Mattias stood before Serenity, trying to steady his breath after narrowly avoiding her sword. He glanced around the alley, the rain still pouring down, mixing with the blood pooling from the fallen man. The girl in the burlap sack stirred slightly but remained unconscious.
"Look," Mattias began, raising his hands in a gesture of peace, "we got off on the wrong foot. Let's start over. My name is Mattias. I was following these guys because they looked suspicious."
Serenity's eyes narrowed, her sword still pointed at him. "And why should I believe you, vampire?"
"Because," Mattias said, taking a cautious step back, "I don't want any trouble. I just want to make sure the girl is safe."
Serenity's eyes flickered with recognition at the mention of the girl. "And why would you care about her safety?"
Mattias shrugged nonchalantly. "Call it a personal mission. Look, I'm not your enemy."
Ócalus, who had been observing silently, stepped forward. His keen eyes scanned Mattias, assessing him. "Serenity, perhaps we should hear him out. If he meant harm, he would have acted differently by now."
Serenity huffed but lowered her sword slightly. "Fine. But one wrong move and you're dead."
Mattias nodded, relief washing over him. "Thank you. Now, why are you after the girl?"
Serenity sheathed her sword but remained on guard. "We've been tracking a group of kidnappers. They've been targeting young women in several towns, and we believe this girl is their latest victim."
Ócalus added, "Her name is Tira. She's the daughter of a wealthy merchant. We were hired by the local adventurers' guild to rescue her."
Mattias's eyes widened. "That's... horrifying. I just thought these guys were common criminals."
Serenity nodded, her tone more composed yet guarded. "It's a bit more complicated than that. We can't afford any mistakes. We need to get her to safety and find out where the other victims are being held."
At that moment, a loud caw echoed through the alley. Mattias looked up to see the raven from earlier, now perched on Ócalus's shoulder. The bird eyed Mattias curiously before turning to Ócalus, who gave a small nod.
"This is Raven," Ócalus said, gesturing to the bird. "She's been my companion for a long time. Don't let her appearance fool you; she's a lot more than she seems."
Raven cawed again, almost as if in agreement, and Mattias couldn't shake the feeling that the bird was studying him.
Serenity's eyes hardened as she looked at Mattias. "Alright, vampire. If you were following them for any other reason, now's the time to come clean."
Mattias shifted uncomfortably but maintained his composure. "I overheard them saying they were waiting for someone to come pick up the girl. I wanted to stop them before that happened."
Serenity gave a wry smile. "Oh, so noble of you. Well, since you seem so keen on stopping them, you'll have no problem helping us take her back to safety."
Mattias blinked, caught off guard. "I... uh, well, I hadn't planned on—"
"Planned on what?" Serenity interrupted, her tone dripping with sarcasm. "Leaving her here after playing the hero? Or maybe you have better things to do than ensuring her safety?"
Mattias sighed, realizing he had no way out. "Fine, I'll help. But only because I want to make sure she's safe."
"Of course," Serenity replied with a mocking sweetness. "Now, let's get ready. You mentioned those thugs said they were waiting for someone to pick her up. We should set an ambush; whoever is picking her up must know where the other victims are as well."
Mattias suddenly interjected, "Actually, I have another idea."
Serenity raised an eyebrow, clearly unamused. "Oh? And what might that be?"
Mattias shook his head slightly eith a smirk on his face. "You'll see, just trust me. It'll be worth it."
Ócalus and Serenity exchanged glances but reluctantly agreed.
Serenity turned to Mattias, her gaze steely. "I'll stay close to Tira, ready to strike. Don't make me regret this."
She then turned to Ócalus. "Ócalus, find a vantage point with a clear line of sight. Raven will keep watch over Tira in the meantime."
The raven cawed again, as if understanding the assignment, and flew to a nearby perch with a clear view of the alley.
As they moved into their positions, the rain continued to fall, creating a tense atmosphere. Mattias couldn't help but feel a strange sense of camaraderie with this unlikely group. They might have been an unconventional party, but for now, they shared a common goal: to save Tira and stop the kidnappers.
As the minutes ticked by, the sound of footsteps echoed through the alley, signaling the arrival of the next wave of thugs. The ambush was set, and the real battle was about to begin.