A Pact of Blood

“Who are you?” I choked. The demon had released its grip just enough to let me speak.

“No one of importance, Vanderstark.” The man grinned, stroking Alisa’s hair.

“Don’t touch her.” I growled.

The demon squeezed again, crushing my chest. The man laughed again. How did he get past the school security?

“Oh how the mighty have fallen, in more ways than one. An Akasha and a Vanderstark, living together like a married couple. That is a really funny joke.” He smirked. “I did not appreciate how you took out my familiar the other day. These Roa demons are woefully difficult to make. You have to kill a whole human, and even then, their vessel might not be compatible.” He paced, carrying Alisa as he walked.

My eyes shot towards the wardrobe in the corner of my room. I kept I cache of weapons in there, but I couldn’t picture a way to get to it. The creature tightened around my body. It felt like my ribs were going to pop.

“I would prefer this one dead… but circumstances have changed.” He said, pointing at Alisa. “You, on the other hand. Well, honestly you’re still alive cause I wanted to see what the fuss was about. Whispers of a Vanderstark prodigy, only to get caught by a low level Roa demon. What a disappointment you are.” He sighed. “Kill him.”

“Yes, he is.” A familiar voice echoed.

Two wolves emerged from the shadows, one leaping at the vampire and the other towards the Roa demon. The wolf locked its fangs onto the Roa demon’s head, crushing it and ripping it off me. I squirmed to quickly free myself from it. The other was knock backwards with a flick, sending it flying against the wall, causing it to splatter into black smoke.

“So you were here, Emmariel Bramstroke.” The man puffed.

Emma seemed to rise from the shadows herself. Gone was her fancy business suit, instead replaced by a long black gown that seemed to be made from the very shadows she arose from. Her eyes glowed an intense red, and her fangs were bared like a ferocious beast. Even her fingers seemed to warp into claws, ready to tear the other vampire’s throat out.

“Alderman.” She hissed. “Unhand your lord’s daughter.”

“I serve the great lord of blood, Lord Akasha. Not that soft human sympathizer he’s become.” Alderman huffed.

He dodged my punch, moving at an alarming speed I couldn’t have calculated. I stomped on the ground, shaking the whole floor, bounding from the force for a follow up attack. Emma in turn directed her wolf, which bounced off the wall, mouth agape towards Alderman's throat. The three of us lunged for the vampire, who stood there unfazed, even as Alisa stirred in his arms.

A gigantic hand suddenly plunged into the apartment, causing the building around us to crumble. The screams of students in neighboring apartments echoed as the roof came down on us.

“You alive, Vanderstark?” Emma asked, tossing aside a massive chunk of concrete with ease.

“Yeah.” I rasped, pulling myself from the rubble and turning towards the hole that was once my front door.

“He took the princess. Follow if you can, or die if you can’t.” She said, before disappearing in black mist, leaving me behind.

I crawled over to my knocked over wardrobe, opening it and pulling out a wrist blade, a short sword, several throwing knives, and a couple of holy grenades. I strapped the knives and grenades to a belt I also pulled out, alongside the sword before leaping out of my apartment, wearing nothing else except the shorts and t shirt I slept with.

Roa demons were everywhere. A few security guards and demi-human students fought them viciously. No wonder he was able to get past them. This was a mass attack. I even spotted a few vampires in the mix. They were working with the Roa demons, attacking the guards. In the distance, near the main school building, I spotted the source of the giant fist earlier. It was a behemoth sized Roa demon, a six armed giant with two heads. I flash stepped towards the school, dodging the fighting, before leaping up on to of the school’s rooftop in a few bounds.

“Ah, you survived.” Alderman was standing there, Emma a few feet in front of him.

I landed in front of him in a crouch, short sword drawn and ready.

“Where is she?” I yelled, noticing that he was empty handed.

“Ray!” Alisa screamed.

She was crouched in front of Alderman, wrapped it what looked like thorny vines made from blood.

“Alderman!” Emma yelled, pointing at him with a jet black sword. “Why did you betray Lord Akasha?”

“Betray him?” Alderman laughed. “I didn’t betray him. I’m doing this for him. Falling for that cattle, and having this whelp with her.” He kicked Alisa over. She yelped, falling face flat.

“Bastard!” I yelled, lunging forward with my weapon.

I stopped suddenly, caught by Alderman’s hand. I squirmed, kicking off his body and swinging with blade, only for him to dodge, before slamming me into the ground with such force I coughed up blood.

“Ray!” Alisa screamed turning to me. 

“Alisa…” I coughed.

We were only a few inches apart, but Alderman placed his boot on my chest, holding me in place. I lost my sword in the attack; it had fallen just out of reach.

“I’m not like anything else you’ve fought before, Vanderstark.” He ground his boot hard against me. I winced in pain.

“Leave him alone!” Alisa turn over to glare at him. 

“Silence, dog.” He hissed. “I don't need your half blood poisoning my ears.”

“Alderman!” Emma yelled, readying her weapon.

“Always such a brute, Emmariel!" He laughed. No matter.” Alderman clapped his hands together, causing several Roa demon to appear. “Keep them under guard.”

The two vampires lunged at each other, moving faster than the wind. The sounds of their fighting echoed across the rooftop as their silhouettes flashed in and out with each parry, a testament to the incredible speed they were moving at.

“Alisa…” i called out again, dragging myself towards her.

“Ray, i’m so sorry…” She cried, turning to face me. “If only I was stronger, this wouldn’t have…”

“There’s a way.” I gasped. “My blood. Vampires grow stronger when they drink blood.” I told her.

The sound of the fighting continued to ring out as I inched closer.

“But that's…. It’s my first time…” She blushed.

“Now you’re the one making it weird.” i huffed. My ribs ached.

“You’re a royal vampire aren’t you? Half human or not, there’s a reason every other vampires fears your father.” I told her. “Come on! Bite down!” I used every once of my strength to plop down on top of her.

“Sorry.” She apologized, before chomping down.

It felt like my whole body was buzzing with electricity. At first she hesitated, but she seemed more and more into it, drinking greedily. After a few moments, we parted. Our faces were inches from each other. Her eyes glowed like crimson coals, and blood stained the edges of her lips. She had a look I could only describe as seductive. We hovered there for a few moments, right as power welled into Alisa.

“What?” Alderman gasped as he knocked Emma away, turning towards us.

I rolled over Alisa right as a wave of powerful energy burst from her. With a simple jerk, she broke straight through the thorns that bound her. The Roa demons all lunged at her only for her to to flick her hand. The air seemed to explode from the sheer force, eviscerating all the demons around us, till only Alisa stood, her hair loose in the wind.

“Alderman.” She tilted her head up, as if she were looking at an insect. “My father is a good man. And he loves my mother. I won’t let you destroy that.”

“”Little bitch!” He charged her claws at the ready, only to hit empty air.

Alisa appeared behind him. She lifted her curled fingers, and flicked. The force sent him tumbling across the rooftop. He recovered, coughing up a score of blood, only for Alisa to appear in front of him, flicking once more and sending him flying into the air.

“You useless oaf! Do something!” he screamed at the giant as he spun away from the rooftop.

The Roa demon turned towards Alisa, revving back one of its fists. Alisa dodged easily, only to catch another strike with both her hands. She heaved under the sheer weight of the fist, the concrete roof under her cracking right as another strike came down.

“Princess!” Emma yelled, only for Alisa to leap backwards, much to her relief.

I forced myself to stand, fighting through the pain in my chest and the light headedness from the blood loss. I walked over to my sword, groaning as I leaned down to pick it off the ground. Alisa was standing before the giant, hands on her hips. It appeared to be frozen, perhaps shocked at the sheer strength of such a little target.

“So that’s a royal vampire huh?” I shook my head in disbelief.

My grandfather fought Lord Akasha to a stand still. I had no idea how he did that, if Alisa here was any indication. She was probably only a fraction of the lord’s power, and she far surpassed me on my best days.

“There’s more to it than that.” Emma explained. “Your blood is Vanderstark blood. And this was the princess’s first time drinking it. It’s a blood oath. A Vanderstark blood oath.” Her eyes were filled with sheer panic. “This is not good.”

The giant prepared another strike. Alisa readied her signature flick. It was over in a blast of air, the giant falling backwards on top of the gym building.

“Alisa!” I called out, limping towards her.

“Ray…” She swayed from side to side. “Ray. Ray!” She laughed, a sinister smile on her face.

My instincts flared. Get away from her. I needed to run.

“Ray? Why did you stop?” She was cackling now. It would've have been extremely erotic if it wasn't for the fact I feared for my life. “Come to me. Please. I need you.”she whimpered, a sly look on her face.

“I’ll just stand here, thanks.” I told her.

She moved with that incredible speed, appearing in front of me in a blur. Her eyes looked hungry as she caressed my neck and face, her fingers tracing across my lips. Her hands were strong. Too strong, though they were tender, it with only take the smallest amount of effort for her to kill me.

“Just one more bite.” She licked her lips, leaning forward. “One more taste.”

“Okay that’s enough.” Emma flicked open one of my grenades and held the contents up to her nose.

Alisa leapt back with a hiss. The glow in her eyes faded, replaced by a luminescent blush on her face.

“What did I?” She covered her mouth. “Ray, I…”

Her face was deep red now. She turned away from me, covering herself with her arms. Emma just sighed.

“She almost tore you to shreds.” Emma said. “It happens to a lot of young vampires.” She threw my grenade off the roof, pricking her nose in disgust.

“Glad she didn’t.” I sighed, falling down onto my butt.

The giant suddenly lurched, rising once more from the rubble. It roared as it leered down on us.

“Dammit!” I half limp, half ran towards Alisa to shield her.

“Ashes!” Emma cursed as well, grabbing both of us under her arms and preparing to flee.

A dragon slammed down on the giant, sending its body crashing through most of the school building. It was a six headed dragon, nearly three times the size of the giant. Someone sat atop the one of the dragon’s heads. A lone figure, draped in a flow black coat.

“Leon?” Alisa gasped, referring to the dragon. . “Father!” She yelled even louder.

“Uh oh.” I slumped, still hanging under Emma’s arm as she floated down on a nearby water tower.