They had restrained her in magical bindings.
She was crying. Frantic and scared, her tears hurt me more than any physical blow. I looked at her, "Calm down, I'm here. It's going to be alright." I said to her with my eyes.
The red glow behind her illuminated further. A sacrificial altar. For Averie. For the woman that I love. Anger and revenge flowed through my heart. My rage burst out in an aura of ebony night. I saw Averie nod, and she stopped crying. Her breathing calmed down.
I glowered at the two figures at the altar. They stopped the ritual, turning to face me.
"Count Vladislaus Straud IV. Helena." Fury underscored my words. I stepped into the door's threshold with a growl.
"Caleb Vatore." Vladislaus hissed at me. Helena looked at me with warning. I was not afraid of the ancient vampire. Together, they stepped off the altar and stood on either side of Averie.
Helena looked begrudgingly at Averie, and I snapped a growl at her. She stared back at me, eyes a reflection of anger.
I snarled to Miss Hell, "Why Averie? You didn't do this to any of my ex lovers before. Why now?"
Her red eyes glowered. "You love her, Caleb. You should see how your predator eyes get so calm and kind when you look at her. It makes me sick."
I risked a look at Vlad. He seemed to be silent and listening, his expression of cold stone.
I super sped to Helena's side and pushed her squarely in the chest. Shock dawned on her face. She didn't expect the sudden blow. As she was floating in the air, realization dawned on her. Her eyes glinted in anger and she exerted effort to gain control of her momentum. She landed on her own two feet. Helena super sped to me. She parried a spear hand thrust to the right, and lunged with her claws.
"You left me for a powerless mortal!" She hissed. "Was I not good enough? Did I not grant you immortal life?"
Enraged as I was, I couldn't help but feel a smidgen of guilt over my abandonment. But I didn't let it distract me from our battle of speed. I avoided her claws and punched her with a fired infused fist. But it only singed a small portion as she barely dodged away. We were clearly matched, she trained me in combat after all. But I have improved...
I caught Helena in a chokehold and pinned her on the wall. Squeezing tight, pondering if I should go for the kill and spark a clan war.
But a movement to my right caught me off guard. A speed faster than any vampire lunged for my torso, the momentum sent me flying to the wall. They crack deep as I hit it, feeling the hands of Vladislaus Straud around my neck. Raw pain sliced through my side.
I gasped for air. Vladislaus slammed me further into the wall resulting in chunks of the marble wall chipping off.
"And now here we are, Caleb Vatore. I was wondering how to kill you without exerting too much magic. But ah, it seems brute strength is enough."
Helena's gasp echoed, "Kill him? Master, that's not part of the plan."
Hands still gripping my throat, Vladislaus turned to her. "It is part of the plan, dear. Parts you didn't have to know."
Turning his fangs to me, he leaned closer to my face and I could see his crimson eyes boring through my soul. And he whispered, "Enough with this game, Vatore. You and your kin have demoralized the dignity of vampires."
It took me a minute to process what he meant. My sister and I, we were always not following the norms. We studied magic. We introduced a new diet. We formed relationships with humans... with Averie, Taran, Johnny, my friends. I guess some ancient ones are not happy about it...
With a flick of his hand, he threw me through the air. While spinning through the air, he caught my face in an iron grip and slammed me to the floor in a bone crunching slam. The room reverberated and I felt my bones crack.
Vladislaus's rage rumbled through the space. "Vampires are meant to dominate all other species. Show them your true form! They should fear us! They're all nothing! Your influence has gone far enough! You and your sister... I will destroy! Not a memory of your embarrassment will be known to our kind!"
My sister! I suddenly saw her face. Brave. Undaunted. Fierce. I will not yield. I cannot yield! I summoned my magic from within. Brute strength is not my forte, but I had centuries of studying magic. Studying to... cure vampirism.
"You plan to end our species!" Vladislaus railed.
With a burst of powerful magic, I pushed him away. Vladislaus eyed me with shock and astonishment for I hurled upon him a magic strong enough to blow back an Ancient. He backed off and went into a defensive stance. He sent out more of black magical aura and his eyes became violent, consumed with power.
I ran to the other side of the room. Away from him, I shouted back, "No, Vladislaus. But Vampirism should not be forced upon! And humans should have the choice to give blood!"
Vladislaus growled in disagreement. "Never!"
He sent red glowing magic whips to me, and aimed to pierce my throat. I met it with a conjured shield of my own. Our powers collided and a loud crack of electricity shuddered between us.
I super sped around him, until the dust formed into an invisible barrier. Vladislaus closed his eyes, feeling my movements. I thought I tricked him until he opened sharp eyes and abruptly looked at me. In my precise position.
And at a speed of light, the long claws of Vladislaus Straud went for my chest. Too fast that I didn't have time to defend myself. But Helena threw a surge of fireballs at him. Not enough to deal substantial damage, but enough to give distraction. I retreated a few paces away and readied my defenses. Vladislaus's scarlet eyes squinted in anger at Helena. She held his eyes with equal unflinching temper.
Then Helena sped towards him. Her hands full of dark magic and punched on Vladislaus's face. The ancient vampire stirred at the betrayal of his servant. He pushed Helena away with whips of magic of his own. And they fought head on in a clash of speed and vampiric skill. But I didn't pay attention to them. There were more important matters at hand.
I sprinted towards Averie. This was our chance to escape. But a beam of light hit my path.
"Not so fast, Caleb!" Helena stopped me.
Helena ran towards me with outstretched arms glowing in magic. I anticipated her blow and feinted left. Right where Vladislaus's claws were! He caught me at my shoulder and tore through my flesh. Blood sprayed. Blinding pain gripped my whole body.
I ground my teeth, silencing the scream that was building up. Realization dawned on me. I couldn't defeat them both.
But I remembered something Lilith taught me. Something dangerous. Something that can destroy me because that power is from my own vampiric source. A new pool of dark energy. Pure and raw. The very fabric of being a vampire.
She discovered it in her research, a source that triggers hibernation and restores dark energy. But for me to use it, I need to drain my dark energy empty first.
She taught me how to access it, but not harness it. Using it is risky and if it went wrong, might turn me to ashes. But... Averie.
If I died, might as well bring these two vampires with me.
I gave Averie one last glance. Her eyes went wide in realization. And I broke away. Looking at her planted seeds of doubts in my mind. I don't want to leave her, but I'm willing to take the risk.
My dark energy is almost down anyway. So I squandered the last bits to more fighting. I super sped and casted magic. Feinted and clawed my way through. Until at last, I reached the end of my reserve.
And I reached to the core of my dark vampiric powers, unleashing it upon them both. I transformed before their very eyes. My eyes glowed red. My skin discolored to gray and my fangs... they were growing and protruding longer.
Red light swirled around me, following the movements of my hands. I sent them to Helena and Vladislaus, whose faces were dumbstruck, especially the Ancient Vampire. He has never seen this much power, it seems. And neither had I. I threw sharp magic daggers at them, fast as lightning. And no matter the Super Speed they used to run, I could see them clearly.
Vladislaus gave up on trying to break through my defenses and he decided to take on another victim, instead. He turned to Averie...
And I lost it. All I could feel was an infinite rage consuming me. So I let go, giving in to my vampiric instinct to kill. With this, a dark crimson light exploded from my body like a bomb.
Vladislaus and Helena were hurled through the air and they hit the marble pillars. The impact strong enough for their bodies to leave an impression in the stone. The Ancient Vampire looked at Helena, nodded, and I saw defeat in their eyes.
Together, they transformed into black wisps of smoke. As they escaped, I smiled at my victory. And I felt the last drop of strength and magic leave my body. Then, I could tell I was back to normal, weak and panting.