XVIII. Stranger Danger

Everyone took a step back. A violent air dust momentarily enveloped the area. Her hair flew out like an ash cloud spooking everyone. As she looked at the four of us with her eyes void of life, Kounna activated the chupacabra's speed just in case. Kounna never saw a young monster like the one before him. She was younger than all of the ones he faced off before which made him a little on the edge. As the girl convulsed, Kounna placed his hand both on the gun and sword.

In a snap the girl leaped, it was fast that Syun couldn't track it but Kounna could. He took out his sword and held it before the children like he was stopping them. The girl appeared about an inch away from the sword. Her lifeless eyes stared at Kounna, it shifted her target from the kids to him. Without skipping a beat, Kounna grabbed his gun and fired away at the girl. The girl dodged the bullets on instinct. Kounna stepped back drawing the girl away from the kids.

The girl charged at him with murderous pace. Kounna kept shooting at her, he only swung his sword when she got near. Syun was stuck in her place, their movements were so fast that she could only make out blurs of Kounna and the girl. As the two kept fighting Kounna continued his pattern of attack until the girl found an opening. She pushed Kounna away, he landed a pretty far distance. She jumped towards him, Kounna grappled away.

He arrived next Syun. Kounna tried his best to catch his breath.

"Are you okay?" Syun asked Kounna.

"I'm fine." He answered. "Take the kids and run." Kounna added.

Syun saw the girl just standing. "I don't think that the girl is in control of her actions." Syun insisted.

"Well as far as I can see she is very much in control." Kounna sharply replied.

"Kounna we have to-"

Before she could say anything Kounna took out his grappling gun and grappled away. He zipped towards her, as he prepared for impact Kounna positioned his legs for a drop kick. The girl crossed her arms across her chest to shield herself. They bump into each other. Kounna was knocked a little back but the girl didn't even budge.

Kounna picked himself up. He switched his grapple for his sword. Without waiting he thrusted the sword yet the girl stepped back. Kounna was determined in his attacks, his eyes projected unease not because of the situation but because his enemy's eye is still void of emotion. He didn't let it bother him as he continued to hack and slash but the girl continually dodged him effortlessly. Kounna thrusted his sword towards the girl. The girl dodged the sword, she then grabbed Kounna's arm. Kounna felt the tight grasp, a little more pressure and she could crush his arm.

They had a short stare down. The girl's eyes are starting to spook Kounna. But before he could let it get him, Kounna hit the girl's nose with his fist. He added with another by using his knee to smack her jaw. The felt the pain as she let out a small groan. She threw Kounna overhead. Kounna landed with a rough thud.

Before he could stand up the girl was already on top of him. Her fangs were out in full display. She could bite immediately but she only stood there. Before any of them could move a loud thud was heard. It was Syun, she smacked the girl with the stock of her machine gun. Kounna's face displayed disbelief. Soon the girl's eyes showed a hint of confusion. The sight of Kounna surprised her, she let out a little shriek and jumped away from him. Both Kounna and Syun were left puzzled by what just happened.

The girl looked at her hands. "How long has it been?" She muttered, her voice sounded like a cute brat.

"What did you do?" Kounna asked Syun.

"As far as I know, I only smacked her with a gun." Syun replied as she looked at the situation they're in.

The girl looked at the two of them, this time she didn't mind the kids. Her gaze was filled with visible confusion. Kounna eased off for a minute but his hand was still tightly gripped on his sword. Syun was at ease but her gun's safety was off. The girl moved her eyes from Kounna to Syun until she stared at Syun a little longer. In an instant the girl was right in front of Syun, everyone was caught off guard. The girl placed both her hands on Syun's head. In that moment both of them froze, Kounna was not sure what to do.

The girl took her hand away from Syun's head and cleared her throat. "I'm sorry for what happened earlier. I am Elizabetha Klausdottir." She introduced herself as she curtsied.

"What did you do to her?" Kounna asked in a threatening tone.

"I simply went inside her mind to get the information I need. And I have to say I was not expecting to be asleep that long."

"I should believe that because you said so?" Kounna sarcastically responded.

"No, I used her mind because elves are more resilient than humans. If I were to use your mind instead of hers I'll be shredding every neuron you have. Besides she has lived longer than you, so there's that." Elizabetha responded with sarcasm.

Kounna simply growled.

"You're her. One of the thousand year old twins?" Syun asked Elizabetha.

"Oh, my memories leaked, how clumsy me. Back in the day I had complete control of my powers. I guess this is what you get for sleeping in a box for so long." Elizabetha replied.

"The thousand year old twins. That old story about the half vampire twins? One's a guy, the other's a beautiful maiden. Are you sure that she's not lying." Kounna asked Syun.

"Well first of all I'm flattered for calling me a beautiful maiden. Second, I'm not lying. I was trapped here by my brother, who I trapped as well." Elizabetha interjected.

"Um… if it's not disrespectful, can I ask why you took the form of a child?" Syun asked respectfully.

"My brother's magic was unexpectedly strong. I thought I could break out of it easily but it was consuming my conscious magic. So I tried to break out using my unconscious magic, which means I have to basically sleep. And well it took a toll on me and it seemed like my form sucked up all the damage." Elizabetha answered.

Kounna was still skeptical and Syun was curious. Elizabetha looked around to find her brother but there were no other coffins in the room. She closed her eyes for a bit. She projected a short pulse of energy which was invisible to the naked eye.

Syun felt the pulse lightly tap her. "Elizabetha? Something wrong?" Syun asked the dhampir.

Elizabetha was silent. Then with an unbelievable speed she took off. Kounna rushed to chase her. As he began to run Syun grabbed the kids and followed Kounna. Their small chase led them outside the cave. Syun and Kounna paused to catch their breaths. Before she could recover and ask what just happened, Syun's phone rang. She picked it up and answered the phone.

"Are you still on Puerto Dito?" Yuna on the other end of the line asked.

"Yes but I'm not inside the city." Syun replied.

"Okay, I want you to run away from there as much as possible." Yuna instructed her friend. Her distress could be heard through her tone.

Before she could ask, Syun looked at both the kids. Their eyes were filled with tears. She then looked at Kounna and Elizabetha shared the same furrowed brow look. Their expression worried her as she asked her friend. "Why's that?"

"The entire city was declared as a state of emergency. The city's under attack."

Syun was shocked. She turned her head to the direction her companions are facing. In the distance a dark cloud covered the city with creatures soaring above the burning town.