Chapter 9
"Reconsider this fight. If you do what Kurtis wants, it could lead to serious consequences," Fleur warned.
"Let him have his fight. Even if he wins, he won't pose a threat to my authority."
"That's not the point," Fleur explained. "What worries me is if he can defeat you, Kurtis might seize or alter the allegiance of all the vampire clans."
Gianna stood idle, deep in contemplation, her gaze fixed upon her father's tomb in the dark of the night. The stars, scattered across the sky, seemed to clandestinely witness the conversation between the two vampires. The graveyard sprawled before them, reserved exclusively for the Rathenau bloodline family, with one of its most distinguished members being Gianna's father – a figure of great significance and deeply cared for by his daughter.
"You're asking me not to fight with Kurtis?" Gianna questioned.
Fleur snorted. "I didn't ask or forbid you to fight with anyone. I was merely cautioning you about Kurtis."
The atmosphere became tense. The assembly of vampire clans intensified when it pertained to their dominion. It was unusual for Gianna to disagree with her friend; this time, she objected to Fleur's words. She felt humiliated by that warning, even though Fleur knew that Gianna wouldn't easily succumb to any member of her clan.
Nevertheless, Gianna has personally faced vampires from opposing clans who had rebelled against her father's rule. When it comes to those who oppose her family, Gianna does not hesitate to confront and exterminate them.
"Fine. Then I will persist in this quarrel. If he loses I will not hesitate to expel him from the Rathenau members," Gianna declared.
Fleur twitched a smile. "And what if you lose?"
The lady vampire clan leader grew somber; her eyes darkened.
"Nothing can annihilate me."
The moonlight painted an ethereal glow over the scene, casting elongated shadows as Kurtis and Gianna faced off. The air seemed to thicken with anticipation, and the nocturnal ambiance heightened the intensity of their silent exchange. Kurtis, his gaze unwavering, tried to decipher the unreadable expression on Gianna's face. The red rose brooch on her chest seemed to flicker with a subtle, almost mystical radiance. In the hideous tranquility of the moonlit night, the atmosphere crackled with the unspoken tension between the vampire adversaries, as they stood in the quiet dance of power beneath the celestial luminescence.
"Gianna, honestly, I was apprehensive about you. But, I remain unsatisfied with yesterday's encounter," Kurtis admitted.
The vampire lady responded with a mocking snort. "You don't need to engage in a fight just to gauge your strength against me."
Kurtis sensed Gianna's surroundings expanding, signifying her acceptance of all challenges. Her words alone intensified Kurtis's discomfort. They stood amidst a vast expanse, surrounded by the scorched tombs of vampires. The distinction lay in the fact that these were merely monuments; there was nothing beneath the ground or within the coffins of the charnel house.
"Before we begin, I express my gratitude for your acceptance, Gianna. It is a great honor."
In a swift transformation, Kurtis underwent a profound change. While he was naturally physically handsome in his normal state, the process of preparing for battle turned Kurtis into a true blood-sucking creature. His teeth became more tapered, with the two incisors pointed forward. Both of his eyes widened, glowing a bright red as if they were about to pop out of their sockets.
Kurtis rapidly shot up to confront Gianna, who suddenly appeared in his line of sight. There was no fear in her demeanor, creatures like these were easy for Gianna to dismantle. She had no intention of letting the fight conclude any time soon. With a quick dart, she skillfully evaded Kurtis' long black claws.
In a split second, Gianna positioned herself right behind Kurtis. This type of battle was well within the tactics of the vampire lady–efficiency over expending unnecessary energy. Kurtis pursued, attempting to seize Gianna's body to crush it, but unfortunately, he fell short.
Kurtis let out a roar that made Fleur, who was watching from a distance, wince.
"Stop playing around, my Lady! Did you deliberately let me tire myself out so quickly?" he demanded.
Gianna offered a bitter smile. "I've faced your kind before, and I don't fight on your terms."
"Just do it the way you dealt with my kind!"
Kurtis, in frustration, jumped high, endeavoring to drop himself onto Gianna.
"I won't sacrifice my clan members," Gianna responded.
"Nonsense! I'll crush you right now!" Kurtis bluffs from above.
Beneath Kurtis, Gianna lifted her head. "Disintegrate."
Suddenly, Kurtis's body weakened and fell, succumbing to a sacred word uttered by Gianna.
The sharp-toothed creature, embodying the archetype of a nightmarish vampire, instilled dread with its powerful and threatening demeanor, and lay crumpled and defenseless. Kurtis fell on his stomach before Gianna, his body trembling. Gianna regarded him with a sneer and menacing eyes.
"Enough, Kurtis. You're just wasting your energy," she declared.
Kurtis slowly ascended from the ground, feeling a numbness from the impact of that sacred word. The partly overgrown expanse rustled, and a gust of wind swept unpredictably through the surroundings. The wind introduced an air of uncertainty, affecting not only Gianna but also Fleur, who was observing the intense battle between them.
"I concede your victory, but you might be astonished if I retaliate."
A silver athame materialized abruptly, protruding from beneath Kurtis' cloak. The athame like the wind soared with such velocity that its trajectory became imperceptible.
Gianna gazed intently. She could ascertain the malevolent nature of the athame, a potent threat to vampires. In an instant, the engraved blade pierced into her abdomen. Luck favored Gianna as it narrowly missed her heart.
Fleur's eyes grew wide, her heart pounding in alarm as she sensed something awry with her best friend. Catching Gianna before she hit the ground, Fleur acted swiftly. Without closing the distance, she extended her hand, sending Kurtis flying tens of meters away.
"You cursed wretch! You're gonna regret messing with her!"
Fleur refrained from extracting the athame lodged in Gianna's upper stomach. Aware of its sinister history, once wielded by the vampire hunter who had slain the Rathenau family's grandfather, she knew that forcibly removing the blade would result in fatal bleeding, and risking Gianna's life.
"Take a breath. If you need my blood, it's yours," Fleur reassured, soothing Gianna, who responded with a pained, subdued voice.