Part 13
Silently Illestra dropped down from the roof. The vampires, so engrossed in their feast upon Iblis, took no notice of her as she passed by to retrieve Iblis' dropped scimitar. Turning back to them, she roughly kicked off the one who had jumped Iblis from behind. The vampiress barely had time to look surprised before Illestra swung the blade, sending her to final death. The other vampire, crossbow bolts still protruding form his body, looked up at Illestra with a sneer of recognition.
"Iblis is mine," Illestra's voice was as cold as the grave. "You know I don't like to share."
The vampire, ruled by his bloodlust, launched himself at her before he noticed the hand she had slipped into her reagent pouch. With a swift, sharp blow she knocked him down into the filth of the alley and tossed a reagent mixture on him. Her voice was low but strong as she uttered the words to call forth the fire that quickly consumed him. Three down. There were still two more out there somewhere, but she had more immediate concerns.
She turned to the shattered form of Iblis and gently scooped him up in her arms before returning to the roof. The exertion from the fight was already taking its toll on her and she nearly dropped him as she set him down. A frown creased her brow as she looked at him. She hadn't much time before death would claim him. Dipping her head to the gaping wound on his neck, she began to drink. DAMN! They had nearly sucked him dry - there was not enough for her to drink to replace what she would give him. But she had little choice - she had to take him now or lose him.
Cradling him in her arms, she opened her wrist and held it to his lips. "Drink, childe!" she urged, hoping her voice would get through to him. Relief washed over her as she felt him latch on to her wrist, drinking in her life and making it his own. She felt herself weakening as what little blood she had left slowly passed through his lips. Still, she didn't want too pull away too early. He would need some amount of strength if they hoped to escape this forsaken city. Finally she pulled her wrist away. She held him as he cried out in agony as his body transformed, stroking his cheek and saying soothing words. But her words of comfort couldn't mask the concern she felt.
He looked up at her, blinking as his eyes began to focus once more. He saw her face - the face that had haunted his dreams for so long - and smiled weakly. He saw her lips moving but could only make out a few words. She was saying something about danger and taking him home. Suddenly her eyes widened in shock. Her mouth opened in a howl of rage and pain, but all that issued forth was a soft gasp. She slowly looked down at the tip of the sword that had erupted through her chest before returning her eyes to meet his. There was no mistaking the pain reflected in her eyes, and for the briefest of moments he thought he saw fear. But the look in her eyes hardened to one of defiance as they heard the sinister laughter from behind her.
"I could kill you now, Illestra" the vampire's voice intoned as he twisted the sword, drawing forth another gasp of pain. "Alyssa would reward me quite well for finally doing away with you. Or..." he twisted again "I could deliver you to her. She would like that so much more. And I'm sure Ubu would be willing to turn over his rank to me for a chance with you. He's always wanted you, you know."
The scream of an eagle split the night air and any further taunting was cut off as a golden brown rocket hurled itself into the vampire's face, talons clawing at his eyes. Defending himself from Illestra's familiar, the vampire dropped his sword, freeing Illestra from it's steely grip. Iblis watched in horror as his goddess slowly fell to the roof and lay motionless.
"Iblis is mine," Illestra's voice was as cold as the grave. "You know I don't like to share."
The vampire, ruled by his bloodlust, launched himself at her before he noticed the hand she had slipped into her reagent pouch. With a swift, sharp blow she knocked him down into the filth of the alley and tossed a reagent mixture on him. Her voice was low but strong as she uttered the words to call forth the fire that quickly consumed him. Three down. There were still two more out there somewhere, but she had more immediate concerns.
She turned to the shattered form of Iblis and gently scooped him up in her arms before returning to the roof. The exertion from the fight was already taking its toll on her and she nearly dropped him as she set him down. A frown creased her brow as she looked at him. She hadn't much time before death would claim him. Dipping her head to the gaping wound on his neck, she began to drink. DAMN! They had nearly sucked him dry - there was not enough for her to drink to replace what she would give him. But she had little choice - she had to take him now or lose him.
Cradling him in her arms, she opened her wrist and held it to his lips. "Drink, childe!" she urged, hoping her voice would get through to him. Relief washed over her as she felt him latch on to her wrist, drinking in her life and making it his own. She felt herself weakening as what little blood she had left slowly passed through his lips. Still, she didn't want too pull away too early. He would need some amount of strength if they hoped to escape this forsaken city. Finally she pulled her wrist away. She held him as he cried out in agony as his body transformed, stroking his cheek and saying soothing words. But her words of comfort couldn't mask the concern she felt.
He looked up at her, blinking as his eyes began to focus once more. He saw her face - the face that had haunted his dreams for so long - and smiled weakly. He saw her lips moving but could only make out a few words. She was saying something about danger and taking him home. Suddenly her eyes widened in shock. Her mouth opened in a howl of rage and pain, but all that issued forth was a soft gasp. She slowly looked down at the tip of the sword that had erupted through her chest before returning her eyes to meet his. There was no mistaking the pain reflected in her eyes, and for the briefest of moments he thought he saw fear. But the look in her eyes hardened to one of defiance as they heard the sinister laughter from behind her.
"I could kill you now, Illestra" the vampire's voice intoned as he twisted the sword, drawing forth another gasp of pain. "Alyssa would reward me quite well for finally doing away with you. Or..." he twisted again "I could deliver you to her. She would like that so much more. And I'm sure Ubu would be willing to turn over his rank to me for a chance with you. He's always wanted you, you know."
The scream of an eagle split the night air and any further taunting was cut off as a golden brown rocket hurled itself into the vampire's face, talons clawing at his eyes. Defending himself from Illestra's familiar, the vampire dropped his sword, freeing Illestra from it's steely grip. Iblis watched in horror as his goddess slowly fell to the roof and lay motionless.
posted by Shadowsong | 10:22 AM
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