User:Damon/The Vampire's Tale/6

As always, the talk page can be used to critique the Tale. I welcome any feedback!

Love,
--Snowmane^(talk)

The Vampire's Tale: Fire and Steel

Andre Draconis sat behind the counter to his bar reading a book he got in Leyawiin when he went for supplies for the store. There was never anyone in the inn, besides Crimson, when he bothered to show up. He hated vampires, they were foul creatures, and he only let the lizard stay because he would always pay a fine sum to use this inn as a hide-out whenever he needed to escape whatever deeds he did.

He sighed. It was his fault that he would let it happen. That he would let the vampire stay here, and not stand up for himself. But, the fear that he and his family would be killed if the vampire wasn't allowed to use the remote location as a safe house was took much to take.

Closing the book, Andre stood up and walked across the room to wipe down the tables. Not that they needed to be wiped down. Save for Crimson, who only used the lodgings but never ate at the inn, there was never anyone here.

Counters wiped down, he turned to walk back to the counter, just as the front door opened, and a gentleman entered wearing rather fine clothes exposed under the thick traveling cloak he wore. There wasn't much more that Andre could make out of him, as he never removed his hood as he walked up to the counter.

Straightening his apron, Andre stood straight behind the counter. "How are you, sire? May I offer you a drink?"

The gentleman shook his head. "No, but I need information on an Argonian."

Andre felt a nervous tug in his chest. "Well, information isn't free. What's in it for me?"

The gentleman stood back up and in a flash had reached across the counter, grabbing Andre by the apron with one hand, while pulling back his hood with the other. It was a another vampire! Andre grabbed his wrist and tried forcing it off, but the vampire's grip wouldn't slacken.

"Where is the lizard?", the gentleman repeated. "And, who else is here?."

The vampire of course knew, but he wanted to make absolutely certain there weren't going to be interruptions or collateral damage.

***

Crimson stood at the top of the stairs listening. It was without a doubt the Breton who attacked him in the cave, but he was still too weak to fight, thanks to the hole in his shoulder from the other one's sword. Glancing around, he jumped up and grabbed a rafter with his good hand, and then struggled to pull himself up into the shadows, before jumping into a storage area. It was dark and largely forgotten about, thanks to its inaccessibility, so Crimson kept his stolen gems and weapons here. Grabbing a sword he turned and sprinted towards a window and smashed through it, dropping down in front of the inn.

***

Gallen was just as shocked as the vampire was when they discovered each other. Drawing his Akaviri katana, Gallen readied his shield and lunged at Crimson, who ducked and spun around to use his tale to trip Gallen up.

He stumbled back just as Jean rushed through the doorway firing fireballs towards Crimson and lighting a few nearby trees up. Gallen recovered his step, and they began running into the trees after Crimson.

Though he was hurt so badly, the Argonian was still able to jump up and swing one handed into a tree branch, where he began jumping from tree to tree to keep ahead of his pursuers.

Though Gallen could barely keep up with Crimson, Jean had no problem, thanks to his lighter clothing and vampiric agility, and he jumped up into a tree after Crimson, and managed to connect a fireball with the branch Crimson was jumping for. The Argonian landed in fire, and fell down in pain to the ground. The nature of his reptilian skin and the fact that vampires and fire didn't mix left him in agony. Jean-Pierre dropped down, drawing a small Elven short sword he had concealed under his robe. Gallen was one hundred feet behind, but closing in.

Feigning defeat, Crimson knelt down in pain, and Jena-Pierre stepped a few steps closer, point of the sword at Crimson's throat. Gallen finally caught up and raised his weapon to strike.

At the last minute, Crimson rolled to duck the swing and then threw his sword, catching Jean in the arm and making him stumble back. He followed through by using his tail to knock down Gallen before recovering his sword and putting it into Jean's chest, who collapsed immediately. Crimson then bolted to escape the Redguard and his beaten partner.

Gallen dropped the sword and knelt down beside Jean, who had a large pool of blood forming under him.

"Gallen… It's too late for me", he said, coughing up blood. "Keep on his tail or you'll lose him"

"No! Stay with me, Jean!"

Jean smiled, and pulled at his throat revealing a nice golden amulet, which he held up to Gallen.

"This was… My wife's amulet. Take it. You'll need it."

Jean started coughing heavily, more bloody mucus dripping from his mouth, and his hand went limp, the amulet slipping to the ground.

Picking it up and wiping his face, Gallen looked around, remembering the location, and took off further into the trees after Crimson-Tail.

***

Crimson jumped up onto a large, decorated stone pillar and using his vampiric sight, could see Gallen moving through the trees in his general direction.

As badly as Crimson was hurt, he felt that if the Redguard's vampiric companion was such an easy kill, then the mortal himself would be equally easy.

When Gallen finally got into a clearing in the trees, Crimson jumped down and rushed him, stabbing forward with his short sword, a move Gallen easily deflected with his shield. Crimson and Gallen began exchanging rapid thrusts and parries, neither able to break the other's defenses.

As much as Crimson would have preferred to not use a weapon against an armed Imperial soldier, he would be no match without a means to block the swings, since his off-hand was in agony from being stabbed, burned, and fallen on in a matter of days.

Using his sword, Crimson took a wide swing at Gallen, which required him to parry in a way that would enable Crimson to knock is sword hand wide, and Crimson slammed his weight into Gallen's shield, knocking him down and sending the katana rolling across the grass.

Using his off-hand, Crimson grabbed the second blade, an ornate one of an origin he didn't recognize, and went to tug it from Gallen's sheath, only to experience a burning sensation on his skin, causing him to drop the blade in pain.

Oiolatta. Eternal Light. Gallen wore the blade, but out of habit and comfort grabbed the katana he spent over a decade using. He reached for the blade, but just as he could get his fingers around it, Crimson slammed his foot down on Gallen's gauntleted hand, and then ripped his helmet off to enjoy the kill.