Rubbing his chin, Miro now stared at the auburn haired toddler cowering before him. Lynne Turner was proving to be even more powerful than he thought.
After successfully returning to his castle, with his prizes in tow, Miro had gone about the process of turning the young wizard. What he hadn't counted on was the child erecting a barrier preventing him from touching her. Despite both physical and magical assaults the child's barrier remained intact. Still he could tell she was beginning to tire. The sound of someone entering now diverted the vampires attention. "Ann?"
The child vampire now gazed at her master, a worried look upon her face. Miro, sensing something was amiss now approached, taking a knee as he gazed into her wide eyes. "What is wrong," he asked softly. "Is it Wyatt?" A single stomp was now the answer the child assassin provided. Miro nodded, understanding that Ann wasn't concerned for Wyatt's safety but for other reasons.
"Hes already planning on replacing me isn't he?" A another stomp now echoed eerily through the room. Miro simply smirked,turning from Ann. "As expected," he grinned. "The boy is truely worthy of the Tepes name."
Ann was confused, stunned to hear her master so nonchalantly dismissing his sons coup attempt. Turning back to Ann the vampire lord now noted the confusion on her youthful face. "You seem confused," he stated. "It is fine, allow me to explain. As we speak Selene is performing the ritual to sacrifice the other child in order to regain her lichhood. Once that is done we shall have a powerful lich in our service."
Ann simply tilted her head, the child did not have a mind for diplomacy. "Even if she fails," Miro continued. "The fact that our people helped one of the liches has earned their trust. We can count on them as allies for the foreseeable future. No matter what happens we have strengthened the vampire nation."
Ann still seemed unsure, frowning up at Miro. "You are concerned for my safety," he asked, to which she simply stomped once. "I understand. But remember, I am no ordinary vampire. It takes more than silver and magic to defeat me. Besides, even if I fall I shall rise again."
Miro simply smirked, seeing Ann looking surprised by his statement. "You didn't know did you," he grinned. "Yes little Ann if my body is destroyed I can return. It is a skill my grandfather possessed, a skill that is most difficult to learn. It also is skill I have passed on to others. Myself, Hannibal, Donovan, and you."
Ann gawked, numbly pointing to herself, causing Miro to chuckle. "You had no idea," he smirked. "I couldn't tell you at the time but I recognized just how special you are. That is why I do not fear the wizards. Even if we fall this night Ann we shall rise like a Phoenix from the ashes to claim our rightful place as rulers of this land."
"My Lord!"
Miro and Ann turned as the vampire soldier now burst through the chamber door. "We are under attack!" Miro and Ann nodded, the battle was about to begin.
Soldiers now stood in formation, gazing at the heavy wooden door. Whatever was trying to breech the door of Dracula's castle was large. Gritting their teeth, the vampire soldiers now readied themselves. Guns were loaded, spears and shields in phalanx, swords and shields held at the ready. They would lay down their lives to protect their castle.
An explosion of iron and wood now caused the vampires to shield themselves. As the dust settled the vampires now gazed in confusion at the trio of mechanized suits before them.
"Let em have it," Ann bellowed. Stephanie and Megan now turned their suits weapons upon the vampires, unleashing their silver coated munitions on the vampire army. Screams of pain now echoed through the hall as vampires burst into flame.
"Attack," a vampire now called. Although momentarily stunned, the vampires now turned on Ann and her friends, unleashing their weapons on the mechanized suits. For years vampires had upgraded their armies, intermixed between the medieval and modern. Now they brought their modern weaponry down upon the invaders, mortars, gunfire, and rockets now rained down on Ann and the others, causing the suits to stumble in place.
Thw vampires simply smiled, pressing the attack. They were not some outdated army, easily bested by modern warfare. They had changed with the times adapting as time progressed. They just weren't prepared for what most of them believed to be legend.
Leaping over Megan's large suit, Akira now unsheathed his katana as he glared at the advancing army. With but one mighty swing the kitsune now beheaded a group of soldiers before glaring at the contingent of others. Since his battle with Cole, Akira had learned to embrace his kitsune magic and not solely rely on his swordsmanship. As the vampires now rushed forward, they were surprised as Akiras tails vanished into portals of darkness, emerging behind a group of vampires and entombed them.
Where an entourage of vampires once stood, now their were only statues. Statues of kitsune now decorating the hallway of Dracula's castle. Satisfied at the confusion he had wrought, Akira now darted forward charging into troops with powerful sword thrusts and blasts of fire.
"Come on," Katie yelled, beckoning for the others to follow. Akiras initial assault had confused the vampire army. Now Katie, Gloria, and the others would attack, useing their magic to assist in pushing the vampires back.
Blasts of magic and gunfire erupted throughout the hall. Katie transforming into her seraph form as Gloria and her friends charged forward. For the younger wizards and their friends they were out for vengeance. Gloria assisting her sister, Sasha useing her ring to warp the very walls into attacking, Caleb and Adam providing covering fire at any vampires that attempted to move in. Within five minutes the vampire army was withdrawing, looking to fortify their positions against the invaders.
"Gloria," Katie called. "We need to find Lynne. You and Caleb come with me."
"Do as you will," Akira stated, his voice tinged with anger. "I shall find Yuriko and destroy any that stand in my way."
"Not without us," Mia bellowed. Akira glanced behind him noting Mia, Zack, Ayami, and Rexie by his side. Nodding the group now sped off in a different direction, determined to find Yuriko no matter what.
"You guys do what you have to," Sasha stated. "I'm going after Duke."
"Not without us," Naomi yelled. Sasha turned noting both Naomi and Diane by her side. "You said Duke was jumped by people we know," Diane stated. "If thats the case than she used us. We want some payback!"
"Okay," Gloria stated. "The rest of you hold down the fort. We're going after our friends. Stay safe and just be easy to run when we get back."
Glorias friends nodded, watching as the three groups sped off into different directions. The battle of Dracula's Castle had begun.