I actually updated faster this time, though not by much. Thank to Prometheus FireBringer, Oak Tree Woman, StormRaven333, Lunatic Pandora1, Raptor-Chick, SADDAMINSANE, and Chrosis for the reviews! I've got over 100 now! hugs to all Enjoy! (The --- represent separations in the story... the horizontal ruler wasn't working)

Chapter 15: Reunion

Ravyn knocked on the door of the vampire house, her heart pounding and her mind racing. This was something she had hoped would never come to pass in truth.

The vampire house was a rather large one, larger than the information they had gathered had stated. There were enough hunters to take on the house, being that the vampires inside were generally young, with the exception of two elder vamps, the leaders.

Houses like these were common. Older vampires that were powerful, but not as strong as a Master, would house fledglings and weaker vampires in exchange for their undying loyalty. Eventually, once they had enough followers, they would claim a large territory and declare Mastership. Though other Masters may object, they wouldn't risk challenging a weaker Master who had a couple hundred minions backing them up.

At the moment, Ravyn was wearing torn up jeans and a black halter top. Dirt was smeared on the clothes, her arms and face, while her hair was ruffled messily. A little dried goat's blood was dabbed at the corners of her mouth and a little on her chin as well.

She was in costume.

When the others saw how packed the house was, approximately a two dozen including the elders, the idea had struck her to play a newly turned fledgling. She would get into the house masquerading as a confused, terrified vampire and use a handy grenade to widen the door. The hunters knew if they would try to rush the house with their number, thirty, a bottle neck would be made at the door and they would be sitting ducks. Normally, windows would be utilized as an entrance, but there were no windows that weren't boarded up against the elements and the sun.

Ravyn prepared herself mentally as the door cracked open and a black and silver eye peered out through the crack. After the eye looked her up and down, the door was pulled wide and Ravyn saw that the vampire examining her was the female elder. She had long, curly red hair which dangled around her shoulders. She was of a stockier frame and a square face, but still pulled off an elegant a graceful look. She wore a medieval looking dress that was emerald green in color with golden lace.

Ravyn made her eyes water on command and pretended to break down in tears, collapsing to her knees. With amazingly fast reflexes the vampire caught her and held her close whispering to her in soothing tones. Ravyn added a little inane babble to deepen the act and the vamp bought it perfectly.

Ravyn took a quick stock of her surroundings. The room she was in was huge, at least half the size of a basketball court! A large crystal chandelier hung from the ceiling and numerous colorful couches and chairs lined the walls and were scattered about the room. The floors were a white marble that glowed as if they had just been freshly scrubbed. All around, vampires propped themselves up in their seats to look at the new arrival.

The vampire led Ravyn to one of the couches and plopped her down, still whispering softly. Some may think that the vampire was being rather gentle and kind, but Ravyn saw past that façade. She could see the vampire's face give a few flinches at the dirt and grime that was rubbing off on her dress. Ravyn knew that she would soon be whisked away by some minor vamps, cleaned up, and then given a quick explanation or lesson in what was happening to her. Afterwards, one of the elders would have her swear loyalty to them and their cause. She would be allowed to stay with them and would be made into a mindless zombie to heed their every command.

So much for kindness and compassion.

Ravyn began to slow her tears and sobs as a sensor on her watch blinked yellow; yet another of Ivy's clever inventions. Once the green light flashed, she would make her move.

"Child, calm yourself. You are safe," the female elder said softly, "You are among family now."

"I want to go home," Ravyn sobbed quietly, coughing a bit to fight back a laugh. This was too easy.

"You are home child. Take comfort in that fact. We will care for you. You have nothing to fear now."

The watch's sensor flashed green.

"I know," she whispered into the smiling vampire's face, "but you do…" The vampire's brow crinkled in confusion and then widened in shock as Ravyn pulled out a dagger that had been hidden in a sheath on her back and drove it through the elder's heart. The vampire gave a sharp, high-pitched cry of pain and shock, only to begin disintegrating into ash.

The other vampires stared in awe and disbelief. They most likely had never even seen their mistress injured at all and the presence of such a threat after years of protection and safety left them lost and confused.

Ravyn took full advantage of this short respite and pulled out the grenade that she had hidden under her shirt. With a quick tug she pulled out the key and chucked the grenade at the door, ducking down on the couch, covering her head and waiting for the coming explosion.

---

Tarn'se crouched on the building top where he had first encountered Ravyn and his first vampire. The streets, unfortunately, were empty of any other presence, human or vampire.

Tarn'se knew he would have to find the hunters quickly, but he had no idea where to look. Their dwelling had been destroyed, reduced to nothing but scorched ruins and ash. He came to this place hoping to find some sort of clue to lead him to the hunters.

He heard a very quiet distant rumble, so soft that most humans would not have noticed it. His tapped the controls on his wrist, having his mask capture and amplify the faint tremor of sound. After a moment's pause, his mask replayed the sound, much louder and stronger than when he had heard it. It was the sound of an explosion.

There was only one group of humans he knew that would have easy access to explosives and would use them without question…

Tarn'se grinned and tapped a few more controls having his mask attempt pinpoint the origin of the sound. The mask could not find the exact location, but was able to point him in the general direction.

Tarn'se raced towards the origin of the explosion. He only had a few minutes before the quick and efficient hunters disappeared again.

---

A loud ringing sounded in Ravyn's ears, making her temporarily deaf after the grenade went off. Chunks of brick, plaster, and drywall flew everywhere, as dust and smoke filled the air. Even a few vampires that had been by the door were now nothing but piles of shredded clothing and ash.

The stunned vampires soon recovered and began to shriek their surprise and anger as the hunters rushed into the house, taking down as many vampires as they could before they fully regained themselves.

Ravyn leapt up from the couch and called out to her fellows. She had come in pretty much unarmed with the exception of the grenade and her dagger. She felt nearly naked without any other weapon besides her dagger with her.

Out of the smoke and debris she saw a sheathed weapon fly in her direction, landing with a clatter on the floor and skidding to a stop at her feet. Grabbing it quickly, she saw it was a rapier, a slim but durable sword. With a smile she tucked her dagger into her belt, pulled the sheath off the rapier and proceeded to gut a vampire as it raced past her. The vampire hissed in pain and tried to run off as Ravyn grabbed the vest he was wearing a drove her rapier up, under the ribcage and through his heart.

Sensing someone behind her, Ravyn turned and swung the sheath with all her power, hoping to knock the vamp behind her senseless.

The sheath was stopped in midair and wrenched out of her hand. Ravyn muttered a curse and backed away slightly when she realized she was heading off with the other male elder. He tisked at her, his voice deep and scolding, "This was a bad decision child… very bad indeed." His bared his teeth as his fangs began to lengthen. Crouching into a fighting stance, his gaze locked on hers and he hissed at her.

Ravyn grinned back and swiped at him with her rapier, reaching down and grabbing her dagger as well. The vampire didn't move to protect himself, merely flicking his fingers at her, which in turn launched her across the room and almost through the big, charred hole where the door had once been.

Ravyn hit the ground and rolled, lessening the impact. She shook her head and quickly pulled herself to her feet. This was bad. This vamp was a lot older than she had anticipated if he had strong telekinetic abilities.

Glancing around Ravyn lost track of the elder in the smoke and chaos. Guessing that the vamp had either fled or taken on another hunter, Ravyn moved out of the building and hid just outside the opening, ready to take out any vamps that tried to flee; she still had her rapier, thanks to the death-grip she had on it when she was sent flying, but had lost her dagger somewhere in-flight.

Suddenly, Ravyn felt long, clawed fingers snake into her short hair. She ducked downwards and pushed back, knocking into the elder vamp, sending them both tumbling away from the house. Along the way the vamp lost its grip on her hair, and Ravyn quickly untangled herself, leaping to her feet and falling into a defensive stance.

The elder stood inhumanly fast, and carefully brushed the dust off his long violet robes, in which gold and green swirling patterns were sown. They draped around him like he was some sort of mythical wizard. Ravyn still had no idea why vampires dressed as strangely as they did. Maybe the virus screwed with their minds and fashion-sense as well as their bodies.

The elder considered her for a moment, then grinned, baring his fangs, "Well, well… this is something one does not see everyday; a changing hunter." He began to circle her with long careful strides, moving to the right. "It's strange though," he commented, sounding inquisitive, "Strange that one in your unique position would launch such attacks. This is not the way to gain a high standing."

"I will fall on my knife as soon as I turn," Ravyn growled, turning to keep him in front of her.

The vampire sighed, "Pity, suicidal like the rest… One of yours could get very powerful should you let yourself turn."

Ravyn snorted, "Luckily, we're smarter than that. We'd rather die than become a diseased monstrosity like you." That set him off.

The vampire swung his arm out, and Ravyn dropped to the ground as the air above her hummed with energy. She knew that the telekinesis vampires had was localized, so all she had to do was stay out of the way… kind of like dodging bullets, with the same dismal success rate.

An invisible hand grabbed her ankle and yanked it out from under her. Ravyn fell back but managed to catch herself on her elbows, preventing her head from cracking into the pavement. She felt herself being dragged towards the vampire and scrabbled against the ground for a handhold.

The vampire was so engrossed in dragging Ravyn to him that when she was in range, a quick swipe with the rapier cut a shallow line across the vamp's face. Though the wound was not enough to cause any serious injury, it was enough to break the hold he had on her.

Ravyn jumped back to feet and swung the rapier in a downward swipe. The elder brought his arm up and parried the move, telekinetically shielding his arm so the rapier's blade bounced off. Ravyn tried a quick jab, but that too was blocked. Move after move was deflected and Ravyn began to curse mentally. As long as the elder was on the defensive, she was safe. However, she would tire soon; he would not.

In a flash the elder teleported and Ravyn spun and lashed out but was hit in the gut with another telekinetic blast, launching her backwards. Before she could move, she felt herself being lifted and thrown. Instinctively she curled into a ball for protection, but the impact against the unyielding ground still rattled her teeth and knocked the wind out of her. With a dull thump Ravyn hit the curb and rolled over it, skidding to a stop a few feet from the building across from the vampire house.

The elder approached slowly, taking his time. Ravyn still had her rapier but it was no more helpful than a stick would be. Falling back into a defensive posture, she glared at the elder who began to laugh, "You just keep fighting don't you? Well, I must say this is the most fun I've had in ages…" As the elder continued to talk, Ravyn's attention was caught by a flicker in the air, a small distortion that seemed to drop from the sky itself and land behind the vampire.

By the time the elder realized Ravyn wasn't paying the slightest bit of attention to him, it was too late. Twin blades, with razor, serrated edges burst through his chest. Blood splattered Ravyn in the face and she winced at the coolness of it. The elder's mouth was open in a wide O and there was a crunching sound as the blades turned and cut out his heart. Fire raced along his body, which quickly became nothing but a pile of violet robes covered in a fine black ash.

Ravyn looked up to see blue sparks flash as Tarn'se appeared in front of her. Grinning and shaking her head, Ravyn laughed, "How is it that every time I'm in trouble, you show up to sort things out?"

Tarn'se gave no sign that he heard her words, merely stepping closer and speaking, "I am in need of your aid."

Ravyn's brows creased in confusion, "What?"

Tarn'se seemed to pause as if he were nervous or embarrassed. In the end he hung his head and repeated, "I need your help, Ravyn."

"My help?" Ravyn felt completely lost and also a bit wary. This guy needed help? If there was something out there that he couldn't defeat, how the hell could she possibly do anything to aid him? "What for? Is there something coming after you?"

Tarn'se laughed, but even Ravyn could tell the laugh was hollow, "Having any being in the universe trying to kill be would be better than this."

Ravyn only grew more confused, "What the hell are you talking about?"

Tarn'se's head rose and Ravyn could feel his staring at her through the dark lenses of the mask he wore. Then he spoke softly, "I'm tuning into one of them; I'm turning into a vampire…"

Not much happened, I know, but Chapter 16 will be here soon! Please review!