Todor stared at the pile of ashes at his feet with bizarre fascination. He was expecting a battle, a tough opponent with thousands of years of experience. But it was over in mere minutes. Something is not right here, Todor thought still alert. He spread his awareness tentacles around again, cranking up sensors on his coat and slowly looking around with mark one eyeballs just for good measure.

He wished he was wrong, that vampire mage was truly dead. Even experts in their fields make mistakes and White Branch underestimated Todor's awareness. But deep down in his bones, he knew he wasn't so lucky. So he waited, his stance in fool's guard, best stance for conserving energy. The sword drank his mana, consuming the amount his sword stole from the perceived vampire. But he would rather wait a week for it to replenish than to die at this moment by hands of a hemmomencer.

At that moment father Smiles chose to show up. He saw Todor standing there with sword faintly glowing, wisps of red smoke swirling around him. That made old priest stop in his track. A faint shimmering of air moved towards the old man and Todor jumped with his magically enhanced speed and strength, sword thrusting forward. Instead of biting into vampires flash sparks flew as his sword got parried. White Branch appeared in front of him again, red eyes flashing with anger. He held a straight, single-edged sword in front himself in a strange stance Todor never seen before.

"It seems I will have some fun with you after all," Vampire said, fangs barring in challenge.

Priest gasped and took a step back once he saw bald vampire appearing not a few steps from him.

"Father, run. You can't help me with this creature." Father blessedly nodded and turned around in a sprint. Rather spry for his age, Ezezu said in Todor's mind.

"You are right. No one can help you at the moment," Vampire taunted than he lunged at him imposable fast. Todor had barely enough time to parry the trust before his enemy struck again, and again. Todor fended him off, but even if Todor had more power to his attacks, the vampire was faster and using unusual angles of attack that caused Todors enhanced speed to feel inadequate. A seed of panic managed to go through his rage and fury.

Ugh, Ezezu, I don't think I can match his speed for much longer, he confessed jumping backward to avoid a sweep of creatures blade. Is there a spell that can make me go faster? The dead girl frantically searched her memory, pages flattering inside of Todor's brain. I can't ... I don't know. My father and me just used strength enhancing one, it always gave us enough speed, she sounded as she always did, but Todor could feel her anger, fear and powerless rage at the situation. He wasn't ready for this, not even by a long shot.

He roared at the vampire striking at his wrist. The nick almost cut off the creatures hand but White Branch just switched the sword to his other hand. Vampire took a step backward and said few words really fast. The spilled blood from the man Todor killed flew towards the creature swirling around his injury. A moment later his pale skin was unharmed once again. The creature grinned at Todor and mockingly saluted with his blade.

You showed me a text where it says we can create new spells, Todor suggested. That takes time, a lot of time. You can't just conjure new spell without knowing what you want, how you want to achieve your goal and so many other things. Todor grunted as the White Branch attacked again, swinging the sword swiftly towards Todor's face. I know what I want, damn it. I want to be faster! Ezezu shrunk back into his mind, still searching the database of spells. I don't know, try it. Try anything, I am not ready to die again.

I am not ready to die yet, either. He jumped from the creature and shot at him three times with the Jolt special. At Todor's amazement vampire managed to block the first bullet with a blade and totally evade other two. That didn't do much to hurt his nemesis but it made him more careful, less reckless in his charge. If Todor could fire a shot from point-blank range he might have a chance.

But White Branch avoided close confrontation only striking with lounging trusts. I screwed up, he realized too late. Should have waited for him to charge at me and fire at him when he wasn't aware I had a gun.

"Uggg," he yelled frustrated and stabbed the blade into the rocky ground. Mana infused tip bit into the rock like it was fruit. Todor left the blade to wobbly there and spread his arms wide. "Well, here goes nothing," he murmured.

What are you doing, fool! Fight, don't give up! Ezezu screamed in his mind. The surprising act made vampire pause as well. The creature stopped and looked at Todor, his blade casually draped on his shoulder.

"You concluded hopelessness of your situation?" White Branch asked, not moving to attack.

Todor searched for words, for the possibility of enhancing his speed. But nothing came to mind, just flashes of red that danced in his vision. Justice has not be done, my will has not be fulfilled, as if in a daze it came to Todor. What is fast? What can't be outrun? Ezezu's screaming stopped. What are you doing? That can't be done that way. But Todor decided and he imagined it, that only left words.

"Zeus, King of Gods! Grant me the wings of Hermes!" Mana globe formed inside of him and exploded outward, sending red sparks of electricity to scorch the ground and unconscious thugs. He felt the spell he cast earlier being replaced with another, one he envisioned. For a blink of an eye, he saw the feminine Anadori face mouthing 'just this once'. He thought he recognized her but he pushed it aside. He couldn't think of that now. He had an enemy to kill.

He surrendered to the red mist of rage. Until now he was reluctant to let it control him. But he needed it now. Its bite, its edge, everything about it was helpful at this moment.

"Huh, change of tactics than?" White Branch asked with a smirk.

Todor surged forward, entire world blurring around him. Vampire's smirk didn't have time to fade before their swords clashed. Todor used impossibly quick cuts that White Branch tried to parry or avoid. But Todor's speed was overwhelming. He lost the power behind his strikes but that was immaterial when he could deliver five cuts in the time he needed for one before. Vampire's advantage was completely nullified and the old bloodsucker realized it.

He tried to disengage but Todor pressed his attacks. Sword trailing red lighting with every swing, he kept delivering cut after cut. White Branch bled black blood from the dozens of wounds, every second his reaction becoming slower and slower. Each time Todor's blade cut into the vampire's flesh, a bit of mana leached out of the creature and surged into his reserves. Tide has changed and both of them knew it.

"You whelp," the vampire spat, managing to jump away from Todor for a brief instant. Todor didn't let him talk, he surged after him, swinging and cutting. "I want be cut down like this," creature protested as their exchanges of blurry blows continued.

White Branch screamed and exploded in the cloud of blood. Two identical figures formed from the liquid, morphing into the two versions of White Branch. Todor's thought was only on the battle. He didn't care if that was an illusion or some other kind of magic. He attacked both of the vampires. At first, it looked like White Branch evened the playing field by cloning himself, but whatever magic allowed him to split in two made both of them much slower and weaker.

Panic on the pale face made him look feral. His red eyes wildly looked for the exit but Todor saw only the red mist and need to kill. Embracing the speed advantage he ducked under one of swing impaling the frantic vampire. The mana surged into him and clone fell to the ground slowly turning to dust.

Todor turned to attack the remaining vampire but the creature grabbed one of the thugs' guns and shot at him. The first two made his coat shield flare with blue light, but the next seven Todor saw approaching. The deadly projectiles seemed as if they were balloons let to drift on the air, and not supersonic metal. He flicked with his sword slightly changing their trajectories away from him and fallen humans around him. The gun in White Branche's hands clicked empty, once, twice. Vampire kept pressing the trigger staring at Todor.

"What are you?" the vampire whispered in disbelief.

"I am what you forced me to become," Todor said calmly. "Ready to fade to black?"

"To hell with that," White Branch growled charging at Todor. By now, he was moving so slow to Todor's eyes that for a split second he felt pity. The feeling which he squashed without mercy.

"Time to end this," he said and run to meet vampires last charge. With a gentle parry, Todor pushed away vampires sword and then cut his throat in a backswing. White Branch made one more step clutching the cut, his sword clattering to the ground. With one more swing his head was separated from his body and rolled on the floor.

Ezezu's voice came as if from far away. You did it, fool. I never thought someone could come with a spell on the go like that. Todor wavered and fell to his knees. I think I had help, I think I saw the lady I met during my search for True Name, he replied fighting through dizziness that overcame him. Oh, boy. The backlash of this spell is a doozy. The world sped up and he slowed down, the weight of the sword and gun became too much for him. He managed to holster a gun back but he his body swung forward almost falling before he stabbed the ground with a sword for support, stopping his decent and rendezvous with a floor. This time blade was not fed with mana and metal refused to cut into the hard surface. Which was fine, giving him the solid something to keep him up.

Todor could feel last remnants of the spells cast upon his body evaporating and turning back into ambient mana. His mind was slipping back into darkness but he fought the urge to faint.

"I.Will.Not," he said with clenched teeth. With enormous power of will, he rose to his feet again, using the sword as a cane. But once he was upright, the weapon became too short to support him. So he swang it through the air, shedding the blood droplets from it before sheeting it.

Ezezu buzzed in his mind, drinking the same elation that he felt. He was alive and he learned a new spell. Sometimes it is great to be a fool, book proclaimed. Why is that? Todor prodded her. Because you don't know what you can't do. He laughed weakly at apparent wisdom.

Todor glanced at the head of the vampire that stared at him from the ground. "Let's get out of here." He made few slow steps before father Smiles and sister Lilly came marching with dozen of people in tow. They all carried rifles and cudgels, looking determined. They saw Todor standing there and came quickly to him.

"Constable, I came back as fast as I could," father Smiles said holding the rifle awkwardly. "I gathered as much of my folk that was close by to answer."

"No need for that, father. It's over," Todor replied trying to smile but he fumbled instead almost tipping over.

"Megi Corpus, you don't look so good," Sister Lilly said coming over to help him stand. Todor wrapped his arm over her shoulder, letting her take part of his weight. "What happened here?"

"This thugs back there accosted me. I killed their leader and hopped the others would just back away." He grimaced as they slowly left the cavern where the battle took place. "But then that White Branch fellow showed up, controlling the poor sods. I tried not to kill any more of them but once I dispatched them he attacked me."

"I came this way, worrying what happened to you and Nommy," father Smiles added. "You saved my life constable. That vampire went straight for me."

"He wanted to use you as a bargaining chip, I think. But if you didn't show up when you did he would probably remain hidden," Todor concluded as he went along. He let go of sister Lilly. "I regained some of my strength, thank you, sister. I must catch up with agent Hillard."

"Naturally. I will send a few people with you to make sure you safely exit Sea Pit," father Smiles said shaking his hand. "If I didn't saw with my own eyes how you fought, I would have thought it impossible. Save journey, constable." One of the men came close to them carrying White Branches head. "Oh, I guess you would take this with you?"

Todor looked at the grizzly trophy and blinked at it. Take it, you could make a small fetish out of it. Questions bubbled through his foggy mind but he had no will to ask them. So he nodded and took the head, bald scalp with face perpetually trapped in a grimace of surprise and horror. The man took out a plastic bag out of his pocket and put the macabre body part in it. He gave it to Todor like it's some grocery in the convince store.