"Everyone stop them."

"Quickly before they get in."

"AHHHHHH."

"Go back, go back."

"Kaindra, Kaindra, Kaindra WAKE UP." My eyes snap open as the screams intensify, the smell of blood pungent. I look over to Kaitlyn leaning on my bed, she leans up cold sweat gathering on her forehead.

I sit up rubbing my eyes, my energy is still low. Slapping my cheeks I shake myself sliding off my bed to the floor. "What time is it? What's going on?" I ask putting my backpack on and sliding my jacket through the straps so I don't have to hold it.

"2:30, we don't know but we should get the others. It sounds bad," Jen says rushing towards the door.

I grab her "Grab your jacket just in case, I smell blood, lots of it."

She nods, as do the others, each putting on their winter jackets and boots. Taking the lead, I cautiously open the door. Chaos ensues as people sprint through the dimly lit hallway, their hearts pounding. Motioning with my hand, I guide them outside, staying close to the wall every step hurried.

Sniffing the air, I make my way to my family's room, the sense of dread growing. I head to Jordan and Bella's room pushing open the door and quickly ushering the others in before closing the door behind me. The room is small, however Jordan pushed the divider connecting my family's room to theirs, allowing more room. My mind races as I try to make sense of the chaos unfolding around us, the fear and confusion almost overwhelming.

Taking a deep breath I calm my racing thoughts "What's going on?" I ask stepping farther into the room.

"We don't know, we heard screaming and came here," my mom says grasping my dad's hand.

Sighing I close my eyes focusing on the sounds from downstairs. "Zombies, zombies everyone be careful. Wait stop don't come closer what are yo-AHHH," I flinch at the sound of Jaron's scream. 

Opening my eyes I glance at Jordan "I hear word of zombies but it also sounds like something else."

He nods "Me too. Are you thinking what I'm thinking?"

"IF what you're thinking is what I'm thinking then yes," I say.

We stand there watching each other eyes shifting "An attack," we say.

Snapping into motion, I toss over the long sword and daggers I grabbed from his house. Handing Bella the bow, she ushers the triplites towards my parents. I quickly pull out the two short swords, strapping them to my waist and tucking the throwing knives into my boots, sleeves, and belt,  securing the rest along my torso.

Walking over to the triplites, I kneel and hold out the three necklaces with the glowing bottles. "This is a little early, but here-if you're ever in trouble, mix this with your magic and it'll protect you, okay?" I say. my voice urgent yet steady, focusing on the task at hand. The triplets nod, their eyes wide with fear and determination.

They nod "Okay."

Smiling I, ruffle their hair as it shimmers in the dim light. "We'll be back safe and sound, don't worry."

Jaylin gives me a small smile "We know you guys always come back."

Jordan kneels beside me, his expression determined yet gentle. "That's right, and this is no exception. Come here, give me my protection hug."

They giggle, squeezing him tightly "We place our protection onto you Daddy, so that nothing will hurt you."

He smiles, embracing them "As long as I have your three watching over me and Bella guarding my back, nothing can harm me."

I punch his shoulder gently "Hey."

He chuckles "I protect you."

"Umm I think it's the other way around, "I retort, smiling. "Remember last time when you got cornered and cried for my assistance?  And the other time when-"

Jordan laughs, placing a hand over my mouth "Okay, okay, that's enough. I don't want you to put thoughts into their heads."

I push him away "Says the one lying," I retort, raising an eyebrow.

"Stop doing that. You look like an idiot trying to count when they don't know what one is." He says, moving past me.

I gasp "Hey."

I go to slap him, but he moves out of the way "Hey, no lies remember," he teases.

I grumble, turning to my parents "Be careful, okay? If any danger comes, take the kids and run. If I signal you, run, and-"

My mom pats my head "Shh, honey, we know. We'll be careful."

My dad places his hand on my shoulder, squeezing it gently "Don't worry too much about us. Focus on yourself, okay? Jordan and Bella can't stop this by themselves if it's what you think it is. They need you."

I nod, hugging them tightly. Taking a deep breath, I turn to Kaylee, who practically chokes with her embrace. If I weren't already dead, I'd probably be suffocating. "Be careful, Indra," she says.

I nod again "You too." She grins, pulling me in for another hug.

I then move over to my friends, ready for a heartfelt goodbye. Instead, they push me towards the door. "Go, Kaindra, we'll be fine," Liam says, pulling Sam closer to himself as they move closer to my family. "Everyone needs you," he adds, his voice full of encouragement.

Laughing, I nod, saluting them as Jordan, Bella, and I open the door, slipping into the hallway and vanishing with the wind. 

"That was scary just watching them move," Liam says.

Jen giggles shakily "Yeah, but it's reassuring knowing that they're out there."

"Huhmm, but worrisome if something happens to them," Kaitlyn adds, her voice tinged with concern.

The group falls into a tense silence, the gravity of the situation settling in. This fades from my awareness as I concentrate on the task at hand, moving silently beside Jordan as we skulk through the hall. Soon we reach the stairs, passing people who are frantically trying to escape. Jordan stops at the top, glancing down.

He whistles softly and points to the ground floor. My eyes widen. Zombies swarm everywhere, and people are desperately running, tripping over each other in a frantic attempt to flee. From my vantage point the enture main floor is covered in fresh blood, the sight sends a jolt of fear through me. The zombies swarm, their grotesque forms moving relentlessly forward. I look at Jordan and Bella, their faces mirroring my own mix of horror and determination.

Bodies lay drained of blood or soulless husks scattered in the mass of walking corpses. How did these zombies get in here? I should have been alerted. Is it because I drained my power earlier? No, that doesn't stop the barriers I already put up. It would take having my power gone completely for more than a few hours before they vanish. So what happened?

Looking over to Jordan, he nods. "Got our back, Bella?" He asks.

"Always," she says, drawing her bow.

"You have to sever their heads to kill them. Bella, you keep your eyes out for any of our friends responsible for killing the people on the ground and bringing our comrades here." I say.

She nods "Copy."

"Ready, Grandpa?"

Jordan grins, brandishing his sword "Always shortie."

"I'm not short, gramps," I call out, but he ignores me as he jumps down to the main floor. Following after him I swing my sword at the zombie beside me its head rolling to the floor with a splat.

"Ohh, so impressive, sweet cheeks," Jordan calls already surrounded by headless corpses.

Grumbling my eyes glimmer red as I shot forward clearing a path through the dozens of zombies to his side. His smirk falls as I grin at him flicking blood from my blade "Keep up gramps."

Skipping out of the way from the incoming zombie Jordan swears as it tries to bite him. Laughing, I continue to the middle of the room herding the zombies to my side letting Jordan take the ones around the edges. Grinning viciously a small snarl of approval tingles from the back of my head as I slice through the necks of now-past comrades.

Jordan sighs as the last head drops to the floor splashing blood onto our pants, I glance at our handy work. The bodies piled up around me forming a small circle in the middle of the carnage. Brushing my hand along my swords pulling the blood from the blade's I sheath them at my sides. Skipping over the bodies in a cruel game of hopscotch I grin my face dripping with blood from our slaughter.

Jordan sighs, taking out a clean cloth and rubbing it over my face. "Hey, Jord stop it I can do it myself," I mumble through the cloth.

He pulls it away showing me the darkly stained material "Every time Kaindra you get yourself completely covered like a wild animal."

I shrug "Sorry I just get..."

"Lost in the moment," he finishes.

I snap "Yeah lost in the moment."

He sighs tossing the now blood-stained cloth "Kaindra you have to learn to control it or else something bad could happen."

Grumbling, I walk past him "I know, I have it under control don't worry Jordan I-" I stop glancing around. The power is on-not just the heating, but the main lights. They shouldn't be. And it's quiet...too quite. Where did the people go? 

Glancing up the stairs, I shout to Jordan "Hey Jord, where's Bella?"

He looks at me, slowly turning to the stairs "She's at the stairs, why-" He freezes, his face going paler by the second. "Maybe she saw some people and went to help them, or heard something and knew we were good by ourselves, or-"

I stop him "Hey, hey, she's a strong woman capable of handling herself. She's-" I freeze as screams echo down the corridor from the loading bay. "Shit," I say vamping in that direction. What's going on?

Stopping at the entrance to the loading bay, I bare my fangs at the ones standing there. "Why hello there, did we miss you two?" The demon says, dropping a bloody cloth to the floor his black eyes piercing into my red ones. "Well, no biggie, you can just stay here, vampling."

Seething, I step forward "I don't have time for this," I say.

The demon laughs, his friend grinning beside him. As his hand comes towards me, I pull out one of the swords at my side, my eyes darkening. His friend's grin falls, turning into a scowl as the demon's head rolls to the floor at his friend's feet. "You bitch," he screams, charging at me. I brace myself, ready for the next attack, my grip tightening on the sword. The air is thick with bloodlust, and I can feel the adrenaline coursing through my viens.

"That wasn't very nice," Jordan says, appearing behind him. A loud snap echoes as Jordan snaps the young demon's neck.

"Psh pesky flies," I say stepping over the bleeding corps towards the door grinning.

Jordan grabs my arm stopping me before I can open the doors to the loading bay "Kaindra control."

Pushing him off I flash a fang "I'm in control."

He grabs me again strongly "Kaindra stop, think first."

Snarling at him I yank my arm fruitlessly as he grasps my wrist "Let go," I seethe.

He shakes his head "Not till you gain control."

I continue yanking at my arm "Let go."

"No," he snarls. My wrist snaps as I continue to tug at my arm snarling at him. He pulls me forcefully towards him grasping my shoulders "Kaindra what if your parents saw you like this."

I freeze taking a deep breath for the first time in a while. Breathing slowly I calm down forcing the urge for death back. Patting his hands I slowly move back "Thanks."

He nods "No problem now let's go kill these bastards."

I huff "Double standards."

"Whaatt we don't need you killing random people," he says turning the door handle.

I sigh chuckling as we enter. The Strong stench of fresh blood wafts our way once the door opens. Everyone that's left is sitting in the middle of the loading bay, all the cars moved outside into the winter storm, cold air rushing in from the open doors. The vampires and demons are standing over them, the witches nowhere to be seen. I snarl, brandishing my blades, as does Jordan as we spot Bella kneeling at the front with a blade to her throat.

The cold air bites at my skin as I step into the loading bay, my eyes locked on Bella. The vampires and demons sneer, their eyes glinting with malice. I tighten my grip on my blades.  As the door clicks shut all heads turn our way. "Well, well, well are you the ones responsible for killing our toys?" A man says walking towards us.

I snarl forcing myself to stay still as the knife presses deeper into Bella's throat. "What do you want?" Jordan asks his muscles stiff.

The man grins eyes turning red "Nothing much, just looking for a fresh meal."

Jordan huffs "Nice try, what do you really want?"

The man pouts "Why, your no fun." Jordan snarls, the man grins, his fangs glistening as his eyes brighten "I cannot divulge that information, comrade, as it would spoil our superiors' amusement. However, if you decide to join us, our leaders are quite welcoming and would be delighted to embrace two formidable vampires, whether aged or vampling." He winks at me, I grimace, going lower in my defensive stance.

"Not happening but if you let her and the others go we would be more than happy to let you go, alive," Jordan's words hang in the air, I want to gag at the cliché villain schtick but refrain from doing so. This guy's not the leader-just a lackey. So where are they?

The man sighs "Well, if that's your wish, so be it. However, we cannot release them; we need food, and as our superiors command, no witches are permitted."

My eyes widen glancing around for the triplites. Spotting their rusty brown hair in the crowd beside my parents, I sigh in relief. They used concealing magic with the help of the earth's energy to hide their hair and eyes temporarily. Smart kids, but sheer luck-magic can't hide magic.

I turn back to the male vampire as he continues talking"...we couldn't believe our eyes when we spotted you three here with the witchlings, blending in with humans of all things. It was an even bigger shock to find out that the folks in charge here were totally oblivious to your true nature. If they had any idea, we could have spared ourselves this whole ordeal in retrieving the witchlings. Hey, do you happen to know where they are? This witch won't spill the beans, and it's incredibly annoying since nobody else seems to have a clue."

I grit my teeth, trying to maintain my composure "Even if I knew, why would I tell you?" I snarl.

The vampire chuckles darkly, his fangs glinting in the dim light. "Because, vampling, you're in no position to negotiate. However, our offer still stands. Join us and you could rule the new world."

I glance behind them to the pool of blood soaking the concrete. Mora, Mr. Jones, and dozens of others lay dead. Dammit, we're too late. My vision blurs my fingers going white around the hilt of my swords. 

Jordan taps my side lightly. Calming down I shake myself looking away from the pool of blood. "They weren't very cooperative, but they served as a good midnight snack," he grins licking his lips.

Nasty assholes, sucking their souls and drinking their blood didn't even have the decency to give them a quick death but made them suffer by them bleeding out slowly. Shaking, Jordan tries to calm me down by pressing into my side but, I push him away.

"You bloody bastards," I snarl. Lunging forward Jordan wraps his arms around my waist locking me to his chest. "Let me go Jordan this guy needs a good thrashing," snarling I scratch at Jordan's arms with my hand well the other holds tightly to my sword's hilts.

"Calm down, Kaindra. We can't start a blood bath here, not now," Jordan says, forcing me to look at the dozens of scared people watching these beings kill their friends.

Sighing I stop moving once again having to have Jordan hold me down. "Alright," I say lightly stepping behind him as he releases me.

"Good," he says, turning his attention back to the vampire. He watches us, eyes glimmering like rubies as he grins.

"Hey, over there in the crowd," someone shouts, causing all eyes to look into the crowd of humans.

Three little rusty brown heads begin to glimmer ever so slightly under the LED lights as the magic dissipates, unable to hide the triplites' witch traits anymore. Jordan's breath catches in his throat, and his muscle tense with raw panic. "No," he mumbles, his voice barely audible. His eyes dart frantically towards the two white and one gold-highlighted heads of his children, fear etched across his face. He prepares to run into the crowd, his determination battling the overwhelming dread coursing through him.

The vampire laughs manically, "Wow, I didn't see that one coming. I thought magic couldn't conceal a witch's traits, but it seems I was mistaken. Men, capture them." He says, walking towards the crowed, motioning to the vampires holding Bella "Kill her."

Jordan's snarl rips through the screams of the people as he stands still, unable to decide who to go to first. Turning towards the crowd, I yell "Jordan go to Bella I got the triplites."

No answer was needed as he vamps over to Bella well I vamp toward my family and the triplites. In just a few seconds, everything went from a tense calm to madness. I stop in front of my parents and sister as they hug the kids to themselves defensively. "Stay Back!" I shout, slashing at the nearest enemy. Everything moves in slow motion as the other four vampires and I clash, too fast for mortal eyes.

The air is filled with the sound of metal clashing against metal, and the grunts and growls of the vampires. Crossing blades and fists, I snarl as I get hit and cut, standing as defensive a wall, stopping them from passing me. Impatient, I rely on my speed, coating my blade in wood and stabbing each of the vampires in the heart for a quick death, with no chance of them standing back up again. I look toward Jordan, eyes wide. "Jordan lookout," I shout... too late.

He dives in front of the blade the vampire swings at Bella's throat, a bloody glint in his eyes as he aims not just to simply cut Bella's throat but completely sever her head from her body in a savage display. Jordan is just fast enough to push Bella out of the way but not fast enough to get himself out of the way but not fast enough to save himself as the blade comes down hard and fast onto his neck, severing the spinal cord, then the esophagus, and finally the last layer of his skin. He collapses to the ground, body limp as his head rolls feet away, blood gushing out of his neck.

Bella screams, and my vision goes red.

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