Chapter 41

Action!

Darren extended his hand to the Vampire that had lost his fingers. The man grunted, hoisting himself up with the Young Prince's help. The less injured Vampires were moving toward the exit slowly, still fighting off a few Vampaneze that had not been drawn by Juliet's entrance. Darren worried about her, about the gaping hole in her stomach that she had barely been able to cope with just days before, but there she stood, looking all as threatening and powerful as she had the night he'd first met her. Only now instead of a hungering madness sitting deep within her pale blue eyes, there was something else. Something strong and burning and determined. He shook his head, she wasn't his to worry about. She could take care of herself. He still got headaches every now and then in remembrance of how well she could take care of herself.

Instead Darren tried to urge his mentor to come over, but Larten soundly ignored him. The scarred Vampire had lost one of his opponents, and was now tangled in a fight with two of the Vampaneze, one large and terrifyingly menacing to look at, and the other short, and constantly swiping at the Vampire's injured leg.

As three of the six Vampires left through the tunnels, heeding Darren's directions to follow the scratches on the walls, the young Prince cursed his inexperience. He watched as Juliet dodged attack after attack from the Vampaneze she had distracted, backing up ever closer to Mika, who hadn't even noticed her arrival, he was too consumed by the group before him.

The Vampaneze must have known they were facing a Vampire Prince by the number that went after the black-clothed Vampire. Mika cursed as he nearly tripped over a downed Vampaneze, hopping backwards and bumping into something.

"Watch it," she hissed. Mika paled and turned quickly, seeing Juliet standing behind him.

"What are you doing?" he snapped. "How did you get down here?"

"You can start with 'thanks'," she replied, ducking under a Vampaneze sword that forced Mika to take a step forward. He kicked a charging Vampaneze and tried to focus on his fight but found himself overcome as he watched Juliet moved.

She had rushed forward, tackling the Vampaneze that had swiped at her. She used the full weight of her body to slam him down. Quick as the wind she pulled out her dagger and stabbed the downed Vampaneze squarely in the chest, her eyes cold and focused. Mika was all at once overtaken with dread and pride. She really had changed.

As her target hit the ground Juliet planted her hands firmly on his chest, extending her arms. She brought her legs up and kicked at the next Vampaneze that went to attack her with his knives, her foot landing solidly in his throat. She then flipped herself back to her feet, narrowly running into a wall in the cramped spaces. Another Vampaneze rushed her then. This one larger than the others. He seemed to motion to his comrades to back off, wanting to fight her alone.

"They send women to fight for them?" he huffed. His eyes were set on Juliet and she rolled her shoulders and popped her neck, ready for him.

Darren blanched, remembering the words the Vampaneze that had killed Arra Sails had said.

Larten seemed to have the same thought as he tried to move himself closer to where the two were. His knee was giving him troubles, as he couldn't put too much stress on it. The Vampaneze with the club had definitely gotten his revenge from beyond the grave. He tried to focus on his attackers, but couldn't help but feel an eerie sense of deja vu.

Juliet was experiencing something similar as the purple behemoth stalked towards her.

"They didn't have send me," she spat. "I volunteered."

He laughed and the sound made her grind her teeth. "You must not have known you volunteered to be slaughtered."

Juliet had been pushing back the rage that threatened to fill and overtake her as it had the night she encountered Mika in the cave. She found her breaths becoming deeper, gnashing her teeth to bite back the roar she felt building. "You are going to regret this." She said, eye full of menace. "That's a promise."

She eyed Mika in the corner, could see his concern as he simultaneously protected himself, attacked his foes, and watched her encounter intently. She knew what he was thinking, it was the same thing she was thinking. Of that first encounter with the Vampaneze. Of a dark forest and the fear she'd felt as she ran for her life. The horror as Mika had been struck down before her.

Not this time.

There was nowhere to run, no trees to climb, no rocks to hide behind. She had never needed to use her skills in such close combat, though she'd made due surprising them and killing the first Vampaneze stupid enough to attack her. She realized this was another first for her. The first time she would kill a Vampaneze with no advantage, and no disadvantage. She was on even ground with him, even if he didn't know it.

He stood before her, arms crossed as if urging her to attack. Juliet could only assume this one was Pask, the one the two Vampaneze from earlier in the night had been scared of.

Obviously they didn't know the true face of fear.

She rushed forward, daggers at her sides, and he braced himself. At the final moment, as he went to sweep with his arm and bash her into the wall she dodged, using her momentum to take a few steps up the wall and backflip. Pask's eyes had followed her, even if his body didn't, and she was on his back, jamming her daggers into the hard muscle of his shoulders. He roared and the other Vampaneze in the room were suddenly aware that this girl was not just some surprise attack, she was a seasoned warrior who would hold her own.

She was no longer weak, she had made sure of that. These creatures once thought they could kill her, thought that they could hunt her and torment her. Long had they haunted her dreams the nights after that first attack. Mika would stroke her head calming her with his kind words. He would protect her, he'd said. She'd never need to worry. And she had believed him.

And then one day, Mika was gone, and she was alone and weak and broken. There was no question anymore, she had brought that upon herself, so she took it upon herself to fix it. As soon as her body was healed she was gone, training in every corner of the world. She learned how to protect herself first, then how to feed herself, how to grow crops, how to hunt animals, even as the small girl within her was tormented at the thought of killing another living thing. Juliet had needed to grow strong, had needed to become self-sufficient. So she had. Even as her insides cringed with every rabbit caught in a trap, every deer shot down, she knew it was all progress. Progress meant one step at a time. She would hunt until she could understand that there was no shame in killing to sustain oneself. It took time, but she had done it. It had been fulfilling, it had been freeing.

Then she needed to learn how to kill to save oneself.

That was the hardest part. That she learned mostly from the Hunters. How to surprise a creature so much stronger than oneself. How to turn that strength against them. How to allow them to underestimate you. But Juliet didn't want to be underestimated. She wanted these purple-skinned creatures to hear her name and fear her. To dread meeting her down a dark alley. A little hard to do when you kill in secret, hunting down leads and living like a vagabond.

This is where she would start. This is how they would learn to fear her.

Darren watched in awe. It was like something out of a movie. Juliet was skilled, skilled and dangerous. She hopped off of the Vampaneze's back, pushing against him with her feet and wrenching her daggers out. As she was arcing in the air a Vampaneze attempted to throw a dagger at her, but Larten intervened with one of his throwing knives, allowing her to land safely. She didn't acknowledge him, there was no time. Pask was coming for her, and he was furious.

He tried to rush her, arms outstretched as if to grab her but she dodged. He couldn't maneuver his massive body in these small quarters, so as he tried to turn she lashed out with one of her daggers, and she sliced at his left arm, severing tendon and leaving it dangling uselessly at his side. He roared again.

"You underestimated me." She growled, again hopping on his back. She crossed her arms around his neck, forcing her heels into his kidneys, or where they should be, trying to force him to the ground. Juliet used the blunt ends of her daggers to cause a vice on the large Vampire's neck, and he used his good arm to thrash at her, scratching at her face and arms. She wouldn't let go, he dropped to his knees, and the entire cave had gone silent as everyone watched. Only a handful of Vampaneze remained and they looked terrified. Juliet braced her feet on the ground, twirling her daggers in her hands, flipping the bladed side to the Vampaneze's neck. He grabbed her right arm, squeezing just beneath her elbow. Juliet bit back a scream as she felt his fingers dig into her flesh, he was trying to break her arm, trying to pull her shoulder out, even as he slowly suffocated. She took a deep breath and kneed him in the back, forcing him to arch into her.

She smirked as she felt his neck press into the blades of her knives, even as he pulled harder on her arm and she felt the horrible pop of her shoulder becoming dislocated and felt the bruising and creaking of the bones beneath his hand. But she was focused now, and there was no pain. Mika was watching her, clenching his jaw. He didn't think she would do it, he didn't think she had the strength.

He didn't know her anymore.

She pressed the small ruby buttons on the ends of her daggers, releasing the inch long serrated blades concealed within the smooth edges. They dug into the throat of the Vampaneze, drowning his scream as his airway flooded with his blood. His hand released its hold on her arm, scratching at his neck, she roared and pulled with all her might, swinging her right shoulder to get adequate force from her broken arm. Her blades were sharp and true, and as she wrenched her body, twisting, they sliced through the meat of his neck with no complaint.

The head rolled to the floor with a wet 'thud'.

Juliet blew a stray hair out of her face, her broken arm dropped to her side, releasing the dagger she'd been so painfully trying to hold on to. She stared down the crowd.

"Do not underestimate me."

At her one of the Vampaneze screamed, rushing forward. Juliet's face contorted in malice, and she stepped forward quickly, ramming her remaining dagger deeply into his gut. The small blades upon her blade tore through his flesh, spilling blood and the contents of his insides.

Juliet withdrew the dagger in one swift motion. Mika had moved closer to her, Larten as well. There were only two more Vampaneze than them. This battle was over.

"You should leave," Mika urged her. "Your arm is-"

"It will heal. Much like my stitches. What did you do to them?" She looked at him out of the corner of her eye. Larten was sizing up their opponents, most of which were shaking and backing up, her display of power and brutality too strong for them to ignore.

Mika frowned. He hadn't thought it would work. He had run each piece of thread through his teeth before re-stitching her abdomen after she had bathed. He had hoped that the healing saliva would work this time, but it hadn't any other time the medics had tried, so it was simply a gesture of hope. "I used my saliva." He said.

"The magic spit?" She asked. Mika ignored the urge to smile at her words. She had said something similar when they had been younger, but he was having a hard time seeing her that way now. Not after the beheading.

"Yes."

"Thank you." She said simply.

Mika's chest tightened. She hadn't been so cordial to him since she'd come here. "Juliet, this will help your case with the Princes more than you know."

"I've got you and the little one in my corner, so I'm assuming my odds are pretty good at this point. I didn't do this for the Princes." She snapped.

"Then why?"

Juliet never took her eyes off of the group in front of her. She sighed, the sound small in comparison with the roar of triumph she had given earlier. "For you- for us. I don't know." She cleared her throat, fingers twirling her dagger in agitation. "I had a sensei once who said the only way you can truly understand your relationship with a person is to fight beside them. I never really knew what he meant, but when I heard you all were trapped and I just couldn't leave you…" she sighed. "If we can fight together, we can exist together. If I'm willing to die protecting you and you're willing to die protecting me… well then maybe I don't hate you and you're not as much of an asshole as I thought."

Mika could tell she was putting on a harsh front to keep from saying something too soft. He didn't question it, simply repositioning his sword, readying to fight. "Then I hope you're opinion of me has changed."

Juliet nodded, rolling her shoulders with a wince as her right arm continued to dangle. "Ready?" she whispered. Larten threw a knife at a Vampaneze who was eyeing the ledge where Darren had been. He left at some point.

Mika nodded, bringing his sword before him. "Ladies first."

Darren had rushed to get reinforcements and medics before the moment Juliet had beheaded that Vampaneze. He had realized that even if the three remaining warriors could take out the handful of remaining Vampaneze there wouldn't be a lack of injuries that needed treatment. He moved faster than he thought possible, making the hour-long journey in nearly half the time. He encountered Arrow on his way to the Hall of Princes, already on his way with a group of medics.

"Shan what has happened?" Arrow demanded. "You took the girl down there without consulting us!"

Darren nodded apologetically. "She refused to go with anyone but me, she said it would take too long to get another group of people down there. Did the Generals make it back safe?" he asked, looking concerned.

"Seain will have to learn to hold his sword in his other hand, but they will be fine." Arrow nodded. "They all have broken bones, apparently someone had a club and used it in abundance."

"Yeah, Mr. Crepsley has some problem with his leg, but he's still down there with Mika and Juliet."

"Has she attacked them?" Arrow asked, eyes hard.

"She's only attacked the Vampaneze. And she's merciless…" Darren shook his head. "I can take you down there."

Arrow looked at the young Prince's eyes, seeing the discomfort there. The boy still knew nothing about the ways of battle. He put his hand on Darren's shoulder. "Go wait in the medical rooms. I will bring your mentor back to you."

Darren looked up, surprised. "Are you sure, I can-"

"You've done enough, Darren. You brought an ally to the aid of our warriors." Arrow smiled kindly down at him. His hulking form seemed fatherly. "Now go, wait. We'll bring news soon."

Arrow and his men could not navigate the tunnels as quickly as Darren had. Their bodies too broad to move with ease. The journey took them longer than expected. When they arrived there was no longer a fight, instead there was an interrogation.

Bodies were piled along the sides of the walls, moved there to give room. Many were killed by fatal wounds to the throat or stomach, things a Vampire's saliva could not heal quickly enough. But one, rather large body remained in the center of the room, headless in a pool of blood. Mika stood over Juliet as she held her foot to the neck of the only remaining living Vampaneze. Larten had slumped down in the corner, holding his knee with a pained look on his face. Juliet was whispering.

"You can tell me the truth or you can tell my blade the truth. Pick one." She hissed.

The Vampaneze coughed and scratched at her booted heel. He had been badly injured, one leg severed off by Mika's massive sword. Arrow jumped down as Mika spoke.

"Perhaps he cannot speak because you put too much pressure on him."

"Oh well perhaps he'd rather be dead?" she shot a glare down at the Vampaneze as she slowly lifted her foot from his throat. Mika motioned for her to move, and she went to where her dagger had fallen from her bad arm.

"Mika, you are unharmed?" Arrow asked, wading through the corpses to his fellow Prince. Mika looked up at the sound and smiled brightly at his friend.

"Indeed. We are lucky we received reinforcements when we did." He looked knowingly at Arrow.

"Darren left without telling anyone. Apparently the girl wanted to come alone." Arrow looked down at the headless body. Juliet kicked the head that had dropped near her blade over to it. "Your work?" the bald Prince asked Mika.

Mika shook his head, his eyes dark and unreadable. "Hers." He began to tell the Vampires of Juliet's daring rescue.

Juliet no longer had anything to focus on, so she leaned against the wall, sliding to the floor and groaning at the pain in her body.

This is why she did sneak attacks. Her body was not made for one-on-one combat. Or maybe it was. She looked at the carnage around her, mildly disgusted. She'd grown desensitized to blood and gore, especially after watching Hunters torture for information, but her stomach roiled in a way that bothered her.

The large tattooed Vampire approached her and she looked up at him with a question in her eyes. "I hear you fought bravely to protect my kin."

Juliet inhaled deeply and cleared her throat. "Something like that," she said, voice raw.

"I cannot thank you enough." She just nodded in response, trying to be still. Arrow could read the pain on her face. "Are you injured? Has your wound come open?" He turned to call for the medics.

"Nothing so dramatic," she had a small smile. "The giant there pulled my shoulder out. Maybe fractured my arm in the process. I'm just trying not to move. See to red over there-" she nodded to Larten. "I think his knee is crushed. But damn the dude can hop like a boss."

Arrow looked over the woman in her black tank top and short shorts. Her legs were smeared with blood, probably from her beheading the giant Vampaneze. She had a few scratches on her face, nothing some Vampire saliva wouldn't heal, but they were deep enough to cause blood to trickle down her nose. The nose that wrinkled in annoyance as a drop of blood trickled down it. Juliet used her good arm to help pop her neck, exhausted.

She was a warrior.

Arrow smiled, suddenly he liked this girl, strange as she may be. He left her to rest.

"Mika, what information have you gotten from the survivor?" He turned from her and Juliet was happy to get a moment to look as hurt as she felt.

Mika was now crouched over the Vampaneze survivor who was slowly becoming paler as his leg continued to spurt blood with abandon. "Repeating the same thing over and over, I'm afraid."

"The Lord of the Vampaneze has risen… he will not stop…" he coughed, smiling gleefully. "And he was destiny on his side!"

Arrow frowned. "Is that it?"

Mika nodded. "Yes."

The two shared a look as the medics assisted Larten in climbing out of the cavern.

"Take care of him." Arrow said. "We shall discuss this with the others."

Mika nodded and stood, reaching for his sword. Arrow returned to Juliet and offered her his arm. "Let's get that fixed." Juliet nodded and accepted his hand, trying to hoist herself, but Arrow simply picked her up with ease.

"Damn are you all this strong?" Juliet mumbled as he escorted her to the exit.

Arrow didn't respond and simply lifted her up to the waiting medic. Juliet didn't protest as they ushered her out of the room. But even she could hear the swing of Mika's sword as he brought it down on the neck of the Vampaneze and it sent chills down her spine, again reminding her that she was in a foreign place.