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| Chapter Six: The Serpent and the Cats | ||||||||||||||||||
| By Richard LeBlanc | ||||||||||||||||||
| On the rooftop - in the shadow of the Ventrue tower. Calloway and the two Assamites prepared for what was probably the most challenging fight either side had ever faced. Gregory watched how Calloway moved with almost serpentine grace and agility. | ||||||||||||||||||
| The Assamite elder blinked. Calloway - pounced! | ||||||||||||||||||
| Sparks flew where metal was met with metal. After a furious exchange the three leaped away from each other. Gregory was perched atop a chimney. Seal was balanced on a flagpole that hung over the street. Calloway landed on the roof ledge. | ||||||||||||||||||
| "Rumors of your skill - have not been exaggerated. Tell me assassin," Gregory began as he sheathed his blade. "Do you honestly believe that you can best the both of us?" he asked curiously. | ||||||||||||||||||
| "The fact that you would ask such a question - tells me that you don't," Calloway stated calmly. He hopped over - rolled and sliced his sword through the flagpole Seal was standing on. He dodged to the side just as Seal's saber dug into the concrete beside his head. A strong kick knocked the female assassin from her weapon. She staggered back - but slowly took out two daggers. | ||||||||||||||||||
| "I will enjoy watching you die," she began. Gregory leaped over and placed his hand on her shoulder. "Problem?" she asked - not taking her eyes off the assassin before her. | ||||||||||||||||||
| "Sit back - I want this one - for myself," he requested seriously. | ||||||||||||||||||
| "The kill is mine," she retorted. | ||||||||||||||||||
| "You shall have it," he reassured. Calloway watched as Seal hopped up and landed on the chimney that Gregory had been perched atop. "Those that are watching - they will not get to see the three of us fight. One of your skill and training - is used to fending off multiple attacks. Gangs - bodyguards - thugs - ghouls," he continued as the two veterans circled each other. "In such chaos - it is - too easy - to use numbers as a weapon. Deflecting one attack into the other. No - if you are destined to live passed this night. It will be - because you are the best," he reassured. | ||||||||||||||||||
| "The best? Who said I was the best? I am sure there are many fighters better than me," Calloway sarcastically retorted. | ||||||||||||||||||
| "Clearly - you have not met one yet," Gregory stated as he pounced. Seal watched as her elder partner attacked. She watched as each movement - strike and slash forced the Setite back. She saw how every move was controlled - how he left no opening for his foe to take advantage of. | ||||||||||||||||||
| Calloway attempted to take off Gregory's arm - but it was a trap! The Setite was barely able to crane his neck to the side. He felt the tip of the blade kiss his exposed throat as he hopped back to safety. | ||||||||||||||||||
| Gregory smiled as he watched the Setite move the back of his hand to the small cut on his neck. Calloway smirked and shook his head. | ||||||||||||||||||
| "Arrogance has always been a weakness of mine," he began. | ||||||||||||||||||
| "When one is at the top of the ladder - one rarely has to see anything at eye level," Gregory stated confidently. | ||||||||||||||||||
| "Greg! Your face," Seal called out. The Assamite looked over and saw his reflection in the window on the door that led back into the building. On his cheek - a small cut was bleeding. | ||||||||||||||||||
| "Not bad serpent - not bad," Gregory mused. Calloway watched as the vampire wiped the blood from his face. "I would very much - like to see you try that again," he challenged. Calloway smiled as he gripped his weapons and took on a fighting stance. | ||||||||||||||||||
| Once again Seal watched as the two experienced fighters tested their skill against the other. Each hoping for the other to make that one mistake that would allow him to end the fight. Such a window refused to open. | ||||||||||||||||||
| The two leaped away from each other - Calloway smiled. | ||||||||||||||||||
| "Seems I am more than you can handle - maybe your girlfriend should step in. Maybe she is man enough to take me down - because lord knows - you sure aren't," the Setite challenged. Gregory quietly laughed as he bowed. | ||||||||||||||||||
| "The gentleman would like to dance Seal - show him - what your lessons have taught you," he offered. Seal sighed as she hopped from her perch and landed beside him. | ||||||||||||||||||
| "I thought you wanted him," she remarked - not taking her eyes off Calloway. | ||||||||||||||||||
| "I want to see - if you have learned anything from my dance with him," he rebutted as he walked back and leaned against the base of the chimney. Seal smiled as she drew her sword and gripped it tightly. Calloway watched as the Assamite's blood coated the metal blade as she moved her hand up the weapon. Her expression - never changed once. | ||||||||||||||||||
| "Messy, messy," Calloway muttered. | ||||||||||||||||||
| "I watched your technique Calloway. I saw many openings that Gregory did not take," she began coldly as she took on a fighting stance. "He may be content to test his skill - as fine warriors amuse him. You - to me - are just another target," she added. Calloway looked at the crimson-coated blade. | ||||||||||||||||||
| He knew that the Assamite clan had special powers over their blood - that through their blood power of Quietus - they could churn their blood into a potent poison. | ||||||||||||||||||
| He knew that if the blade so much as scratched him - it could do more than the scratch he had received from his last sparring partner. | ||||||||||||||||||
| Silently Seal circled Calloway. Her moves were agile and graceful like that of a jungle cat stalking prey. It was then that she seemingly vanished. Only instinct saved him from a blow that would have otherwise decapitated him - as he raised his sword to block the strike. | ||||||||||||||||||
| Calloway attempted to land attack after attack - but every strike and slash seemed to come an inch short of hitting its mark. Seal danced away and took on the stance of a seasoned dancer. | ||||||||||||||||||
| "You have - no idea - the threat that faces you," she stated. Before he could rebut the statement she seemingly vanished again. He looked around - she was no where. He then saw the small shadow on the ground. He rolled back as she spit blood where he had been. He looked over and watched as the acidic substance ate a hole in the concrete and metal. | ||||||||||||||||||
| The Assamite landed and continued to circle him. | ||||||||||||||||||
| Calloway stayed focused. He could tell that her skill was no where near that of her partner. But then - by that same token - she was far quicker. | ||||||||||||||||||
| "I have often heard that your kind - believes that they are descendant from a fallen god of darkness. Rejoice serpent - you are about to embrace him," she mocked as she vanished. A rage swelled within him. He ducked as a slashing strike missed him. He moved to the right as another slice missed its mark. He then landed an uppercut that sent her up - arching and over to where her partner was. | ||||||||||||||||||
| "You okay muffin?" Gregory teased. Seal growled as she flipped herself back up to her feet and glared at the man that had managed to hit her. | ||||||||||||||||||
| "You are craftier than I gave you credit for," she began as she heard a beeping noise coming from her pocket. She blinked and then looked around. So caught up in what she was doing that she had almost overlooked it. | ||||||||||||||||||
| "Is it time?" Gregory asked as he checked his watch. | ||||||||||||||||||
| "Close - there is time - I can do this," she reassured. | ||||||||||||||||||
| "I don't think so," Gregory stated - smiling at Calloway. The Setite looked at his foes and tried to figure out what trick they were planning - what tactic they might try to use next. | ||||||||||||||||||
| "Five minutes," she insisted. | ||||||||||||||||||
| "No," Gregory sternly insisted as he turned his attention to Calloway. "You have done - what few have ever managed to do Setite. You have managed to survive the night. Shall we see - if you will - survive the day?" he mocked as the two raced into the building. | ||||||||||||||||||
| A chill went down Calloway's spine as he looked over and could see the sky getting brighter. | ||||||||||||||||||
| "Sunrise," he muttered. He listened and could hear the outer glass door shatter as the metal door behind it slammed shut - and locked. He found himself trapped on the three-story roof as the merciless unforgiving sun - began to rise up to banish the darkness. | ||||||||||||||||||
| To Be Continued... | ||||||||||||||||||