As Mallory parked the car near the convenience store, the dim lights flickered against the cold night air. Stella could feel the unsettling presence behind them, a black van tailing them ever since they had left the graveyard. It wasn't just any van; its movements were too calculated, its following too deliberate.
"Hey Mal, don't you think somebody is following us?" Stella asked, her voice steady despite the rising tension.
Mallory glanced into the rearview mirror, her lips curling into a knowing smirk. "Yeah, I've been noticing that van for a while. I guess they're not for me."
Stella's eyes narrowed, her senses sharp. "Soon, there will be a convenience store. Stop the car there. I'll handle it."
Mallory didn't question her. She trusted Stella's instincts, and though she was curious, she knew better than to press her. She pulled into the lot, the store's neon lights casting long shadows across the empty street. The air felt thick with anticipation as Stella opened the car door, her movements deliberate and controlled.
She walked toward the alley beside the store, her heels clicking softly on the pavement. The black van stopped a few feet away, and several men—vampires, judging by their cold eyes and calculated movements—stepped out. They didn't approach her right away, as if to gauge whether she was worth the trouble.
Stella leaned casually against the brick wall, her hands tucked into the pockets of her black dress, the long sleeves of the frock rolling back slightly as she relaxed. Her posture was almost nonchalant, but anyone paying close attention could see the readiness in her stance. She was waiting.
The men, however, seemed to think otherwise.
"Looks like your boss doesn't understand. One warning," Stella said, her voice low and steady.
A flicker of recognition passed between the men, but it quickly dissolved into arrogance. One of them sneered, "Some vampires don't change, do they?"
Stella's lips curled into a tight smile. "They never do."
Without warning, the men lunged. They were fast—too fast for normal humans—but Stella was faster. She ducked under the first strike, the vampire's fist slamming into the wall with a sickening crack. With a swift movement, she twisted his arm behind his back, forcing him to the ground with ease. The others hesitated for just a moment, but it was enough.
The second man tried to rush at her, but Stella was already moving, her body a blur of fluid grace. She sidestepped his attack, her foot coming up to strike his ribs with such precision that he collapsed in pain. Before he could recover, she was already on top of him, her hands gripping his throat in a vice-like hold.
The third vampire staggered back, stunned by Stella's swift disarmament. His grip on the blade had faltered, but he quickly regained his composure, glaring at Stella with a mix of fury and disbelief. Before he could react, a sharp noise cracked through the tense silence of the alley—an impact that echoed off the brick walls.
The vampire's head jerked back violently, his body crumpling to the ground with a thud. From the shadows, Mallory stepped forward, her eyes cold and calculating as she surveyed the fallen attacker. "So stupid, and disgusting," she muttered, her voice dripping with disdain.
Stella didn't need to glance at Mallory to know she was there. The moment Mallory joined the fray, it was clear that the vampires were in for a much harder fight than they anticipated.
The remaining two vampires hesitated, their eyes darting between Stella and Mallory. But the hesitation was short-lived. They were outnumbered, and neither could afford to lose face in front of the other.
The vampire with the silver blade lunged at Stella again, swinging with greater speed, but this time she was ready. Stella ducked, the blade cutting through the air just above her head. As she moved, she slammed her elbow into the vampire's ribs, causing him to stumble back. With a swift roundhouse kick, she knocked him off balance, sending him crashing into the side of the building.
Before the vampire could rise, Stella was already on top of him, her foot pressing down on his chest. "You should've stayed in your van," she said, her voice a calm contrast to the brutal fight unfolding. Her boot ground into his chest, pinning him in place.
Mallory was just as deadly. The second vampire tried to make his move, his fangs flashing in the dim light as he aimed for Mallory's neck. But Mallory was faster, sidestepping his attack and elbowing him sharply in the back. The vampire grunted in pain, stumbling forward, and Mallory seized the opportunity. She spun, delivering a spinning kick to his ribs that sent him sprawling onto the cold ground.
"You're not gonna win this," Mallory said, her voice sharp as she took a step forward. She crouched down beside the vampire, her fingers gripping his hair and pulling his head back roughly. "I'll make this quick if you don't start talking."
The vampire, gasping for breath, glared at her. "You think this is over?" he snarled. "We're just the beginning. You've no idea who you're messing with."
Mallory tilted her head, a small smirk curling at the corners of her lips. "I'm getting pretty tired of hearing that," she replied. Without warning, she drove a quick punch to his gut, cutting off his words.
Stella, still pinning the first vampire to the ground, glanced over at Mallory. "You're right. They're always just the beginning."
A dangerous calm settled over Stella as she stood up, her gaze never leaving the vampires. "Fine then," she said, her voice low and final, "Let's end you."
From the depths of her palm, a soft glow began to emanate. It wasn't fire, not in the traditional sense. It was blue, flickering and crackling like flame but impossibly fluid, almost like water dancing within fire. It swirled in her hand, its temperature both cold and intense.
The vampires, now on the ground and stunned, eyed the glowing blue flame with a mixture of fear and confusion. But before they could react, Mallory stepped forward, her voice sharp as she chanted the incantation.
"Moros drakos, ke rochi apo to fosi, rixe to thavrós."
The words, ancient and powerful, reverberated through the air. A pulse of energy spread outward, and the vampires' bodies jerked in unison, their eyes rolling back as they collapsed onto the pavement. One by one, they crumpled to the ground, their strength fading as the spell took hold, leaving them unconscious and vulnerable.
Stella's hand never wavered. She raised it higher, the blue fire swirling and growing with her command. The flames of water spread and surged, covering the fallen vampires in an ethereal blaze. It wasn't a fire that would consume them entirely—it was a cleansing, a punishment. The blue flame began to burn their clothes and skin, but it wasn't destructive in the traditional sense; it was a slow, scalding heat, an excruciating pressure that would leave them wounded and incapacitated.
The vampires writhed under the burning water-flames, their bodies unable to escape the searing touch. But Stella's eyes were cold, unfeeling, as she pushed more of the energy into them, ensuring they wouldn't wake for hours.
Mallory watched for a moment, her eyes darkening as the vampires' bodies burned. When she was satisfied, she turned to Stella with a silent nod.
The two women didn't need words; they knew the fight was over. Together, they turned and walked away, their footsteps echoing through the alley as the flames slowly faded, leaving only a charred, smoking remains of their attackers.
As they reached the car, Mallory slid behind the wheel, starting the engine without a word. Stella sat silently beside her, her gaze far off into the distance, lost in thought.
"Let's get out of here," Mallory said softly, her voice carrying the same cold edge that had driven their actions tonight.
Without a second glance, they drove off into the night, the silence between them a reflection of the dangerous path they now walked—one that was far from over.