Daniel dire teenage vampire hunter extraordinaire

Chapter 31: Avenge

The night was eerily quiet as Daniel sat on the porch of Vorthos' house, staring into the darkness. His newly amputated arm ached, a constant reminder of the battle he had just fought and the sacrifices he had made. Jessica was inside, resting after the long night, and Vorthos was somewhere in the house, working on more spells and potions.
Suddenly, the front door burst open, and Vorthos stumbled out, his eyes wide with panic. "Daniel! It's Jessica!"
Daniel's heart dropped. He rushed inside, following Vorthos to the living room. Jessica lay on the floor, clutching her chest, where a wooden stake protruded. The smell of holy water filled the air, and Daniel's blood ran cold.
"Jessica!" Daniel dropped to his knees beside her, tears streaming down his face. He cradled her head in his hands, feeling her life slipping away. "No, no, no!"

Jessica's eyes fluttered open, and she looked up at him with a pained smile.
"Danny... I'm so sorry."
"Who did this?" Daniel demanded, his voice shaking with rage and grief.
"Dracula," she whispered. "He... he knew I was helping you. He said... he said it was a warning."
Daniel's heart pounded in his chest.
Dracula had crossed a line, and there was no going back. "I will avenge you, Jessica. I promise."
Jessica's hand reached up to touch his cheek. "Be careful, Danny. He's stronger than you know."
With a final, shuddering breath, Jessica's hand fell limp, and her eyes closed for the last time. Daniel's sobs filled the room as he held her close, his heart breaking with each passing second.

Vorthos placed a hand on Daniel's shoulder, his expression one of deep sorrow. "I'm so sorry, Daniel. She was brave and loyal to the end."
Daniel wiped his tears and gently laid Jessica's body down. He stood, his eyes blazing with fury. "Dracula will pay for this. I don't care what it takes. I will bring him down."
Vorthos nodded. "We'll help you, Daniel. Whatever you need."
Daniel clenched his fists, the pain in his missing arm fueling his resolve. "We have four days to stop Dracula and his army. We need to gather every ally we can find and prepare for the fight of our lives."
As the first light of dawn began to filter through the windows, Daniel knew that there was no turning back. He would honor Jessica's memory by defeating Dracula and saving the world from his evil plans.

The battle ahead would be the toughest one yet, but with his friends by his side and the memory of those he had lost driving him forward, Daniel was ready to face whatever came next. He would avenge Jessica, and he would ensure that Dracula's reign of terror came to an end once and for all.