Breaking off into teams, Miranda and Aloe'la now accompanied Ezekiel Kane towards the upper floors of the mansion. From what they learned, Vanessa was keeping the children near her bed chamber. Miranda now shuddered, fearing what the homicidal vampire queen could have possibly done to the children. "How much further Kane," Aloe'la asked.
"Lord and Lady Tepes resided on the top floor of the mansion," Kane stated as the group snuck through the second floor corridor. "The children's nursery was adjacent to the room. As violent as Vanessa is, I doubt the children would be hurt."
"Why do you say that," Miranda asked. Kane shrugged, turning his head slightly as his black eyes stared at Miranda. "Gut feeling," he replied, his gaze and his voice causing the majokko teenager to shudder. "As crazy as she is, she knows she's gonna need heirs to secure her rule. The children are barely toddlers, if I was in her shoes Id try to raise one or two of them. After killing off the ones I didn't want." Miranda gulped, clutching her sun sword a bit tighter as the trio advanced. Standing this close to Kane was nerve wracking for the teen. A year ago she and her friends had fought the sociopathic hunter, knocking him out and allowing the vampires to turn him. Although he was now a vampire loyal to Wyatt, the fear of just being in his presence was overwhelming.
As the group approached the stairwell to the top floor, they paused. From the courtyard they could now hear the sounds of battle. Duke and Lord Wyatt had advised everyone of their plans before arriving in the vampire realm. Duke, Sasha, and Wyatt would cause a distraction, drawing the majority of Vanessa's cybernetic vampires to them. As that was occurring Miranda, Nat, and a team of S.P.E.A.R agents would rescue the hostages and escape. Although Nat and the others felt stopping Vanessa was of the greatest importance, as Agent Meyers explained the hostages were the first priority. As much as Miranda wanted to help stop Vanessa, she realized rescuing Wyatt's family was much more important. "Sounds like young Wyatt and his brother have enacted their plan," Aloe'la stated, the woman shrinking down into her blue fairy form. "We're going to need to move quickly if we hope to rescue the children."
A collective nod of agreement was now made, the group quietly yet quickly making their way towards the top floor. "Can I ask a question," Kane said softly. "How did you get roped into this girl? Ain't you a little young and human to be venturing into the realm of the vampires?"
"I've faced vampires before," Miranda replied, trying to control the apprehension in her voice. "And I've fought some pretty powerful villains too."
"Like me," Kane replied, Miranda breaking into a cold sweat before saying yes. "Dont be so nervous kid," he grinned. "I was a different person then, quite literally. I was still human. You put up a heck of a fight in that magic school girl outfit. What was it you controlled? The power of the Sun?"
"Y..yeah," Miranda stammered. Kane nodded, the group finally making their way up the stairs to the tip floor. "Handy power to have," Kane said softly. "Power of the sun when facing vampires. No wonder you little dhamphir friend wanted you to tag along. You know, I gotta say, when I was human, I underestimated the lot of you."
As Miranda looked to respond, she gasped as pain wracked her body. Glancing down at her stomach, the teenage girls eyes went wide as she noticed a knife buried to the hilt in her stomach. Blood now began to soak her majokko outfit as she gazed in wide eyed horror into Kanes maniacal face. "Won't make that mistake again," he smirked.
"KANE WHAT ARE YOU DOING," Aloe'la screamed, watching as Miranda now sunk to the floor. Laying on her back, the teenage girl now raised her quivering hands seeing her gloves covered in her blood. As the fairy now tried to stem the bleeding, Kane grinned, taking a step back as he slid his leather vest to the side. The tiny fairy now gasped as she noticed the small symbol stitched to the interior of the vest. "You're with the Normal?!"
"Who do you think helped Vanessa enter the manor," Kane smiled. "I was just repaying a debt. Afterall, they did free my soul from Hell and returned it to my body." Aloe'la snarled, the fairy now preparing a spell as she looked to stop the vampire.
"Whatcha gonna do pollen humper," he laughed. "This ain't got nothing to do with you. I wanted revenge on this one, her friends and the vamps for turning me. Actually, I should thank em. Think about it a demon hunter with all the powers of a vampire!"
"And there weaknesses," Aloe'la proclaimed. "You may have a soul but you're still a vampire." Kane chuckled, conceding Aloe'la's point as a maniacal grin now spread across his face. "Been awhile since I tortured a fairy," he grinned. "Lets hope I'm not out of practice."