12. Unto Rays of Light
Julius ran through the maze towards the ever closer light of the flames that hungrily consumed the manor he had just been inside not moments before. Stopping for a moment his breathing heavy he stared in horror at the burning building in front of him. clenching his hands into fists tightly he glanced behind him to see Drevan who was making sure none of the hunters weren't pursuing them.
"These bastards are going to pay." Julius spoke his voice captured by rage as Drevan drew closer. Keeping his eyes peeled on the flames that licked the air, the heat that was being emitted by them could be felt even from where the two stood. Flames that burned because of damned mortals.
"They are going to pay, yes. But not if we turn to ash in the process." Drevan spoke in a hurried voice as he pointed off towards the horizon. "The sun is starting to rise Julius, we need to get Jadamine and Angelica out of here and somewhere safe before the sun rises completely and turns us into something we would rather not be."
Julius took a calming breath as reasoning slowly began to return to his mind. Survive, How could he lose the most important thing he needed to be doing at the moment? And strangely enough, he wasn't worried about his own survival. He was worried about Angelica's. And her mothers.
Forcing his anger down a degree he looked back to Drevan as he let out a calming breath. "We have to get them to safety. If we want to make this unification official in the eyes of the parties involved." Julius spoke before glancing back to the flames for a moment longer. "Where did you last see them?"
"In the east yard, let's hurry...What Mathias had said has me unnerved greatly" Drevan said as he proceeded to take the lead running ahead of Julius as he went for the clearing. Trailing behind some to keep his eyes on the way they came from in case they were ambushed from behind again.
Upon catching up to Drevan, Julius stopped short as he saw the sight of Jadamine fighting one of the hunters by herself. Julius grabbed Drevan quickly pulling a symbol out of his pocket and placing it into the palm of his hand.
"You need to use this magical symbol and get Angelica out of her. She isn't meant to witness or be involved with combat!" Julius yelled to Drevan who nodded and quickly began to make his way towards Angelica who stood there in a shocked daze from the looks of it.
Before Drevan made it to the halfway point Mathias rushed out from behind Julius and tackled him to the ground from behind. Catching him completely off guard as he glanced up from the ground as he was pinned to the ground by the mortal. With a silver knife to the back of his neck. How did he manage to sneak up on him over his hearing?
"You are going to sit here and watch while we kill the head of the Xeres family. And then big boy Julius. You will most definitely be next." The voice of Mathias spoke into his ear as he glanced towards Drevan and Angelica. "And letting those two go will be well worth the killing of two head vampire honchos"
Gritting his teeth Julius tightened the grip on his elongated hunting knife as he lay there helpless as he watched Jadamine fight the scythe wielding hunter alone. Never had he felt so useless in a fight before. Especially one so important.
Angelica stood frozen, not out of fear but out of wonder as she watched her mother fight such an adversary. She had never seen her mother fight before and watching her move fluidly around the mans weapon caught her breath. Why did it captivate her so much?
Her attention was quickly drawn away from the fight as she felt a hand grab her wrist and begin pulling her away from the combat. Turning her gaze about to strike whoever it was she paused mid motion when she realized it was Drevan.
"Drevan! Where is Julius?!" Angelica yelled as he continued to move her farther from her mothers fight. Worried she began to look around as she saw Julius being pinned down by a hunter. Her breath catching in her throat as she made out the helpless look on his face.
"He is busy with his own problem! But more importantly we need to get you out of here Angelica!" Drevan yelled as she pulled herself away from him turning and facing him. The look on her face was the look of complete worry and fear. A look he never thought he would see on her face. Taking in his surroundings, and what he could do. Realizing that he could only help one of them with enough time to make a teleportation to wherever the symbol allowed. Who was he to save? Julius or the head of his house?
"We need to help them!" Angelica cried out moments before her mother cried out in agony, causing both of them to freeze with dread. Turning they looked and saw Jadamine impaled by the scythe blade that was wielded by the hunter. Who himself was covered in plenty of claw marks and was bleeding quite a bit.
Turning his gaze to the two he spun the scythe around with Jadamine still impaled upon the blade slamming her into the ground with a loud earthen thud. And more cries of agonizing pain. Drevan realizing the best course of action he could take. Slowly drew one of his revolvers and slowly aimed it right at Mathias.
Tears beginning to well up in his eyes with the decision he was to make. He silently cursed himself under his breath as anger turned to rage as he fanned the hammer of his revolver unloading all six bullets that were inside of it in the direction of Mathias. The gun shots ringing through the chaos of the night time air as he turned and grabbed Angelica who was frozen in place by dread. Dropping the revolver he pulled out the symbol he was given, and quickly spoke the incantation out loud as the two of them vanished into thin air. Leaving the chaos of the night behind them, and leaving Julius with a chance to escape.