The party was already underway.
     Zachary could hear the commotion from outside the corridor, hinting to the fun he was missing. But this was the plan. Sneak in under the radar and wait. He was tired of the waiting.
     A series of metallic bangs filled the hallway, followed by the sound of all the cell doors opening at once. Zachary stepped out of the cell and was greeted by a young vampire. He was a typical fledgling, complete with a disregard for all humans.
     “It’s about time,” Zachary said as the vampire rushed over to him.
     “And you doubted me,” he replied, handing him a long, military knife. “Let’s get to the fun.”
     As the vampire turned to leave, Zachary swung the knife, slicing deep into the back of the vampire’s neck. The quick slash pushed deep, severing his spine. His body staggered a couple of steps then dropped to the floor. Zachary knelt beside him and finished removing his head. The young ones couldn’t survive decapitation. And Zachary suspected that he couldn’t either. It wasn’t something he was too eager to test.
     Tossing the head and knife to the side, he had thought about feeding from the young vampire. Though vampire blood wasn’t able to sustain life for another vampire, it gave extra strength, if only for a short while. He decided to forgo feeding on the sorry waste of skin. There was a human outside the hallway that drew his attention.
     Zachary cracked open the door and scanned the chaos within the next room. Werewolves, in their human/wolf form, fought against the hunters. It was no real contest. Even though the humans carried weapons of silver, many were falling under the fury of the wolves. Several vampires fought as well, but this wasn’t what held Zachary’s interest. He was looking for someone special, someone whom Eden failed to flush out.
     His eyes found him. Charles Adams, a vampire’s subordinate. Zachary scanned the room once more, looking for the subordinate’s master. He wasn’t there.
     The human, Charles, stood at the communications desk, talking into a radio. He then grasped the radio tight and smashed it into the desk.
     Zachary hurried for the human, keeping his eyes locked on his target. He bypassed one fight after another, only concerning himself with Charles. The human wasn’t even concerned with the danger heading his way. He was preoccupied with readying himself for the fight by grabbing a handgun.
     Charles finally looked up to see Zachary heading his way. “You better join in while the pickings are good.”
     “I have already made my choice,” said Zachary. He lunged for the human, forcing the weapon from his hand. Feeling his instincts taking over, he buried his teeth into Charles neck and ripped at his flesh. As the blood easily left the human’s body, he began to drink. To kill a vampire’s subordinate was an insult to the vampire who owns him. Zachary didn’t give his actions a second thought.
     As he fed, he looked around the room in case any hunters spotted his little act of “betrayal.” His first glance yielded the same vicious fighting. Looking once more, he was met the stone-cold eyes of Pax. The hunter began to make his way across the room and readied a strange looking rifle. The gun was designed to deliver silver arrows. It was a spilt concept using the basic idea of a crossbow with the convenience of a gun.
     Pax closed in as he raised the rifle, taking aim.
     Removing his mouth, Zachary kept Charles’ body in his arms, using him as a shield. “Here’s your spy.”
     “Adams was no spy!” Pax shouted. He raised the weapon up higher, aiming at the vampire’s head.
     “Believe me or not, that is your choice,” Zachary said, trying his best to persuade the hunter with his words. “But know this as fact, the lower levels are not their only way into the manor.”

Evonne waited in her room with Keelan. The plan to leave before the attack began had fallen apart once he entered the house. Getting Evonne out safely was going to take some careful planning. Even leaving through the front door left them in the open. And with the storm growing in intensity, the lightning would have worked against them. The only real plan was to wait until most of the werewolves and vampires were in the house. This would give them a better chance to leave through the window.
     Keelan looked at the ceiling. “They’re entering the attic.”
     A single gunshot came to Evonne’s ears. Horror washed over her as she mentally placed the sound’s origin.
     “That came from the office!” she called out, reaching for the door.
     Keelan held onto her arm. “We have a better chance to escape if we stay in here.”
     Evonne continued outside with Keelan reluctantly following. She came to the top of the stairs and stopped. Looking out onto the large foyer, she saw nothing out of place. A few heartbeats passed before she saw someone near the bottom of the stairs. It was David. Evonne paused before rushing down the stairs to greet him. What would he think if he saw Keelan?
     As David grabbed hold of the banister, his legs gave out from under him. He fell onto the lower steps.
     “David!” Evonne called as she ran down the stairs. She moved to his side and helped him to sit, his back against the railing. She tried to move his soaked shirt to gain a better view of the wound. The lack of light didn’t make the job any easier, but the flashes of lightning helped.
     “What happened?” Evonne asked. She placed one hand to the front of his shoulder and the other to his back, trying her best to slow the bleeding.
     His voice came out weak and filled with shock. “Marie… she… ” He looked up at Evonne, and then the vampire standing at her side. He knew this was him, the one who returned for her.
     A second gunshot came from the office.
     Evonne took notice but remained at David’s side.
     Another noise came to their ears. It poured out from the second floor. It was the sound of paws.
     Keelan knelt down and reached for the gun in Evonne’s holster. He then spun around and aimed.
     Six wolves stood at the top of the stairs, watching the three intently. They appeared like natural wolves, even as their lips drew back in ferocious growls. One by one they charged down the stairs. Keelan fired. The bullet smashed into one wolf’s skull, dropping him instantly. The next two fell with the same quick shot to the head. The final three leapt from the stairs and began circling their targets.
     More shots rang out, killing one wolf and wounding the other two. The gun clicked empty. Growling in anger at the vampire and at the pain, the two remaining wolves began to shift their forms, blending between that of a human and wolf.
     Before they charged at the three on the stairs, another series of gunshots rang out. One wolf collapsed and the other, carrying new wounds, fled down the hall toward the dead elevator.
     Lowering the gun, Alex moved his eyes from the werewolves’ bodies and found David sitting at the bottom of the stairs. His heart sank. Gathering strength to walk, he made his way to David’s side.
     Keelan ignored Alex’s presence and looked down at Evonne. “Do you have another magazine?”
     Removing one of her hands, Evonne fished out two full magazines from her coat pocket and handed them to him, then placed her hand back on David.
     Alex’s stared up at the new face. “Who are you?”
     Keelan didn’t reply as he reloaded the gun.
     Raising his gun, Alex aimed at the man who continued to ignore him. He had a good idea who this vampire was. Alex’s finger pressed tight against the trigger.
     “Someone’s coming,” David whispered.
     Everyone’s attention moved to the end of the hall where the wolf retreated. A loud growl roared into the air, followed by three gunshots, accompanied with three quick snaps of light.
     They waited.
     Two shadows moved within the darkness, heading straight for them. Alex turned his gun to aim at the figures. A flash of lightning lit up the room, showing the faces of the two figures. Fear gave way to relief as Evonne recognized Pax and Zachary.
     Seeing David, Pax immediately rushed over to him and urged Evonne’s bloody hands to the side. He then ripped away the shirt from David’s shoulder. The wound was worse than Evonne had realized. The bullet’s damage was obvious. It had torn through an artery.
     “Who did this?” Pax demanded.
     “It was Marie,” Alex said, returning his attention to David.
     Pax began to explain their status to his boss, keeping it as simple as possible. “We are holding them off as best we can. Jonathan is sending some hunters up here to secure the area. Our loses are limited, but that won’t last. They just keep coming in waves.”
     Noises came from the second level as more wolves searched through the bedrooms.
     “Let’s get him into the office,” Alex ordered.
     As Pax and Alex began to lift David, the front door erupted in an onslaught of loud bangs. With each bang, the door splintered loose from its frame.
     Pax eased David back to the steps and armed himself for the fight about to break loose.
     Evonne returned her hands to David’s wounds. It was a losing battle but she had to try.
     In a crash of shattering wood and metal, the thick front door yielded, ushering in a dozen werewolves and vampires. Just as they rushed into the house, the hunters entered from the lower levels.
     The fight commenced as the two forces collided.
     Huddling next to David, Evonne shielded his body with hers. Keelan stayed close, as well, protecting her from anyone daring to attack.
     Zachary joined in the fight, along with Pax. All of their skills were pushed to the limits as well as the others protecting the manor.

The wind from the storm moved around the grand house and tall trees. Within minutes, the full force of the storm would settle onto the estate. Leaves scattered over the driveway and danced in the air. With the wind came the sweet scent of rain. A beautiful night it was going to be.
     A woman walked up to the house, keeping her strides soft and sure. Her sheer white dress moved with the wind like mist on a still lake. Delicate jewelry hung from her wrists and ankles. Her hair was long and black and her skin as pale as ash. As she walked barefoot along the driveway, the werewolves and vampires waiting in the surrounding woods retreated at the sight of her.
     She walked through the broken doorway and into the chaotic scene, passing through the fighting as she paid no attention to those engaged in battle. One by one the vampires ceased fighting, soon followed by the werewolves. The hunters were the last to take notice of the woman. As the vampires moved back, so did the werewolves and humans. A large circle formed, leaving the woman in the center, directly below the chandelier. All eyes looked upon her.
     Evonne became transfixed by her beauty. She wasn’t a tall woman or completely voluptuous. Her appearance hinted at an Asian ancestry, but it was her eyes that drew Evonne’s attention. The irises carried no color, only black. Her thin dress shown her form underneath and scarcely covered her body. In any other place, Evonne would have blushed upon seeing her.
     Keelan leaned into Evonne’s ear and whispered words she never imagined to hear. “She is Lady Saros.” He said her name with a slight roll of the “R”.
     Saros. She was one of the six original vampires. Until this moment, she had only been a myth to Evonne.
     The woman slowly looked around the crowded room, her eyes meeting with everyone. She waited as they, too, had a chance to see her completely.
     “Such games you play,” she said. Her voice was mesmerizing as her words flowed languidly over her tongue. “Sacrificing much for your own causes. I am not one to say you are wrong.” Her eyes moved to the small group at the foot of the grand staircase. “Your games will not end this night. For this struggle is eternal.”
     Saros moved from the center of the room and walked toward the stairs. She stopped and placed her hand to Alex’s cheek, caressing him with her thumb. “Hello, Alexander.” Her attention shifted to Evonne and Keelan. She said nothing to them.
     Saros’ eyes then found David. With a violent tug, she grabbed hold of his good arm and forced him to follow. Evonne tried to go after him but Keelan held onto her. It would have been a deadly mistake to confront the ancient vampire in this moment.
     Returning to the center of the room, Saros looked back at Alex, daring him to speak or move. She drew back her lips, revealing her fangs as they extended. David stood helpless against her. She pulled him close and bit into his neck. The bite wasn’t a savage one, nor was it gentle. David didn’t struggle. He accepted her.
     Saros withdrew, her eyes resting on Alex. With her long thumbnail, she traced a line onto her own neck and forced David’s mouth to her open skin. She felt the human’s instinctual will to survive as he began to take in her strong blood. She placed a hand to the back of his head, lightly stroking his hair. As David drank, she spoke, her words aimed at Alex and everyone watching.
     “Play your little games and I will play mine,” she dared.
     Saros pushed David away, allowing his body to fall to the floor. He didn’t move. She gave one long look at everyone, hoping that her words found the targeted ears. Kneeling beside David, she gathered him in her arms and carried him out the front door.