Chapter three ; Ambushed

Once more she came to her home, but this time to look for footprints that weren't human's. Fortunately, her father wasn't there any more, and she started to scour the ground without any danger of being spotted. Tracks of the lizards were still fresh and she easily spotted them on the fresh grass. But she also found human footprints, clearly her father's who went after them as well. She was afraid of that, but she didn't let this extra concern sway her. Instead, she boldly pressed on, minding every step not to be caught in an ambush this trail could lead her.

After a while she caught a glimpse of him. Her father was on the ground examining the tracks, with his pulse rifle by his side. He was hunting the lizards too. As she saw him there, she didn't have the strength to face him again, and extracted out of his ability to see she started to pass him in a large arch. But just as she was about to move on, she heard him yell behind her, and the sound of his rifle firing. She turned only to find him swiftly backing before the ambush of four lizard-men, shooting at them all the way. Bypassing him she also bypassed their ambush, but unfortunately he didn't. They appeared to take damage, but she knew well of their regenerating powers. They were only temporarily hurt. And really, they would first move aside in pain, but as he would fire upon some other, the first one would start to advance again.

Just as one got dangerously close, enough to run his claws trough him, Adella jumped before him and stroke the lizard-man so strong he flew and broke him self on a tree.

" Run !"; she yelled to him and propelled by rage and beastly hate she charged at the whole bunch of them together.

The force of her strike was so great, they could do little other than fall before her, but as she passed over they simply got up again and started to circle around her. She was crouched on her four, looking at them like an animal that still has much to offer to her hunters. The hate she felt for theses creatures was so strong it left no room within her for anything else, and the lizards, which seemed to have felt it, now hesitated to strike.

Finally she hissed at them exposing her fangs and lunched her claws at the nearest one. He hissed loudly with pain and jumped back, but the other one moved to strike. She felt him lunch his claws at her, and like a lightning swayed aside, allowing his arm to pass by her. Just as it got to the elbow, her nail whistled over it and the rest of the arm flied away. Her anger and rage, made her stronger and faster than all of them together, and she crippled them like butcher meet stabbing hers and even their own claws in them. But it lasted for a short time only, for it was too exhausting keep it up much longer. She swiftly lost her speed and agility and soon after they started to cause her wounds and injuries. Trough her fight, she saw the entire arm grow back to a lizard she'd just des-armed, as well as all the other dissection she could give them. With all she had, she tried to hold on long enough to send a whisper, but before she even had a chance, she was struck down, barely conscious, and they started to hiss around her :

" Now we have her, my brothersssss ! Hsss !"

" Father ssshall be mosssst pleasssed !"

But suddenly, they all hissed much louder than ever before and backed away, before gray drops that flied towards them. This liquid seemed to have the same effect on them as water had on vampires, but much worse. Though she tried to hide from it, its touch upon her skin didn't do anything to her, but it seemed that just a few drops was more than enough to make them scream in pain and loose their stand. The liquid kept showering them, and they tried to run, but one caught his foot in a root of a tree and fell on the ground while the others managed to escape. She barely lifted her self of the ground panting in pain, and saw her father with a large glass half empty bottle in his hand. He looked at her with a smile and took a sip of it :

" Scotch ! Very strong ! ( gulp ) UMM ! It doesn't come better than this !"

" … Scotch ?… they can't… stand… scotch !"; she mumbled before she fell to the ground once more.

As she collapsed he dropped the bottle and ran to her, taking her in his arms :

" Adella ! Don't you dare die on me !"

" … you forget… I'm already… "

" No ! Not yet ! Do you hear me !"

She needed blood to survive this but she would rather die than take his. He knew that too, but he didn't care about her wishes. Pooling up his sleeve he placed his wrist on her lips, holding her head not to move away from it.

" Feed !"; he said

She tried to back away, but he was stronger than her now.

" Feed, damn you !"

" … No !"; she cried but he tamped his arm in her thus opened mouth

He was about to strike her lower jaw, and plunge her teeth in, but before he did she grabbed his arm with her clawed hands on both sides of his wrist like a bone she was about to nod, and he felt his skin being pierced. He grudged as the sharp pain pulsed at the spot, but as he saw her wounds decrease, a smile of satisfaction shined on him. Drained of blood, he begun feeling dizzy and sick, but still he stood strong giving her the very last drop. She was disgusted by her self, her addiction, her nature and most of all the fact she enjoyed it, and after taking the least she could she slugged his wrist away, and stood up. He was exhausted and breeding heavily, desperately trying not to collapse :

" You… find them… and bring them home… Tell your mother… I loved her… "

" Dad, "; she said to him patronizingly :" you aren't dying. "

" But… you bit me… I can't survive the bite… "

" Yes, but I didn't bite you. "; which didn't make it any les revolting to her

He looked at his wrist. It had a tiny cut on it trough which his blood still pored out. She tore a peace of her dress and placed it like a bandage, treating it.

" You'll be fine. A human's body can recover more than two liters of lost blood on its own. But you need to eat. "

" No… I'm coming with you. "

" To die on my arms ? I don't think so. "

" I've eaten recently and plenty. I'll be fine soon. "

" That doesn't make you fit to fight these things. "

" Just show me where they are and I'll give them a peace of my mind !"

" Dad… "; she tried to say something but she knew it won't have any effect. Instead she gazed into his eyes and attempted to hypnotize him, but he just shut them and yelled :

" Now, stop that this instant !"; he pushed her away :" What has gotten into you ! I'm your father and I tell you what to do, not the other way around !"

He got a hold of his gun and stood up using it like a lift :

" You ungrateful little girl ! I've just preserved you in your cursed un-death, and defeated these monsters with a simple drink, and you hold me incapable for more !"; he pretended to be angry, but in fact he was very proud of her, and she felt it.

" Now I know where I got my attitude from… "; they smiled :" Well, if there's nothing I can do, I can try to slow down for you to keep up with me. "

" I'll keep up just fine. You just lead on. "

The lizard that tripped on the root was still lying there, twitching in pain and repulsion. Adella flipped him on his back. The alcohol burns were all over him releasing slimy green liquid, and his mouth were filled with white foam. He was in much of a pain but his torments only lubricated the path for Adella's charms.

" Now, speak !"; she ordered, firmly looking in his eyes :" Where did you take humans you captured today !"

" … in… a cave… "

" Where is this cave !"

" … Ssssout … and eassst… sssout of Sssstenchandcrow…. Eassst of Ziegssstrul !"

" Is your master Jaren Sal there ?"

" Jaren Sssal… Massster… there he dwellsss… "

" What does he want ?"

" Hsss-cough-chough… "; the lizard-man couldn't speak any more and was almost dead.

Adella backed away and beheld this pathetic creature, now poisoned and taking his last breaths. But as she watched him she didn't feel a trace of sadness for his horrible fate. Not one pure flicked of compassion and she knew the vampire that she was will never look at all the creatures the same any more.

Feeling that, her father placed his palm on her shoulder from behind :

" … It happens to the best of us. "; he said comforting her

She looked him over her shoulder hiding most of her face in shame and than she asked :

" How did you know about the scotch ?"

" I didn't… but I had noting else to throw at them. "

The lizard released his last hissing sound and died, and when she gave him her last look she turned and led the way.

" Let's get going. "