False Horizon - Alex Archer [102]
Annja felt the wall behind her. She tried to summon the sword, but couldn’t visualize the blade properly. Her sword wasn’t there.
Vanya smiled. “What’s the matter, dear? Having trouble conjuring your special sword?”
Annja frowned and tried again, aware that Vanya was edging closer to her. Annja could just make out a fuzzy image of the sword, but it didn’t seem to be enough to get it to materialize in her hands.
So she lunged, and threw the pitcher of water from the nightstand at Vanya. But Vanya, surprisingly nimble for her age, ducked the container and moved even closer.
“Not to worry, Annja,” she said. “I’ll sever your windpipe so you get to die choking on your own blood. I figure it’s the least I can do, considering how you treated Hsu Xiao.”
“I gave Hsu Xiao the chance to walk away,” Annja said. “She chose to end her life by fighting me.”
“If you had joined us, we could all be in power right now. The fallout from the facility explosion would have enabled us to seize power, Annja. Instead, all of my dreams have been laid to waste because of you and that sword of yours. Ever since I heard of it, I’ve been obsessed with having it. And now you can’t even bring it out to kill me.”
Annja looked around frantically. There was precious little she could use to fend off Vanya.
“Help me!” she screamed.
“They’ll never get here in time,” Vanya said.
Annja made a lunge for the red distress call button and punched it hard.
But Vanya kept laughing. “They won’t come. I unhooked the receiver at the nurse’s station. We’re all alone, Annja. And now I can finally finish what I started.”
She slashed at Annja’s throat. Annja ducked and then kicked up at Vanya’s kneecap. The kick landed square and Vanya grunted as the heel landed flush. But her leg didn’t buckle.
“That works better if the leg is straightened,” Vanya said. Then she punched Annja across the jaw.
The blow sent Annja reeling. She toppled over the bed, landing on her feet near the door. She made a run for it, but the door was locked.
“I’ve got the key right here,” said Vanya. “You’re welcome to try and take it from me.”
Annja tried to summon the sword again. It was a little more clear, but she still couldn’t see clearly enough to bring it out.
Vanya edged closer again and, this time, when she slashed, the edge of the scalpel bit into Annja’s forearm, scoring a line from the wrist to the elbow. Annja glanced down and saw a flap of skin hanging loose. Blood poured from the wound and spilled across the sheets and the floor.
Annja slid back toward the wall, gripping her arm. Vanya came closer. “I’ll make it quick,” she said.
Annja lashed out with another kick and landed it square in Vanya’s stomach. Vanya doubled over and backed away.
I’ve got to get the sword, Annja thought.
But then Vanya was coming at her again, cutting and slashing with the scalpel.
Annja fell back under the assault, and when she tried to check Vanya’s advance, Vanya grabbed her wounded arm and Annja screamed. Vanya’s nails sank into the exposed muscle and tendons and crushed them under her grip.
The pain nearly caused Annja to pass out.
But she used all of her strength to throw Vanya back across the room. The woman slammed into the wall opposite the bed and fell to the floor. But she immediately scrambled to her feet and came running again.
“You’re not going to make it out of here alive, Annja Creed,” she shouted as she cut down with the scalpel. This time, it stuck into the exposed bone in Annja’s forearm.
Annja screamed again and tore her arm away from Vanya’s grasp, the scalpel jutting out at an awful angle. Annja glanced down at the blade and yanked it free. Then she stalked Vanya.
But Vanya pulled out another scalpel and the two of them circled.
Vanya feinted and came in with a straight stab. Annja sidestepped the thrust and slashed across the top of Vanya’s forearm, drawing blood for the first time.
Vanya let out a shriek and then retreated, but still kept her blade in front of her.
Annja, woozy from the injuries, advanced but slowed