BLOODBOUND II

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Amy rushes into the ballroom and quickly finds her way to the others.

Adrian: Amy, are you alright?

Kamilah: What happened in there?

Lily: Deets, deets, DEETS!

Amy: We don't have time! He -- the -- Order -- they --

Jax: Amy, slow down! Catch your breath!

She fumbles with the Eye, shoving it at Kamilah.

Adrian: You got it!

Kamilah: I knew you could do it.

Jax: What about Dracula?

She gains her composure, giving her friends a stern look.

Amy: That's what I'm trying to tell you! While I was in his room, I saw this walkie-talkie, and a voice echoed from it talking about troops moving into position. They mentioned Kamilah and Adrian by name!

She hesitates, paying close attention to the concerned expressions on their faces.

Amy: Guys, Vlad is working for the Order.

Adrian: No...

Kamilah: That bastard!

Adrian scoffs, holding the bridge of his nose.

Adrian: That's how he's evaded capture so long, by cooperating with the enemy.

Jax: Selling out just enough of his own kind to keep skating free.

Kamilah: This party, it could be a trap.

Lily: Which means we have to get the hell out of here!

Kamilah: When I did my research on the castle, I saw an old system of tunnels beneath the grounds, it should lead to the city.

Lily: Then let's get moving, before Dracula realizes the Eye is gone!

They stealthily sneak out of the ballroom and onto the castle grounds. Adrian signals for them to duck behind a hedge.

Peering around the hedge, soldiers in familiar Order armor are advancing on the castle.

Order Soldier: Perimeter check, clear.

In hushed tones, Amy whispers to the others.

Amy: There's so many of them...

Adrian: Look!

He points at a man leading the troops, grizzled, bald and sporting an eyepatch.

Adrian: That's him, the leader of the Order himself.

Kamilah: Erik Balthazar.

Adrian clenches and unclenches his fists, glaring at Balthazar and his soldiers. Kamilah softly places a hand on his arm.

Adrian: We could kill him now, cut off the head of the Order.

Kamilah: And the hydra will grow another. Besides, we can't take them all on. We need to escape with the Eye.

Jax: What about the other vampires in there?

Kamilah: They couldn't take them without compromising the mission. This is a small strike team, they're just here for us.

Adrian wavers a moment, his shoulders stiff and rigid.

Adrian: Fine.

Jax: Where's the entrance to the tunnels?