#deorc

Britt.

Her face was screwed up in fury, and she had a bloody gash across her face, but Jules would know her anywhere. She had managed to drive her own dagger deep into her assailant’s arm, but it didn’t seem to be doing much other than ticking it off.

Before he could second guess himself, Jules launched himself forward, using his momentum to drive his dagger through the angel’s back he figured its heart was. The force of his jump kept him going, and the three of them tumbled unceremoniously over the bar towards the floor.

Britt, far more adept than him, rolled to the side before they landed on her. Jules was less fortunate, and his full weight hit the angel, driving the hilt of the dagger into his ribs.

Someone grabbed him by the collar and dragged him backwards, nearly hurling him out of the way as the remaining hunters took the opening he gave them to finish the job.

It wasn’t nearly as quick as he would have liked: the angel wasn’t half dead and being stabbed multiple times only served to enrage it further, but knowing what it was gave the hunters an advantage. By the time Jules had regained his breath, his ribs still aching something fierce, the fight was over.

The bar was an absolute wreck. It appeared as though none of the furniture had survived the melee. There was blood everywhere he looked, and after a few moments the angel’s corpse burst into a brilliant flame, the gold-tinted fire leaving nothing but ash and scorch marks behind.

No one was paying any attention to him, so Jules used the edge of the bar to haul himself to his feet. He caught sight of Britt on the other side of the room, and began making his way through the mess to get to her side. Someone had given her a first aid kit, and she was in the middle of cleaning a nasty looking cut on Colton’s cheek when Jules knelt down beside her.

“Look who showed up late to the party,” Colton’s voice sounded abused, but he cracked one eye open to get a good look at Jules. “Never thought we’d see you again.” Jules blinked hard, suddenly finding himself fighting back tears.

“You know me,” he replied, forcing a smile onto his face. “Someone’s gotta be around to save your asses.” Colton snorted, and it caused him to cough. Jules frowned, eyebrows drawing together. He would have gotten up to get water, but one of the other hunters came by and handed him two bottles, acknowledging him with a slight head nod.

“Get a load of this guy,” Colton managed once quit grimacing. “Guess we should all be glad the hero showed up, eh?” He nudged Britt’s leg with his knee, but she didn’t look up from her work, purposefully ignoring the two of them. Jules reached out suddenly, wrapping his hand around Colton’s and squeezing it, as though to prove to himself he was real, that he wasn’t dreaming.

“I’m sorry I didn’t get here sooner,” he said softly, and he hated the way his voice shook. “I’m sorry I didn’t look for you guys sooner.”

“I’m not dead yet,” Colton grumbled. “A bit banged up, but a fair way from dead.” He reached up with his other hand, messing with Jules’ hair the way he had so long ago. “You showed up when it mattered, and that’s what counts.”

“Damn good timing,” one of the other hunters commented, coming over to help Britt get Colton to his feet. “Don’t know what we would have done if that bastard had taken both of you out.” He gave Jules a shrewd look as he gingerly climbed to his feet. “Real good timing.”

“I got a tip some friends were in it deep,” Jules explained, not untruthfully. “Figured it was time I got off my ass and did something about it.”

“Good man,” the hunter said, clapping him on the shoulder. He turned to Britt and Colton. “Not to compound the bad news, but one of those blasts did some damage outside as well. Doesn’t seem like your car made it.”

“If the car is the worst of it, then it was a good night,” Britt spoke finally, a wry smile in her voice. Her eyes flicked over to Jules, before going back to the hunter. “Seems like we’ve got a friend here. If you don’t mind, I want to get Deorc here away from the crowd so he lets me look at his ribs.”

“Go on,” another hunter walked up to them, handing Jules his knife with a smile. “We can handle clean up: you’ve done your parts.”

“I’m sorry for your dead,” Jules said, feeling somehow inadequate. He hadn’t known these people, and it wasn’t his fault they were dead, but he couldn’t not say something.

“They knew the risk they took,” the second hunter told him, placing a hand on his arm briefly. “Take care of these two, will you?” She eyed Britt and Colton critically. “Someone ought to.”

“I’ll do my best,” Jules promised, picking up the two water bottles they had been given and leading the others out of the bar. At Britt’s silent direction, he grabbed their coats out of the front room, but neither of them were in any state to put them on.