Their heads snap in his direction. Zave rose dusting off his fur. He glanced at them, "What are you still waiting here for? Hoping to die?"
"Brother! She said she knows a way to weaken him!"
Zave's eyes widened, "What way?"
"Calling out his true name." Mireille answered.
"Hmm, I've indeed heard about that, but few know a vampire Lord's name. Are you saying you do?" Zave frowned.
"Well... I remember one name to be honest."
"There are seven Lords. How sure are you it's his?"
"We won't know unless we try, right?" Mireille shrugged.
Her lips parted, the name rolling on her tongue, "Val-" *whoosh!* A blade of wind sliced past her before the word was complete.
Mireille's head whipped to the side. Behind her, several rows of trees had been cut cleanly through. Had she not dodged, she would have been headless now. Her eyes widened in fear, her pulse hammering in her ears. Her neck creaked as she slowly turned toward the source.
The vampire glared at her. He had never imagined that a mere half-blood could know any of their names-and worse, she was going to reveal it to those mutts. "Ha, turns out you're not so ignorant," he snarled, "Looks like you cannot be kept. Too bad Freya won't be getting this great gift." He lunged at her, but before he could reach her, Lloyd hooked his leg, sending him crashing down. Alex leapt onto him, pinning him down with brute force, claws tightening around the figure.
"How insolent!" Valmore snapped his fingers, throwing them off with an invisible force. He made another lunge at her.
"Quick tell me the name!" Mireille snapped out of her reverie at Zave's voice.
The vampire closed in. Mireille' voice echoed through the forest, "Valmore!" She managed to get the name out despite the fear that firmly gripped her chest.
Zave swiped his claws at the vampire that had come dangerously close, knocking him back several feet. He chuckled "What, too scared to hear your own name, huh, Valmore?"
No sooner had he finished than the vampire's movements froze. At some point Lloyd and Alex wounds had healed, and they were back on their feet. Valmore calculated, realizing he was on the losing end, his gaze lingered on Mireille, remorse etched in his pupils. "Heh. You got lucky this time. You'll hear from me soon. Stay safe till then, little one. Hahaha." His figure faded thinning out and disappearing with the thick mist.
The forest returned to it's quiet silence. The tension from the fight weighing heavily on them. Mireille still couldn't believe what had just happened. She was still in a daze.
"...Hey, Hey!" Zave called Mireille for the nth time before she snapped out of her trance, her eyes focusing on him. His brows furrowed, "He's gone."
"Yeah, that was so close. I could literally feel my heart in my throat." Matt exhaled, finally breathing free. He had been holding his breath ever since that vampire had made a move at them.
"We won't be so lucky next time. We need to be more careful, this time we managed thanks to..." Zave's gaze turned sharp.
"What's it Zave, is something the matter." Matt wondered whether the vampire just showed them a fluke and was actually still here. He scanned the area, bewildered.
"Heh, I'm just wondering, it seems the 'little one' had never mentioned her name to us, is it because of this?" Zave gave a sarcastic laugh.
"But, she said she was never named, besides she doesn't even know who her parents are right?" Matt faced Mireille, confusion evident on his face.
Zave shook his head, "No, Matt, vampires true names are engraved in their souls, it doesn't matter if they don't have a name. I'm sure she addresses herself by her true name since that's going to be the only name she's ever had, right?" His eyes were locked on Mireille while he explained.
Lloyd watched as Mireille shifted her gaze away, unwillingness written all over. She didn't want to say. 'I guess she doesn't trust us that much to tell us her name.'
"That's enough, it's fine if she doesn't want to say it she's living with us anyway we'll just give her a name." He turned back to her: "What do you say?"
Mireille stared at the group who had risked their lives for her, 'this... they wouldn't really use it against me, right? After all they actually fought to keep me.' She rubbed her right thumb with her index finger-a subconscious action she makes when anxious. Her lips trembled as she whispered, "Mi...reille."
"What? I didn't get that, can you repeat yourself?" Lloyd leaned closer, straining to catch what she was muttering under her breath.
"Mireille, that's my name."
Lloyd's eyes widened, Zave was stunned. Even Alex looked dumbfounded, 'She actually said it?'
"Mireille?" Matt echoed, staring curiously at her, "Huh? Nothing happened?" He was confused, 'Is that really her name? She's not lying to us?'
"Yeah, maybe it's because I'm not fully vampire so I won't really feel anything." Mireille noted.
Matt was somewhat disappointed.
"I don't think it's because you're a half-vampire," Zave explained, "It's just that he carried no malice when he called you."
Mireille realised what Zave meant and knew she hadn't made the wrong choice.
"Okay let's get moving, it's time to head back."
The group continued through the now completely dark forest. Moving silently through the trees. Their guards were up, constantly listening for any sings of threat.
In the clearing up ahead was the cabin, seeing the not so sophisticated structure everyone breathed a sigh of relief, the tension slipping away.
"Finally, I miss my bed so much." Matt exclaimed making a run for his room.
Mireille nodded in agreement, "Nothing feels better than my bed, really."
They returned to their rooms settling down for the night. Today had been filled with exciting events one after the other and they were all exhausted. Hopefully the bed will get them charged up and ready for tomorrow.