Prelude: Piazza di San Pietro

(Page 7 of 20)

“I saw your angel.” Manon twitched, but Demetrius didn’t know if it was from the ache that cobwebbed through her body, or the lie he just whispered into her dying form. “I am truly sorry you’ll never see him again.”

He felt the callous separation of flesh across his back as a blade cut through both clothing and several layers.

Samantha stood behind the beast, left foot crossed in front of right. She held a silver-coated knife high, body tilted toward the wounded creature as if just finishing a string of graceful chaîné turns. Demetrius dropped the girl, rotating toward the woman as her snakeskin coat finished following through with the spin.

“That was not too bad,” Samantha said, knowing Manon may be in serious danger, but refusing to take her eyes away from the monster before her. “Do not expect to do it again.”

Demetrius hissed, and Samantha smiled as the dance moved into the grand allegro.

His clawed hands flailed through the air at an outrageous tempo, but Samantha parried his attack in a series of piques and pirouettes. Her body spun, miraculously keeping its balance as she twirled, hips and shoulders aligned. The knife knocked one claw away, her empty hand the other, over and over whilst spotting the face of the beast.

Her movements caused no damage, but the purpose was not to attack. She made that mistake already. Instead, she would distract and tire the creature, pushing him away from Manon, until an opening presented itself. She would not further risk herself or her partner with on another careless and overpowering blow.

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