Lennix spat blood, the sweet taste thick on his tongue as splinters from the shattered tree dug deep into his back. "Ow, ow, goddess, most of my bones are broken…" he groaned. Every breath hurt. Every twitch hurt. Existing hurt.
Velastra approached with the casual confidence of someone strolling across a garden path, not a battlefield. Her hands rested on her hips, a smirk curving her lips. "I know you told me you were weak," she began, sliding her sunglasses down just enough for him to see the amused glint in her eyes. "And sure, I didn't expect a challenge… but I expected you to do at least something other than serve as an undead punching bag."
She pushed the sunglasses back into place.
"You don't have to insult me before killing me, you know?" Lennix muttered, trying, and failing, to stand. His body refused to cooperate; broken bones weren't exactly quick when it came to regenerating.
"That's true, I suppose." Velastra lifted her hand, forming a playful finger-gun pointed directly at his head. "So here. I'll just blast your head off with a beam of light and we'll be done." The tips of her fingers began to glow with building energy.
Lennix's eyes widened. He tried to throw himself out of the way, but with both arms newly repaired and everything else still fractured, he barely managed a twitch.
"Actually I changed my mind! Keep insulting me! Please! I'm actually a huge pervert and love that!" he blurted.
Velastra paused, just for a beat, her head tilting, expression flattening into a look that said …what? She exhaled a faint amused snort, shook her head, and prepared to fire.
The ground dropped out beneath her.
There was a sharp crumbling sound, and Velastra sank straight down into the earth up to just below her chest, caught in a sudden, inexplicably localized sinkhole.
"Huh… was not expecting this…" she muttered, staring at the hole around her with more confusion than alarm.
"Me either, but I'm very glad that happened!" Lennix wheezed, still struggling to move—only to freeze as he suddenly felt his bones shift. Then pop. Then snap back into place with unnatural speed. A full-body jolt rolled through him as fractures sealed far faster than they had any right to.
He blinked at his arms, baffled but he didn't question miracles. Not now. Not when Velastra's head was at perfect punting height. He lunged forward, sprinting with renewed purpose, thinking, *If I get even one hit in, she should go down—*
And ran face-first into another barrier of light.
"OW!" His hands flew to his nose as stars burst behind his eyes. He'd been running at full speed; the barrier might as well have been solid stone.
"I still have light magic," Velastra reminded him dryly, her voice echoing behind the shimmering barrier as she planted her palms on the dirt. "So maybe remember that before blindly charging me."
She hauled herself out of the sinkhole with an annoyed grunt, dust and clumps of earth sticking to her red shirt, white suit, and even her shoes. Her lip curled as she brushed herself off. "I knew I shouldn't have worn this," she muttered. "But I couldn't help myself. I wanted to look good."
Lennix wiped the last smear of blood from his upper lip, nose knitting back into place with a wet crack. "Cool. The best I manage is getting your outfit dirty, and I didn't even do that. It just… happened while you were beating me," he muttered. But the thought that followed hit harder than any kick she'd thrown. *What was that earlier? Who helped me?*
*I did,* a voice answered inside his skull.
Lennix jerked so hard his bones almost broke again. "What was that!?" he yelped, whipping his head around in panic.
Velastra stared at him, one brow rising behind her sunglasses. *Is he going insane?* her expression all but said, right before she lunged.
She cut across the distance in a blur. Lennix barely dropped in time; her kick sliced through the air where his head had been. He hit the ground, rolled, and bolted upright, instincts kicking in. Then he ran, really ran, every ounce of vampire speed shredding the ground beneath his feet.
*I can't fight her head-on! She's too strong!* he thought, terror pushing his legs harder.
Behind him came a tired sigh, then the rapid, effortless steps of Velastra giving chase. She didn't just match his speed; she closed the distance, her shadow already brushing his heels despite his two-second head start and lightning-quick pace.
*Good call on running,* the voice chimed again, entirely too casual. *But maybe try using some of those vampire abilities instead of… fist-fighting a Demon Lord?*
*Who are you!? How are you in my head!?* Lennix shouted internally, glancing back—and regretting it immediately. Velastra was right there.
*It's me. Carver. My voice didn't magically change, man. As for the mind-talk? It's magic. Don't stress about it,* Darek's voice answered, sounding annoyingly relaxed.
*Fine! I won't ask!* Lennix replied, panic rising. *But what vampire powers am I supposed to use against her!?*
He didn't get an answer—because Velastra flashed ahead of him in a burst of light, materializing a hard-shimmering barrier right in his path. He skidded to a stop inches before slamming into it.
"That was a fun chase," Velastra said, brushing dirt off her immaculate outfit. "But let's be done with this, okay?"
Lennix swallowed hard as he faced her.
*Bite her! Drink her blood! Maybe her soul if you can! You idiot!* Darek snapped in his head.
*But I—* Lennix began.
*I know you hate drinking from other people besides Clarissa,* Darek cut him off, sharper now. *But if you don't, you die. We die. Everyone dies. Pick one.*
Lennix clenched his fists, trembling. "Alright… fine. But just the blood. I'm not drinking a soul," he whispered.
Velastra tilted her head as her brow arched, curiously. "What's this? You suddenly look… determined."
Lennix exhaled, black claws extending from his fingers. "No more running... not for now at least. I have to stop you or everyone dies."
A slow grin tugged at Velastra's lips. "You're right. They probably will. Okay then, let's see how well you fight when you're not busy peeing your pants. Speaking of, can vampires still pee, by the way?" she asked, sounding almost genuinely curious.
Lennix charged with a shout, claws up.
"Not an appropriate question to ask! Also no! No we can't!"