The night had fallen heavily around Blackthorn, its oppressive silence broken only by the soft rustle of leaves and the occasional creak of the old manor. The moon hung low, casting pale light over the darkened grounds, as if the world itself held its breath, waiting.
Liora wandered the shadowed gardens, her thoughts tangled in unease. The manor had been too quiet since Dante had retreated to its darker corners. His absence, though expected, left a hollow ache in her chest. She tightened her cloak against the cool night air, but the growing sense of being watched sent a shiver down her spine.
A shadow shifted near the gnarled trees ahead, drawing her gaze. "Who's there?" she called, her voice shaking despite her attempt at composure.
A cold laugh echoed through the night. "Did you think you were safe, little dove?" The figure emerged, tall and gaunt, with hollow eyes that glinted with malice. His deathly pale face broke into a grin, revealing razor-sharp fangs. "It's always the ones who don't belong that attract the most attention."
Liora's breath hitched. Her hand slipped to the dagger Dante had insisted she carry, its cold hilt grounding her against the rising tide of fear. "Stay back," she warned, her voice trembling.
The vampire chuckled darkly. "How precious. Do you think that blade will save you?"
Without warning, he lunged. His speed was blinding, his claws aiming for her throat. Liora barely dodged, stumbling back as his nails tore through the fabric of her sleeve, grazing her skin. A sharp pain lanced through her arm, and she cried out.
The rogue hissed, his smirk widening. "You'll make this too easy."
He struck again, faster this time. Liora managed to parry with the dagger, the blade nicking his cheek. The sight of his blackened blood only enraged him further. He snarled, baring his fangs as he drove her against a tree, the force knocking the breath from her lungs.
Panic surged through her. "No! Stay away!" she gasped, her grip tightening on the dagger.
Before he could deliver the final blow, a shadow descended with blinding speed. Dante collided with the rogue, the force of his attack sending the other vampire sprawling. His voice was a low growl, cold and deadly. "She's under my protection. You'll regret touching her."
The rogue recovered swiftly, hissing like a cornered beast. "Blackwood," he spat, wiping blood from his mouth. "Always playing the noble guardian. But even you can't protect her from what's coming."
Dante's eyes glowed crimson in the moonlight, his fangs bared. "Try me."
The two vampires clashed in a feral dance of speed and power, their blows reverberating through the garden like thunder. Dante dodged the rogue's vicious strikes with calculated precision, countering with brutal force. Liora could only watch, her heart pounding as the fight unfolded before her.
The rogue fought like a creature desperate to survive, his claws raking through the air. One swipe caught Dante's shoulder, tearing through his shirt and drawing blood. Dante didn't flinch. Instead, he grabbed the rogue by the throat, slamming him against a tree with enough force to splinter the bark.
"You dare challenge me here?" Dante snarled, his voice vibrating with fury. "You're nothing but a shadow of what you once were."
The rogue laughed, his voice ragged but defiant. "And you're nothing but a fool blinded by your own rules."
With a surge of inhuman strength, the rogue broke free, his claws ripping into Dante's side. Dante staggered but recovered quickly, retaliating with a savage punch that sent the rogue sprawling to the ground. The fight raged on, their movements a blur of violence and speed.
Liora's pulse raced as the rogue gained the upper hand for a moment, throwing Dante to the ground and pinning him. The rogue's fangs gleamed as he leaned closer, growling, "You can't protect her forever."
Dante's response was a roar of fury. He drove his knee into the rogue's chest, flipping him with raw strength, and delivered a brutal strike to his face. Blood sprayed across the ground as the rogue hissed in agony.
Just as Dante prepared to deliver the killing blow, the rogue threw his head back and let out a piercing whistle. The sound echoed through the garden, chilling in its intent.
Liora's breath caught as shadows began to stir at the edges of the garden. Figures—more vampires—emerged from the darkness, their eyes glowing like embers in the night.
Dante's expression darkened, his gaze flickering to Liora. "Run," he commanded, his voice sharp and unyielding.
"But—"
"Now, Liora!"
Her heart thundered as she turned and ran, the sounds of the fight fading behind her. As she fled toward the manor, she couldn't shake the dread pooling in her chest. She glanced back once, catching a glimpse of Dante standing alone against the encroaching vampires.
The last thing she heard before the shadows swallowed the garden was his voice, a growl filled with defiance and fury. "Come and face me."