Within sixty seconds, she stood breathing hard in the midst of the four downed vamps. This experience, beating up Jonny's vamps, was far more satisfying than she could recall any other vamp confrontation being.
She crouched to rifle through the clothing of the vamps and then stepped into the hallway to swipe the phone she'd knocked free. Of the three phones, all were burners. She frowned, disappointed. Brandon could only get a little bit of useful information off them, though he had cracked some code if he knew where all the vamps in the city were.
She checked out the two remaining rooms in the house to ensure no humans were cowering in the corners. The rooms were dark, and she paused briefly in each to let her sense read what was present.
No more vamps. No trapped humans.
Ashley exited the second into the hallway and froze.
"I warned you." Jonny's voice was soft. He stood at the end of the hallway near the kitchen, dressed all in black. He seemed to take up the space of the hallway with his broad shoulders and lean form. He was unarmed, his intent gaze on her.
Xander's words of warning swept through her mind. She began to seriously consider bolting out one of the windows of the unoccupied bedrooms rather than face him. In the dark, with the penetrating dark eyes starting to glow red, Jonny was positively menacing. It didn't explain the thrill racing through her, but she did understand the reason behind her fear.
Jonny was dangerous. She'd ignored - or perhaps overlooked? - the charged energy radiating off him at the beach. She sensed the subtle flow of raw power better on their second meeting.
Reassured her two deepest fears - dying or being vamped - weren't going to happen, she felt some of the effect of his foreboding appearance lessen. She was faster than he was, so long as he didn't touch her, and Xander wasn't going to let her worst fears happen.
"I was just leaving," she replied. "My work is done." She moved into the nearest bedroom with calmness she didn't feel then bolted towards the window.
Jonny reappeared between her and the window, and she slammed to a stop so fast, she fell backwards. Ashley rolled and vaulted onto her feet, expecting him to attack.
He didn't. He simply blocked her path.
Retreating into the hallway, she drew her knife and kept it hidden behind her thigh. She whirled and tried the other room.
This time, she was expecting him to block her path. He appeared. Rather than stop, she acted. Adrenaline surged within her along with the rage she'd experienced for four years. She smashed the knife into him, piercing his ribcage and plunging it into his heart. Warm blood splashed her face and ran over her hand and down her arm.