08. A Night of Blood and Screams

"Let go of me!" Nima screamed as she tried to pull her arm away, but the man's grip was too strong.

"Oh? Weren't you going to come in, little elf? Me and the boys were ready to welcome you~."

The tension in the air quickly got to Yumino. He could feel the danger, yet something about the man—his long canines, pointed ears, and a strange sense of familiarity—kept him from reacting with hostility. Coupled with his wish to behave properly, especially in the middle of the city, Yumino chose to intervene peacefully.

"I'm sorry, but the girl is with me. We will be on our way."

"Ha? What's with the tree dweller thinking he can act the hero? How about go back where you came from?" the violent man said as he winked at one of his friends.

The next second, another pale, tall man smacked Yumino in the chin, having him fall to the ground.

"Yumino!"

"Oh? So that is his name. Haha! Fits the likes of you elves perfectly."

"Let go of me, you vampire trash!" Nima said as she bit the hand that was holding her.

"Ouch! Hey, she's got some potential. To think you have been hiding in your house every night instead of coming out to play with us... Such a waste."

"Alen, what should we do with them?"

"Hmm... Well, the boy is useless to me. Use him as a punching bag for all I care, but take the girl. Tonight, she is partying with the vampires!"

Loud cheers came out of the tavern as the lady was being dragged in.

"By the way, that's a nice dress you got there. To think you wasted it on that loser... Was he really the only elf you could find?"

*Ptui!*

Everyone remained speechless. The well-behaved lady gave the vampire called Alen a memento he would not forget too soon.

"Tramp!" Alen said as he wiped off the saliva. "I was mistaken to think you were worth it. I leave it to you, boys."

The cheers became even louder. Her rebellious display, although showing she is no pushover, may have brought Nima an even worse outcome.

"Ack!"

One of the men carrying Nima suddenly fell, a fresh wound having opened up on his leg. Behind him, Yumino was still on the ground; only now he was holding the tip of an arrow.

"Silver? You elves really know how to step on my nerves," Alen said. "Morena, kill them!"

"Ehh~? And I was just starting to like the boy~," the lady said, polishing her long canines with her tongue.

"Well, at least I get a tasty meal," she added as she lunged at him.

"Yumino!"

Everything seemed to have slowed down for Yumino. Unlike the episode with the goblins, the danger this time felt way more real.

Hah... Is that as far as I go? It hasn't even been a week...

His heart feeling like it had completely shrunk, the elf could do nothing but stare at the vampire, who was lunging at him with her mouth wide open.

Thinking about it, Yumino was never scared of vampire movies back in Japan. It was the only type of horror he didn't hate.

But this is certainly scary. Be it the vampires or imminent death, I have never felt so scared in my life... Yumino thought to himself.

However, something wasn't right.

Ah... I see. I wasn't staring at her.

In fact, Yumino's eyes were focused on what was happening behind the attacker. His gaze was fixated on the elven girl screaming his name.

A pity, really... I thought I might be able to dampen your pain... Maybe one day I could have also told you the truth. It feels lonely keeping it all to myself...

If there was one thing Yumino truly hated, it was trickery. Yet he had been lying a lot lately. He had to act like he cared about the elves—more than that, he had to act like he was an elf for her. He wanted to tell her the truth, but seeing how happy she was, he couldn't bring himself to do it.

I hoped I could do it when we got closer. But it seems I don't have to worry about it anymore.

With this, Yumino closed his eyes in acceptance.

"What do you think you're doing? Dodge! There is an opening on her left!"

A voice he did not recognize—the voice of a child—disrupted his thoughts.

In a flash, Yumino opened his eyes and dodged as the voice instructed, taking advantage of the unprotected spot and wounding the vampire woman with his silver arrow tip.

The woman let out a hissing sound and fell on her side.

"Grab her and run!"

"This again?" Yumino complained as he took Nima by the hand.

The two ran across the dark streets, a horde of vampires forming behind them—no, many of the ones walking the night streets were now vampires, and all of them became hostile once they understood the situation.

"They come out when it gets dark!" another voice resounded in his head. "But don't worry, we know roads that not a lot of vampires walk!"

Yumino followed the directions given by the two voices, leaving most of the vampires behind and smashing into the few that were walking around, leaving them unconscious.

"Nima, how are you holding up?"

"I'm fine. Don't worry about me. I am an elf, after all. I'm not that weak!"

She said that, but her breaths were getting heavier and losing rhythm.

"Listen, I don't think we can last much longer! Do you have any other ideas?"

"Just a little more!" the two voices said at once. "All we need is a little more time!"

"Yumino! I know this street! Our house is really close!" said Nima.

"No, you have to walk the roads we tell you to!" the voices protested.

"If the house is close, then let's go!" Yumino decided, ignoring the voices of the two children.

Thus, the two strayed from the indicated path and reached the front of their house.

"Ah!"

They've made a mistake. In front of the house, the same group of vampires was standing guard.

"Oh? Look who we have here. What's with that surprised face? There is only one elven house in this kingdom. What made you think we didn't know about it?" Abel said, ridiculing the two.

A mistake. A stupid mistake that was going to cost them.

"Now, Little Morena over here and I have some unfinished business with you two. Let's continue where we left off."

The two put themselves between the entrance and the elves. Yumino saw his bow waiting outside, but he had no way to reach it. That's when:

"Look!" another vampire screamed while pointing at the sky.

Everyone turned their head at once. High up in the air, wreathed in ghostly smoke and riding an ashen horse, a knight clad in black armor looked at them. Although he was yet to speak, his presence alone was enough to inspire fear.

The elf wanted to ask what was going on, but not a single word came out. He had the scare of his life just minutes ago, and now the record had been broken again.

"AHHHHHHHHH!"

At once, all the vampires started screaming. Some fell to their knees, some ran away, and some fainted on the spot.

General panic broke out under the gaze of the two elves. No, the two elves also felt it. Horror. Horror so deep it dug at their very soul.

"Yumino, I don't want to die," Nima's crying voice proclaimed as she grabbed the elf's arm with both hands.

Yumino wanted to reassure her; he wanted to tell her she will be safe, but he could not. His trembling hand grabbed hers, but again, no words came out. He could not guarantee her safety. In fact, he felt like his very life was being toyed with by the rider, who was yet to do anything.

"Now it's your chance! Stop staying there frozen!" the familiar voice of the ghost lady suddenly intervened.

Snapping out of it, Yumino quickly passed the two vampires in his way and grabbed his bow.

"This time don't hesitate!" the voice ordered. "Shoot!"

Yumino readied his bow as he had done many times before—no, he readied it sideways. He placed two arrows, pulled on them, and let go just as fast.

The silver tips cleanly pierced the two vampires, taking both of their lives while the others ran as far as they could.