A Full Moon

-Chapter 9- Caleb: The Fight

They had restrained her in magical bindings.

She was crying. Frantic and scared, her tears hurt me more than any physical blow. I looked at her, "Calm down, I'm here. It's going to be alright." I said to her with my eyes.

The red glow behind her illuminated further. A sacrificial altar. For Averie. For the woman that I love. Anger and revenge flowed through my heart. My rage burst out in an aura of ebony night. I saw Averie nod, and she stopped crying. Her breathing calmed down.

I glowered at the two figures at the altar. They stopped the ritual, turning to face me.

"Count Vladislaus Straud IV. Helena." Fury underscored my words. I stepped into the door's threshold with a growl.

"Caleb Vatore." Vladislaus hissed at me. Helena looked at me with warning. I was not afraid of the ancient vampire. Together, they stepped off the altar and stood on either side of Averie.

Helena looked begrudgingly at Averie, and I snapped a growl at her. She stared back at me, eyes a reflection of anger.

I snarled to Miss Hell, "Why Averie? You didn't do this to any of my ex lovers before. Why now?"

Her red eyes glowered. "You love her, Caleb. You should see how your predator eyes get so calm and kind when you look at her. It makes me sick."

I risked a look at Vlad. He seemed to be silent and listening, his expression of cold stone.

I super sped to Helena's side and pushed her squarely in the chest. Shock dawned on her face. She didn't expect the sudden blow. As she was floating in the air, realization dawned on her. Her eyes glinted in anger and she exerted effort to gain control of her momentum. She landed on her own two feet. Helena super sped to me. She parried a spear hand thrust to the right, and lunged with her claws.

"You left me for a powerless mortal!" She hissed. "Was I not good enough? Did I not grant you immortal life?"

Enraged as I was, I couldn't help but feel a smidgen of guilt over my abandonment. But I didn't let it distract me from our battle of speed. I avoided her claws and punched her with a fired infused fist. But it only singed a small portion as she barely dodged away. We were clearly matched, she trained me in combat after all. But I have improved...

I caught Helena in a chokehold and pinned her on the wall. Squeezing tight, pondering if I should go for the kill and spark a clan war.

But a movement to my right caught me off guard. A speed faster than any vampire lunged for my torso, the momentum sent me flying to the wall. They crack deep as I hit it, feeling the hands of Vladislaus Straud around my neck. Raw pain sliced through my side.

I gasped for air. Vladislaus slammed me further into the wall resulting in chunks of the marble wall chipping off.

"And now here we are, Caleb Vatore. I was wondering how to kill you without exerting too much magic. But ah, it seems brute strength is enough."

Helena's gasp echoed, "Kill him? Master, that's not part of the plan."

Hands still gripping my throat, Vladislaus turned to her. "It is part of the plan, dear. Parts you didn't have to know."

Turning his fangs to me, he leaned closer to my face and I could see his crimson eyes boring through my soul. And he whispered, "Enough with this game, Vatore. You and your kin have demoralized the dignity of vampires."

It took me a minute to process what he meant. My sister and I, we were always not following the norms. We studied magic. We introduced a new diet. We formed relationships with humans... with Averie, Taran, Johnny, my friends. I guess some ancient ones are not happy about it...