THE HUNTED HUNTER

Chapter 3: THE VAMPIRE'S SIGIL

"ARGHH!!!" Eldrin screamed as hlunged at Kael, his claws heading straight for the Hunters neck. Kael, swift and skilled, swung his god-blade, blocking the blow as though it was nothing. 

“You cursed plague the earth, stripping it of the divine magic that governs everything," Kael muttered breathlessly, as he grabbed Eldrin by the fur on his hands and slammed him hard on the ground. 

“We are not the Cursed," Eldrin shouted, his voice tinged with burning rage. He lifted his arms to his chest, his claws blocking a strike Kael had brought down on him with the god-blade and holding it in place. 

“I am here to bring everything back to order.” Kael roared as he swung his sword to the side, pulling it out of Eldrin's hold. He made to strike Eldrin again, but the Vampire was faster this time. 

Just as his sword flew down, large claws suddenly ripped through the air. Kael barely dodged the claws as he leapt backwards, landing with a light thud. His eyes narrowed as he tried to find the new threat, but there was no new attacker. The strike was from Eldrin's own claws, now extended to its full length. 

“The less you resist, Vampire, the more painless your death is going to be," Kael said calmly as he cocked his head to a side, a smirk playing on his lips. “You can continue to fight, though. Only makes it more interesting for me." 

“YOU’RE DEAD!!!" Eldrin shouted as he let out a loud guttural roar, his red eyes widening as his fur raised. Claws shout out of the tip of his black wings as he raced towards Kael, madness in his eyes. 

Eldrin brought his clawed wings down at Kael but he was just too fast. He twisted and turned, evading all of the beast's attacks with ease. His feet seemed like they were floating from how gracefully he swerved and slid, his coat billowing behind him.

But with time, Eldrin mastered the Hunter’s movements. He was fast but he was predictable. Just as Kael was about to slip under him, Eldrin moved to the side, clenching his hands into a crushing fist intended to break bone. 

But just before he could land a blow on him, Kael struck the ground with his blade, stopping his movements and letting the blow whisk by inches from his jawline. With Eldrin now being open, Kael grabbed his blade by the hilt and drove the tip elbow upward into Eldrin's exposed ribs. A sudden grunt escaped the beast as he threw himself backwards, stumbling as the blade ripped out of his flesh. 

Eldrin knelt down, blinking in surprise.

‘How?’ he thought to himself as his eyes traveled down to his bleeding side. ‘How is he so goddamn fast? He was using no magic. No beast form. Just… sheer speed?’

Kael growled as he suddenly dived forward, his hands moving like a blur of cuts directed at Eldrin. Eldrin quickly stood up and began to defend with his claws, the strikes sparking. 

And then came the others.

One by one, each werewolf , vampire, elf, fae and human Eldrin had his inside the cave beneath the Worldroot slid out. Gareth, the werewolf Eldrin had told to go back, stepped into the clearing, his amber eyes wide open as he stared at the fight, desperation etched on his face.

All eyes were on the duel.

Kael spotted them first, but he didn't waver. He couldn't. He was going to kill Eldrin first, then go for them. 

Suddenly, Eldrin roared, his voice echoing across the clearing as he raced at Kael. He jumped into the air and swept down with a wide strike of his taloned arm, causing Kael to fall back a step. 

But just as he was about landing a blow on Kael, his gaze swept past him, landing on the people gathered by the clearing. 

Amongst them stood a vampire mother, pale and trembling, her hands clutching her child's arm tight. The little boy seemed to be no older than six years and he hid behind his mother's skirt, watching the fight from behind it. His dark-red eyes, filled with terror, met Eldrin's for a brief moment as a tear dropped down his face. 

And something in the beast's heart caused him to falted. He paused, dropping to the ground as his hands trembled. 

But that short time was all the opportunity Kael needed.

Before Eldrin could know, Kael raced towards him, faster than the eye could see. Within a second, he closed the distance between them. Eldrin turned to see the hunter shoving his sword deep into his side. The god-sword shrieked as blood spilled down its runes, its whine echoing across the forest as Eldrin screamed out in pain. With a loud grunt, Kael pulled the blade out and struck him with his boot. 

The force of the strike sent the creature stumbling backward. He crashed through the ground, raising up dirty and uprooting rocks before tearing through the trees like they were paper. Branches snapped and trunks split in two as Eldrin crashed into a boulder, causing it to splinter before finally resting against its foot, gasping. 

Unable to hold his form again, he began to shift back to his normal self. His wings retracted, his fur receded and his bones cracked loudly as his bones returned back to their proper form. 

In an instant, Eldrin was back, blood pouring from his mouth and his two sides where he had been stabbed. One hand grasped on the torn earth and the other laid on one of the cuts as he rested his head against the boulder. He tried so much to heal his wounds but they didn't seem to be closing at all. Kael's blade magic prevented it.

This was it… this was his end. 

Kael suddenly stepped nearer, his sword glowing brighter as he walked. Reaching where Eldrin sat, he knelt, bringing the edge of his sword to the vampire's throat.

“The Order told me to tell you," Kael said, his voice cold and calm, "that your life, Cursed One, and that of all the Cursed with you, has come to an end."

The crowd behind him all held their breath as they watched Kael raise his sword into the air. 

But then Eldrin moved quickly, lifting a trembling hand towards Kael's face. A glowing sigil shone on his palm, burning with a soft light. 

"Wait…" he coughed. "There's something you don't know…" Eldrins hands shook as he held it up and suddenly began mumbling some words under his breath. 

“What?" Kael muttered as his face squeezed into a frown. “What are you–”

Before he could finish speaking, a bright light surged out of he sigil on Eldrins palm, hitting Kael on his face. And then, everything was engulfed in white.