Chapter 6: Clash in the Square
The village square was alive with tension. Torches blazed, casting flickering shadows across the faces of the gathered villagers. At the forefront stood the paladin, her radiant armor polished to a gleam, her sword resting against her shoulder. She scanned the area with sharp eyes, her presence commanding silence from the murmuring crowd.
Draven watched from the room's single window, Selene standing beside him. Her violet eyes glinted in the dim light, calm but focused.
"She's hunting you," Selene said, as if it weren't obvious.
Draven's lips twisted into a grim smile. "She doesn't know when to quit. I should've left her to the shadow beast."
Selene gave him a sidelong glance. "And yet you didn't. Interesting choice for a vampire."
"Don't read too much into it," Draven said, turning away from the window. "What's your plan, then? You seem to know a lot about me and her."
Selene folded her arms, leaning against the wall. "The question is, what's your plan? You could try slipping out of the village unnoticed, but with her leading the charge, it won't be easy. Or…" She let the word hang in the air.
"Or I face her," Draven finished, his claws flexing. "Settle this once and for all."
Selene shrugged. "You could, though you'd be playing into her hands. She's hoping for a fight."
Draven scowled, pacing the small room. The paladin was a problem, no doubt, but the bigger issue was the crowd. If he fought her here, it would turn the entire village against him—and he didn't need that kind of heat.
He glanced at Selene. "You're awfully calm about all this. Why are you even helping me?"
She smirked. "Call it professional curiosity. Besides, if we're going to survive in this world, we'll need to work together. Consider this a trial run."
"Some trial," Draven muttered. He turned back to the window, watching as the paladin raised her sword, its tip pointing directly at the tavern.
"Vampire!" she called, her voice ringing out across the square. "I know you're here. Come out and face me, or I'll drag you out myself."
The villagers murmured, their fear and anger palpable.
Selene tilted her head. "She's not bluffing. If you don't act, she'll start tearing this place apart to find you."
Draven let out a slow breath. "Fine. Let's get this over with."
---
The tavern door creaked as Draven stepped out into the square, his cloak billowing around him. The villagers recoiled at the sight of him, whispers of "vampire" and "monster" rippling through the crowd.
The paladin's eyes narrowed. "Draven Nightshade," she said, her voice laced with authority. "You've left a trail of death and chaos behind you. It ends here."
Draven raised an eyebrow. "Death and chaos? Last I checked, I saved your life. Twice."
She tightened her grip on her sword. "Don't twist this. You're a creature of darkness. It's only a matter of time before you turn on the innocent."
"Maybe," Draven said, smirking. "But not tonight. And not here."
"Enough talk," she snapped, stepping forward. "You will answer for your crimes!"
Before she could strike, Selene stepped out of the shadows, her presence freezing the paladin in her tracks.
"You're quick to judge," Selene said, her voice smooth and cutting. "Have you considered that not everything is as black and white as you think?"
The paladin's eyes flicked to Selene, her expression hardening. "And who are you? Another creature of the night?"
Selene smirked, ignoring the insult. "Let's just say I'm someone who knows the truth about your so-called justice. You're wasting your time hunting him."
Draven crossed his arms, watching the exchange with interest.
"Stay out of this," the paladin growled.
Selene took a step closer, her violet eyes gleaming. "I could, but then you'd miss the point. He's not your enemy. The real threats are out there—monsters far worse than him, creatures that would swallow this village whole if given the chance. Maybe focus on them instead of chasing shadows."
The paladin hesitated, doubt flickering across her face.
Draven seized the moment. "She's right," he said, his tone serious. "You've seen what's out there—the shadow beast, the dungeons. I'm not the one you should be worried about."
The crowd murmured, their fear starting to shift to confusion.
The paladin lowered her sword slightly, her expression conflicted. "Even if that's true, you're still dangerous. How can I trust you?"
Draven smirked. "You don't have to. But if you're smart, you'll let this go. We've got bigger problems to deal with than each other."
The paladin's grip on her sword tightened, but after a long moment, she lowered it fully. "This isn't over," she said, her voice low. "If you hurt anyone, I'll be back. And next time, there won't be a truce."
Draven inclined his head. "Looking forward to it."
The paladin turned on her heel, signaling the villagers to disperse. One by one, they backed away, their fear lingering but their anger dissipating.
As the square emptied, Selene turned to Draven, a sly smile on her lips. "Not bad. You actually managed to avoid a fight."
"Thanks for the assist," Draven said, his tone grudging.
Selene shrugged. "Like I said, trial run. But don't get comfortable. She'll be watching you—and so will others."
Draven raised an eyebrow. "Others?"
Selene's expression darkened. "The systems. The dungeons. The forces behind them. They're watching us, and they won't stop until they get what they want."
Draven's smirk faded. "And what do they want?"
Selene met his gaze, her violet eyes burning with intensity. "To see who survives—and who doesn't."