The soldiers moved.
Fifty vampires surging forward as coordinated wave, weapons drawn, intent clear.
Kill.
Thaddeus's hand moved into his pocket and withdrew a crystal that pulsed with blinding light.
He crushed it.
FLASH!
Light exploded across the battlefield.
Every soldier stumbled, their vision working against them, completely overloaded.
"RUN!" Thaddeus roared.
They ran.
Serana clutched both children, Brandon's hand in hers, Elara pressed against her chest. Her legs pumped desperately.
Brandon ran beside her, his small face set with determination despite the terror in his crimson eyes. The teardrop pendant bounced against his chest with each step.
Elara just sobbed, high, keening cries of a two-year-old who didn't understand why everything was wrong, why her parents were scared, why the world had become nightmare.
"Shhh, sweetheart, shhh," Serana tried to comfort her while running. "It's okay... Mama's got you!"
