Bloodbound

25. Too soon, too late

"Ready" Natasha asked looking at Steve. He gave a nod. The five stood in the circle as the ferals were tearing the house from every side.

One feral tore down the kitchen window and the rest followed it. They piled into the house through that gap. The twins shot at the ferals. Pietro training came in handy as he delivered each bullet precisely to its head. Wanda struggled but was able to keep up. Steve and Natasha slashed through the ferals and took down as many as they can. One feral escaped their notice and ran towards Wanda who was facing the other side. Natasha noticed it and caught the feral by its neck and slammed it into the coffee table. She took the broken glass and cut off its head.

Natasha and Steve moved with speed and agility. The ferals were no match for them. Soon the ferals numbered reduced and the tables turned. Steve ripped the head of the last standing feral. He looked up at Natasha and smiled.

"It's been long since we fought together" he smiled as he wiped the sweat form his eyebrows. She gave a small laugh.

The five heard the sound of the truck and walked out. Rumlow was driving the truck directly into the house. The four jumped to the side and were able to barely escape being crushed by the giant vehicle.

"Can we kill these bastards and get this over with?" Natasha said through gritted teeth.

"We sent a nice gift for you Steve" Rumlow laughed. "Did you receive it?"

Steve growled and said nothing. The three men jumped out of the truck and made their way towards them.

"You both. Stay back" Steve barked. "Tony, guard the kids" he added looking at the billionaire.

Wanda and Pietro backed away. They held hands and looked at each other. "We will get through this" Pietro whispered.

Steve and Natasha squared off against the three men. Toomes took two knifes from his belt and threw at Natasha. She dodged the first one but she wasn't so lucky with the second. It grazed her stomach drawing some blood from her. Natasha took out her dagger and ran towards Toomes. She came close to him but didn't strike. She leaped over him and landed behind his back. Before he could turn around to face her, she drove both knifes into his shoulder blades. He screamed in pain.

Stane and Rumlow attacked Steve at the same time. Stane kicked Steve in the stomach. He doubled over in when Rumlow grabbed him by his collar and punched his face. Steve blocked him and returned a punch. Steve caught Rumlow's neck and crushed his windpipe. He threw him to the ground. Stane came from Steve's side and delivered a kick to his torso. Steve blocked the kick and caught his leg. He twisted it making Stane lose balance and fall down. He stomped on his knee and broke it.

He heard Pietro shout his name. He turned to the kid standing close to him. At first Steve didn't know what had happened but then he noticed the stake protruding from his back.

"Old man, you didn't see that coming" Pietro said

Steve caught the kid by his shoulder. But before Steve could react, Rumlow drove the stake even further. As the wood ripped through Pietro's heart he turned to dust in Steve's hands.

Bucky along with the clan-less rushed into the clearing to witness the death of the young man in the hands of Steve. Howard and Coulson weren't much behind. The forest trembled with the gut-wrenching scream of the dead man's sister. Her concealed power, out of her control emanated from her body. Every vampire's mind in the clearing linked as one. The hive mind prevented them from acting as they stood planted to their spots. Wanda's whole life flashed in front of her eyes.

"Pietro, don't cry" cooed the small girl looking at her elder twin.

"He called me an idiot" replied the six-year-old boy through his sobs.