Chapter 21

Marlow stood amidst the chaos, his expression stoic as he observed the frenzy of his followers disposing of the newly turned residents. The metallic smell of blood lingered in the air, a reminder of the violence that had happened moments ago. He flicked the blood off his fingers after ripping the head of one turned resident who dared to attack him earlier, his eyes narrowing in annoyance as he noticed the ashes of his fallen followers. His gaze hardened, a mix of anger and frustration bubbling beneath the surface.

He was not accustomed to losing his minions so easily. The vampire hierarchy he had meticulously built was crumbling, and he needed to regain control.

{"Clean this mess,"} Marlow ordered, his voice carrying a commanding tone that brooked no argument. His loyal followers obeyed without question.

As he surveyed the scene, his mind churned with thoughts of retaliation. This interference had cost him dearly, and Marlow was not one to let such actions go unpunished. He needed to send a clear message, assert his dominance, and remind everyone who ruled this night.

A wicked glint flickered in Marlow's eyes as he contemplated his next move. Revenge simmered within him, a burning desire to show the consequences of crossing paths with a powerful vampire lord. Marlow's lips thinned, his mind plotting the downfall of the meddling intruder. The night was far from over, and Marlow was prepared to unleash his wrath upon anyone who dared to challenge his reign. His followers continued their grim task, disposing of the remains with meticulous efficiency, unaware of their leader's internal turmoil. Marlow's mind raced, contemplating the audacity of the intruder who had interfered with his plans.

The precision of the burning and the subsequent beheading spoke of a calculated enemy, someone who understood the weaknesses of vampires all too well. A cold, calculating expression settled on Marlow's face as he made a decision. He would find out who dared to challenge him, and when he did, they would pay dearly for their intrusion. With a wave of his hand, he gestured for his remaining followers to gather after seeing them finish their task.

{ "We have an unwelcome guest," } Marlow declared, his voice low and dangerous. { "Someone skilled and bold enough to disrupt our night. I want every detail, every clue you can find. Discover who this intruder is and bring them to me alive. I want to savor their fear before meeting their end." }

His followers nodded in understanding, their loyalty to Marlow evident in their determined expressions. They dispersed, each tasked with finding the identity of the unknown enemy. Marlow, meanwhile, retreated into the shadows, his mind ablaze with thoughts of retribution. Whoever had challenged his dominion would soon learn the grave consequences of crossing a vampire lord. The hunt for the intruder had begun, and Marlow's wrath would be relentless and unforgiving.

Iris, true to her sycophantic tendencies, stood unwaveringly by Marlow's side. Her eyes gleamed with worship, showcasing her willingness to flatter and unquestioningly obey him. In her devotion, she seemed ready to assist him in his quest for vengeance, embodying the epitome of a loyal bootlicker.

Meanwhile, on a snow-covered road not too far, Stella gripped the steering wheel tightly, her knuckles turning white under the pressure. The only light came from the distant flickering of fire drums scattered along the desolate road, casting uncertain shadows on the heavy snowfall. The snow created a surreal atmosphere, swirling around the car as it moved cautiously through the frozen terrain.

Beside her, Eben sat in the passenger seat, his breath visible in the cold air. The car continued its cautious journey, the tires crunching on the snow-covered road. The flames of some drums flickered and died out periodically, adding to the eeriness of the silent town. The sporadic light created shifting shadows that moved along the deserted streets, enhancing the sense of unease brought on by the chilling darkness.

In a sudden turn of events, the vehicle came to a halt, the engine still rumbling with power. Stella and Eben exchanged alarmed glances, confusion etched on their faces.

"We're not moving," Stella said, her voice tinged with apprehension. She tried to step on the gas, but the car remained stationary. It felt as if an invisible force was holding them back.

Eben's eyes widened as he looked out the rear window. "Look," he said urgently. They both turned to see shadowy figures emerging from the darkness. These figures were lifting the back part of the car, rendering the wheels off the ground.

Panic surged within Stella as she realized their predicament. The engine roared in response to her desperate attempts to move forward, but the lifted back part kept them firmly immobilized. The figures outside grew closer, their intentions shrouded in darkness. Stella's fear intensified, her mind racing for a way out of the unfolding situation, the weight of the silent, snowy night closing in around them.

Stella and Eben watched in horror as the shadowy figures continued to lift the vehicle, their strength seemingly supernatural. The car tilted dangerously until, with a deafening crash, it was overturned, the roof now resting on the frozen ground. Inside the car, everything was disorienting; gravity seemed to have shifted its allegiance.

Stella clung to her seat, her heart pounding in her chest. Eben braced himself, trying to make sense of the situation. Outside, the figures moved with eerie efficiency, their intentions still obscured by the night.

The car doors were wrenched open, metal shrieking in protest. Stella and Eben turned to face the figures, their eyes widening in sheer terror. The pale, menacing faces of the vampires stared back at them, eyes glinting with hunger and malevolence.

In the grip of sheer terror, Stella's scream pierced the night, a raw expression of fear and desperation. Eben's breaths came fast and shallow, his chest heaving with panic. The vampires, their cold, powerful grips tightening, began to pull Stella and Eben from the vehicle, their intent clear in their predatory gazes.

But in that desperate moment, before the vampires could fully pull them out, Stella and Eben acted on pure instinct. Stella managed to wrestle her shotgun into position. With trembling hands and sheer determination, she pulled the trigger. The deafening blast sounded through the night, hitting one of the vampires squarely in the chest. It stumbled backward, its grip momentarily loosening in the shock of the impact.

Seeing an opportunity, Eben swiftly aimed his shotgun and fired, hitting another vampire on the abdomen. The impact sent it reeling.

Seizing the chance, Stella and Eben fought back with everything they had, firing at the remaining vampires. Stella's shot clipped another vampire on the neck, causing it to stumble, while Eben's blast incapacitated yet another.

One of the vampires snatched Stella's shotgun, wrenching it from her hands. With a malevolent grin, it threw the weapon to the ground, leaving Stella defenseless. At the same time, another vampire disarmed Eben, breaking it and tossing it aside, leaving them both vulnerable.

Panic surged within them as they realized their last line of defense had been cruelly taken away. Stripped of their weapons, Stella and Eben exchanged desperate, helpless glances. The cold, predatory eyes of the vampires bore down on them, malice and hunger gleaming in the darkness.

In that dire moment, the weight of impending doom settled upon them. They both thought they were going to die now, their hearts heavy with the realization of their fate. Knowing that their struggle was nearing its tragic end.

Stella, pulled out from the driver's seat, found herself face-to-face with the menacing vampire. It opened its mouth wide, revealing jagged teeth that glistened menacingly in the dim light. Stella closed her eyes tightly, bracing herself for whatever horrors were about to come. Time seemed to stretch into an agonizing eternity as she waited, her breath caught in her throat, anticipating the imminent danger that lurked within those razor-sharp fangs.

At the same time, Eben, pulled out from the passenger's seat, found himself in a similar nightmare. The vampire holding him bared its fangs, its cold breath giving him shivers. Eben's jaw clenched, and he steeled himself for the inevitable pain, his mind racing with desperate thoughts of escape. The seconds felt like an eternity as he waited, his muscles tensed, preparing for the worst.

In that moment, both Stella and Eben braced themselves for the horrors they believed were about to unfold, their fates hanging precariously in the balance as the vampires loomed over them, ready to strike.

Marlow, with Iris by his side, emerged from the darkness, his eyes cold as he watched the struggle unfold before him. He observed the chaos with a chilling detachment, his expression revealing nothing but a predatory curiosity. Iris stood beside him, her demeanor as icy as Marlow's, her eyes fixed on Stella and Eben with an unsettling intensity. They remained silent, their presence casting an ominous shadow over the scene, as if savoring the impending demise of the two.