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Chapter 2: Rapid Fire
As we made our way through the dark, cavernous tunnels, the draug's enthralling melody amplified. It was almost loud enough to counteract the white noise emanating from the black waterproof box Eve carried. As we sloshed through knee-deep, murky water, we stumbled over many of the missing vampire's bodies which were surrounded by feeding draug. Michael was one of the first that we'd found. He'd fared better than most since he hadn't been captured long, but unfortunately, the rest had not been so lucky.
We found Oliver hanging onto life by a thread with hints of madness seeping into his consciousness. As we approached, the draug released him and charged at us. Myrnin sprayed the advancing creature with silver bullets while Amelie subdued the savage, delirious vampire. Shane promptly tossed Amelie a blood bag from the cooler that Claire carried. Lucidity gradually returned to Oliver as his thirst abated, and one by one, we found, rescued and nursed the unhinged vamps back to health.
Numbers lessening, the remaining draug assembled and screeched so loudly that Claire's newer, more sensitive hearing could barely stand it. As if in response to their call, the water violently rippled and the ground began to rumble as a red portal materialized in front of them. Out stepped Magnus, looking menacingly hostile as he surveyed our group. "So the dog finally decides to show its teeth." He mocked, speaking directly to Amelie. Unsheathing a gleaming silver sword, she leveled the tip of the blade at Magnus. "This ends now. Only one of us will walk away from this." Amelie replied tenaciously. Magnus cackled. "I think we all know who that will be." Amusement fading, he sobered. "No matter, brace yourself, little Amelie." Magnus rushed Amelie with devastating quickness, but she swiftly dodged the onslaught and struck at him. Neither of their movements seemed to be restricted by the shallow water. Back and forth they waged at breakneck speeds that only a vampire's eyes could follow.
While Amelie went toe to toe with Magnus, the others clashed with the remaining draug. Eve and Shane dissolved enemies with their silver filled water guns. Silver bullets went flying from Myrnin and Oliver's machine guns, hitting targets with notable accuracy. Claire, making use of her newfound abilities, sliced and diced the hydrophilic creatures with silver daggers. The recovering vamps, jumped into the fray too, helping in any way they could. While Claire finished off her opponents, from the corner of her eye, she saw Magnus standing over a slumped figure whose lower torso was submerged in the water, and head rested against the wall. He looked smug and pitiless as he grabbed Amelie by her throat and siphoned off her energy. "I'm going to drain you dry, foolish one." Magnus sneered. Claire impulsively flung one of her daggers straight at his head, but he caught the offending blade before it could make contact and threw it aside. His eyes snapped up and fell on Claire who was frozen by the animosity in his gaze.
As he rose to face her, she noticed Amelie lay unmoving against the wall. Fear shot through Claire as she watched Magnus rush at her. The force of the impact as he slammed her into the tunnel's enclosure and clenched her throat, was astonishing. His grip was like a vice, tightening the more she struggled. "Enough of your interference!" He boomed, black eyes savage. As his hold tightened, Claire slowly began to feel him draining her life force away. Just as she felt herself teetering on the brink of unconsciousness, Magnus abruptly released her. Protruding from his chest was Amelie's sword, wielded by... Myrnin?
Critically injured, Magnus staggered and fell while Myrnin withdrew the blade and went to check up on Claire who was a boneless heap against the wall. Shouting Claire's name, Shane frantically waded over, concern etched in his features. As he knelt beside her and began picking her up, a venomous laugh suddenly filled the air. Magnus' voice reverberated throughout the tunnel, ceasing all fighting as every set of eyes turned towards the source of that unnerving sound. Crouched in the water, Magnus was engulfed in a deep red aura. "You may have beaten me today," he spluttered. "But I'll be back to finish you off."
With a final burst of energy, he moved with rapid speed and snatched the limp Claire away from Shane's arms. "And I'll be taking this little snack with me." Behind him, the red portal reappeared, and Magnus made motions to retreat with Claire in tow. Myrnin and Shane rushed after him as he began to disappear into the depths of the gateway. Vampire speed exceeding that of a human, Myrnin reached the portal before it closed and threw himself headlong into the darkness after Claire.