The wall rumbled under the unnatural force of the two bodies that collided into it. Michael groaned in pain and terror but Dragos' smile never faltered as he stood there pinning the human to the wall. Michael's breath came in quick, struggled gasps mixing eerily in the air with the vampire's devious laughter. He couldn't see any real escape this time. He'd already tried the stake and it had failed just as he'd expected. No other weapon had been brought and it seemed the walls were free from anything other than the torches that gave off the only light in the large stone room. The only thing Michael had left was the long, silver cross necklace that he held clutched in his hand. Dragos' yellow eyes stared hungrily at him and there he stood defenseless and afraid.
Before Michael had time to think of any other alternative, two things happened at once. Dragos sank his teeth into the base of Michael's neck causing an intense, fiery pain to shoot through his veins. At the same moment, Michael ripped the cross from its chain and plunged the long, sharp end into the vampire's throat. A loud, piercing shriek echoed through the room. Michael stumbled sideways and fell to the ground as he realized he'd been released. It felt as if his body was burning from the inside out but he forced himself to overcome the pain to look in the direction where Dragos stood clawing at the glistening jewelry protruding from under his chin. He noticed that the skin around the cross had turn an ashy gray color and a thick black liquid was pouring from the wound.
Michael stared in shock at the effect the cross as Dragos' stumbled around the landing of the staircase trying to pull the silver from his throat. Michael grimaced as he tried to keep his own pain at bay. He tried hard to ignore the burning that seemed to be spreading beneath his skin. He didn't feel it was safe to let the agony consume him while the vampire still lived. He pulled himself unsteadily to his feet, never taking his eyes off the son of Lazar. Backing into the wall, Michael removed a torch from the wall and pointed it into the direction of the flaying body to get a better look. He wanted to know if the cross was killing the vampire or simply slowing him down.
"You son of a…" A gurgled hiss escaped Dragos lips, "How dare you!"
Michael's blue eyes widened as he saw Dragos finally pull the long silver from his neck. He watched as the black blood trickled down the front of the vampire's pale chest and drip into a puddle on the floor. It seemed Dragos had recovered from the unexpected pain and had regained his composure. His eyes widened more as he saw the movement of two more vampires at the top of the stairs. One had short blonde hair and wore a patch over one of his yellow eyes. He had a muscular build and one side of his mouth was turned upward into a smirk. The other was tall and bald. He was thin and pale with almost skeletal like features. He wore a serious expression as he watched Dragos recover and move closer to his prey. Michael knew that the second of the two was Lazar and that his chances of survival had just been eliminated even if he managed to kill Dragos.
Michael held the torch in front of him in defense as Dragos moved forward again. He whimpered as he tried to keep his mind off the pain inside of him and focus solely on the vampire that was closing in on him slowly. Then a new pain hit him. He crumpled to the ground as a loud snap echoed through the room. He felt his ribs crack then screamed out in agony. He lifted his eyes upwards to Dragos and was shocked to see that he had turned towards the stairs; glaring in the direction of the vampire with the patched eye.
"Lucian," Dragos growled, lowering himself into a slight crouch, "he's mine! Do not interfere again!"
"You seemed to be having trouble finishing him off yourself," Lazar spoke in a low, raspy voice while Lucian grinned deviously at his side. "But if you feel that you can handle him. Then, please son, continue."
"Let the mute speak for himself, father," Dragos snapped; his yellow eyes darted back and forth between the two vampires and the weak human that was cowering against the wall, clutching the torch.
Lucian's grin widened. He ran his tongue across one of his fangs then pointed in the direction of Michael just as another loud crack filled the air. Dragos moved angrily towards the staircase, hissing in frustration. He stopped mid-stride when Lucian lifted his hand once more and chuckled as another snap issued from Michael's frail body. A deep roar rose from within Dragos' chest; he began to walk up the steps with a determination in his eyes to put a stop to Lucian's games.
"Dragos," Lazar spoke stepping in front of Lucian, "you may want to return your focus to the human; he seems to be planning an escape."
Michael was pushing himself away from the wall that he had been using as a prop moments before. The torch shook in his hand as he tried to steady himself so he could make his escape through the castle door. He hadn't made it far when he heard Lazar give him away. He looked up at the three vampires, his eyes filled with fear and agony. He watched as Dragos turned slowly towards him and within seconds was flying down the steps towards him once more. In a panic, Michael used the only defense he felt that he had left. He was sure it would only temporarily distract the vampires but he hoped it would give him just enough time to flee. With one swing of his arm, Michael threw the torch into Dragos face when he was just a foot away.
Dragos' stunned face disappeared behind a bright yellow flame that quickly engulfed his entire body. He became invisible to those who were watching but his piercing scream managed to be heard above the loud crackling of the deadly flames. Lazar and Lucian stared in shock as the pale skin slowly melted from Dragos' bones behind the neon yellow of the fire. For a brief moment, he stood there as a skeletal form then his body began to crumble into ashes. Michael stumbled backwards in terror and relief that his desperate attempt had proven to be successful. He shook his head, bringing himself back to his senses, and turned to limp from the castle while Lazar and Lucian were momentarily absorbed in the unexpected death of the coven's prince, Dragos.