In a flash of Fangs

Rescued by a legend

I sat frozen watching my brother and this man circle each other like dog's ready to fight at a moment's notice. Both choosing careful steps to keep each other in sight as the fog rolled in thicker and blocking out one's sight for mere seconds. My brother watching the man's every move was a weird thing to witness, I wasn't born into war but I wasn't a stranger to fights. This seemed like so much more somehow, not just a fight but like we had been cornered by these men and my brother was now in a protective state. His movements were almost animalistic his body was just coiled up like a cat ready to pounce, his eyes never wavering from the man in front of him.

Then, it happened, the first move was from the man and it was like lightning struck. The sound rang in my ears as metal clashed against metal and sparked as they hit swords again and again. My brother was fast but not fast enough as the man swung down pushing my brother to the ground on one knee holding his sword in front to block the blow. He didn't see the other men come from the fog and then he was being held arms away from his sides, Kosti's sword now kicked out of reach as the leader advanced with his sword glistening with fog and the start of daylight.

The leader had a wicked grin on his face as he recognized who he now had in his possession. Stabbing the sword into the earth he leaned down using the sword for balance and spoke his voice gruff.

"My, what is a strapping lad like you doing in this forest? Did daddy not teach you about these woods and the dangers that lie within little Konstantin?" With a deep inhale, my brother lifted his head to look the man in the eyes and then glared at him before spitting into his face.

"You brat!" the man spat as he stood up and started wiping the spit off his face with a gloved hand. He pointed his finger at my brother and with another wicked smile, he nodded to his companions.

"Your parents never had a chance, none of you did. Once I find that pretty sister of yours. She will be mine as was promised." He laughed as the other men lifted my brother to his feet, Kosti strained against the men pulling his arm out of one's grasp and punching him square in the jaw.

"You will never have my sister Sorin! Never!" he yelled to the leader his teeth flashing white in anger as the men were finally able to get ahold of him again. Sorin only shook his head and then lifted his sword to Kosti's neck. I never saw what happened next for it happened too fast for my eyes to follow.

It was a man with great speed and accuracy that spilled the blood of Sorin and his companions. It was fast and lasted no more than a few seconds as this new man sliced and danced his way around the group. Kosti with his knees still upon the ground looked around him in wonder at the death around him. At this time, I had had no more patience to keep quiet and jumped from my perch to run to my brother holding his head against my chest as I fell down crying. We had both forgotten the man in our reunion until I heard him pull his sword out from Sorin's chest.

"Thank you, Sir," I said still holding Konstantin to me as I looked up and saw the man, the same one that had been in my room standing in front of me. He wasn't in his long coat but in a leather vest like one used as light armor for it had a small amount of metal covering the front and back and cuffs around his forearms, his pants were of leather and his boots almost went as high as his knees. He looked like a warrior that didn't want to wear the weight of war, he almost looked comfortable in this attire like he was at home.

"Vlad Tepes!" my brother half yelled and half choked out in wonder. "You're a legend! Not real, I mean how could The Impaler be real it was just a bedtime story to keep us in at night." Kosti said standing up and just staring at the man before us. The man chuckled and sheathed his sword and then looked at me as I helped Konstantin up off the damp earth.

"Don't be rude Kosti, he just saved your life and mine." Vlad nodded at my apology and then considered the forest. I could have sworn his eyes had changed to a red as he stared into the forest depths.

"We must go, and soon Luna mea. Come now." He gestured as I walked forward moving the cloak closer to get warm. I noticed Vlad look at me from the corner of his eye and smile, I tipped my head to get a better look at him and the ring caught his attention and he tapped it with a smile.

"I see you at least had one on already, but please Luna mea, keep that necklace on you. It will protect you if I cannot someday." 

Must say this one took a little bit more brain power today. Hope everyone likes it :) And a warm welcome to Vlad for saving the day.