RAFAEL
I moved at top speed away from the battlefield, trying to track Variel. Thirty minutes passed before I finally sensed the presence I'd been looking for—the power of the ancient relic.
"It's close" I whispered to myself, slowing to a stop.
Drawing closer quietly, I followed my senses which led me to an abandoned part of the villa overtaken with utter darkness.
A forgotten, dilapidated shed, formerly a fruit cellar stood there.
Without hesitation, I kicked the door down and found Variel, eyes shut in concentration, seated on the floor, his hands protectively clutching the relic that hung around his neck. It was a spiral-looking object that pulsated with an evil glow.
"Found you" I murmured to myself.
Variel's eyes flew open at the intrusion and he hissed, his gaze, hateful.
I hissed back.
"Hand it over, Variel"
The vampire laughed raucously, rising to his feet. "No"
I let out a deep sigh. "You know you can't win, right? Even with that... thing" I said, gesturing towards the relic. "You're leading your people to their deaths. Just call off this suicidal mission while you still can"
Variel scowled "You're just one family" he replied. "The Vlads may be unique, but in the end, they're still just one family. There's only so many vampires they can fight. Even if we fall, our sacrifice will pave the way for others. It'll inspire them." He clutched the relic tighter. "They'll see our dedication, our unrelenting courage, our strength in wanting to take down the Divine Purge, and they'll keep coming for her, no matter the cost."
I laughed mockingly. "Inspiring others to follow in your footsteps? You're not a martyr, Variel. You're a fool leading fools to their deaths."
My gaze bore into his. "Your courage is admirable but blind. End this senseless battle before it's too late and spare the lives of your people. Spare them the agony of defeat"
He snarled furiously. "It is you who needs to be spared! Living with the Vlads has deluded you into thinking you're one of them, but you're still just an ordinary, weak-blooded vampire! The only thing special about you is your ability to resist sunlight"
Variel grew out his claws. "I'll remind you of your place, boy!"
"I have lived among them, and I have trained with them for centuries. I have trained with your superiors" I started to circle him slowly. "I have trained with the Angel of Death and the Alesul. I have trained with the Ravager's Bride—all warriors of unmatched skill. Something you can never relate to, Variel. You who choose to cling to an ancient relic of evil."
My frown deepened, my tone mocking. "I am 'ordinary', but my power is not borrowed"
With a wild scream, he charged at me, our clash violent. Variel rained down powerful blows, each one fueled by the relic's magic.
But I managed to block his attacks while landing strikes of my own.
As the fight raged on, I spotted my chance and sent a powerful blow that knocked Variel off his feet, slamming him into the ground.
But Variel didn't stay down. He got back up again and lunged for me.
The unrelenting bastard.
While Variel remained focused on our battle, I cleverly led him away from the surroundings and towards the main battleground, drawing him out.
Simultaneously, I communicated with Dragos through my mind, informing him of the current situation, and Variel's position.
"Variel is in my sights, and I've drawn him to the battleground. But, his strength is far greater than anticipated, and I'm finding it difficult to keep him contained. He's slipping away. Look to the east, I have him cornered some distances away from the main mansion. That's where you'll find us dueling"
Within a moment, Dragos appeared amidst us.
"About time you showed up," I remarked, my voice strained as I caught my breath.
"Thank you, my friend," Dragos replied.
With a glare directed at Variel, he reached out. "The relic. Hand it over"
Variel sneered defiantly. "How can you slaughter your kin without remorse?!" He yelled.
"Won't be the first time it's happened" Dragos replied casually. "You're the one responsible for their deaths. You knew coming after us was suicide."
He gestured to the chaos around us. "Even with the relic you knew your chances of victory would be slim, yet you led them into this doomed battle. All for what?"
"It's better than doing nothing!" Variel snapped back. "We'd rather die trying to take down that Purge than sit idly by!"
"I offered you a different path," Dragos countered, shaking his head. "I ensured to communicate that things could end differently, not like this. But no, you refused to listen" he stared at Variel. "Or would you deny not getting word from him?" He tilted his head towards me, who now stood by his side.
I'd ensured to spread the news to the vampire community about Dragos' dream, and how Dawn's purpose did not have to involve the death of vampires.
I'd done that while Dawn was away.
Delivering important messages was my way of repaying Dragos for saving me. By serving his family.
Variel's expression hardened with anger.
"You're no Alesul!" He snapped rashly "Your birth was a mistake, not a miracle! Dragavei would be disappointed!"
Suddenly, Variel was abruptly yanked away by an unseen force. Turning, we saw it was Dawn who had telekinetically made that happen.
"Dawn?!" Dragos yelled in shock, his eyes wide with fear, scared that Variel would hurt her.
We had both failed to notice her leave the mansion earlier, preoccupied as we were.
"Foolish girl!" Variel spat out as he recovered his footing, his voice laced with madness. "I should've eaten you during the grand dinner. Tonight, you meet your..."
Before he could finish, a force wrapped around his throat, squeezing tightly, while her other hand ripped the relic from his neck, draining it of its power within seconds.
We approached them to get a better view but stayed back, watching the scene unfold with sheer shock.
"What in the world..." I muttered in disbelief at her sudden show of strength. Dragos stood just as stunned.
Dawn's eyes blazed with a fiery red, matching the glow of her hair as an aura of power surrounded her.
"You filthy, bloodsucking abomination" she spat with disgust, her face full of anger.
With a voice that expressed her hatred and disgust, she uttered a single, deadly command, "Burn"
Suddenly, she burst into flames, with Variel still restrained.
Her clothes burned off and she became one with the fire—a fire that engulfed both her and Variel in a fierce inferno, catching the attention of nearby vampires.
"Dawn!" Dragos yelled in terror, attempting to move forward, but I grabbed him by the upper hand, stopping him. "No"
As the flames burned brighter, drowning out all other sights and sounds, only Variel's agonized screams pierced the air.
When the inferno eventually subsided and silence fell, all that remained of him was ash. The fire had been so great it had consumed his bones too.
With their leader defeated and the relic destroyed, the rest of the vampires perished.
Dawn walked back to where we stood, unharmed, her hands shielding her bare body, and I looked away.
Despite the inferno that had surrounded her moments ago, her skin remained unscorched and unblemished, as if the flames had never touched her.
She passed the drained relic to me before her legs gave way and collapsed, but Dragos caught her.
He took off his shirt and wrapped her in it.
"You need to rest," he said softly, before admitting, "You scared me"
"I'm sorry"
"He could've killed you"
"He didn't"
"I know, but..."
"I understand. I'm sorry" She touched his blood-stained cheek, her eyes starting to drift shut "I'm tired, is everyone safe?"
He nodded "Yes. The battle is over. Mother and Azrael are still at the grounds taking care of the rest" He pointed into the far distance "Rafael's right here"
I stepped forward, a warm smile on my face as I looked down at her "Dawn, that was amazing" I said "Although you scared us a little, I'm proud of you"
She smiled "Thank you, Raf"
Dragos started to walk towards the mansion with her in his arms. He turned to speak to me "I'll get her back to her room. Stay and go round. Check for survivors and end their lives"
I nodded, watching him walk away with Dawn in his arms, knowing I could be the next victim if we didn't get things under control quickly.
Something had possessed her back there. Something powerful and frightening—an external force to be reckoned with, and now I was just starting to understand the fear of the vampires... their desperation to get rid of her as soon as possible.
What if we were unable to help her? What if we failed at finding the loophole Dragavei had spoken of?
The power at which she had restrained Variel and easily destroyed the relic, said a lot about how formidable she was. And there was every possibility that she could still get stronger.
It was both amusing and terrifying to see someone go from being so powerless, so… mundane to becoming one of the most powerful forces I'd ever encountered.
I could only hope that we were right, and that we would be able to help Dawn before it was too late.
If we failed, we'd all be doomed.