make an appearance. And they weren’t disappointed.

From the safety of the bunker, the pair could hear the struggles of a person being held firmly as they attempted to escape. There was a soft laugh and what sounded like a whisper followed by a grunt of pain. Walker reloaded his rifle and began to climb out from behind the safety of the bunker. And came face to face with the Hauptmann herself. But this was different. They’d expected a fight, but not hostages. Hauptmann Yar’ow held a small figure in a tight grip, her arm around the smaller woman’s throat. Walker could tell this woman was not from anywhere he’d ever been before. She had similar features to Yar’ow, the elven tipped ears, the tight muscle frame in a lithe body. But he also knew she was not a vampire like Yar’ow was either. And Alow had her in a locked grip, weilding a knife next to the woman’s temple.

Annie followed suit, holding up her Berrettas on the elven vampire. This could get ugly.

“Comin’ out nice an’ easy, aye,” the elf laughed. “Good, I wanna see yer eyes.” She grinned maniacally as her fangs hung low and menacing, close to the woman’s neck. “Ye’ve been a Weaver in the side o’ the Heritage Front since ye took up in Palo Duro. Stoppin’ shipments, takin’ out soldiers. Shame, they were well trained men an’ a loss fer the ‘Ighest.”

“Well, I ain’t been one ta abide by the Highest’s so called doctrine,” Walker replied as he trained the rifle on the elf. She was starting to back up, dragging the smaller woman with her.

“I’d put down the ordinance if I were ye,” Yar’ow instructed as she ran the tip of the blade she held along the woman’s abdomen. In a quick gesture, she laughed and ran her tongue along the woman’s neck. “Tastey. Ye know what it’s like. Need ta feed e’ery so often. An’ elven blood makes fer a good mix. Never know, I may turn this one. But no’ yet. Right now, she’s a bargainin’ chip.”

“You mean a shield,” Annie spoke up. Walker could sense her ire rising inside his partner. She was none too pleased with the display, and could see how hard she gripped her pistols.

“Annie,” Walker warned, then turned back to the elf. Her eyes danced with a chaotic madness that could only mean how deranged she truly was. “Deal,’ he said to her as he lowered his rifle.

“Smart man,” Yar’ow replied with a psychotic grin, her fangs only making the look more menacing. “Little Aelrindel ‘ere’s gonna acc’mp’ny me. She me reassurance that I get out safely. No’ tha’ I cannu shrug off whate’er bullets ye vomit outta those pea shooters, but I’d rather no’ ‘aveta take a coupla days ta repair the damage.”

“An’ what happens ta her?”

“She lives,” Yar’ow replied with an even tone, her features almost softening. “Fer now.” As she spoke the last two words her face returned to it’s usual maniacal appearance. A sneer and a growl came out of her lips as she saw Annie step closer, pistols still raised. A quick stab, and the knife plunged into Aelrindel’s shoulder. The smaller elf gave a cry of pain, and seemed to growl to the vampire in anger as Yar’ow ran her tongue around the newly created wound, breathing deeply from the aroma the fresh blood gave her.

“You truly are a sick fuck, Yar’ow,” Walker sneered.

“The deal,” she repeated as she roughly kept A’mael in front of her. “Drop yer weapons an’ dunna follow.” Walker never took his eyes off Yar’ow, but motioned for Annie to lower her weapons. His partner gave a grunt of protest, but he snapped his fingers, showing just how serious the situation was.

“Can’t do it now, Annie,” he said quietly. “Ain’t gonna risk the life o’ someone over the quick draw o’ tryin’ ta take out some scumbag who’s just gonna keep comin’.”

Yar’ow laughed aloud as Walker voiced his opinion. “I knew there were a ‘eart o’ gold underneath that full metal jacket.” She kept a trained eye on the pair as she backed up toward the exit, a transport pulling up ready to take them both to their destination. “Now, if ye two will excuse me, I’ve go’ ta make meself more intimate with me new playmate.” In one last display of defiance to Walker and Annie, the elven vampire, began clutching at Aelrindel, running her tongue along the woman’s neck, letting her cold breath flow over exposed skin. As they entered the transport, Yar’ow’s laughter filled the sewers with an eerie echo, never fading until the transport disappeared from view.

“Sir?” Annie asked as she retrieved her weapons.

“Start the hunt, Annie,” Walker said as he shouldered the rifle. “Back ta base an’ start trackin’ through the GPS. We’ll find ‘er. We’ll find that bitch an’ give ‘er what for.”