Chapter 38: And With a Smile That Judas in Hell Might Be Proud Of, Part 7

Daniela had returned, though somehow Alex knew they wouldn't be able to celebrate victory together, even if they achieved it. Dracula was fighting again in his vampire form, much more manageable than the dragon, though he remained in the real world, flying through the sky with them on top.

She didn't like at all that the final battle scenario was taking place on the dragon's back. She wasn't afraid of heights, she wasn't afraid of almost anything, but she wasn't crazy either. It was common sense not to like heights, just as a fish wouldn't like the surface. If humans were meant to fly, they would have been born with wings.

She didn't believe Dracula wouldn't even try to throw them off the dragon. By the way, she would like to know which of the two bodies was the fake one. A projection or an illusion, whatever it was, but she supposed it didn't matter. Even if Dracula had meant it seriously, he would likely change his mind once he found himself cornered, pursuing only his survival like any sane being would.

Yes, Dracula wasn't sane, but that didn't mean he lacked a survival instinct. He played by his own rules, and that meant he could change them whenever he pleased.

Dracula threw Daniela far back, and for a long moment, Alex thought she would lose her again. Just like that. Only a few minutes after getting her back. But no. Daniela quickly struck, driving her lance into the dragon's scales.

Dracula had Alex by the throat, pressing her against the ground. But Alex had her arms free and the sword firmly gripped, so she stabbed him several times in the chest, right above the heart. It didn't seem to bother him at all, he barely reacted. He didn't even let out a small groan. Blood flowed, yes, thick, but that was all. So hot it felt like it could melt the skin and muscle from her bones.

All she managed was to loosen Dracula's grip, but that was enough. She escaped by sliding between his legs, standing up and retreating toward Daniela, toward the safety of her partner.

She had always worked in a team, always, since her first hunt. As soon as they finished basic training, they had been paired up, and neither of them had ever hunted separately. Well, separately yes, but not alone. The exceptions were so few that they didn't really count in her mind, anyway. The point was that Daniela had always been there, and her being there, however uncertain her life, her existence, gave her strength, how could it not.

Dracula began to walk slowly forward. His sword low, dragging across the dragon's scales, sending sparks flying. In the blink of an eye, Dracula split into more than half a dozen shadows. The shadows gained substance, becoming perfect copies of the original. And with several quick jumps, Alex lost sight of the original.

At least she imagined that's what it was. That the other copies were nothing more than an illusion that would fall easily, but they could be a lethal distraction. She didn't want to think that each and every one of them could be as dangerous as the real Dracula. She couldn't allow herself to think such a thing, however likely it might be.

They even advanced at the same pace. Alex clicked her tongue and launched herself forward, Daniela flying close by. She landed like a meteor among the Draculas. The impact of her hammer cracking the scales, making the air tremble, whipping hair around and nothing more. They had all escaped in time, while Daniela was crouched with her lance against the ground.

Alex ran up her back and used her as a springboard, jumping over the Draculas, landing gracefully behind them. Before she could turn, she struck the nearest one precisely, stabbing him through the back of the head. Her sword blade went through cleanly, reaching the brain. Blood and gray matter dripped from the hole on the other side.

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The Dracula, whether real or fake, fell to his knees. She had no time to deliver the finishing blow, as the others piled on top of her. Daniela didn't provide enough of a distraction. She had to pull out the sword and throw herself backward, away from their swords, away from their black claw-like nails. Always conscious of the limited space on the dragon's back, of the force of the wind, of how precarious her position really was.

Alex swallowed hard; either she had stabbed the real one, by chance, by pure luck, or she had hit one of the copies, and therefore these were exactly as dangerous and lasting as the original, and thus they were screwed beyond help. No, she refused to accept that in any way.

Alex watched as Daniela wielded her hammer with both hands, delivering a blow to the center of one Dracula's chest. The force of the impact lifted him off his feet and sent him flying off the dragon. The strong wind carried him away immediately. But she knew Dracula could transform into a great variety of things, not just a dragon. She knew it wouldn't take long.

She waited a moment. A hammer. A hammer again. Since when could her weapon change shape? And what does it matter? she thought. What the hell does it matter?

Spinning her legs and the weapon, Daniela attacked another one. And mid-movement, the weapon transformed back into a lance, catching Dracula by surprise. Too easy, it didn't kill him by any means. But it cut off the right arm he used to protect himself.

It really seemed too easy. Yes, somehow she had finished one with a single blow. But Dracula was another story. That must have been one of the copies. Perhaps they weren't as resilient as the real one after all. Which was a relief.

The dragon dived. Alex felt like the Road Runner. She had the feeling she would fall as soon as she looked down. But she was safe. She had reacted quickly, driving her sword into the dragon's scales. Nothing more than a small annoyance for the beast, she was sure. But what mattered was that she was alive.

The Draculas did the same to save themselves. Driving their swords into the dragon's body. Some also used their nails, proving they were surprisingly sharp. And one of the Draculas simply dissolved, transforming into mist that floated there, waiting for the right moment. The moment to return.

The dragon changed direction, making several quick turns in the air, spinning on itself, tracing circles faster and faster. Left, right, up, down. A great mix. The worst roller coaster in the world. But it didn't shake them off. And finally it got bored, she supposed, because it returned to flying normally, to being simply a battle arena.

Alex was able to pull out her sword and stand on trembling legs, because it had been too close for her liking. Too fucking close. She took a deep breath, feeling like she did it out of habit more than anything else.

She was beginning to think that all the Draculas were fake, that the real one was still in there, hidden in the shell that was the dragon. In that case, fighting against the Draculas was nothing more than a waste of time. And a necessity to ensure her own survival, of course.

Accepting the bitter truth, Alex proposed something to her partner. No, rather she begged her, while asking for forgiveness: "Please, distract them."

Daniela responded, nodding her head, as if it were the most natural thing in the world. Risking one's life was certainly natural for a hunter, but she wasn't even alive.

Alex turned around and ran toward the head again. She had no idea what she could do, but she had to try something, instead of just wasting energy defending against what could all be nothing but copies.

The only thing that allowed her to do such a thing was Daniela's sacrifice. Risking her life, distracting at least eight copies of Dracula, assuming Alex was right. Something told her she was, she could be wrong, she wasn't perfect, but something told her so.

She licked her lips. She hoped with all her heart that she was right, that turning her back here, which felt like betrayal, would be worth it in the end.

As if she had planned it from the beginning, Alex jumped as soon as she reached the head, spinning in the air. She ended up upside down and upside down she shot her lance toward the dragon's right eye. She hit it dead on, of course. She would have to be really bad to miss such an enormous target. And as soon as they made contact, as soon as the weapon made contact, the copies spread like rose thorns, driving deep into the soft eye. Then exploding like a dark piñata, bathing her still in the air, dragging her downward.

Alex barely managed to get back to where she should be. She grabbed onto one of the dragon's little arms. She hadn't mentioned it before, but yes, it had very small arms. And from there she climbed back up to the back. Now she could try the same thing with the remaining eye, but in a slightly less dangerous way. She had almost not made it, damn it.

The sword appeared in her hand again and Alex gripped it firmly.

And With a Smile That Judas in Hell Might Be Proud Of, Part 7: FIN