Viole's eyes never left the vampire's face, his grip on Vengeance tightening. Keitaro stood beside him, his dagger at the ready.
"You're a long way from home," Viole said, his voice low and even.
The vampire smiled, her eyes glinting with amusement. "I'm exactly where I want to be," she said.
Viole's eyes narrowed. "What do you want?"
The vampire's smile grew wider. "I want to play a game," she said.
Keitaro frowned. "What kind of game?"
The vampire's eyes flicked to Keitaro. "A game of survival," she said. "You see, I've been...hunting, shall we say, in this city. And I've grown bored."
Viole's grip on Vengeance tightened. "You're going to regret saying that."
The vampire laughed, a cold, mirthless sound. "I doubt it," she said.
Without warning, she vanished, leaving Viole and Keitaro staring at the empty space where she had stood.
"What the...?" Keitaro breathed.
Viole's eyes scanned the room, searching for any sign of the vampire. "I can't sense her Ember Essence" he whispered.
Suddenly, the lights flickered and died, plunging the room into darkness.
Viole's heart pounded in his chest. "Keitaro, stay close."
But there was no answer.
"Keitaro!" Viole shouted, his voice echoing off the walls.
But the only response was silence.