VAMPIRUS

MEET YOUR ADVERSARIES(?), BLAKE

"Give Danny to me!"

Broderick hissed this demand as he and the others squared off with one another in the alleyway beside the club.  The young girl had passed the lad to her sidekick, and she now had two swords held in each hand, ready to battle.  Blake felt her energy but was amused and entertained by it.  Does she really think she can kick my ass? he thought.

"What's so funny, Blake?" she questioned him, shifting her footing.  Her body language screamed for battle.

Blake grinned.  "And you know my name?  How thoughtful."  He winked.

"I want Danny back!" Broderick attempted again, looking at Blake for support.

Blake held up a hand to Broderick in an attempt to calm him.  "I got this, Broderick.  Please trust me."

Broderick's furious gaze remained unchanged.

Blake continued to advance toward the girl at a casual pace.  He shifted his eyes to her accomplice who kept his beloved Danny in his grasp, the steel stake pointed at the kid's chest.  "You even attempt to off him, I'll rip your damn head off."

The young man smiled rebelliously and kissed Danny's cheek.  "That depends."

Broderick bore his fangs and hissed, which caused the young man to push the point of the stake into Danny's chest, drawing blood.  "Any more of that, vampire, and I'll do him without thinking twice."

Broderick positioned himself in front of the cocky, arrogant fellow, his eyes level and teeth bared.  "At the cost of your life, bitch!"

"Knock it off!" Blake yelled.  He turned his attention back to the young girl, sizing her up and down.  He crossed his arms, bringing a hand to his chin and stroking the bristles of the goatee in thought.  "And what's your name, lassie?"

She scoffed.  "Why does that matter?"

Blake grinned.  "Because I kindly asked you."

With that, the young suddenly dropped to one knee against her will, gasping at the sudden action.  She maintained her grip on the swords but her face showed confusion and shock.

"Isabella!" her companion yelled.  Although distracted, he kept Danny at bay.  He cast his eyes at Broderick.  "Don't move, B.!"

"Stop shaking," Broderick chuckled, mocking him.

Blake leaned down to be at eye level with Isabella.  "So, Isabella," Blake stressed her name, his amusement heightened.  "To what do I owe the pleasure to be threatened by someone so beautiful and yet so unlearned?  I mean, girlfriend, swords?  Don't you think a gun would be much more effective?"

Isabella was still held down by Blake's telepathic power but was struggling against it, nonetheless.  "It doesn't matter.  A weapon is a weapon.  You're a vampire and you deserve to die."

Blake shrugged.  "Just like that?  No rhyme or reason?"

Isabella only stared at him.

"Hmm.  I see."  Blake shifted his posture and stood up.  "So, since you have no explanation, I'm gonna just assume it's because you have a biased disposition toward anyone or anything which you have no information about.  Or is it something much deeper than that?"

Isabella fell forward, released from Blake's mental grip.  She kept her eyes on him, realizing that the rules to the game had just changed.  "Let him go, Jacob."

Blake regarded her a moment then glanced over at Jacob, the handsome gentleman holding Danny against his will.  The young man rolled his eyes and reluctantly pushed Danny I to Broderick's waiting arms.