The executioner brandished the carving knife in the air, the setting sun illuminating the silvery surface on it. Two other knights forced Gabriel's mouth open and the executioner bent effortlessly to do his job.
"You don't have to see this My Lady," Jophiel said, her head bent low. She was worried for Elena's safety in the multitude of vampires. Out here, no vampire cared if she was a princess or a bastard's wife!
Elena's view was masked by the executioner's broad back but she could see Gabriel wriggle in the chair until two pearls dropped on the floor blood stained.
"That's enough!" The king ordered.
The executioner backed away and let everyone see the fangless prince. His lips were painted red and in place of his fangs were empty bleeding spaces and a jaw!
"You're a long way from home princess," Elena heard someone say. She whipped her head to that side and found him staring daggers at her. His skin was far much paler than any she had seen.
"I'm sorry if I offended you," she offered when the man couldn't take his bloody eyes off her.
Jophiel held her hand. "We need to leave right now!"
Left with no choice, Elena walked past the stalker who followed her with his eyes until she was out of sight. Jophiel led her through the alley to the back door but they spotted the same man from before standing in front.
Jophiel led her back but someone else appeared to block their way back to the square. This one looked a bit younger and strong. His claws grew long and he started walking towards them in a steady pace.
Elena swallowed the lump in her throat when she spotted the claws. Jophiel had warned her but her stubbornness led her to this. Who would she blame now?
"Untie him!" The king ordered and left. The knights worked on the straps and when Gabriel was free, his eyes searched for those blue ones at the same spot he had seen her last. Strangely, she was nowhere to be seen.
He tried picking her scent but it was faint. Now fangless, he made his way through the cursing crowd. A stone or two would be hailed at him but he was too occupied with Elena's scent to notice it. His once pretty face was now painted in his own blood!
Elena was caught by the older vampire and Jophiel by the younger. She tried to kick him but to no avail. The vampire's grip was iron compared to her human feminine strength. He pinned her on the rough wall which earned a scratch on her skin. Her usually intoxicating scent of blood filled the air turning the vampire's eyes a shade redder.
"Do you know what we do to princesses like you?" He asked, the breath coming from his mouth nearly suffocating Elena.
"I'll have my way with you first and see what you're made of beneath your royal skirts before I suck your royal blood dry!"
Elena freed her hand from his grip momentarily and slapped him across his eyes with her slightly long nails. He let out a shriek and let go of her as he rubbed his eyes in pain.
"You bloody whore!" He cursed. And just when Elena was about to flee, he caught her leg by surprise. She landed flat on her stomach, her whole body nubbed in a spasm of pain. And as if that was not enough, the man sat on her and landed a hot slap across her face. She could feel the metallic taste of her own blood in her mouth.
Jophiel wasn't having an easier time either. This vampire was stronger and faster. After receiving a few blows, she was down on the rough alley still struggling with everything she had. The vampire tore her garment and pinned her hands above her head.
He hungrily suck her breasts as she wriggled underneath him, now overpowered. Her eyes were filled with disgust at the very presence of a vampire on top of her. If only she had...
"You two are enjoying yourselves!" Came a voice from the end of the alley. Both vampires halted in their action to look at whoever dared interrupt them.
"Pretend you saw nothing and keep walking bastard," the older vampire hissed.
The stranger chuckled lightly and placed a sword on the wall. "I wish I could. Bastard I might be. Maybe your claws are sharper than mine but are they sharper than a sword?"
His face turned serious. "Let the ladies go or else you'll regret being purebreds!"
The vampires exchanged glances before they stood up, their claws long and fangs bared. The stranger rolled his eyes. "Same old strategy to scare children," he scoffed.
The vampires lurched at him in great speed and Elena seized the opportunity to check on Jophiel. She was still sprawled on the ground as if lifeless, her eyes staring blankly at the gathering clouds. A pool of blood was collecting quick around her!
"Jophiel?!" Elena called and noticed the blood around her neck region. She inspected her and saw where the vampire had sunk his fangs on her neck!
The stranger was fast and precise. With every leap the vampires made to attack him, he'd dodge and have a slice of their flesh. The vampires were overpowered quickly with his strategy. They now lay unmoving, the older one with no hands and the younger one holding his intestines with his remaining hand.
He walked towards them as if he had all the time in the world.
"You knew she was a princess and went ahead to attack her?" He asked, his sword placed on the older vampire's neck.
Still in pain, the older vampire managed to lift his eyes. He opened his reddened mouth and spat disgustingly at Darion.
"Not a nice way for a death wish." He walked beside him in his knelt position and slit his throat. The vampire fell down in a pool of his own blood.
Darion walked to the other vampire and drove his sword through his chest from the rear. He split him up to the throat and wiped his sword with his clothes before he pushed his lifeless body to the ground.
"Darion, My Lady," he introduced himself to a worried Elena.
"She needs help," Elena pointed, trying to lift Jophiel from the ground. Darion sheathed his sword and effortlessly picked Jophiel from the ground.