Out For Blood
Saya lunged at the chiropteran that threw Hagi, igniting her sword with her powers and aiming for the beast's neck. The sword sliced clean through the chiropteran, beheading it as well as cauterizing the injury instantly.
Saya pivoted on her heel, bringing up her sword to catch another chiropteran's claws before they could harm her.
Summoning her fire, Saya engulfed the chiropteran before beheading that one as well.
Saya glanced over to where Kai and Michael where shooting at the offending chiropterans while trying to shield Hagi's unconscious form.
Igniting her sword once more, Saya ran at the group of monsters hacking and slicing at them to draw their gaze to her.
Dodging the attack of one chiropteran, while bringing up Her sword to deflect another's claws, Saya was caught unaware as the first one swiped at her and clipped her in the side.
Crying out in pain as the claws ripped her side open, Saya fell to her knees and the grip on her sword weakened.
Closing her eyes, she prepared for the impact that never came.
"Now now, two against one is hardly a fair fight; even for a queen." A voice said.
Saya cracked open her eyes slowly to see Nathan holding the chiropteran at bay while Amshel and Diva fought the other one.
Lulu pulled Saya to her feet and moved her away from the fight, setting her next to Hagi.
"Saya are you alright?" Kai knelt down and gently pulled her hand away from her side.
"I'll be...alright...Kai...I heal...quickly...remember?" Saya reminded him breathlessly.
"Maybe you do, but this wound isn't closing up. Plus Hagi is still out for the count. That's a little concerning." Kai observed as he tied a makeshift bandage around her side.
Saya winced at the pressure from her wound and glanced at Hagi before looking back at Nathan and the others as they killed the chiropterans and threw them in a pile.
"I'll take samples off of them that Michael and I can study; then we can destroy them." Amshel said, glancing up from the pile.
Diva came to her side and pulled her to her feet. "Are you alright big sister?"
"I'll be fine. Someone has to grab Hagi. He's been unconscious for too long and he needs help." Saya answered, swaying on her feet from exhaustion and blood loss.
"Nathan's grabbing him. And you need help too sister. Your wound should have closed by now. This is all very concerning." Diva glanced at the bandage already soaked in blood.
Slowly they got Hagi and Saya to the house where Michael set up a makeshift cot that Nathan was quick to set Hagi on.
Easing her down into a chair, Diva slipped on a pair of gloves and pulled the bandage off of Saya and pulled a needle and thread out of the offered first aid kit.
Diva threaded the needle with ease and began stitching Saya's side.
Closing her eyes, Saya tried to focus on anything other than the incessant pulling and tugging as Diva stitched her up.
What felt like an eternity later, Saya opened her eyes at the feeling of Diva bandaging the wound and looked at her tiredly.
Diva smiled at her softly and helped her to her feet.
Slowly they made their way to the second makeshift cot that had been set up as Diva was stitching up Saya.
Saya laid down slowly and watched as Amshel set up transfusions for her and Hagi.
"I didn't know we had any blood on hand." Saya glanced at Amshel.
"It's Nathan's blood. We try to keep some on hand just in case a chevalier is down for the count. By rights, as your mother's chevalier it stands to reason he's our version of a universal donor." Amshel explained.
"You're too kind Amshel," Nathan glanced at them from his spot by Michael, "Diva and I are going to start packing. As soon as we're done and you have what samples you need we need to get out of here. Red Dawn knows where we are obviously and it's not safe for the humans."
"Give us an hour and we'll head out. Do we have a secondary site picked out?" Amshel looked at Nathan.
"I have a few ideas." Nathan grinned slyly.
Amshel rolled his eyes and smiled.
"I'm sure you do. I'll be outside gathering samples. Then we'll destroy the chiropterans. And we should have the humans stay somewhere else for a few days in case Naomi sends others out here." Amshel suggested before walking outside.
Saya glanced over at Hagi's Still form on the cot next to her.
"I'm sure he'll be ok," Monique sat down next to her, "He seemed practically unstoppable when we first met so I'm sure this won't stop him."
"You could be right but in all the years I've known him, all the injuries he's taken for me, he's never been down for this long. We've always healed exceptionally fast and now...now something is wrong. I'm sure it has something to do with those chiropterans that attacked us. I just hope it's not permanent." Saya lamented.
Monique placed a hand on her shoulder. "It'll be alright. Don't worry Saya." Monique smiled and walked off to go make sure the children started packing.
A half hour later, Diva and Nathan had everything packed into the van. Amshel and Michael had finished packing up their samples and destroying the rest of the remains.
Kai and a Diva helped Saya into the back seat of the van while Nathan laid Hagi next to her. Nathan smiled slightly as Saya picked up Hagi's head and placed it in her lap.
Kai and the others climbed into the van, driving in the opposite direction as Monique and the others.
Saya closed her eyes and laid her head back, starting to hum the song thrumming in her veins.
Diva and the chevaliers settled in their seats as the melody played through the van.
Kai glanced at Saya through the rearview mirror. He'd heard her sing a dozen times to the twins but he still never quite understood the power of the queens' song.
Saya continued to hum her song, unaware of the others' rapt attention on her.
Hagi shifted slightly, startling Saya and pausing her humming.
"Hagi?" She called to him quietly, hope laced in her tone.
All eyes were on her at that point but she only noticed Hagi as he fought to open his eyes.
Hagi looked up at her, his expression showing how weak he clearly felt.
"Sa...ya." His voice weak and raspy, but there all the same.
Saya smiled at him, tears clouding her vision and falling onto his face.
"Hagi... I'm so glad you're awake. You had me so worried." Saya tearfully confessed.
"What...hap... happ...ended..." Hagi trailed off, fighting to keep his eyes open.
"We'll talk about it later ok? Just rest. You need to heal." Saya brushed his hair out of his face like he'd done for her many times before.
Hagi had little time to figure out the emotions playing out on his queen's face before his strength failed him and consciousness left him once more.
Silent sobs took ahold of Saya as her fears mingled with her relief over Hagi.
Diva climbed into the back and sat next to Saya, pulling her into a hug.
They stayed like that until Saya dozed off, head on Diva's shoulder.
Kai kept driving until they reached what looked like a makeshift landing site with a nearby airplane.
Slowly they maneuvered everything into the airplane.
Saya watched as Hagi was loaded onto a backboard and loaded in, with her following behind with Diva's help.
Once everyone was situated and the plane took off, Saya looked at Nathan and Amshel.
"Where are we going?" Saya demanded, the stress of the last two days fueling her anger.
"You'll see my dear. Worry not, it's safe. If Naomi attacks where we're going it won't end well for her." Nathan replied.
Saya glared at him.
"That's not an answer! She attacked us at a civilian's house and you think where we're going now will stop her? She clearly doesn't care who she hurts to get to us and I'm assuming we're going to bring more people into this mess? How is any of this going to stop her?!" Saya shouted, eyes glowing red.
"People were brought into this the moment chiropterans started involving themselves with humans eons ago. Humans will always get hurt one way or another in these situations but as you've pointed out throughout the years, it's our job to protect them from these situations if we can. So I'm taking us to someone who has experience fighting alongside and against chiropterans because clearly Naomi has no qualms about using them. Will we be putting them in danger by just being there? Yes, but the only way to fix that entirely is an eradication of our entire species and I'm not ready to die yet, are you? So relax and have some patience child, one way or another someone will lose this fight." Nathan rebuked her then shrugged and looked out the window.
"Looks like we're here." Nathan explained.
A voice came over the plane's PA system.
"Welcome my friends. It's good to see you all again, although I wish it was under better circumstances. We have the medbay all set up for those injured and as soon as everyone is settled we'll debrief. See you all in a few minutes everyone." The PA system clicked off.
"Was that..?" Kai looked out the window.
Saya stood up and looked out the window next to Kai, seeing a huge ship in the middle of the ocean.
"…Mr. Joel." Saya said, staring at the ship.
And that's where I'm ending this chapter 😂