Eva’s head swiveled to the left, and she wasn’t the only one. All of the females knew what that call signified. Smugglers alerting the convoy to the presence of possible targets. Eva did not hesitate; Mortem was already in her hand. The others also held whatever weapons they favored. They were in a shit-ton of trouble. The only targets on the streets right now were Kata and her ladies.
The girls fell in back to back so that none could come at them unawares. Seems that today, they would not have to find the smugglers; the gangers were going to come straight to them. A dozen males bled out of the various dark alleys which surrounded them. Eva had no idea why gangers were always male – women could be just as evil in the right circumstances – but she’d never seen a female ganger. Maybe they had them ferreted away somewhere popping out little ganger babies. Keeping the great evil-circle-of-life functioning.
Eva’s pulse kicked into high gear. Blood started to rush through her body as the truth of what she was seeing sank in. The vigiladies were out-numbered, but that wasn’t her main worry. No, the thing which had all the moisture fleeing from her mouth was the sheer number of spirits following these gangers around. Angry, vengeful spirits.
The otherworldly beings were almost all female, with silent howls of agony still clear on their features. Eva knew something for certain: these particular gangers were responsible for many deaths. Horrific deaths.
“These are the leaders of this smuggling ring,” she said, her voice low and directed toward Kata.
There was no other explanation for the sheer blood on their hands.
Kata grinned. It was the sort of cold, empty gesture that had actually sent plenty of individuals running for their lives. “Excellent, I like to start these sort of cleanses at the top.”
A brawny male stepped in from Eva’s right. He moved with a panther-like gait, his expression calm and even. He wore a suit of sorts and if it wasn’t for the dark-blue markings which spanned almost his entire face – identifying him as a Brawler Ganger – then he’d look almost respectful.
Eva was surprised to see that there were other ganger groups amongst the dozen. Red marks, like spatters of blood, identified the Crimz, and black skulls were reserved for the Brutals. This partnership was even more evidence that this was some sort of higher management group.
Usually the different ganger groups did not mix, and in fact the way they liked to fight each other was a great help to the female vigilante group. It was much more annoying to know they could work together like this – not to mention a much more dangerous situation than originally anticipated.
“They’re working together, Kata.” Lain’s voice was low and melodic. But Eva heard the undercurrent of nerves. “Are we in over our heads?”
Kata didn’t answer. She was in a stare-down with the brawny Brawler, who had stepped forward. She twirled her fighting sticks; Kata liked to use a pair of short wooden jos, and Eva had seen her break more bones and end more lives than she’d ever expect possible using a piece of wood.
Lain’s question was forgotten as the rest of the gangers advanced, forming a much tighter circle around the females. The vigiladies allowed enough distance between them so that they would not be hindered when weapon-fighting, but they were close enough that no one could easily separate them.
“Don’t let them take you alive,” Kata said as the first males struck.
Lain was fast. She’d already taken out one with an arrow to his throat and nocked a second shaft before Eva’s sword tasted blood. The gangers had weapons also, a variety of knives, swords and mallet-type crushers.
Guns, as always, were pretty much non-existent. Although, with this sort of setup, the higher members could have guns – they’d just be waiting until there were no other options before they used them. Bullets were highly prized on the streets of New York. Their value had increased ten times in the last fifteen years. Kata had sent their only gun with the other group, but Eva preferred her sword anyway.
She swung out with Mortem as a Brawler lurched in her direction. The blade cut through him like a knife through butter. There was almost no resistance, the razor sharpness severing bone, tendon, muscle, and flesh with ease. He howled for a moment, but the noise ceased as her blade met flesh again. This time the head flung free.
Eva retreated to avoid the blood spray, but had no time to wipe her blade before another was on her. A Crimz this time, and more wary than the previous, clearly having just watched his smuggling buddy lose more than one appendage. But he still had a mouth on him.
“Come at me, bitch. You think you’re so tough with your sword. I’m going to remove that, and then you’ll know what it feels like to be skewered.”
She sighed. Nothing annoyed her more than men who wasted her time with their bullshit. Threatening rape amongst other things. She wished he’d just shut up so she could kill him.