What Goes Bump In The Night

XII: Voracious Intent

By the time I drew my blade, the Nest Queen was already turned and fleeing. Revealing her true self, the woman's nails grow long and jagged as well as her fangs. As expected, she's extremely fast. I watch her sprint at the pace of a horse with ease. Tamara and I pursue, far slower but able to keep up thanks to the restrictiveness of the home interior. Suddenly, she clings to a wall and climbs up to a second-story mezzanine. While Tamara sprints up the staircase, I quickly turn and shout out something to Pearce.

"I need you to go back to the Church and find a Witch named Sorina Cazacu. She was the one with me when we first met, now hurry!"

Without so much as a peep, he turns and runs right out the front door. A tumble and chaos reverberate throughout the house, the very walls shaking at the unseen struggle. When I make the excursion toward the bedlam, I see Tamara vainly chopping her blade within a tight hallway. The Nest Queen bounces from wall to wall, purely avoiding the attacks. By the time I can pull a spell forth, the bloodsucker plunges upon Tamara and pins her to the floor. A small spear of ice leaves my hand and crashes directly into the forehead of the beast. Losing no time, Tamara immediately tosses the limp body off of her and jumps to her feet.

"Is-"

The Priest's Daughter mutters between labored breaths.

"-is she dead?"

Timing it perfectly, the Nest Queen hops up and lets out an inhuman shriek. Never would I expect them to act so bestial, but in the end, they are still classified as monsters. Like she could read my mind, the Nest Queen looks up at me and grumbles in a posh yet hissing voice.

"Tread carefully, I am not as monstrous as you would think."

"Then why are you running?"

Her eyes narrow on me, looking past Tamara who stands between us.

"I've lived long enough to know that you Witches seek no mercy with my kind. You are but food, and nothing more."

If I can distract her, I might be able to create an opening. Keeping my sword steady, but approaching slowly I put a plan into motion. With a hidden hand, I retrieve a spell, only knowing where it is thanks to memorization of the pattern in which I keep my ring. For added deceit, I attempt to conversate.

"How long have you been here?"

Her eyes stay on mine, never looking at what my hand might be doing.

"It's been many Servant Star cycles since I first took refuge here, and many more Master Star cycles since I made my way to this foolish nation."

As I pass Tamara, she sees what I'm doing and silently lets me work.

"And why have you come here, what's your goal?"

She laughs at the idiotic question,

"To feed, of course. To dine on the wondrous nectar that is the human life force."

Right as she finishes the sentence, her teeth are revealed in a sinister smile. Suddenly, she dashes forward on all fours, leaping up to full height right in front of me. Her hand grips my throat and I can feel the ends of her jagged nails digging into my skin.

"You know why I'm here, so cease your futile attempt to clutter my mind and prepare yourself to be feasted upon."

Her mouth opens to take a bite, so just before her teeth land, I raise the spell and let it loose in her face. An explosion of light blinds her, but also me as a result. While we're both stunned, her grip loosens and so I wrestle myself free, immediately dropping to the floor. Over my prone body, I see Tamara leap forth, sword glowing with divine poise.