The footsteps of the two women were barely audible against the cacophony as the clash between vampire knights and mercenaries echoed through the castle. Cassandra and Emma hurried together down the expansive halls, rushing toward their respective rooms. Their minds raced with a single objective: arm themselves and defend the clan.
"How did this happen, Emma? How did that Decker get so powerful?" The voice of Cassandra carried a sharp mix of frustration and concern, the scale of the attack clearly weighing on her.
Emma, her senses finely attuned to the chaos, replied with a trace of unease. "I'm not entirely certain, but there is an unmistakable darkness and malevolence emanating from that vampire. Do you think we should go back and help them? I don't think Decker and the people he came with would attack our family without supreme confidence in destroying us."
The sisters quickened their pace, their determination to protect their clan igniting a fierce resolve. "Who would have thought that Decker would have the audacity to attack the Crimson clan! First, we arm ourselves, and then we slaughter as many of these bastards as we can," Cassandra declared, her voice firm.
Emma nodded in agreement, her eyes reflecting the same steely determination. "I am with you, sister. Let us do everything in our power to defend our clan."
As they reached the end of the hall, they took a sharp right, running down another corridor. After a few minutes of running, they saw one of the castle's vampire knights engaged in a fierce battle with an enemy mercenary. They looked at each other and simultaneously nodded, recognizing an immediate opportunity to assist.
Emma took the lead, quickly shouting, "Knight, move out the way!"
The vampire knight quickly looked back toward Emma and instinctively did exactly what he was told, stepping aside to give her space. Closing the distance with incredible speed, Emma gracefully slid on her back, her feet striking the legs of the man with perfect precision. The force of her kick caused the mercenary to lose his balance and crash hard to the ground. Before he could lift himself up, Cassandra made her move.
She swiftly moved behind him, both her hands grabbing his head as she snapped his neck effortlessly.
The relieved vampire knight bowed respectfully. "Thank you for your aid, Lady Emma and Lady Cassandra."
"Do not mention it. How did the enemy breach the castle so quickly?" Cassandra inquired, her voice laced with urgent curiosity.
The knight replied immediately. "This one does not know, my Lady. It all happened in an instant. I only heard that the guards on the roof were silently taken out by a dark figure."
Both Cassandra and Emma exchanged a knowing glance. "Decker," they said in chilling unison.
"Knight, make your way to assist the children in their escape. Also, eliminate any enemy you encounter," Cassandra commanded, asserting the priority of the clan.
"Yes, my Lady," the knight acknowledged before swiftly departing to carry out his orders.
The two women pressed on, resuming their sprint toward their destination. When they swung open the door leading to another section of the vast castle, chaos greeted them. The air crackled with the clash of swords and the guttural shouts of battle. Everywhere they turned, the vampire knights fought valiantly and would have surely defeated the enemy if the mercenaries did not have the advantage of special armor.
Cassandra and Emma surveyed the grim scene, their eyes taking in the multitude of lifeless bodies strewn across the floor, both humans and vampires alike. The battle was fierce, but looking at the situation, it was evident that the Crimsons had the overall advantage. Their extensive training and discipline gave them the tactical edge against the enemy mercenaries. Still, it was a tough battle for both parties, with both sides locked in a grueling clash.
Cassandra and Emma surveyed the grim scene, their eyes taking in the multitude of lifeless bodies strewn across the floor, both humans and vampires alike. The battle was fierce, but looking at the situation, it was evident that the Crimsons had the overall advantage. Their extensive training and discipline gave them the tactical edge against the enemy mercenaries. Still, it was a tough battle for both parties, with both sides locked in a grueling clash.
The gaze of Emma fell upon a few fallen vampire knights, their swords discarded amidst the chaos. She bent down and quickly picked up two swords that were dropped by the fallen warriors.
"Sister, it is going to take too long to reach our chambers; let us make use of these knights' swords," she suggested practically. Emma then handed Cassandra a weapon. "Here, take it."
Cassandra nodded and accepted the offered sword, the cold steel feeling instantly familiar in her grip. "Let us dispatch these wretched bastards," she affirmed, her voice steely and lethal.
Armed with their newfound weapons, the sisters stepped forward to assist the other vampire knights. Cassandra and Emma immediately engaged the enemy with lethal grace. The clash of steel resonated through the air as they fought side by side, a newly formed, formidable duo in the heart of the siege.
====
On a lower floor, the maids Elena and Haven were engaged in a fierce battle with four merciless mercenaries. Luckily, these men did not have the specialized armor that Kilo possessed. However, the gear they wore was definitely not cheap.
The lithe form of Elena whirled through the chaos, her every movement infused with deadly grace. With a sudden burst of energy, she delivered a vicious kick to one of the mercenaries, a man clad in brown leather, sending him crashing into a row of nearby cabinets. The impact shattered glass and sent debris flying through the air with a resounding thud.
Unfortunately, victory was fleeting for Elena. In a devastating blink of an eye, another mercenary seized the opportunity for a surprise attack, driving his sword through her back. The room fell into a momentary hush, broken only by the ragged, agonizing breaths of the maid.
The abdominal area of the clothes of Elena was instantly dyed crimson. The mercenary who had stabbed her from behind tried to split her body in half by violently pulling the sword upward. But with fierce, desperate resolve, she clutched the sword that was protruding from her stomach, preventing the man from dealing the final, fatal upward blow.
Haven, who had been busy fighting two other mercenaries, saw her friend in immediate, desperate trouble. "No, Elena!" she cried out.
With a remarkable display of agility, she deftly evaded the simultaneous attacks of the two mercenaries she had been contending with. Afterward, she swiftly made her way toward the man who had stabbed Elena from behind.
The attacker was too preoccupied, remaining fixated on finishing off his victim and completely unaware that an angry vampire was coming his way. He wanted to kill Elena as quickly as possible, but before he could act, Haven arrived. She came from behind and delivered an explosive kick, a surge of power that connected with bone shattering force against the man's side, breaking his ribs and leaving him gasping for air as he staggered away.
Haven then used the opportunity to pull out the sword that was lodged in the back of Elena. She gazed at her companion, her face etched with profound concern. "Are you okay?"
Elena clutched her stomach. She managed to force a faint smile despite the pain. "I am fine, thank you, Haven." Her voice was laced with sincere gratitude. Haven then offered the sword, but the wounded maid shook her head. "No, I think it's more useful in your hands."
The vampire then turned her attention to the man she had kicked earlier into the cabinets, who had finally regained his composure. Her gaze pierced through him like a blade. Time seemed to slow down as they both looked at each other, the calm facade of Elena utterly concealing the tempest of fury that raged inside her heart. Without wasting another moment, she decided to bolt in his direction.
Meanwhile, Haven prepared herself to take on the remaining two active mercenaries.
The man had enough time to see the maid charging toward him. He desperately thrusted his sword forward, aiming to impale her face. However, the vampire speed of Elena allowed her to deftly dodge the attack. The steel did scrape along her cheek, drawing a line of blood, but she was determined to kill her enemy. The nails on her right hand extended like long, straight claws, which she used to thrust through the mouth of the man, killing him instantly and sickeningly.
Elena picked up the fallen blade and made her way toward the man Haven had incapacitated. The mercenary who had impaled her from behind still lay on the floor, wincing in unbearable pain and unable to move his body.
The maid stood towering over him. Her expression remained calm, but a primal fury burned deep within her eyes. "Please spare me," the man pleaded, his voice cracking with terror.
Elena watched the fear etch itself into his trembling form, his gaze locked onto her in a mix of dread and resignation. She looked at him with eyes as steady as the ocean. "I do not know if you are brave or stupid," her voice carried a chilling resolve, each word dripping with quiet intensity. "But remember this in your next life: do not make the same mistake again."
While she dealt with her adversary, Haven continued her intense struggle against the remaining two mercenaries. The men could not find an opening as the vampire parried each attack with precision and skill. Witnessing the brutal demise of his partner, one of the attackers felt a surge of reckless rage. He abandoned his comrade to face Haven alone, pivoting to charge directly toward the injured Elena. The thud of his boots echoed through the room as he closed the distance, every fiber of his being focused on a finishing blow.
Sensing his approach, Elena calmly prepared for the clash. In a display of desperate timing, the man leaped into the air, gripping his hilt with both hands and striking down vertically with all his might.
The maid was ready. She intercepted the downward momentum, then twisted her wrist to expertly maneuver her own blade. The redirection caused the mercenary's sword to slide uselessly to the side, leaving him completely exposed for a counter attack. The room seemed to hold its breath as the two combatants locked eyes for a split second, the air thick with anticipation.
In that fleeting moment, the iris in the eyes of Elena began to glow with a fiery crimson hue. Without hesitation, she wasted no time sending her enemy to the afterlife, unleashing a devastating counter attack.
Her sword, guided by a lethal precision, cut through the air with haunting swiftness. In a single, fluid motion, Elena swung her blade horizontally, slicing through the neck of the man and separating his head from his shoulders. A crimson fountain erupted from the gaping wound, spraying blood into the air like a macabre display. She quickly grabbed the shoulders of the corpse, opened her mouth, and drank the warm, fresh blood from the lifeless body to fuel her recovery.
While Elena dealt with her adversaries, Haven continued her intense battle with the final remaining mercenary. They exchanged furious blows, their steel clashing with visceral intensity. "Looks like we are even," the man said with a defiant grin.
Haven maintained a stern expression. "Not even close," she replied coolly, pouring more strength into her subsequent attacks. The man struggled to parry each blow, his hands taking a visible toll from the relentless assault.
After a series of powerful strikes, he could no longer hold on. An ugly grimace twisted his face as he ground his teeth. The final, precise strike of Haven knocked the sword clean out of his hand, leaving him utterly vulnerable. Without hesitation, the vampire thrusted the blade through his leather armor and straight into his chest. The man wore a shocked, terrified look as he touched the hilt protruding from his torso. Blood poured from his mouth before he fell backward, dying instantly.
Haven walked over to her companion. "How are you feeling?" she asked, concern etched on her face.
The whole upper body of Elena was covered in the blood of the enemy. The grievous wound she had received on her back had already closed up as a result of her regenerative ability, fueled by the blood she had consumed. "I am fine now, thank you for asking," she replied.
"This attack from these mercenaries was very unexpected. I wonder who the leader of the group is," Haven said in a flat tone, her mind already shifting to the strategic threat.
"I wonder if they attacked us because the Lord is not here. Do you think our Lord is dead and that is why they're attacking us? If so, then John might be..." The voice of Elena trailed off, filled with maternal concern for the boy.
Haven cautioned against jumping to conclusions. "Let us not make assumptions without proof just yet. Perhaps they attacked us because our Lord is currently away. For now, let us first deal with these intruders and send them to meet their maker. We can ask questions later." She walked back to the man she had just killed and pulled the sword from his chest.
"It's time to hunt."