All the dark vampires gathered in the enormous ball room. But this time, not for a dance. But a council.
No one bothered to look up and see the dark figure in the balcony, watching them.
At last Vladan held up his hand. "We have been strangely fortunate. The Silver ones have taken flight and headed out to the forest to forge."
"And taken that…"
"Saril!" said Vladan sharply.
His wife shut her mouth and bowed her head slightly.
"Rachael Gabriella must come to an end," said Vladan.
Rachael smiled slightly. her eyes glittered dangerously and began turning a faint pink. The darkness that hid her from Vladan's view also cloaked the tiny candle that would bring an end to the Dark Race.
"But no one can kill her!" said someone from the crowd.
"You know as well as we do, Vladan, Rachael is better than us all."
"How do you propose we do it?"
Rachael moved. "Vladan!" she shouted as she stood on the rail, the candle in one hand. And in the other a tiny curious jar filled with a silvery green liquid.
Everyone turned.
Saril's mouth opened, revealing rows and rows of fine, sharp teeth. She hissed.
Rachael's eyes where glowing red. "Now!"
The window behind Vladan shattered and two large vampires swooped in, one brought his hand crashing down across the back of his head. They grabbed the now limp Vladan and rose high in the air. They disappeared back out the window.
Saril screamed and crouched.
Rachael hurled the jar at the floor below. It smashed into the ground and the green liquid began sliding across the floor.
Rachael's eyes glittered coldly as she dropped the candle. She turned and disappeared down the hallway.
Running hard, she ran down the hall fastening her cloak around her. Her eyes where narrowed and set on the window at the end of the hall.
Suddenly, a magnificent boom sounded from the direction of the ballroom and fire roared down the hall.
Rachael crashed into the window and went sailing down toward the snow covered courtyard below.
Behind her the castle erupted into flames and crumbling stone.
Rachael slammed into the courtyard with such a force that there was a crack in the stone. She ran for the gates as the castle came crashing down.
Drake was waiting outside the gates on his horse, holding the reigns and leads of Rachael's horse.
Rachael swung onto her horse. "Let's go!" she shouted. She turned her horse for a moment and watched the castle as it slid into the ground.
They went galloping away, while above the burning castle, now a heap of smoking rubble, circled about fifty vampires. Their keen eyes searched the wreck, waiting to pick off survivors. If there where any.
Rachael threw her cloak to the ground as she entered her house.
Several vampires where waiting. Van Helsing at their head.
"Did it work?" he asked.
"Yes." Rachael went down the hall and knocked the doors to the ballroom open. "Release him!" She shoved Van Helsing back and slammed the ballroom doors shut. She locked them and dropped the key to the ground. And turned.
Vladan came flying at her, his eyes bright red.
Instantly Rachael crouched and hissed. Her booted foot slammed into Vladan's chest. He went flying back through the air and hit the wall.
Rachael's eyes instantly went red and she licked her lips. "There will be blood spilt tonight!"
"And it will be yours!"