Of Fire and Answers Lost

Before her mind had fully comprehended her actions her legs were already booking it. She didn't have much vampiric energy left, but time was more important that the ability to fight. 

"This way," Kabek yelled from behind her. He was panting, loudly sprinting to keep up with Nelly. She swore, digging her nails in to the ground, sparks flying as they tried to gain purchase. The nails finally dug in, the metal lost seven out of ten battles, conversely keeping three of her nails. 

Kabek had already started sprinting down the hall Nelly had passed, yet she caught up in eight more blinks. His pace was too slow, every subsequent step a less potent one. Emergencies didn't care for style points, Nelly swooped Kabek in to a princess carry, and groaned at the surprised puppy eyes. 

"Just shut up, and tell me where to go" Nelly said and picked up the pace again, this time not losing her way. Kabek was doing all he could to be as easy to carry, as a grown man can be. Nelly swore she saw him panting with his tongue out at like the overgrown feisty pupper he was. 

"Down here" Kabek said as they ran in a corridor with windows to the inside yard. Nelly didn't hesitate and jumped back first through the window. Kabek's eyes opened larger than saucepans, and he grabbed on Nelly's neck tight. Her cape fluttered in the draft and they landed with a bang. Nelly grimaced, her knee bent awkwardly and she was sure something gave way. She hadn't properly accounted for the extra weight

"Where now?" Nelly yelled at him, scanning for any possible entrances. The pain shot up from her knee, she must have snapped a tendon. And she grimaced again. 

"There were stairs!" Kabek yelled back, some blood returning to his face, but continued immediately as Nelly glared at her angrily. "Straight, in the kitchen. Your way was faster" She stumbled when kickstarting, her knee not working in full motion. The second try worked out and even though the ride wasn't as comfortable, the speed was still high. 

They burst through the kitchen door and a smell of fire assaulted her nose. The kitchen was a mess with all tools splayed out and a fridge lying on its side, its contents strewn far. Most noteworthily a large industrial dishwasher had been moved to the side, revealing the panic room entrance. 

She unceremoniously dropped Kabek in a puddle of milk, and limped ahead with speed. A tinge of burning flesh entered her nose, and she picked up the speed further. Her eyes teared up at the smoke. The stairs took one flight down ending in front of a thick steel door, bent outwards by the explosion's force.

A sea of flames blocked her way, the smoke blocking her view. Vampires weren't known to be strong against fire and Nelly was out of power to protect herself. No danger would stop her from trying. She took a large lungful of air and threw herself in the flames. 

The flames instantly singed her, hairtips curling in the heat. She knew she didn't have long if she wanted to return alive. She wished she could have yelled out, but knew she had to save her breath, and if Cathrin had been in condition to ask for help she would be. 

The safe room was quite like a two bedroom apartment and Nelly rushed towards one of the doors. First one had a large bed, with a charred carcass right inside, her heart sunk for but a moment, before realizing the body was too large, it must have been Brinks. He had no answers left to give. 

She scanned the bedroom quick, but there was no one else in there. Her clothes were melting, her power not enough to keep them steady. Before she could leave the bedroom some leftover explosives detonated in the wardrobe, spraying accelerant on her body.

She screamed trying to get rid of some with her hands, but only managed to light her hands ablaze. She was now a vampire torch and knew if she didn't find Cathrin in the second room immediately she would have to leave. With pain making it hard to see, with more smoke than breathable air in her lungs she opened the second door. 

Her hairs raised at her neck when a vicious vampiric energy assaulted her. She closed her eyes, fearing her end had come, but opened them up when the pain didn't vanish. A red translucent orb of protection was emanating from the crystal gemstone on Cathrin's neck. 

But it wasn't large enough. Cathrin's legs were outside of it, much of them missing and what was left scored black. With all that Nelly had left, which was barely nothing, she hobbered ahead and grabbed ahold of Cathrin. She didn't stop even when her sisters chest didn't move. 

The amulet gave some reprieve and some much needed oxygen, letting her push towards the door. It seemed so impossibly far away, every step an ordeal. This was all human now, all primal human adrenaline. There was no vampiric powers left, no suit of blood to protect her. 

With barely meters left to the door and the end of fire in sight, she was biting her teeth together, dry spit flying at every exhausting breath. One step more, one step more, she kept repeating to herself. Until the one step had her broken knee fail completely. 

She fell, face first on top of her sister. Fate was a cruel mistress, she could hear a light heartbeat, her sister was alive. If she wasn't clinging on to life by pure power of will, she would have laughed. Laughed at how she had arrived in time, but had been too weak, yet again too weak, to save them. 

"Please forgive me." Nelly said cupping her burnt hand on her sisters cheek. One last solace for a weary soul before they would wander on to greater halls. There was no life flashing before her eyes, only regrets. She closed her eyes, content with the fact that at least her last memory would be of one she loved. 

Before she slipped away, she pondered bemusedly why death was wet, as she felt something wet and heavy drape over her.