Vampires Realm Prophecy 01 - Child of Light

to you. We will make it through this, do not fear.”
    She gripped her axe and wondered whether it would be better if she did fear. She could already feel the magic feeding off the anxiety that burned in her heart. Maybe it was best that she was scared of losing Valentine, then when she needed it, the magic would come quick and strong.
    Taking a deep breath, she sighed it out slowly, letting her tension go with it and focusing on the group of vampires that were now approaching them.
    She glanced at Valentine, taking in his face and telling herself that it wouldn’t be the last time she would see it. They could do this, just like he’d said. Reaching her hand out, she brushed her fingers against his and gave him a smile when he looked at her for a split second and then returned his concentration to the vampires.
    Looking down at her right hand, she saw the amulet’s stone glowing and could sense the power rising within her. Her marks pulsed quietly, almost like a heartbeat as they reverberated through her.
    The vampires were barely ten metres away now. They were still moving slowly, as though they weren’t going to attack. She wondered what they were up to and then realised that it was probably all a trick. Her mother had told her that treachery and deceit surrounded her. They were probably waiting until they were close before attacking. Either she made a move, or she waited for them to make one.
    There was no way she was about to let them have the first blow.
    Wheeling the axe in a circle by her side, she rushed headlong into the group of vampires.
    She swung her axe as hard as she could when she hit the front of the group. Slicing through the first vampire, she spun with the force of her swing and caught another two, cutting their heads clean off.
    A quick glance at Valentine showed he had changed into his vampire guise. He grinned as he relieved a vampire of his head and then kicked another in the kneecap before breaking its neck with his free hand. She watched him out of the corner of her eye while she kicked and slashed at the vampires who were attempting to grasp hold of her. She knew she should’ve been concentrating on them and not him, but there was something in his look that drew her to him. He grinned maliciously when he sliced deep into the side of one vampire and then chopped the arm off another, causing it to scream in agony. The sound of it seemed to make his grin grow wider. There was something in his obvious enjoyment of the fight that made her realise why he’d been chosen to be a hunter. He seemed to feed off the challenge, whether it was a battle of this proportion or a one on one fight with a skilled vampire hunter.
    He relished the kill.
    Swinging her axe quickly, she stamped on her opponent’s shin when he tried to punch her. It cracked and she watched him drop to his knees before turning her attention to the next Tenebrae. The moment he was within striking distance, she brought her foot up and kicked him square in the crotch, making him fall to the ground beside the other one. Bringing the axe round in a graceful arc, she removed both of their heads in one go and didn’t bother stopping to watch them slowly melting into nothingness.
    She punched the vampire nearest her before kicking him in the chest and forcing him to stumble backwards into the group, knocking them all over. She didn’t relent, pushing forwards but briefly looking at Valentine to make sure that he was still with her. He was still grinning, his lapis blue eyes twinkling with it and showing her how lost he was in the fight.
    He sliced across the chest of another vampire, cleaving it in two, and then elbowed the one behind him when they caught hold of his shoulders.
    Another howl made her smile. It was much closer this time. Over the din of the fight, she could hear the clash of battle outside. Dmitri’s army had arrived.
    Turning sharply, she raised her axe at the last remaining vampire. Her eyes widened when she saw it was Valentine. He leapt back a step, holding his hands up by his sides and raising a brow at her.
    “Sorry... I got a little carried away.” She smiled sheepishly and lowered her weapon.
    Looking around them, she realised they’d made it to the top of the stairs.
    “Just try and remember that I am on your side,” Valentine said with a small smile.
    “Have we even made a dent?” She stared at the vampires below her. They were all waiting at the bottom of the stairs, the staircase itself too narrow