Peaches smelled the smoke before she saw it. Or heard it.
No mistaking that stink of brimstone and lilies and the burning iron-bite of blood.
Even under the scolding stink of cold iron. The explosion of one lantern was bad enough. Just the air was burning her insides. At least Roo had shielded her from the worst, but he couldn’t know how bad being so close to that thing’s destruction was for her.
It slowed her down. Slowed her reaction.
So when the puff came, which she knew would come moments before it did, she tried to be ready. Her stiletto dagger heels were balanced point firm in the ground, ready to pivot.
Kick dagger style if the chance came up.
And the center of the puff of gray-blue smoke was only paces away. A hop, skip, and dash away from a solid, heart-staking kick.
But the smoke turned red.
Then into liquid.
Into blood.
Blood full of black iron.
And into a tall pale woman. In a long flowing dress of crimson iron scales. Even her long pale blonde hair was covered in a crimson iron crown that could double as a spiky helm of bloody fangs and claws. Her blood red lips and eyes didn’t hide her vicious fangs or her scorn for those short, lowly beings before her.
Camilla sneered. “Ruby, how dare you show yourself before me again.”
She even held the last fairy lantern so awfully gently.
Too gently for any vampire.
To her sides, from out of the smoke turned blood, were giant orc troll things in crimson iron armor molded in the form of human bones. Both as wide as Camilla was tall, yet neither dared to be anywhere near as tall as Camilla. Both had full warthog faces and both were as crimson red as Camilla’s eyes and lips. Their eyes were as black as her soul and the huge double-bladed axes that were as big as their own bodies.
Peaches already grabbed her wrist.
Aimed her palm straight at that vampire bitch’s dead heart.
Peaches growled. “Same to you, Camel.”
“Camilla,” Camilla said, “Get it right, or–”
“Peaches, Peaches,” Roo said, “Don’t upset the poor beast. You know how dumb camels are. That’s why they’re as filthy as dead corpses.”
Peaches nodded. “Ooo, riiiiight. It’s too stupid to–”
Camilla hissed.
Loud.
“Ruby,” Camilla said, “Kill them and–”
A bolt of violet light shot right at Camilla’s chest.
The orc trolls reacted instantly. Moving as fast as Roo’s speed after a speed burst. A speed that was still slow compared to an experienced Vorshaya and his excuse, while sensible, didn’t matter right now. Their double-bladed axes already shielded Camilla perfectly.
Without blocking her face either.
Right now, if those orc things attacked, they were all as good as dead,
And no doubt Camilla was stronger, faster, and more dangerous, or else those orc troll things wouldn’t obey her so quick and intelligently. A creature magicked or tranced into obedience would be slowed through natural confusion or resistance. Even genies had a delay. A key weakness that familiars didn’t normally have, if they were willing and ready to act, that was.
But there was a catch.
Camilla might not know the extent of his speed burst. He hadn’t used it in a normal way. Gagging quick to clear out that holy water splash imposed its own limit.
Gag too quick, too strongly, and it would do more damage than good.
But somehow … Roo didn’t like relying on that alone.
Camilla huffed. “So the boy’s speed burst is as slow as I thought.”
“Slow?” Roo said, “Strange for you to–”
“Oh please,” Camilla said, “It’s in your eyes. My guards moved as fast as you can, and that was far from their fastest.”
Roo wasn’t sure what to say.
Yet it was Peaches who huffed this time.
“But you’ve only seen–” Peaches said, and got cut off when Camilla red eyes went serpent.
“Three of the five kinds of Vorshaya bursts,” Camilla said, “Hardly. Only the Head of the Clan and his closest knew of the fifth kind, and it died with the rest of that atrocious clan. The fourth kind was rare as well, but a healing burst would do the boy little good here anyway. And the sixth kind …”
Roo even smirked. That jerk, but Peaches still loved him for it.
“Requires the right kind of near death experience to awaken it,” Roo said.
That actually jolted Camilla?
“So you do know?” Camilla said, “Interesting. As the legends say, never throw overwhelming odds at a Vorshaya and crushing you now … is not necessary. Yet. Fleur La Noir was right after all. Imagine that. Maybe I’ll grant the girl your death. Her talent would be wasted as a pet, but … sigh. Decisions, decisions. Since my little sister lives, I shall let you lot live. For now.”
PUUUUUFFFFFF!
Camilla and her guards turned to a cloud of crimson blood.
A cloud that seemed to twisted everything till it vanished.