The Night Feeder struck like a bolt of darkness.
One moment it was crouched between the trees.
The next moment it launched across the field with terrifying speed.
Ashra barely had time to react.
Rusof moved instantly, stepping directly in front of her as the creature lunged forward. The impact of their collision sent both of them crashing across the grass.
The ground trembled from the force.
The hunters jumped back in surprise.
The Night Feeder screeched, its twisted body twisting unnaturally as Rusof grabbed its arm and slammed it against the ground.
Ashra stumbled backward, her heart racing wildly.
"Rusof!"
The creature shrieked again and kicked Rusof away with brutal strength. He slid across the dirt, leaving a long trail in the grass before stopping near a tree.
The hunters quickly raised their silver weapons.
The leader smiled coldly.
"Well... this is unexpected."
One of the hunters fired a silver bolt toward the creature.
The bolt struck its shoulder.
The Night Feeder let out an angry howl but didn't fall. Instead, it slowly pulled the silver bolt from its flesh.
Ashra stared in horror.
"It didn't die."
Rusof wiped blood from his mouth as he stood up again.
"It's stronger than before."
The creature's black eyes slowly moved back to Ashra.
Its smile widened.
"Warm blood..."
Ashra instinctively stepped behind Rusof again.
The hunter leader watched carefully.
"Looks like that thing still wants the girl."
Rusof's crimson eyes flared.
"Stay away from her."
The Night Feeder crouched again, its long claws digging into the dirt.
For a moment the hunters and the vampire stood side by side.
Enemies forced into the same fight.
The creature lunged again.
This time it moved even faster.
Rusof met it mid-air, striking its jaw with brutal force. The impact twisted the creature sideways before it landed violently on the ground.
But it recovered instantly.
It crawled across the grass like a spider and leapt again.
A hunter swung a silver blade at it.
The creature grabbed the man's arm and snapped it backwards with a sickening crack.
The hunter screamed.
The leader cursed.
"Fall back!"
Two hunters dragged their injured teammate away while firing bolts toward the monster.
The Night Feeder dodged several shots effortlessly.
Then it stopped.
Its head turned slowly toward Ashra again.
Rusof noticed immediately.
"Don't look at it."
Ashra tried not to, but fear kept pulling her gaze back.
The creature suddenly moved sideways, avoiding both hunters and Rusof entirely.
It dashed directly toward Ashra.
Rusof reacted instantly.
He lunged forward and intercepted the creature, slamming his shoulder into its chest.
Both of them crashed into the side of the school building.
The wall cracked from the impact.
Ashra felt panic flood her chest.
"Rusof!"
The creature hissed violently and slashed its claws across Rusof's torso.
The attack tore through his shirt and skin.
Dark blood splattered across the wall.
Rusof staggered.
Ashra's breath caught in her throat.
"You're hurt!"
Rusof steadied himself, his breathing heavier now.
"I've had worse..."
But the wound was deep.
The Night Feeder noticed too.
It smiled wider.
"Weak vampire..."
Rusof's eyes burned brighter.
"Try again."
The creature lunged once more.
Rusof dodged sideways and grabbed its neck, slamming it face-first into the pavement.
The impact cracked the concrete.
The hunters fired more bolts toward the monster.
One bolt struck its leg.
Another pierced its shoulder.
The creature shrieked in fury.
But instead of attacking them...
It looked at Ashra again.
Always her.
The hunter leader noticed the pattern.
"That's interesting."
Rusof growled.
"Shut up."
The leader smirked slightly.
"Even monsters want her."
Ashra felt cold all over.
"Why does everything want me?"
Rusof didn't answer.
Because he didn't know either.
The Night Feeder suddenly let out a long screech that echoed across the field.
Then it vanished.
Not into the trees.
Into the shadows beside the building.
Rusof froze.
His senses sharpened instantly.
"Where did it go?"
Ashra looked around nervously.
"I don't see it."
The hunters raised their weapons carefully.
The leader's voice lowered.
"Something's wrong."
The air felt heavier.
Too quiet.
Then suddenly the creature appeared again.
Right behind Ashra.
Its long arm reached forward, grabbing her shoulder.
Ashra screamed.
"Rusof!"
Rusof moved faster than ever before.
But the creature was already lifting her off the ground.
Its claws pressed against her throat.
Its black eyes gleamed with hunger.
"Finally..."
Ashra struggled desperately.
"Let me go!"
Rusof stopped a few steps away, his expression deadly calm.
"Release her."
The creature laughed softly.
"Her blood is special..."
The hunter leader watched carefully.
"Special how?"
The creature sniffed the air again.
"Ancient..."
Rusof's eyes narrowed dangerously.
"You don't know what you're talking about."
The creature tilted its head.
"But I taste it..."
Ashra tried to pull away but its grip was too strong.
Rusof's voice turned colder.
"Last warning."
The creature smiled wider.
"Make me."
Rusof exploded forward.
The Night Feeder reacted instantly, throwing Ashra aside before Rusof reached it.
Ashra hit the ground hard and rolled across the grass.
Rusof slammed into the creature again.
Their fight turned brutal.
Rusof struck with savage speed, landing several powerful blows that forced the creature backward.
But the silver wounds and earlier injuries were slowing him.
The Night Feeder noticed.
Its claws slashed across his side again.
Rusof gasped.
This time the wound was deeper.
Ashra crawled toward him.
"Rusof!"
He dropped to one knee for a moment.
The hunters fired another volley of silver bolts.
The creature leapt away into the trees to avoid them.
It landed on a branch above the field.
Watching.
Waiting.
Its black eyes locked onto Ashra one last time.
"Soon..."
Then it vanished again into the deeper forest.
Silence returned.
Ashra rushed toward Rusof.
He collapsed onto one hand, breathing heavily.
Blood soaked through his shirt.
"Rusof..."
She knelt beside him, panic rising.
"You're bleeding so much."
Rusof forced himself to stay conscious.
"I'll heal..."
But even he sounded unsure.
The hunter leader approached slowly.
His expression thoughtful now.
"That creature said something interesting."
Rusof glared at him.
"Leave."
"Ancient blood."
Ashra looked confused.
"What does that mean?"
The hunter shrugged.
"No idea."
Then he turned away.
"But now we know you're important."
Rusof's voice was dangerous again.
"If you come near her again..."
The hunter smiled faintly.
"We'll see each other soon, Prince Noir."
The hunters disappeared toward the road.
Ashra looked back at Rusof.
His wounds were slowly healing, but the damage had clearly weakened him.
She helped him sit against the wall.
"You shouldn't have fought like that."
Rusof managed a faint smirk.
"I always fight like that."
Ashra shook her head.
"You almost died."
Rusof looked at her seriously.
"But you didn't."
Ashra didn't know what to say.
The wind moved quietly across the empty field.
Somewhere deep in the forest...
The Night Feeder was still watching.
Waiting.
Planning.
And the next time it came back...
It would not leave empty-handed.