Carpathian 20 - Dark Slayer

with deadly accuracy, slamming into the Carpathians, the trees, and everything else in the battle zone.
    â€œAcid!― Tomas hissed in warning.
    The men dissolved and burst onto the battlefield, each in front of one of the attacking ghouls, punching through the chest to get at withered hearts, others slicing through necks to take the heads from the vampire’s puppets.
    Gregori folded his arms and leaned against the broad trunk of a tree and watched the frenzied, chaotic fight, the battle raging furiously as the ghouls continued hurling the missiles and others continued rapidly building until the structure began to form a roof, now surrounding them on all four sides, confining them within its walls.

    â€œIt is a trap,― Tariq warned the others. “Above you.―
    The seven Carpathian hunters somersaulted away from their opponents, each trying to study the structure rapidly enclosing them.
    Gregori shook his head, rolling his eyes while the minutes ticked by and the ghouls grew more plentiful and the missiles doubled.
    Vikirnoff worked his way across the battlefield to his side.
    â€œDo you mind helping?―
    â€œI would feel a bit ridiculous fighting snowmen, but you go right ahead,― Gregori said with a small elegant bow toward the ancient hunter.
    Vikirnoff looked around, a frown on his face. Everything slowed a bit as he tried to see with all of his senses. The ferocious battle continued, but now the ghouls were white and flaky and suspiciously round in body and head. The arms appeared to be nothing more than branches and old twigs. The missiles were snowballs, splattering against their chests and faces.
    Vikirnoff took a breath and let it out. The scene cleared and completely focused. Color swept up his neck and flooded his face.
    â€œI believe you just got spanked,― Gregori said. “And by a girl.―

    â€œ Terád keje —get scorched, Gregori,― Vikirnoff snapped. “It is an illusion,― he called to the others.
    â€œShe is good with magic. A delaying tactic only. They know we follow them.―
    The fighting slowed and then halted as the hunters slowly realized they’d been duped. Around them, snowmen lay fallen, slashed, heads rolling with grinning faces laughing up at them.
    â€œI cannot believe we fell for this,― Tariq said. “She is better than I gave her credit for. I did not, for one moment, feel a surge of energy.―
    The hunters looked at one another. It was Lojos, renowned for being a great warrior, who voiced his appreciation. “Not only was there no surge of energy, the illusion was absolutely seamless. This is no amateur. Even the skill of the snowmen fighting was superb.― If he could have felt admiration it would have been in his voice, but his emotions had long since faded and all he could do was voice his acknowledgment of the expertise.
    â€œPick up the trail, Vikirnoff,― Mataias said with relentless purpose. “There is not even a faint trace left behind. We will have to use the call of your blood to track them.―
    Gregori smirked a bit. “Yes, Vikirnoff. You use that. I am certain you will have no problems finding them.― The snow was coming down so hard that he almost failed to see Vikirnoff’s face, but it was well worth the extra effort to see the hunter’s exasperated expression.
    â€œIf your lifemate had been duped repeatedly by someone, you would not be so quick to trust him, Gregori,― Vikirnoff accused.
    â€œPerhaps not, but I would trust my prince.―
    Vikirnoff stalked away, leading the group of hunters across the meadow thick with snowmen and back into the forest. The scent was so faint, even with the call of his own blood, as if somehow it had been diluted. Wary of traps now, they had to move much more slowly, spread out in a standard search pattern, all senses alert. There were no tracks, no visible signs of Razvan and Ivory’s passage. Twice Vikirnoff had to back-track and wind his way deeper into the forest where the trees were taller and closer together.
    The canopy wove an umbrella overhead, blocking the worst of the snow so that the layers on the ground weren’t quite as deep, although the branches overhead were piled high and every open space had high drifts.
    Tariq clawed a spiderweb from his face as they infiltrated the darker recesses of the forest. The webs here were