Selene woke instantly hearing the dead weight of Duncan's unconscious body hitting the ground with a nasty thud. He laid face down in a heap with a syringe sticking out his neck.
She leapt to her feet and dove behind a pile of creates barely out of view. To Marcus's disappointment she had healed more than he thought and had the use of her legs back. He had hoped she was too tired to wake and would go into a deep blood feeding sleep then he would have moved her once the sun had gone down.
He bit the lid of second needle off and spat it away holding it ready to use. She could feel his eyes watching her even though the pile of wood.
"What the fuck do you want?" she growled fed up. He didn't respond. She listened to any small movements he made as in indication of what he was doing.
He was deciding how to capture her, if he were to go round one side she would dart the other way giving her a way to get to the stairs. He couldn't go over, they were stacked too high, he couldn't use his hybrid speed in case he hit her, and he needed them both alive. Maybe he could go through.
Selene could see the stairs but it would be too obvious to run strait for them. He could easily get hold of her out in the open, so she needed another way to slow him down. She reached to the back of her knee high boot and found her small narrow dagger she had not been able to reach while pinned in the bus. She would have used it on Marcus earlier if Duncan had not stepped in the way.
Her ears picked up hearing Marcus place the syringe between his teeth and grab hold of the wood of crates on the other side of the pile and fling them away. He didn't seem like he was trying to kill or hurt her, he was trying to capture her for something, and she didn't want to think of what.
She clutched the dagger; she was six months along and was restricted in movement, but still enough to engage in combat if she needed to. She darted into a narrower gap behind another tall stack of mouldy boxes and sacks, now rubbing her shoulder along the wall barely squeezing through. Her legs made her wince as she moved around, they were quite sore, stiff and achy.
The stairs were now further away and she could hear him follow her along on the other side. He was digging though the junk like a fox digging for a rabbit. It just wasn't possible to make a break for the stairs. He'd be on her in a flash and that syringe imbedded into her neck.
Leaning against the wall she tried to assess her options. This wall, which had been the opposing wall to where she had been sleeping, was not cold like the other had been. Feeling with her free hand she felt the rough splintery texture of wood behind her. Running her hand down to the floor she some gaps near the bottom then followed by the smooth floor with a light air flow along the ground. It was falling apart in areas, and from the breeze coming through there was another room behind.
Marcus was pulling away items faster, dust and mould clouded into the air making it catch the back of his throat causing him to cough a little now and then. He was unaware he wasn't the only one who had been digging. Getting down to the last few boxes he tossed them away anticipating seeing her. She was gone.
"Fuck!" he spluttered with the syringe still in his mouth. There was no way she could have gotten past him. Stepping over the junk he looked closer at the wall in the darkness and finally saw why. There along to bottom was a hole originally chewed open by large rodents and now ripped open a little bigger to make a vampyre size hole. It was only just big enough for her to barely squeeze though by pulling her belly in as far as she could. He was far too large to fit through.
She had barely made it through when he had discovered the hole. A loud bang stuck the wall from his side sending wood splinters showering onto the ground. There was no delay in a second bang, this time his fist and arm breaking clean through the wall.
The other side was a massive room was scattered with large aged machinery, old rusty conveyor belts, broken machines and scattered wood boxes, all left to decay in the shadows. It was multi levelled with unsteady crossing platforms floating silently above, joined with sagging beams and haphazard pipes and wires. Spotted throughout the roof and boarded windows on the top most level, holes shone in thin beams of light crossed through the air like lasers giving the lower levels a small amount of light. It was enough for her to see and thankfully none reached the lower areas.
She wasted no time moving quickly through the maze, looking for anything she could possibly use to her advantage. The sun was still up, she was trapped in there with him and she would need anything she could use to slow him down or buy just enough time for the daylight to fully fade. Sliding between two metal panels she tried to observe where a possible exit could be, it was hard to determine anything from where she currently was. She had no idea what barely any of the devices were, and it seemed other parts had been added and dumped in there for storage adding to the clutter.
Her ear pricked up when the smashing and bashing of wood finally stopped. Her head shot around and she looked in the direction she came, eyes wide scanning for anything. She kept her breathing as smooth and quiet as possible, her heart pounded as she listened intensely. He was through and now could be anywhere.
A small groan of metal broke the silence, it came from above. He was climbing onto the upper level. She was a mouse, a mouse in a maze with a cat stalking above. She wasn't afraid like she had been in the bus - she was full body and able now. She remained calm and collected, letting her experience and training take priority.
Marcus sat perched on platform waiting her to move. He only had a rough idea of where she was, because he could only faintly hear her heartbeat and light breathing. Tracking her scent was no longer an option, the heavy dust, strong smell of old oil, rust and mildew in the air cloaked her, it would be like someone trying to see though fog and only getting a slight flicker of movement now and then.
He looked into the mess below and surveyed everything beneath him until he found what he was looking for. Not Selene, but an old roller door on the left hand wall, right near the far end. It was an old loading dock area scattered with various old cargo containers and piled machinery parts. The only other exit was above her on the second level through all the beams of light and right next to a broken stairway that had only recently collapsed. It led to an old office that was bolted up tight covered in padlocks and chain, the cargo door was only latched from the inside and was her only option.
His eyes darted back down looking into the disarray below, he was sure he saw movement. Slowly like a cat along a fence he stalked along the platforms carefully to get a better vantage point. He avoided the beams of light instinctively and assessed each metal grate before stepping on to make sure it would hold his weight.
She had already seen him. His silhouette had crossed between her and a light beam only briefly giving away his position. She took each step silently and kept low to avoid detection. She was following the walls looking for the way out and could not yet see the cargo door.
She moved around an old control unit and found her way open and exposed area. If she were to cross now he would easily spot her. Along through the middle a conveyor was situated linking two parts of the original mechanical system. It was broken and too low for her to hide behind or under to get across.
She slowly lifted her head up and searched for him again. He was closer now balancing on a beam above her and would easily see her if she moved into the open. Squatting down she felt her knee collide with the edge of a brick. Disciplined she didn't make any sound and frowned in annoyance for it to suddenly change into a raised brow with an idea.
Marcus had closed his eyes listening for her heart beat; he was getting closer to her. Swift movement abruptly shot through the air, she was moving fast and directly at him. He shot open his eye surprised to realise it wasn't Selene at all, rather rectangular object flying directly at his face. At the last moment he barely dodged it nearly throwing him completely off balance.
Turning back he saw the tail of her coat disappear into the shadows across the small clearing below. She had now seen the cargo door giving her an exit to aim for, and the daylight was fading fast.
Just as she expected he leapt across the room toward her now making a racket, no longer bothering to hide his position. He jumped from beam, to rail, to platform, some almost collapsing, others screaming from his weight. He finally spotted her dark form moving through the last of the mechanical area.
A metal grate collapsed from above has he followed her and handed at her heels narrowly missing her. He was right above her no and she wasn't going to make it to the door. She had no other choice but to face him. She immediately stopped and spun around heading back the direction she had come, narrowly avoiding him leaping down on top of her.
His heavy feet hit the floor directly behind her and in a rapid blur of movement he grabbed the back of her collar and hair immediately stopping her retreat. She had been faster than he had expected, he was still faster.
He growled angrily pulling her back off balance directly onto the ground. She gasped landing on her back winding her. He flipped around and pinned her down with one hand on her throat, and held her legs down with his knee. He took the syringe out his mouth with free hand and lined it up with the soft curve of her shoulder and neck.
He never even knew of the dagger hidden in her palm until a flash of her arm swiped across his face slicing it clean open and sprayed his blood out across the floor. She had slashed him across his left eye cutting it deeply. She then wasted no time and drove the blade directly into his hand right though the plastic tube casing destroying it.
"Argh," he angrily yelled instinctively closing his left eye. He refused to let go of her neck, so she pulled the blade out and dove it strait at his chest. He grunted with pain and jolted back at the fierce hit. The blade had entered the off centre left side of his chest, if he had not moved slightly at the last moment she would have got his heart.
He grabbed her arm with his bleeding hand to stop her from removing the blade and stabbing him any further. Her eyes were ice blue and focused on him with a desire to harm. She couldn't pull her arm out of his grip so she turned her wrist and arm to twist the blade. He gritted his teeth and winced at the pain and tried to squeeze her hand to stop her. She bared her fangs and forced her arm to turn with what strength she had. His blood acted as a lubricator making him unable to stop her arm that twisted in his grip. She wasn't just faster than he had expected she was much, much stronger.
He had to let pull away or she would nick his heart with the tip of the blade. He tore himself away letting the dagger be ripped from his flesh. He stepped back and clutched the wound to slow the gushing blood.
"Viktor gave you more of the dark gift then what would normally be given." He growled now slightly opening his left obsidian eye that was still drenched in blood.
"Don't mention that name!" she hissed bitterly getting to her feet and held the blood drenched dagger out protectively in front of her.
A silent moment hung in the air, both of them trying to assess the others possible actions.
"I'm no threat to you. Leave me alone." She said backing away not taking her eyes of him until she backed into the base of a pillar behind her.
"I'm afraid I can't." He said finally responding and lowered his hand to reveal the wound had sealed leaving a bright red mark. She could hear anger in his voice now. She darted out of view and dove between the narrow gaps in the machinery.
She could hear him smash his way through behind her, his grunts and growling louder as he quickly moved along. She could now see the cargo bay ahead, the way was now clear.
She was almost through the shadowy labyrinth.
She could feel exhaustion starting to plague her body, her muscles began to feel heavy with each step and her lungs started to burn but she pushed on, she was so close. She hated how pregnancy made her so much slower and inflexible than she would usually be.
Deep haunting rumbles came from within ground and everything began to violently shake. She slammed her back against the nearest wall and braced herself and belly riding out the aftershock. A loud screech from above followed by snapping of wire cables brought her attention to large ventilation system breaking off the ceiling and now fell silently as the quake settled down.
"Selene!" His voice now a mixture of panic and concern.
It would not land on top of her, but it would land close and she wasn't going to take the chance for anything to strike her.
Right before the ear piercing collision with the floor she took cover behind a set of thick pipes and messy wires.
Silence returned. A thick cloud of dust had plumed into the air engulfing everything in a thick hazy brown cloud making it and hard to see. The dust and rust irritated her eyes and collected in her nose and throat. She pulled up her undershirt collar and held it over her mouth.
Squinting heavily she got to her feet and moved quickly without a sound feeling her way past the crashed unit that barely gave her enough room to pass underneath and over to the far wall. She couldn't waste this opportunity of a distraction to get away.
Following it along she gave a small sigh of relief as she arrived at the door. The aftershock had ended up as a blessing, giving her a cloak to hide her escape.
She grabbed a hold of the metal latch but paused. It had been too quiet; he would have known she would have made a break for the door. This last part of her escape had seemed easy, too easy. She took one more look over her shoulder and scanned her surroundings. Strangely his presence somehow seemed further away, did he think she had been crushed? She had hoped so, but not likely.
She lifted the latch and pushed the door aside. It gave a loud creek that echoed though the empty space. She cringed; he defiantly knows where she was now. Yet her senses told her he still was not close, she could somehow still feel his eyes... upon her. She stepped out the door and onto the ramp. Lowering her shirt she took in a deep breath of clean air and headed down the dark old brick driveway. Clearing her eyes she could the lights of the main street at the other end and heard people returning to work on important amenities. Although the quakes had caused some damages and a few evacuations in areas, there were no major collapses.
She began walking briskly watching everywhere around her until she still stopped instantly picking up on new scents in the air. It was one she knew very well. A strong vampyric scent: Death dealers. She looked back at the warehouse from where she came. The door was still open and only the black shadow could be seen. She was sure he was just inside, watching. Was this why he didn't pursue her? Had he sensed them well before her?
She sighed from physical and mental exhaustion. She had out ran and outwit them all, and no matter how hard she fought or tried to escape them, the walls just kept closing in.
And now she had this dilemma.
It was toward death dealers or back toward Marcus. She was surrounded with only a single dagger to defend herself.