Chapter 3: Dead on Arrival
"Where's Deacon Frost?" Blade asked as he approached a man and his pet dog in a fog filled alley near the Kobe Port and the dog growled/snarled angrily to protect his owner.
"In the Philippines." The man answered with a smile...while swiftly drawing out a revolver and pointing the barrel directly at the raccoon/vampire hybrid!
The Raccoon Daywalker simply glared at the mere sight of the gun and drew out his katana...and time slowed down after the man fired a single round. After the gunshot echoed out, he had immediately felt a presence behind him and glanced back...to see a burning feather fall to the ground, followed by an avian-like vampire creature screeching in agony before exploding! He then realized that his friend/mentor had actually been aiming for the bird-like vampire and it had been ashed right after being shot!
"Bloody things are everywhere these days. Worse than panhandlers." The man stated, pleased that he hadn't lost his edge as he hit his target with extreme ease before blowing the smoke coming from the barrel of his revolver.
"So have you been, my boy?" He asked with a warm smile after seeing his protege and partner as his dog walked up to the Daywalker, whom was also happy to see him after such a long time.
'Noah's still the same, I see. Only more so. While he doesn't share immortality as I do, his skills as a vampire hunter haven't mellowed out over the years.' Blade mentally stated with a soft smile after being reunited with his friend and mentor, glad to see that the more experienced vampire hunter hadn't lost his touch. That was when he glanced down to see Noah's dog, Razor whimpering as he brushed his head up against his right leg. "Razor, how are you boy?" The raccoon-vampire asked while kneeling down and softly brushing his hand up and down across Razor's back. The Raccoon Daywalker remembered the day he and Razor first met after Noah adopted him: how the dog wasn't fond of Blade at first, but after protecting/rescuing him from vampires on a mission and hunt with Van Helsing, he and the canine had formed a strong bond and friendship. "Thanks for coming. I'm sorry that it was such short notice though." He stated, turning to his friend/mentor and apologizing for not calling him ahead of time.
"Don't give it a second thought. You know there's nothing I wouldn't do for you, my boy. Slaughtering vampires, arranging lunch with the Queen, name it." Noah answered, showing he wasn't upset at his friend and student for asking him to meet in Japan and would do anything the Daywalker asked of him.
While Blade, Noah and Razor had climbed into a speed boat and sped away out to the ocean...they were unaware that Selene had been watching them from a cargo container at a far enough distance to avoid being spotted by the Raccoon Daywalker, his human friend and pet dog.
'Hmm...so Frost is hiding out in the Philippines. Thanks for the tip...Van Helsing.' The female Death Dealer mentally stated, thanking the legendary human Vampire Hunter with a smirk as her enhanced sense of hearing allowed her to listen in on everything the Raccoon/Vampire hybrid and his ally/mentor said. She was also impressed by the elderly Vampire Hunter, as he was feared by his reputation and skills as a slayer of vampires throughout all of London and had also witnessed Van Helsing ash that bird like vampire with a single shot without missing!
After watching Blade, his mentor and dog drive full speed out to the sea, Selene had commandeered a second unused speedboat and drove off after them. Despite the heavy fog that obscured their view as they drove out to sea, the raccoon/vampire and his mentor were still able to see and spotted their means of arriving in the Philippines: a charter boat out in the middle of the ocean. Once they boarded the vessel, Blade and Noah were greeted by the captain of the boat and his crew, whom were expecting them.
"Well, welcome aboard the Queen Victoria 2. The name's Captain MacRay." The captain of the boat stated in a deep British accent as he and the Raccoon Daywalker shook hands.
"Not everyday I have a mutant as a passenger on my ship." He added, mistaking the raccoon/vampire hybrid for a Mutant while not knowing what he truly was after they finished shaking hands.
"I'm not a mutant, Captain. I'm something else, but I give you my word that I won't cause any trouble while aboard your ship." Blade stated, correcting MacRay that he wasn't a mutant and giving him his word that he wouldn't cause any problems as they sailed to the Philippines.
"That's fine and all, mate. But let me make one thing perfectly clear: while you're here on my boat, you'll abide by my rules, got it?" MacRay stated, showing he understood that the raccoon/vampire hybrid wasn't a mutant while also making sure that both the Daywalker and Van Helsing understood that while they were on his vessel, they would abide by his rules. "And rule number 1: No women allowed on board." He added, as they all turned their attention to Selene, who had climbed the ladder up to the deck from her own speed boat and simply mirrored the hard glare the British captain and his crew gave her as she stepped foot on the ship.
While the captain and his crew were angered by the sight of the female vampire, Blade wasn't that surprised at seeing her again: as he fairly guessed the Death Dealer had followed him from Osaka to Kobe, since she was also after Frost. Noah, on the other hand, was fascinated at the arrival of the women...while also having a good idea of what she truly was from the mere sight of her.
"Noah, did you remember to bring what I asked?" The raccoon/vampire asked while turning to his friend and mentor, hoping he brought what he asked in order to keep his vampire half's killing and feeding instincts under control.
"Yes, I stored it below deck." His human friend/mentor answered, confirming he brought what the Raccoon Daywalker asked on the ship before his former protege walked down the staircase to reach the lower decks.
"Throw her overboard." MacRay ordered while pointing to the female vampire and several of his men happily complied with his command.
"Yes sir!" A crew member stated while cracking his knuckles, showing he had no problem getting hands on with women with two other crew hands backing him up.
"Bad idea boys." Selene stated cold and simple, showing she wasn't even the slightest intimidated by the captain and his crew, while Noah hung back to see how this 'scrap' would go.
'If this lovely young lady is what I think she is...the captain and his crew are in way over their heads.' The veteran Vampire Hunter mentally stated, showing he did think and see the Death Dealer as a truly beautiful woman...but also could see the hardened warrior underneath her stunning appearance.
Right after the first crew member had placed a hand on her shoulder...he quickly cried out in pain as the Death Dealer had swiftly grabbed his wrist in her right hand and with a sharp twist, forced him down to his knees as she twisted the radius! As the man attempted to pull his injured hand out of her grasp, Selene had released her hold of his wrist...but not before landing a powerful right hook kick, striking him right underneath his chin! The rest of the crew stared and gasped in shock at how fast the 'lady' had brought down their fellow crew mate...while Noah simply nodded, as his suspicions were confirmed.
"So you wanna do it rough, huh?" Another crew mate demanded, charging in to throw and land a punch to the female vampire's face...only for him to share his friend's outcome: as Selene had easily sidestepped to the left and landed a tornado kick with the back of her ankle connecting with the right side of his face, sending him falling onto the deck flat on his back!
"Anyone else care to try their luck?" The Death Dealer demanded with narrowed eyes, as if daring the captain to send anymore of his crew to attack her...while most of his men backed away, slightly intimidated by the mysterious woman as she took down two of their men without even trying.
"Well, as long as you're offering, sure. Why not? Call me an old fool but...I'm game if you are.' Noah stated, taking the female vampire up on her offer for some 'exercise' while MacRay continued glaring daggers at the woman as he continued to watch from the sidelines.
Selene had simply smirked as she couldn't pass up the opportunity to see how skilled Van Helsing was at hand to hand combat and dashed forward. Noah had mirrored the smirk as well...especially as he swiftly moved his left arm up and blocked a punch that the Death Dealer attempted to land! She had then attempted to land a number of lightning fast strikes with her fists...which the elderly human Vampire Hunter blocked with expert ease and even ducked just in time as she attempted to land a roundhouse kick that would've surely knocked him, but missed! After dodging the roundhouse kick, Van Helsing had swiftly sweep kicked Selene off her feet...which she quickly recovered and attempted to land a straight forward punch, only for the veteran human to catch in the palm of his hand!
"Most impressive...I must say you truly are a skilled warrior as your technique and methods are superb: Death Dealer." Noah stated with a soft smile, complimenting the female vampire on her skills as a warrior and more importantly...knew what she was right away!
"Hmm, my clothing and fighting style gave me away, did it?" Selene asked with a soft smile, although was genuinely surprised that he knew what she was as he released his hold of her hand and they bowed respectively, thanking the other for the small spar.
Before they could speak further, she and Van Helsing glanced down as Razor had slowly approached her, whimpering softly before nudging the back of the female vampire's left hand and licking her palm as she naturally patted his head.
"Oh, I guess you can tell what I am as well, can't you boy?" Selene asked softly as she continued to pat/rub the white furred dog and he softly licked his face, showing that he didn't view her as a threat to him or his owner.
"Interesting...I've never seen Razor take an instant liking to anyone right away before." Noah stated, as he was surprised to see his dog take an instant liking to a female Death Dealer...but after seeing how she petted Razor and how calm/relaxed he was, he fairly guessed that she had experience handling dogs before.
"Doesn't matter if your dog likes her. My rule still stands, old man: no woman on board my boat." MacRay stated, showing he didn't care if Van Helsing's dog liked the female vampire as he still wanted her off his boat.
Before Van Helsing could offer a bribe, he saw the female vampire pull out a cellphone and punched in the programmed phone number to contact the mansion. After a few seconds, Selene smiled as she heard her lover answer on the other end.
"Amelia, it's me. I have ran into a rather small...complication." She stated, informing her Elder girlfriend and lover that she had a rather 'small problem' and Noah knew right away she was referring to the captain of the Queen Victoria 2.
"What's the problem Selene? Have you been unable to locate Frost?" Amelia asked, wondering if her lover was having trouble in locating the rogue vampire after she contacted her back in Osaka and informed her that he was no longer in Japan.
"Quite the opposite, my Lady. I have a promising lead on his current location: he's in the Philippines. I followed the Daywalker from Kobe to a boat out in the ocean sailing there...but the captain won't grant me passage on the vessel." The Death Dealer answered, informing her lover that she had a promising lead that Frost was currently in the Philippines and how MacRay wouldn't allow her on his boat.
"Is the captain right in front of you?" Her coven Elder asked, surprised by her lover referring to her as 'my Lady' and quickly understood the reason: how the captain of the boat and his crew right in front of her and didn't want them to know they were a lesbian couple, as that would've no doubtingly caused more tension between her Selene and the British boat captain.
"Yes, I'm looking right at him." Selene stated plainly, informing her Amelia that she and the captain were looking right at each other, with angry scowls on their faces.
"Put him on the phone." Amelia commanded softly, asking her sweet Selene to put MacRay on the phone so she could negotiate with him and she did just that.
"The Elder of my coven would like a word with you." The female vampire stated, plain and simple while handing him the phone which he accepted and placed near his ear.
"This is Captain MacRay, owner of the Queen Victoria 2. Whom am I speaking to?" MacRay stated, identifying himself to the vampire Elder on the other end of the phone and asked for her name.
"This is Lady Amelia, current Elder of the Corvinus Vampire Council. I understand you won't let my coven's best warrior and operative board your vessel." The female Elder stated plain and simple, revealing her name and position of coven's Council...which greatly surprised the British captain after hearing that Selene was her coven's best agent and warrior!
"Well...Lady Amelia, I...I wasn't aware that this woman was an agent from your coven. But nonetheless, your operative is still not allowed..." The captain of the boat stated, rather flustered after hearing what a powerful woman the female Elder was and claiming he was unaware that Selene was her coven's top operative...which both the Death Dealer and Noah knew was a pathetic lie as they shook their heads: showing they didn't believe a single word he said.
"How much?" Amelia asked plain and simple, knowing that a simple bribe would grant her lover entry on board the ship.
"Pardon?" MacRay asked, baffled by what the female Elder just said and realized she was offering him money to change his mind!
"How much money will it take to grant my operative passage on your ship? I can write and send you a check of any amount." She stated, offering the British captain a blank check with any amount of money as payment in order to get her Selene entry on his ship.
"Look, Lady Amelia...that's a pretty tempting offer, but..." He stated, slightly tempted to accept the bribe so the female Elder's warrior and agent could have entry onto his ship...and was stunned by the offer she made him.
"Would $25,000 dollars do?" Amelia asked, offering him 25 grand in order to get her lover onto the boat.
"2-2-25k? Well...I, um..." MacRay flustered, surprised that she had offered 25 grand in order to allow the Death Dealer to sail on his vessel!
"$500,000, then?" The female Elder asked, with a coy smile, sensing that he would easily cave after being offered half a million dollars.
"...Deal..." The British captain stated, swallowing his pride after being offered 500 grand to allow the female vampire to travel on the Queen Victoria 2!
"Thought so. I'll have another of my agents to meet and hand you the check when you arrive in the Philippines." She stated with a smug smirk, knowing he wouldn't be able to resist being offered $500,000 dollars and informing MacRay that another of her agents would meet them in the Philippines to personally hand him the check.
"Thought you'd see things our way." Selene stated with a smirk after taking her phone back from MacRay, knowing that the captain of the boat, along with his crew, couldn't say 'no' after being offered half a million dollars, along with her Amelia.
"Just be happy that I couldn't say no to $50,000 dollars." The British captain stated, scoffing at the smug smirk on the female vampire's face, showing he wasn't happy with letting sail on his ship...but also couldn't pass up a rare opportunity to be paid 50 grand in exchange before walking away to head up to the pilot house.
"Yeah, right." She stated mockingly with the smirk still on her face, as she could only imagine how damaged the captain's manly pride was before walking up the stairs to the pilothouse to get the propellers and engine running.
"Thank you Amelia." The female vampire stated softly, thanking her dear Amelia for paying MacRay $50,000 dollars to grant her passage on board the ship.
"Anything for you, my love. I wish you luck with finding Frost in the Philippines." Her Elder girlfriend and lover answered, stating paying an old fashioned seafarer like MacRay a $500,000 bribe was necessary, especially if it meant putting an end to Frost's nefarious and demented schemes all throughout Asia.
"Thank you, my love. I'm going to need it if he's no longer there...just like Japan." Selene stated, thanking her beloved for supporting her in wanting to accomplish her mission so she could return to the mansion and her lover. "I love you Amelia. I'll call you back with a mission update after I arrive in the Philippines." She whispered softly, so Van Helsing wouldn't hear and was fortunate that he was attending to Razor before she ended their phone and promised to contact her again after reaching the Philippines.
"I love you too Selene. I wish you a safe trip while out on the ocean." Amelia answered back, whispering softly as well and wishing her lover a safe journey while sailing out in the middle of the sea before they hung up on their own ends.
Shortly after hanging up her cellphone and the captain headed up the stairs to get the ship moving, both Noah and the Death Dealer couldn't help but chuckle after seeing MacRay coldly walk away and after five minutes had passed, the ship had begun its voyage to the Philippines. After choosing an empty room as her temporary quarters, Selene had roamed the empty corridors of the Queen Victoria 2, as the crew were either in the mess hall, eating dinner or playing a friendly game of poker or Texas Holdem. As she continued wandering the empty halls, the female vampire had heard Noah's and Blade's voices outside a barely lit room, which she fairly guessed the Raccoon Daywalker's temporary quarters and peeked through the small glass window to see what they were doing.
"It wasn't exactly easy...but I was able to bring enough blood as you need to help satisfy your vampire side's thirst and hunger. I was also able to build a device that will allow you to drink while you're traveling. It will also automatically refill with blood, so you won't have to worry about ever running low on supply." Noah stated, showing the raccoon-vampire hybrid a rather uniquely designed device that acted like some sort of portable blood dispenser and after Blade had secured it to his belt, the device immediately activated: a straw like tube had retracted into his mouth and drank a fair amount just to satisfy his vampire half's need for blood. Once he had enough and pulled the straw-like tube out of his mouth, it immediately retracted back into the dispenser.
"Very impressive Noah." Blade stated, showing he was impressed by the device his friend/mentor had built and gave to him, which was the answer to him suppressing his vampire half's thirst for blood...along with Selene after witnessing the functioning features of the blood dispensing device before silently walking away without him or Noah noticing.
"No problem, my boy. Now you rest, we will be arriving in the Philippines by sunrise." His human friend and mentor stated, showing he was glad to help his former student and partner and advising him to sleep, as they would be at the Philippines by morning and just as he stepped outside the room...he had instinctively knew someone had been eavesdropping on him and the raccoon/vampire hybrid...and knew whom it was.
Shortly after returning to her temporary quarters and suspected that MacRay, Noah and the crew members were either above deck, pilothouse or in their own cabins sleeping, the female Death Dealer had returned to Blade's quarters and was surprised that Van Helsing hadn't bother to lock the door to make sure no one intruded while he slept. As she stealthily stepped inside and approached the Daywalker as he slept in his temporary bed, Selene stared surprised as he was sweating heavily and groaning in sheer pain. She had also spotted an antiquity knife on the nightstand beside him, placed on a clean napkin...which she fairly assumed was important to the raccoon/vampire.
'Hmm, I wonder what makes this knife so special to him?' The female vampire asked, as she was curious to what the knife meant to Blade...and was greatly surprised after glancing back to see him looking directly at her!
"What are you doing here?" The Raccoon Daywalker asked as he immediately woke up after sensing someone had entered his cabin...and was surprised to see that it was the Death Dealer!
"I apologize. I didn't mean to intrude. I was hoping that we could possibly talk." Selene answered, apologizing for entering his cabin without permission and stated she was hoping that the two of them could merely chat. She was also surprised as he now bore vampire eyes and fangs, as they hadn't shown before!
"It's alright, but now's...not a good time. If it's alright with you...we could talk later when we...make port in the morning." Blade replied, clearly seeing that the female vampire didn't mean any disrespect for entering his quarters and asked if they could talk after they arrived at the Philippines in the morning.
"Of course. Good night." She stated, respecting his request that they could speak later once they arrived at the Philippines...and was surprised as she heard Noah's behind her!
"So...it was you who had been eavesdropping on us earlier tonight." Van Helsing stated in a monotone voice, as his suspicions were confirmed after seeing the female vampire standing inside his former student/partner's cabin.
"I didn't mean any harm from..." The Death Dealer started off, attempting to apologize to the human Vampire Hunter for spying on him and Blade...and was cut off by Van Helsing.
"I know you didn't mean any harm and it's alright. Come, let's let him rest." He stated softly, knowing that she didn't mean to spy on him and the raccoon/vampire hybrid and gesturing for her to follow him, so they could allow Blade to sleep peacefully and Selene had softly closed the door behind her after stepping out of his cabin.
~Above deck~
"I can fairly guess that you have a number of questions to ask Blade?" Noah asked softly, as he no doubt guessed that the female vampire was extremely curious about the Raccoon Daywalker's origins: where he came from and how she never heard of a vampire species like him before.
"As a matter of fact, I do. I've never heard of, let alone seen a creature like him before in my life." Selene stated, confirming his hunch was correct about wishing to learn about Blade's past: how he became a cross between humanoid raccoon and vampire and why he was after Frost.
"He's a hybrid: half humanoid raccoon, half vampire. He's what the pure blooded vampires call a Daywalker: as he shares their strengths...but not their greatest weakness: which is daylight. While he also shares their thirst for blood, his other half helps him overcome his vampire half's thirst and hunger. I've known Blade for quite a long time. But before I actually met him, I knew his father, Connor Cooper. They come from a parallel Earth, where animals and not humans evolved. Connor's family bloodline actually came from a family clan of thieves and he, himself, was once a master thief...before he discovered a portal device that led straight to our Earth. The day he crossed over to our Earth, was also the day we met each other and became a team: traveling across the globe, hunting and killing vampires that had mercilessly attacked and slaughtered innocent civilians. After Vanessa, Connor's wife told him that she was pregnant and was about to have a baby, he left this Earth and life behind as a Vampire Hunter to live out the rest of his life as a father and husband. But after...a great tragedy that led to both Connor's and Vanessa's deaths...he told his son about the portal device and to destroy it, so no one of our Earth could ever cross to his world and to seek me out, where I became his guardian and mentor." Van Helsing stated softly before giving a deep sigh, explaining most of Blade's origins with Selene: how he came from a parallel Earth where evolved animals lived and humans didn't exist, how he had been friends and partners with his father, before his wife, Vanessa told Connor that she was pregnant with Blade and how he left the live of a Vampire Hunter behind to become a husband and father...before a 'tragedy' happened and how he had became the raccoon/vampire hybrid's mentor and friend.
"Well, that...that explains how he arrived in our world and where he came from. I had no idea that alternate Earths actually existed...let alone one Earth where animals and not humans evolved." The female vampire stated, as she was digesting everything she had heard and learned about Blade's origins and yet at the same time...suspected that Noah was holding something back about the 'tragedy' that she fairly guessed was when something truly horrible happened to the Daywalker's parents. "Noah...do you happen to know the story of the knife that he keeps on him?" Selene asked softly, hoping that the human Vampire Hunter knew Blade's reasons for keeping the small hand-held weapon.
"As hard as it may seem... I do not. But when I first saw that knife and how Blade always held it close to him, I knew right away that it held a huge amount of sentimental value to him. To anyone else...it seems like a worthless knife, but to him, it's like a sacred relic and I'm glad that he holds on to it." Noah answered, informing the Death Dealer that he did not know the origins of the knife that the raccoon/vampire hybrid carried with him, but explained in some way that it was like a sacred relic and was proud of his friend and former partner for holding on to it.
"What do you mean?" She asked, curious as to why he was proud of the Raccoon Daywalker for holding onto that old knife and why it meant so much to him.
"As vampire hunters, we don't just fight the evil powers of darkness...but also the darkness within ourselves, inside our very hearts and souls. It is a part of us and there is no running away from it, no matter how hard we try. But that doesn't mean we have to allow it to consume us. I can also understand why Blade holds onto that knife: as it's the only remaining fragment of his humanity, reminding him to always stay strong and fight the darkness inside him." He answered while revealing the true nature of being a hunter and killer of demonic creatures, that they don't just fight evil forces of darkness...but also the evil and darkness inside of them.
Selene had been silent as she heard Van Helsing explain the true nature of being a Vampire Hunter: how people like him and Blade weren't just battling the evil forces of nightmarish monsters and creatures from Hell, but also the darkness inside every human being. She had met and encountered many humans whom were the worst of humanity while on recon missions, hunting for Lycan dens and camps throughout Europe: murderers, muggers and rapists who targeted random innocent people with no logic whatsoever and it made her sick that humans like those even existed. But after learning what the knife truly was and meant to the raccoon/vampire hybrid...even she was glad Blade had held on to it, as the knife represented the remaining fragments of his humanity and she could relate perfectly, as the only remnants of her humanity was Amelia: her Elder, girlfriend and lover.
"Which reminds me...I never did learn your name." Noah stated, realizing that he never once asked the female vampire her name and felt that now was the right moment to ask.
"...Selene. My name is Selene." She answered, revealing her name to both the human hunter and his pet dog.
"Well, it is very nice to meet you Selene." Van Helsing stated, offering the Death Dealer a hand to shake...which she gladly accepted, as she found a friend in the veteran Vampire Hunter and his dog.
That was when Razor had started growling and barking towards the night sky, which caught both their attention as they heard and spotted several of the crew mates glancing up to the sky as well.
"Do you see that?" A deckhand asked, after spotting a number of shadowy figures approaching the ship from the midnight sky.
"Yeah, but what is it?" A second crew member asked, while getting a bad feeling about the flying objects.
"I have no idea, but...it's headed this way!" A third crew member answered, while pointing to the night sky and stating the objects were heading straight to the ship!
"Something is coming." Selene stated, while drawing out her dual Beretta 92FS handguns and stood ready, alongside Van Helsing and the rest of the crew to face whatever it was that was about to attack the ship. And they didn't have to wait long to get their answer: a huge flock of bird-like vampires!
"Mandurugo. Wing vampires native to the Philippines." Noah stated identifying the avian-like vampires, as the one he killed back at the port of Kobe was in fact from the same species!
"Friends of the vampire you killed back in Kobe?" The female vampire asked, after fairly guessing that the Mandurugo that Noah killed was obviously a scout for the flock!
"More than likely." The veteran hunter stated, while confirming that the bird-like vampire he killed back at the port was mostly a scout for his fellow avian like brethren and rallied the crew to a gun crate they kept on board the vessel.
"Aim for the heart! Make every shot count! Silver bullets aren't exactly cheap!" He instructed while handing a Remington Model 870 shotgun outfitted with silver bullets to the crew, which they gladly accepted and took aim, alongside Noah as he drew out his revolvers and they prepared themselves for the flying monstrosities!
After waiting for the Mandurugo to fly in low and closer, that was when the crew members fired: shooting one through its left wing and another directly through the chest! The two avian vampires gave one final screech like scream while being engulfed in flames and exploding into ash!
"Rule #2: No blood-suckers on my boat!" MacRay stated, as he was also armed with a Remington 870 and fought alongside his crew to defend his ship from the attacking vampires!
The British boat captain had fired a single shot and the silver bullet passed through a Mandurugo that was swooping down at a fast speed! Razor had also assisted in fighting the bird-like vampires, as he pounced into the air and bit his jaws down on the neck of one, ashing it right away! While Noah and the others were fending off the avian vampires, Blade had woken up and immediately knew they were under attack, due to hearing all the gunfire and ear piercing screeching!
"Damn it." The Raccoon Daywalker muttered before grabbing his jacket and weapons and sprinting towards the deck to join in the fight.
The Mandurugo had screeched loudly as they flew at an insanely fast speed above the Queen Victoria 2, making it difficult for the crew to get a clean shot until they ran out of ammo! The flying monstrosities had swooped down, grabbed a hold of several crew members and dropped them into the ocean while the captain and several deck hands continued to fight, killing as many of the avian vampires as they could!
"Damn it! They're too fast!" A crew member stated after he and his fellow crew members ran out of ammo, which left them defenseless against the remaining Mandurugo and one had swooped down to attack MacRay, as he had fired his last round and he stared shocked as it's clawed talons were inches away from piercing his face!
But fortunately for the captain...a gunshot had rang out and the bird-like vampire gave one final screech-like scream before being ashed, after a bullet had passed through its forehead! MacRay glanced to his right and to his great surprise...the person who saved his life was none other than Selene! While his crew were astonished that the female vampire had saved their captain's life...MacRay simply gave the Death Dealer a firm and approving nod: his way of thanking Selene and realizing he was wrong about her. She simply nodded back, as if saying 'you're welcome' before assisting Noah and Razor in fighting off the remaining Mandurugo!
The female vampire had gunned down a good number of the bird like vampires, along with Noah as their silver bullets had hit their mark: shooting the Mandurugo through their wings or directly through the chest before being ashed. After her Beretta handguns had clicked, meaning she was out of ammo, Selene had prepared herself as one of the avian vampires had swooped down to impale her with its razor sharp talons! Once the Mandurugo was close enough… she performed and landed a jumping roundhouse kick, with her foot connecting with the hideous vampire's neck! The bird-like monstrosity had groaned in surprise after the force of the kick had sent her slamming down hard on the deck and gave one final scream, as the Death Dealer had impaled her through her back with a knife she had taken out of her jacket pocket!
Selene had swiftly glanced behind her, to see two other Mandurugo swooping down directly at her and showing their jagged vampire teeth...suggesting they were hungry and decided to feed on her blood for their meal. The female vampire had readied herself after discarding the empty mags from her Beretta handguns and inserted fully loaded and fresh...only to hear a familiar slash and witnessing the two hideous avian vampires scream in agony before exploding after being ashed! She stared surprised, especially as the one who came to her aid was none other than Blade himself, with his katana sword drawn out.
"Looks like we're even." The Death Dealer stated plain and simple, with a smirk on her face after stating that she and the raccoon/vampire hybrid were now even after Osaka.
"Hmm, guess we are. Now let's finish this battle." The Raccoon Daywalker stated with the same smirk, as he had just paid off his debt to the female vampire for helping him as he had been outclassed battling Tanaka in his Water Tiger form and leaped into the air, ready to take on the remaining Mandurugo.
After Blade had jumped to combat the repulsive bird like vampires, two had foolishly attempted to sink their teeth into him...only for them to scream out in agony after he had ashed them with a swift and clean swipe from his sword! Bu unfortunately...as soon as the two avian vampires had been killed and Daywalker attempted to land safely on top of a cargo container, he felt a sharp tense pain erupting from inside him, which caused him to collapse flat on his face and drop his katana from the unexpected crash. Three remaining Mandurugo had witnessed the turn of events and cackled at the sight as they circled above the still weakened hybrid, who simply glared while glancing over his shoulder.
"Existence told us that you and Death Dealer were on your way. Welcome! Mr. Frost is rather interested." Matthes, the leader of the Mandurugo stated, revealing to the Daywalker that Frost had contacted her ahead of time about him and Selene and how her master was rather 'fascinated' of the raccoon/vampire hybrid before picking him in her talons and began to fly away with him!
"Get your fucking hands off him!" Selene shouted as she took careful aim with her Beretta's and after getting beat on the Mandurugo leader's line of directing...fired four precise rounds: two from each handgun towards the larger bird-like vampire!
Matthes had screamed in pain, as she felt the four silver bullets pass through her wings...even though it wasn't enough to kill her, it made the larger Mandurugo release her hold of the weakened Raccoon Daywalker out of her grip as she crashed on the roof of the pilot house.
"Your friend's can't bail you out this time, half-breed. Now die!" The female leader of the avian vampires stated, while glaring hatefully at the raccoon/vampire hybrid and readied her talons, to impale him and end his miserable life!
"Blade!" Noah cried out, as he tossed his friend and former partner a syringe filled with a retrovirus: a vaccine that is extremely lethal and life threatening to pure blood vampires...as the retrovirus attacks their genetic code. Once he caught it, Blade had immediately injected Matthes with the retrovirus...the larger Mandurugo cried and shrieked out in complete pain and agony once it entered her bloodstream!
"You're in for one hell of a hangover." The raccoon/vampire stated sarcastically, after seeing how much pain and anguish the leader of the avian-like vampires was in after he injected with the syringe.
Matthes had continued to screech and scream out in great agony, as the retrovirus was attacking her genetic code and she had collapsed flat on his chest, while convulsing in deep pain. The remaining two Mandurugo had picked their wounded leader and flew her back to their hideout in the Philippines, in order for her to recover after being injected by the retrovirus. MacRay and his crew had cheered out in glee, as they, Noah, the Raccoon Daywalker and Death Dealer had driven off the attacking bird like vampires as they carried their greatly injured leader away from the Queen Victoria 2. Blade and Noah had shared a soft smile, as this battle practically reminded them of their earlier days as a team.
"Thank you for your help, Selene." Van Helsing stated softly as he and the female vampire turned to each other and shook hands firmly.
"You're welcome No..."She answered softly, but was cut off as one remaining Mandurugo, that had been hiding between a pile of stacked up crates had shown itself, swiftly snatched the veteran Vampire Hunter in it talons and flew off in order to catch up with its fellow brethren!
"Noah!" Blade cried out in shock, as he couldn't believe that a straggler had just captured his friend and mentor right in front of him, along with Selene and Captain MacRay!
"What do you want to do?" The British captain asked, while already knowing the answer as the Daywalker knew where the Mandurugo were headed.
"What do you think? We're going after them." Selene stated bluntly, as the answer was completely obvious to them all.
"They're headed for the Philippines...and that's where we're going." The Raccoon Daywalker stated, knowing that Matthes and her remaining Mandurugo were flying straight towards the Philippines...and knew that they were taking his friend and mentor to their base of operations on the small island.
'Hold on Noah. Razor and I are coming for you.' He mentally stated, vowing to rescue his oldest friend and mentor from Frost and his demented organization...no matter the cost.