“Ahhh!”

I jolt awake.

“Ahhh!”

I hear it again. I look over to Jason. He was awake and feverish, but what caused me concern was the fear in his eyes. It was then, and the smash of ceramic, that I realized what was happening. Adianna was here.

I jump from my seat, my knife flies to my hand, as a bang from outside captures my attention. The door's handle turns and Dominique followed by Ather stubbles in, both bleeding from numerous wounds.

“What’s happening?” I yell above the confusing noise that was coming in from the now closing door, although I already knew the answer. Receiving none, I decide not to press as only time and the context of events will give me the proper response.

Even with the door shut and triple locked, I could still hear the screams and the breaking of ornaments, along with the occasional snap of bones.

After 10 minutes, the door starts to shudder with the force of someone trying to break in. A loud crack and dodging of a flying object tells of the first lock giving way. Another crack followed by more dodging signals the second giveaway. A furious, fed up scream projects through the wood of the door, as our attacker gives her all for the last break in.

The handle of the door, consisting of the last lock flings off. The door slams against the opposing wall and Adianna’s face, layered with sweat and showing her hatred, appears in the doorway.  The last vampire in the corridor shows itself to me and my comrades, except the intruder, intending to kill with one bite. As it launches itself at the intended prey, Adianna surprises us all with a swing with her knife hand, torso following seconds ahead of her iron studded boot. The vampire gets the knife in the centre of the chest and is then booted into the nearest roof support, creating cracks in the post, weakening it enough that if another blow hits, the ceiling will fall in and the building will collapse with us inside.

Once finished shooing off the “fly”, Adianna turns back to us, sneers and faster than any human I’ve seen, lunges at Ather. Ather turns side on, deflecting the knife’s blade, and hits Adianna in the shoulder with the palm of her hand.

“You can stop now Adianna.” She insists, a pleading note in her voice. “You can stop and let us help you. Please. This blood lust has gone on long enough.”

“Listen to her Adianna.” Dominique backs. “Please listen to her. I want my loving daughter again, not this uncontrollable monster.”

“No. I’ve had enough of these mind games. Don’t you know how hard it was for me to watch you croon Amethyst when she was upset. You never did any of that with me. All you did was tell me too get over it. I’ve kept silent all these years, waiting till I could get my revenge. I have been building up all my hate until I was almost going to explode. But now that I can have revenge, I quite enjoy it, seeing the pain on your faces and hearing the pleading in your voices. No I won’t stop till I kill them!” She shoots a look of envy towards Jason and me. It drills a hole into my skull so uncomfortablely that I tighten my grip on my own knife. I drift my eyes towards my brother. Jason closes his black eyes and murmurs something.

A clash of arms and a thud of a body collapsing to the floor, brings my eyes back to the scene. Ather was lying, unconscious on her side, her back to the wall. Visible, above her ear, a lump was already forming. My eyes then sift to Dominique and Adianna. Each struggling to gain the upper hand over the other in a battle of arms. They stop for a split second, face-to-face, trembling. Their lips move in turn as they exchange an unheard conversation. With a savage grin and a traitor yell, Adianna breaks through her opponent’s physical barrier. The blade of her dagger whipping through the air only to stop halfway to reveal a kick to the chest. Dominique took the full blow to her forearms as she blocks it. A grunt comes through her clamped teeth, replacing a scream of agony. I was barely even prepared for the shoulder charge that the victor set upon me, breaking two ribs. Slamming into a wall, my eyes glaze only clearing to show Adianna turning to deliver the final blow to my relative, trembling and standing. It was then that I exploded. I was the last one to stop her. I was the only one left to defend my long lost brother. She knew that and still wanted to take all that away from me.

Blindly I throw a punch, directed for her jaw. Adianna deflects it smoothly. No trace of effort on her face. She smiles, a savage smile it was, reveling two pointed fangs. Noticing my shock, she tilts her head to the side, showing a pair of puncher holes from someone else’s fangs.

“Aren’t vermins sweet.” The predator complements. “To give a heart-broken girl like me, a second chance at life.”

“You’re boasting.” I tease, hopping to get a laugh from her.

A sneer replaces her smile.

“Don’t play with me girl.” The sharpness of the response cuts me like a whip. I flinch under its impact. Adianna takes that advantage. Her fist flying at full force towards me. Knowing I can’t stop it or move to duck in time, I close my eyes and wait for the death blow. I’m sorry Jason. I’ve failed you. I think sorrowfully. The movement in front of me is cut short. I sneak a peak to the clenched hand inches from my nose. Another hand holds it in place at the wrist. I follow the arm to its owner. Jason. He was out of bed, his injury still slinged, meeting Adianna’s glare. The vampiress, her right hand fixed, swings a strike at her interrupter. Jason, sensing the punch, kicks her in the head. Adianna’s skull cracks back at a frightening angle. She is stunned and would’ve been dead had she been human. I plunge my dagger into her chest. She looks at me, her former eye colour returning. ‘I’m sorry’ I mouth. Adianna nods and dies. Tears well in my eyes. I blink them away. Jason approaches me. I turn, let my emotions go and sob into his embrace.