Amelia

Callista's senses flared. She melted into the shadows of a nearby doorway. Across the street, Amelia, Queen Eydis, conversed with a hulking figure – a man with a military haircut and fiery crimson eyes. Comrade? Why did he look familiar? A flicker of recognition sparked in Callista's mind, but the crimson glint in his eyes held a strange familiarity, a reflection of… someone.

Tapping her necklace, Callista shifted into her silver-haired persona. Tailing them, she noticed another shadow – Billie, a fellow hunter from Metamorphosis. He walked beside a figure disguised as human, but the faint reek of blood betrayed his true nature.

A vampire.

Fury surged through Callista. What kind alliance was this?

Weaving through the crowd, Callista was a ghost among the living. A glint of gold caught her eye. Amelia wasn't looking at her, but at Billie. A flicker of amusement crossed the vampire's face.

Played.

"She spotted you," Callista hissed, shoving an amethyst pendant into Billie's hand. "Never use your real face tailing the Queen." Billie's question died on his lips as he activated the disguise.

Together, they blended in, a forced couple, Callista ignoring the annoyance of his hand finding hers. Billie stole a glance at Callista, her profile etched with a fierce concentration that both intimidated and intrigued him.

They caught a glimpse of the vampire with Billie, looking lost and alone. But before they could react, he vanished into a dark alley. Callista cursed and followed.

Pressing against the entrance, Callista heard a muffled voice.

"Another rat," Amelia purred. "Where's your hunter friend? Such a shame, I was hoping to play with a human."

A whimper rose from within. "Please… Queen Eydis, I did it for the cash! I have no affiliation…"

"Oh, I know," Amelia grinned. "You're too insignificant for the Royal Decree. But I despise rats. And frankly, you're even lower."

A sickening crack echoed in the alley. Callista's breath hitched as she peeked inside. Empty.

Billie barged past her, frustration etched on his face. "We can't lose them!"

A shimmer distorted the air before them. Amelia materialised, not with a silent disappearance like Eydis, but with a ripple effect, unsettling and unnatural. A sliver of doubt flickered in Callista's mind, but there was no time for hesitation. Celestial blades materialised in her hands with a comforting hum as she lunged into an attack stance. Callista, known for her lightning-fast strikes, darted forward, aiming for a vital point on Amelia's shoulder.

Amelia reacted with inhuman speed, a blur of white. But this time, instead of brute force, she flowed like quicksilver, dodging Callista's blade with a dancer's grace. In the same motion, Amelia's arm shot out, aiming for a pressure point at Callista's shoulder. Callista twisted, years of training kicking in, and countered with a knee strike aimed at Amelia's midsection.

The impact sent a jolt through Callista's leg, but it disrupted Amelia's attack. They circled each other, the tension crackling in the air.

"A hunter," Amelia purred, her golden eyes glinting with predatory hunger. "And a skilled one at that."

Billie roared, charging at Amelia with his celestial axe held high. Amelia seemed to anticipate the move, her body dissolving into a hazy blur. The axe whistled harmlessly through the air. Before Billie could react, Amelia reappeared behind him, a knee slamming into his spine with a sickening crack. He crumpled to the ground, groaning in pain.

"So eager to die so young, big boy? How quaint." Amelia snickered.

Callista surged forward, blades flashing. Amelia met her head-on, a cruel smile twisting her lips. This time, Amelia wielded the fallen axe, but with surprising agility for her weapon. The fight became a whirlwind of metal and metal. Callista weaved through the axe swings, exploiting openings with precise jabs from her celestial blades, aiming for disabling strikes. Amelia, in turn, used her inhuman reflexes and a mix of brutal kicks and unorthodox grappling techniques to keep Callista off balance.

"Such impressive reflexes, little hunter. But predictable." Amelia taunted.

Callista ignored the taunt, her focus laser-sharp. She landed a glancing blow on Amelia's arm, drawing a hiss of pain. A surge of satisfaction coursed through her, short-lived but welcome.

Amelia retaliated with a vicious sweep of her leg, aiming to knock Callista off her feet. Callista leaped back, barely in time. As Amelia lunged forward, overextending with the momentum of the stolen axe swing, Callista saw her chance. 

Power surged through her, primal energy crackling around her fingertips. Ignoring the screaming protest in her hand, she reached for the airborne axe. A searing white-hot pain erupted as celestial power met celestial steel. But Callista held on, channelling her power not to free the weapon, but to extract its celestial essence. With a grunt that shook the narrow alley, she absorbed the axe's celestial energy into herself, causing the weapon to dissolve into stardust. Blood welled from a fresh gash on her palm, but for a fleeting moment, a surge of triumph washed over her.

Callista's surge of power left Amelia momentarily stunned, the playful smirk on her face replaced by a mask of raw surprise. Seizing the opening, Callista launched a whirlwind attack, her celestial blades flashing in the dim light. Amelia twisted and contorted, her movements blurring as she dodged each blow by a hair's breadth. A crimson stain bloomed across her pristine white shirt, a testament to Callista's near miss.

But the victory was short-lived. A snarl ripped from Amelia's throat, her golden eyes flaring with an unholy rage. The air around her shimmered, reality distorting in a way that sent a shiver down Callista's spine. Before she could react, a hulking figure materialised beside Amelia, his face etched with grim determination. 

Without a word, the newcomer, Lionel, slammed a fist into Callista's parrying blade. The celestial metal shrieked in protest before shattering into a dozen shimmering shards that rained down on the cobblestones. The force of the blow sent a jolt of agony through Callista's arm, momentarily numbing it.

Despite the pain, a defiant growl escaped Callista's lips. With a flick of her wrist, she conjured two new diamond blades, their facets catching the faint light and sending an ominous gleam into Lionel's surprised eyes. However, his surprise quickly melted into a steely resolve. In a swift, unexpected movement, he scooped Amelia into his arms.

"Let's go," Lionel rumbled, his voice laced with urgency. He scooped Amelia into his arms, her face contorted in a snarl as she reached for a hidden weapon.

Callista reacted on pure instinct, deflecting the dagger with a desperate swipe of her newly summoned weapon. The metallic clang echoed through the narrow alley. But before she could press the attack, a new sound pierced the tense silence – a guttural scream from behind. Billie, clutching at his chest, his face contorted with pain.

The redhead vampire, using the distraction, launched himself and the injured Amelia skyward in a powerful leap. The force of their takeoff sent a gust of wind whipping through the alley, momentarily obscuring Callista's vision. 

Fury threatened to consume Callista. Every fiber of her being screamed to chase the fleeing vampires. But a different kind of scream, raw and human, echoed in her heart – Billie's. The years of training, the honed instinct for the hunt, all paled in the face of that primal urge to protect. Humanity, heavy and undeniable, slammed into her. With a sigh, she tore the comm unit from her belt, her voice tight.

"Codename Shadow. Requesting immediate medical assistance. Hunter down, location…"

As she spoke, a chilling realisation settled in her stomach, cold and heavy. The glint in Amelia's eyes, the unnatural shift – she was strong, but not strong enough.

Amelia wasn't Eydis. Not by a long shot.