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Elf vs Vampire

    Arlene was surprised at herself. Was this love at first sight? She can’t seem to take her eyes of him. His eyes seemed endless. He was smartly dressed, wearing a light brown coat over his V-necked vest. His face was clean-cut, short dusty blonde hair tidily brushed to the side. As he pulled her closer, his face moved in nearer. Closer to her face as if to kiss her. Brushed passed her lips, to her ear and lower down her neck. 

    And suddenly her loverboy was knocked down to the side by a violent rush of wind. Arlene was thrown back to the pavement by the brush of impact. Sitting on her butt she was momentarily dazed. What the hell? It was Raven! Grappling with her potential love interest by the roadside.

“What are you doing?!” she exclaimed. “Get off him!” What has gotten into him? 

“Me??? Arlene, what are you doing outside? I told you to stay home!” He still had his hands on both the man’s wrist, both men in full concentration, fixing death stares at each other.

    Arlene quickly stood up and rushed to their sides. Holy god, he seems to be hell bent on killing him. “What? You told me not to come! Stop it! What are you trying to do? Kill him? Raven stop! Don’t tell me you’re jealous!”

    Jealous? He was trying to save her life! He was more likely to be concern of risking his reputation as one of the best night hunters then be jealous! Raven turned to look at her in disbelief. One moment of distraction and the guy managed to pry a hand loose and punch him in the face. Raven was thrown off him but quickly landed back on his feet. Careless. He can’t afford to make such a mistake again.

“Your friend is crazy!” called Vincent, almost pleading for her help.

“Stay back Arlene, he is not what you think he is” he blocked her with one arm. Raven was by nature, very lean. His face was cool but standing close she could see his muscles seems to be tensed. At a glance, she wondered whom should she trust more, the dark brooding figure with the daggers or the smartly dressed man? 

The stranger stood up. He was calm and not at all surprised to see Raven.

“Night hunter. Finally we meet.”

“You already took one I see. Still hungry?”

“Well, you know how it is. Insatiable appetite and all. And I do prefer women.”

“Your mistress must be a powerful sorceress. To be able to open two doorways.”

    He laughed, low and cynical. “More powerful than you’ll ever know. This time it will be different elf. Give her to me or you will regret it.”

“You should be the one running, demon. Vampires are nothing but hunting sport to us.”

    Arlene was trying to keep up with the exchanges. Vampire? How could that be? He looked like such a nice gentlemen! But Raven’s taunts were working. His face was slowly becoming more and more furious, and as he looked up she could see fangs as long as vipers. His eyes now were entirely black and his fingernails had turned to claws.

    Her blood drained from her face. She was about to kiss that? Her head felt clearer now. That doesn’t make any sense. She would never have kissed a total stranger. She must’ve been under his spell or in a trance or something. Johnny! She had been too dazed to notice. Johnny was still sitting propped up against the wall. He has not moved an inch. Cold fear stabbed through her heart.

    Raven was now drawing out his daggers and twirling it expertly in his hands. Each blade about a foot in length, serrated at the bottom. It’s hilt black, was decorated at the top with a golden pommel and at the bottom guard, golden claws shaped like the feet of a bird of prey. He drew the daggers up to the same level of his chest. Left hand in front of the right, his feet now in a readied stance. Arlene took a few steps back, not wanting to get in the way. 

    The vampire gave a seemingly forced grin. “We shall see who will be the hunted tonight!” and dashed forward towards Raven with all ten claws protracted. They must’ve been about 5 inches in length at least. He clawed left and right while Raven was doing his very best to block as much of those black iron nails as he could. They were going at each other at such a fast pace that all Arlene could see was a flurry of hand movement. The vampire seems to be able to match him in both strength and speed. For every hit he gave the vampire landed a scratch just as quickly. In just a few minutes both of them were bleeding with multiple s***h and claw marks. But both seemed oblivious of their wounds.

    Arlene was feeling helpless. She shuddered. She was almost dessert for that monster. Her thoughts strayed towards Johnny. His body still motionless in the shadows. Johnny her friend since they were kids. Memories were running through her mind like a flood of waves. His slightly freckled face deep in concentration whenever he painted. How he was always falling asleep in class. The first time they were caught spray painting behind the school and the detention that ensued. Later as they were older, the many nights they have snuck out together with the rest of the gang to literally paint the town red. His insignia, the famous ‘JRock’, can always be found below his paintings. That Johnny. The gang will never be the same again. She sprinted towards him.  

***

    Raven had claw marks all over his arms and neck. But he was not overly concerned. Like all elves, they heal quickly. The vampire had s***h wounds all over him as well. But like all things dead, he needs to be stabbed through the heart or decapitated. He was pondering for the right opportunity to strike when out of the corner of his eyes he saw Arlene sprinting. And in that same split second, the vampire clawed him across the face, jumped back and turned towards her. The impact of his blow was jarring and left him dizzy. He took a moment to clear his head but the vampire was already upon her.

    Arlene was near the wall when she felt something grabbing her foot and suddenly found herself flat on her front, hitting the pavement. The vampire was standing on top of her.  In a panic, her hand scrambled to find anything that she could get a hold on. Her hand scrabbling the hard cement managed to grab a hold of her bag of spray paints. Without even thinking she took one out, uncapped it, turned around and sprayed the can full in the vampires face.

“ARGH! You b***h!!!” he shouted, stumbling around backwards, blindly trying to claw at the golden yellow on his eyes. Well, apparently vampires still need their eyesight. Arlene was glad the chemical had the same effect on them as on all living things. It had given Raven more than enough time to gain his composure. Swiftly Raven buried a dagger into his back, but unfortunately missing his heart as the creature struggled. The creature howled in pain and sunk down to one knee.

“This is not over yet elf! I’ll kill you and your b***h!” He gave a shrill whistle and out of nowhere a big black dog came bounding out. He took a hold of its collar and vaulted himself up before Raven could stop him and both the creatures’ escaped, dissappearing down the dark alley.

“Damn it! A hellhound,” Raven cursed. He considered pursuing them through the alley but decided to check on Arlene instead. In any case, he didn’t think the vampire would be causing any more harm tonight. Arlene was still sitting on the pavement. He came and crouched next to her.

“Are you okay?” he asked, lifting up her hand, assessing the damage on her arms and legs. She had a few bruises on her palms and her ankle but apart from that she was fine. He cupped her chin to look for any marks or bruises on her face but there were none.

“Are you okay?” she queried him back, looking at the deep claw marks on the side of his face. Slashes on both his arms. Weirdly enough the blood had already stopped flowing. 

“It’s nothing. It will heal,” dismissing the wounds on his face like it was just a fleabite.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t know. But I think I was under his spell!” she said almost apologetically. 

What were you doing out here in the middle of the night?  Part of him wanted to scream.

*sighs*" Don’t worry. It’s not your fault... Vampires have that effect on humans.” was all he said.

    He held out his hand to pull her up. Arlene winced at the soreness in her arms and legs, but quickly turned to make her way towards Johnny. His head hanged where he was sitting. 

“Oh no, Johnny!” she crouched next to him. 

    She quickly tried to find a pulse, her hands working in a frenzied panic. She wasn’t exactly sure how but she knew it had to be somewhere on the veins of his neck. She couldn’t feel anything. But she could be wrong, she was no expert. She had to get him to the hospital at least! It was the dead of night; she didn’t think there would be any taxi. A million things buzzing in her head. Panic!

“Help me carry him!” she almost shouted. “Please..” she added softly, tears threatening to well up in her eyes.