CHAPTER 9: "KNIGHT GUARD"

We see on top of the grand skyscraper, Joshua, Saint, and the five vampires that have discovered them. They are the same vampires that confronted Haven and his colleagues.
Zykrel, “I am the lead of this arm, I am Zykrel. We are the personal Knight Guard of Lord Luscious.”
Joshua pulls his hood off of his head and his eyes begin to glow brighter.
Geran finishing the statement, “and you scum are dead meat.”
Saige looking at Joshua, “This one here looks to be a little pissed off, his eyes are all looking glowy.”
Christopher, “Yes he looks upset indeed.”
Alex looking at Saint, in an angry tone he speaks to Christopher, “Is that who I think it is Christopher?!”
Christopher studies Saint, “I do believe it is.”
Joshua, “What the fuck do you want, lap dogs? I could give two shits about that ceremony.”
Zykrel  turns his head to his companions,
“looks like we found our dance partners knights, go”
Suddenly Geran and Saige pounce on Joshua with so much force they crash through the roof of the building.
Saint turns to pursue but is blocked by Zykrel.
Zykrel, “Oh no Sir, you have your own dance partners.”
He turns, then goes behind Joshua and the two vampire Knights.
 As he does a sword comes through Saints’ stomach from behind.
It is Christopher , he took advantage of the moment and ran Saint through. Alex is walking towards him slowly, with a dark solace look on his face.
Saint says to himself, “this won’t end well.”
Joshua is now falling through each floor of this ancient towering structure. As he is falling Saige is firing both guns at him, forcing him to crash through each floor even harder.
Joshua is facing them taking each blast to his torso and stomach, it seems. He folds into himself as he continues to fall.
Saige, “Yeah, this is good fun boys!”
Geran, “You are a crazy son of a bitch.”
Zykrel is trailing them , he changes position into a dive to descend faster.
Joshua crashes to the bottom floor, appears to be the basement with a loud boom and a slight shaking of the ground.
The Knights all land on their feet, gently.
The dust he unsettled, with his landing, starts to clear.
Joshua is on one knee, with his left hand on the ground and his right looks to be holding his chest.
Saige is holding both of his guns up in a rested position, they are smoking from the heat of the barrels. Geran is standing near him with his swords drawn ready to attack. While Zykrel is standing calm with arms folded, both his sword and gun are sheathed and holstered. He is a few steps behind them.
Saige, “Whew, that sure looks painful boy!”, he exclaims.
Blowing the smoke form the barrels of his guns.
Geran to Saige, “Dammit, I think you took the fight out of him.”
Saige, “Let’s hope not.”
Suddenly Joshua speaks, “Cowboy.”
Saige, “Hmm, you talking to me?”
Joshua is still looking down and holding his chest on one knee.
Joshua, “Yea you, Roy Rogers”
Saige points his weapons at Joshua, in a cautious manner.
Joshua, “You can have these back!”
He looks up at him and within an instant, he throws all the shells that were fired at him towards Saige. Before anyone can react Joshua heads towards Saige, as he is pulling the trigger on both weapons.
He grabs Saige and forces his Body to meet the thrown shells, then sits him in front of the shells he just shot, bursting his head completely.
Geran in shock, “What the fuck! Saige is gone man! Who is this fucker? I couldn’t even follow him! Did he just make him shoot himself? You’re my dance partner now, then.”
Joshua looks at Geran as he charges at Joshua with swords poised to swing.
Joshua, “your turn Leonardo.”
Geran, not getting the reference is angered even more that Joshua is so calm when he is speaking to him.
Geran, “I don’t know what the fuck you are.”
He swings at Joshua, He doges both swings easily.
Geran continues, ”Your too fast to be human, don’t wreak of shit like a wolf, maybe a  old ass vampire.”
Joshua grabs his hand after a missed swing and throws him towards Zykrel, who jumps out of the way, still not in an offense posture.
Zykrel is watching Joshua and says in a low voice, “Interesting, didn’t notice that before.”
Geran getting up and looks at his partner, “Do not get in my way, he will pay for that shit!”
Zykrel, “As you wish, I will not interfere.”
Geran as he goes towards Joshua, “good.”
Zykrel makes a statement out of ear shot, “No matter the outcome.”
We focus on Saint of the roof with Alex in front of him and Christopher holding his blade steady through Saint’s stomach.
Christopher starts addressing Saint, “Well, well. Sir Saint.”
Alex stops right in front of the blade protruding from Saints stomach, he is getting more angry.
Christopher holding steady,
“I guess the stories were quite embellished, wouldn’t you say Alex?”
Alex makes not a sound he is just staring at Saint.
Saint,
 “Is this the part where you gents say we can’t fight one such as I, out of respect?”
Just then Christopher pulls the sword out. As he does Alex back hands Saint’s jaw, sending him flying into the a building yards away.
Saint crashes thru the old concrete wall of this old world building. He is covered in dust and rubble.
As he moves a little he mutters, “It appears not.”
Saint Is suddenly yanked out of the rubble by the neck, it is Alex. He slams Saint against a wall making and indenture.
Saint is being held by his throat and is trying to get Alex’s hand loose.
Christopher walks in wiping the dust off he armor. He walks over to the two.
Christopher, “It seems he holds a strong grudge against you good sir.”
Saint squeezing words out while choking, “really?”
Alex lets out a slight grumble.
Christopher continues, “Yes, I appears you killed his only brother, just about 300 years ago.”
Saint is choking and is trying to speak but can’t.
Christopher pat Alex on the shoulder to signal him to loosen his grip.

Saint, “Sorry. Sure it was nothing personal, If that counts for anything.”
Alex suddenly punches him in the stomach and tightens his grip.
Christopher, “I don’t think it does.”
Christopher pulls out his sword, he caress the blade.
Christopher, “I sure expected more out of you, the deadly crazed Saint, destroyer of vampires and wolves alike.”
Saint, squeezing some words out, “I’m trying to be nice.”
Christopher, “oh? Is that what turned you into a traitorous, warm flesh loving little bitch?” Alex loosens his grip to let Saint speak again.
Saint, “watch yourself, boy. My pleasant attitude goes but so far.”
Christopher pointing to Saint with the blade of his sword,
“You are a disgrace to the title of knight. I am almost embarrassed to share the same title with you.”
Saint sternly, “Boy do not make the mistake of thinking you share that honor with me. You are just a delusional mercenary, I am a true knight of valor.”
Alex starts to squeeze his throat again.
Saint puts his hand on Alex forearm, “now, that will be enough of that.”
He snaps Alex arm off at the forearm. He screams in agony. As he does, Saint with great speed draws his sword and slices Alex’s head off.
The head rolls over to Christopher’s feet.
Christopher looking down in shock and angry watches the head turn to dirt, as does the rest of his body.
Saint, “I told you I was trying to be nice, but you did not heed the warning.”
Back at the other building.
Joshua is crouching on the side of a wall as if sticking to it with his feet.
Joshua glancing in that direction of Saints’ fight, thinks to himself, “Okay  he’s only got one left, So now I can show Leonardo some attention, and kill both of these clowns.”
He jumps right in front of Geran and grabs both blades with his hands.
Geran, “stupid.”
He yanks the blades cutting Joshua’s palms.
Joshua, looking at the deep cuts on his hands, “enchanted blades.”
Geran, “now, I will kill you.”
Joshua slapping both bloody hands together, “I thought so, good. I was hoping they could cut deep enough.”
He crouches suddenly and slams both hands down on the ground.
Zykrel sees this and jumps further from them.
Joshua with blood running on the ground, “curste’ wretched semrisa.”
As he says that his blood starts moving in Geran’s direction, coming together behind him.
Geran starts charging Joshua, “Fuck you”
He is almost at Joshua.
Joshua, “Reach.”
As he says that, clawed hands grab Geran’s feet. It is many of them dozens start sprouting up through the foundation all reaching. A couple grab Zykrel but he manages to get loose after shooting there forearms off at the elbows.
Geran is being dragged down through the foundation by the arms.
Geran, “What the fuck are you?!  You bastard go to hell!”
Joshua, “How about you just save me a spot, sweetness.”
Geran disappears under the ground.
Joshua is still crouched, he looks at Zykrel.
Thinking to himself, “Gotta be quick about this.”
The many arms are still sprouting, they are trying to grab hold of Zykrel, but he is not staying still long enough.

We now see a huge stage built in the middle of the city, obviously the place of the ceremony. There is an Orchestra playing music, there are horns and strings. One both sides there are a single set of steps leading to the stage. The recently constructed coliseum, is huge with no roof, it is of the likes of performances being held. The stage has stone pillars placed in it’s four corners, standing tall and thick.
People are being seated in the grand stadium by the dozens. Men and women vampires of royalty are being lead to there assigned places. Their escorts take there places near them. There are balconies, that are laced with dark red drapes that half circle the arena. Only the highest of caliber are placed in those booths.
Then a group of six knight guard, dressed similar to Alex and the others, take the stage and place themselves, three on one side three on the other. They are standing with swords planted blade down and both hands on the hilts. Their eyes are facing forward, their armor spotless and cloaks without single strand of lint.
Soon a proctor takes the stage and all noise settles, the orchestra and audience as well. He approaches the edge of the stage and begins to address the audience.
“Please, be seated honored guests, the time has come for the reason we are gathered here to arrive.”
The crowd whispers among themselves.
Proctor continues, “During the mitts of tragedy that befell this land and it’s people. The tragedy hurt my lord the most.”
He is walking slowly back and forth while still maintaining eye contact with crowd.
“My courageous Lord, even though going through turmoil with the disappearance of his betrothed and ruler of this great providence, managed to help us all by maintaining the responsibilities of his fair wife.”
He stops for a moment and combs the crowd, he continues.
“now after waiting so long for her highness to return to us, it is his time to reach the plateau the Vampyr, and take claim as an Imperial, both physically and in political aspects. Now let us begin.”
Swords clash violently, it is Saint and Christopher dueling blade against blade. They are damaging the area around them by fighting wildly.
Saint is blocking with his sword as Christopher is fighting with anger. He kicks him through a back wall, then follows through the hole. A ceramic sink flies towards him as he enters, as he blocks it the sink shatters against his forearm. Christopher uses this moment to attack, he swings downward but saint evades hit and punches him in the face. Christopher falls down but quickly stands again. He has a look of determination on his face. He puts his sword away, saint looks on and raises eye brow and tilts his head slightly. Christopher pulls out his dagger and another from behind him, under his cloak.
Christopher begins to smile then begins his next attack. He is swinging more precisely and deliberate. He even seems to be going a little faster.
Saint is still dodging and blocking.

Saint, “I see you were hindered by the long sword, you must be trained in this art more than fencing I would say.”
Christopher is standing a few feet from him, he stops turns his back to Saint and begins taking off his cloak. It is revealed that the armor on his back is laced with many small throwing blades.
Saint, “In deed.”
Christopher, “I am no fool Sir Saint, I know the way I have been fighting, I should be ended by now at the blade of your sword. Why are you holding back?”
Saint gets into a more relaxed stance yet still alert, “why would you discredit yourself lad, ever thought you may just be that good?”
Christopher raising his voice, “do not mock me, I can tell you are holding back, you snapped  Alex’s arm off like a leg off a human. That aged ceramic shattered on your arm. Your speed has lessened as well. You do not wish to tell me why, then I will have to except that.”
Saint, “I guess I was still being too nice, hoping to scare you off with my skills, I really don’t enjoy killing my own, or others for that matter.”
Christopher is getting more angry, “Scare me off? You would not fight whole heartedly even against a threat?!”
Saint does a slight laugh, “My boy you are no threat to me.”
Christopher yelling, “What?!”
He put his long daggers away and swiftly begins throwing his smaller daggers.
Saint is evading them and noticing that they are passing through the wall as if the were high caliber bullets. He jumps behind some rubble.
Saint looks at the sword in his hand and in the reflection he sees Christopher coming towards him.
Christopher, “We are hiding now or your still being nice? I get it I am a match for the great swordsman, I am a threat!”
Suddenly Saint stands up from behind the rubble, he puts his sword away then moves leaving wind brushing against Christopher’s face.
Following the wind he turns to see Saint near the hole he made entering the building.
Saint, “I told you.”
Christopher begins throwing his blades again at Saint. Instead of dodging, Saint is moving his hands with speed that is blurring his arm movements.
Christopher runs out of small blades. We see Saint looking slightly down out of the hole. We see all the blades are stuck in the side of a building two buildings over after passing through the neighboring structures.
Christopher pulls his fighting blades out and steps towards Saint,. Suddenly Saint is right there punching his stomach causing him to hunch over then uppercuts him causing him to fall. Saint some how has both daggers, he smiles as  he throws them  over his shoulder.
Christopher is coughing up his dark colored blood and trying to crawl away as Saint walks towards him, he manages to rise. He reaches for his sword, but it is not there. Saint has it, while Christopher has a shocked look.
Christopher, “but.”
Saint interrupts by running him through with the long blade and lifting him up against a wall.
“Not a threat.”
He leaves as quickly, as he has defeated Christopher.
Christopher is hanging, pinned up into a wall with his own sword.
Christopher yelling, “fuck!”
Joshua, “I don’t think so.”
 As his eyes get darker they pulsate with blue light.
“Time for pops to lend a hand.”
Zykrel looks on but doesn’t seem to be concerned.
Joshua, “Retreat.”
As he says that the many arms disappear in the ground.
Joshua, “Risao, grandiche’ “
Just then the ground begins to shake.
Zykrel, “You fool, are you insane?!”
Joshua, “Oh so you do speak. I thought you were gonna die quietly.”
Zykrel pulls out a long barrel gun and begins to fire at him. But the ground is shaking too much to get a bead on him.
Giant arms rise from the ground , they start to reach for Zykrel.
Joshua thinking , “damn my hands are healing too fast, didn’t think it would be this quick.”
Zykrel Is dodging the arms, barely, “You’re an idiot, why would you do a partial summoning like that here?! Your  gonna bring this place down on us!”
Joshua, “So you know a little about Hell summoning?”

Zykrel, “you sir are a disgrace even to the Dark Blood House. Yes, I know who you are. You could be prince of this world, but instead your just an inferior peasant, a worthless vagrant.”
Joshua in thought, “My wounds are almost closed it’s gonna be a bitch sending him back.”
Zykrel, “As long as you are bleeding u can control him, but it looks like you are healing pretty fast. Must be the demon side of you. The only part of you that is worth shit. Your dad should have  let you die, I see where you get your stupidity.”
Joshua seems agitated, “Okay.”
He lifts his hands off the ground, giving up control of the arms.
Zykrel, “You fucking ape! He will destroy us.”
Joshua standing up while the building is falling down around them. The arms flail around destroying the pillars holding it up.
“Not us.”
The building crumbles as it falls a loud screech comes from the arms.
The rubble is still and the dust settles, Joshua emerges slowly knocking broken cement off of him.
He gets to one knee and suddenly a blade comes thru his torso from behind.
Joshua grunts out loudly, “Shit.”
Zykrel with his blade in Joshua, “You think that was gonna get rid of me?”
Joshua, “Why is everything about you? It was for him.”

Zykrel, “The beast? I see, It was forced to retreat back out of self preservation.”
Joshua, “Well aren’t you a damn genius?”
Zykrel pulls his gun out and places it to the back off his head.
“So if I blow your brains out and slice your heart at the same time, can you survive that?”
Joshua, “Dupli selfsi tempa”
Zykrel didn’t hear him. He twists the sword and causes Joshua more pain.
Joshua, “Just do it”
Zykrel, “my pleasure.”
As he pulls the trigger, a hand grabs the barrel as it fires and Zykrel is knocked a couple yards away.
Another Joshua is holding the gun by the barrel, facing Zykrel.
 “He was talking to me, Duncan McCloud.”
The original Joshua is still kneeling on the ground with the sword in him.
 “Hey, get this thing out of my back already!’
Copy, “Well, well no thank you or hey how you been?”
He pulls out the sword and throws it down.
Joshua, “Bout damn time.”
As he says that Zykrel stands up, “rasen flame spiral snakes”
Snake like flames of red fire lace his arms.
“I know so much about you Leo-Kin, because I am of the dragon house.”
Joshua, “great the vampire warlock house, makes sense, now what?”
Zykrel starts to increase the flame and making it move faster.
Copy, “I think he is upset about something.”
Joshua, “Maybe you shouldn’t have called him Duncan McCloud.”
Suddenly Zykrel punches the copy and sends him crashing  into some building rubble.
Copy, “Okay, so your not a Duncan fan, maybe Conner McCloud then?”
The copy is trying to get dust and fire off of him.
“Shit this burns, you got some Neosporin?”
Joshua, “Shut up, we don‘t have time for this, shit.”
Zykrel, “ I’m sure you can make time to die.”
He grabs Joshua quickly and raises him, feet off the ground.
“It is over for you now.”
Joshua, “now.”
Suddenly the copy is on Zykrel’s back holding him in a head lock. But It has no effect on him.
Zykrel, “this is pitiful.”
Joshua, “Interioza”
The copy disappears.
Zykrel, “shame temporary copies are not reliable.”
He punches Joshua covering him in flames, with a force sending him flying upwards.
Zykrel jumps up levitating following Joshua, “I am not done with you yet!”
He kicks Joshua even harder sending him through building after building, not letting up.
Joshua is crashing through building wall after building wall, causing rubble to fall to the streets. The vampire pummels Joshua one last time before Zykrel lands on a roof, watching Joshua head towards the city center.