Blood Red (18 page)

Vivi Anna

“Going somewhere, Fraulein?”

Red stood, her legs shook slightly. “No, just getting some air.”

The woman laughed. “I thought maybe you were running away.”

“I never run.” Red took up a fighting stance, her hands poised to strike.

The woman nodded as she also took up a fighting stance. They stood toe to toe, fist to fist, and gauged each other. Who would strike first?

Red grunted and threw a punch. She was never one for patience. The woman dodged and threw a hook. It caught Red in the ear. The pain vibrated in her head. She stepped back to reassess the situation.

This woman was strong. She had skill and technique.

It would not be an easy victory.

“You can not win,
kleines madchen
,” little girl, “I am stronger and have studied longer.”

Red spat on the ground. “That just makes you older.”

The woman smiled and nodded. “So be it.”

She launched at Red. Fists flew. She connected one to her sternum. Red stumbled back. The woman kept coming. She threw kick after kick. Red blocked them all. She countered with her own flurry of kicks. She connected solidly to the woman’s right leg. The woman stumbled back, favoring her leg.

“Not bad. What else do you have?” the woman goaded.

Red screamed like a banshee and charged at the woman. She jumped up and threw a kick at her head.

The woman ducked, and came back with a solid kick 34

Blood Red

to Red’s stomach. Red lost her air. She fell to a knee to catch her breath. The woman kicked her in the face.

Red fell onto her back, her nose bleeding, her lips split again.

The woman stood over her triumphantly. “You are weak. I told them you would be. Vengeance is a valiant motivation, but greed is so much more powerful.”

The man crawled out of the house and onto the verandah. “Gretel! Help me!”

Gretel turned, a look of horror on her face.

“Hansel!”

Red kicked out with her leg. She connected with Gretel’s right knee. She could hear the joint snap. Her leg bowed backwards.

Gretel howled as she went down, gripping her damaged leg.

Red kicked her again. This time in the face. She heard bones crack. She kicked again until Gretel was unconscious. Red got up and stood over the motionless body. She itched for a knife to finish the job, but had to be content with unconsciousness.

Red ran back toward the cabin. “Wolf?” No answer.

She sidestepped Hansel’s lifeless form after pulling her knife out of his leg, and entered the house. She spotted Wolf lying on the floor near the bed, blood pooled around his form. She bent down to him, checking his pulse. It was still strong.

She looked him over and debated. She could escape now if she wanted. He wouldn’t be coming after her any time soon. Or she could finish him off, 35