A breeze blew through the dark forest, hitting the group of vampires and elves standing there, lifting and playing with their hair and clothes like mischievous children before passing them and fleeing into the darkness of the night. Jack stood across from the three vampires, peering out of his helmet into theirs with anger raging behind his eyes. The three Night Stalkers slowly reached up and removed their helmets, revealing their faces and emotions.
Ethan's black hair was on the longer side, slightly falling past his chin, and his eyes were filled with a calm anger. Twilight had long red hair, rare among the vampires, and her face was like a dam about to burst, tears in her eyes as she barely held back her emotions. Rebecca was like a statue, her expression and eyes revealing nothing about how she felt, her blonde hair nearly as short as Jack's and shaved on one side.
He took his helmet off and tossed it aside, seeing Drake walk up next to him as he pointed his estoc at them.
"I don't have time for this. Move aside, or we will go through you."
Twilight was unable to contain herself any longer, screaming and charging him with her two short swords. This did not surprise him, as Twilight was always emotional, and he easily parried and evaded her blows. The others didn't see the need for words either, and Ethan teleported behind him, surprised when Jack's black liquid was there to block his attack, the dark substance flowing around him and covering his flank.
Rebecca went to join the other two, but she stopped as Drake stepped in front of her, cracking his knuckles and gesturing for her to bring it. Jack faintly remembered the two knowing each other, but he did not have the time to think about it as he fought off two skilled vampires at the same time.
All three of them had abilities, and Twilight's ability increased her speed and strength the longer she kept moving and attacking, making a prolonged battle with her a bad idea. Thankful for Drake keeping one of them distracted, Jack decided to end things before Twilight became a problem, and as she kept on the offensive, her attacks growing faster and hitting harder, he thrusted his sword faster than she could see, the thin blade piercing a gap in her plated armor and sinking into the side of her stomach.
Before any of them could react, Jack pulled the blade out and swung around, Twilight's eyes growing wide as she was just beginning to feel pain. Jack took a guess as to where Ethan would teleport next, and luck was on his side as Ethan appeared there, the vamp's eyes nearly popping out of his head as Jack's face was suddenly right in front of his.
Jack grabbed the vampire before he could activate his ability again, slamming him hard onto the ground and stabbing his sword through the vamp's leg, able to pierce the armor and go through it as Ethan grunted in pain. Twilight had just fallen backwards onto her rear, clutching her wound and her anger now mixed with pain, and Ethan looked up in amazement, not understanding what happened. Jack looked back, seeing Rebecca attempt to block a punch from Drake, raising her large shield. That was a mistake, as his fist hit the shield and it instantly caved in, her arm breaking as the force of his blow knocked her off of her feet and onto the ground next to Twilight.
Jack grabbed Ethan by his cloak and grunted, lifting the vampire and tossing him at his friends. He landed on top of them with a thud, all of them going from hardened killers to children as they tried to untangle themselves, Twilight looking disgusted at Ethan's blood on her while Rebecca grimaced in pain from her arm. Jack sighed loudly, unable to take these kids seriously no matter how hard he tried.
"Listen up, this will be the last time we let you leave alive. I do not wish to kill you, but you will not understand what I am doing, and I have no time to convince you. This is your final warning; the next time you point your weapons at me will be the last time."
Ethan looked at his leg, realizing that it would be foolish to continue fighting with all of them injured. Rebecca also acknowledged this, getting up and letting her shield drop to the ground.
Twilight was a different story, standing and glaring at him with a inferno of rage and hurt in her eyes, her hands shaking as she took a step towards him.
"Captain, you are right; I do not understand. Maybe Ethan is right; maybe the elf has messed with your mind, and if we kill her, then-"
She was cut off as Ethan grabbed her and Rebecca, shooting Jack one last look before vanishing with all three of them. Jack took a step back, surprised when he saw this; he knew Ethan could teleport himself, but he had no idea that the vamp could bring others with him.
Drake chuckled as he walked over to Jack's side, looking at the blood staining the grass with an amused look on his face.
"Rebecca has gotten better since I sparred with her last. Those little brats are not weak children anymore, and if they were to catch us by surprise, we could be in trouble."
He nodded in agreement, the others joining them, Elaine gripping his cloak as she looked at the blood as well.
"That was intense; I couldn't even follow along, and I have no idea how you can fight like that."
"You can't hold back on them anymore, Jack." Midnight said as she walked in front of him, giving him a look before handing him his helmet, which he had thrown aside earlier. "They will only grow more desperate, and next time will most likely try to seriously kill Elaine. I know you grew close while you were training them, but that is in the past."
He chose not to respond, knowing she was right as he slid his helmet back on. He hated wearing his helmet at night, but who knows how many more enemies they might run into before they successfully escaped. He looked behind them, the glow of the raging fire that was Silvith behind them, and they continued on their desperate flight from the vampires, living to fight another day and hopefully do something about the Nation of Blood before they took control of everything and killed everyone.