Their attack on the gate– which was located on the eastern section of the high scrap metal wall which surrounded the district– was a total disaster. Or would have been, if not for the inquisitor's help.

First, the gate guard Felim tried to kill with his flying dagger trick was not only able to sense the Air around the weapon, but was quick enough to dodge the blade.

As for Petrim himself, while he managed to sneak behind one of the vampire guards without her noticing, another guard did see him, and opened his mouth to raise an alarm. Only, there was no voice coming out from his mouth. In fact, Petrim couldn't hear a single voice from anyone either. They were surrounded by dead silence.

The vampires seemed to be as surprised as Petrim's little company– which included only him, Felim and Kiriin, the others left behind to free more slaves… and to serve as distractions. In fact, they all were so surprised, that no one acted even as two guards' heads simply exploded in quick succession. The remaining two vampires did raise their rifle after that, but Petrim quickly grabbed the one who was standing right before him, with her back to the earth elemental, instinctively covered her mouth with his hands– though it was unnecessary, because of the eerie silence– and Healed her, until she was dead.

As for the other, Kiriin threw himself at him, and managed to bring him to the ground. While they wrestled, Petrim heard a noise, he could immediately identify: the cocking of a shotgun. They all heard it, and everyone froze. The silence was gone. When Petrim looked up, he saw a figure in a black, hooded long coat with a shotgun in his hands, pointed in their general direction. The way they stood, the stranger could shoot all three of them– Petrim, Kiriin and the last guard– with a single shoot. As for Felim, he was still at his hiding place behind the guardhouse, looking like someone who trained heavily all day. The kid clearly had no power left in him to help them.

"You two," the hooded figure told Kiriin and the guard still on the ground, "get up! And drop your weapons!"

They had no choice but to obey, so Kiriin left his knife on the ground, just as the vampire his rifle.

"Inquisitor Simiet," the guard said to the stranger, "I don't understand it..."

"No, you don't, Keriul," Simiet said. Then he turned his head at Kiriin. "Gag the vampire. Now, we don't have much time."

Petrim frowned. He met only once or twice with the inquisitor, but he could recognize his voice, and the stranger's voice was the same as Simiet's indeed. Even his height and body frame was the same, but why would a vampire help them?

"Don't take this the wrong way, Inquisitor," he said to Simiet, "but why are you doing this?"

"I am more than happy to answer all your questions, Healer, once we're outside of the district. Better even if we're outside of Savarin. For now, let's just say, that a vampire lord's death warrants a thorough investigation by the Inquisition itself. We both know that Hargvan was breaking a good number of the laws of the Empire. With my knowledge. They would execute you for his death, the same as they would execute me, for turning a blind eye over his… infringements."

Petrim knew he should be glad for any help, but he spent enough time near vampires– too much, actually, by anyone's standard– to instinctively be suspicious of their motive.

"Then why didn't you just kill us?"

The inquisitor actually sighed then threw back his hood, revealing his face. He indeed was Simiet.

"If only it was so simple. You see, the investigations of the Inquisition always include Fire. You know, mind reading and memory reading. And they start it with the local inquisitor, so once his trustworthiness has been proven, he can help his colleagues with the investigation... I can assure you, that my death would be much more unpleasant than yours. And yours would be a long and painful one indeed."

"I thought vampires couldn't feel pain," Kiriin said. He finished gagging the guard, and even handcuffed him, with the vampire's own cuffs.

"Oh, the undead can feel certain kinds of pain," Simiet said. "You know, like fire, sunlight, silver… or Healing. Speaking of which… I need to ask you a favor. Well, aside from bringing me with you."

Petrim took a nervous glance at the shotgun in the inquisitor's hands, but steeled himself.

Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

"While I appreciate your help, I think it would be better if each of us went our separate ways. No offense, but I do not trust you, even if our interests align, as you say."

"Of course you don't, you're too old to be so foolish as to trust one of the undead."

"That's right. Even if it is your best interest to help us now, if that changes you will likely turn on us."

Simiet nodded.

"Without blinking an eye," he said. "But to be fair, you would kill me the first time when it would not be an inconvenience to you."

Petrim gave him a quick smile.

"Glad that we understand each other."

"So am I. But, of course, it also means that you would tolerate my company, at least as long as I am useful to you."

Petrim nodded, reluctantly. The inquisitor was right of course. They needed all advantage if they wanted to get out of Savarin alive. After that though…

"You will surrender your blood elixirs," he said to the inquisitor. "All of them, the silencer's blood included. I know you must have a spare one left. I'll only allow you to use them, if it is absolutely necessary. You also give me your shotgun. You may give advice, but I am the one who calls the shots. Is that understood?"

Simiet didn't argue, he handed him his belt with it's plastic vials and his weapon, even allowing him to search him for any more elixirs he might have hidden on his person.

"All right," the inquisitor said after that. "Now, about the other favor I wanted to ask…" He pointed at the gagged and handcuffed guard. "Heal him. With all your strength."

At first Petrim thought he misunderstood the inquisitor. But then he realized what he wanted and why. Healing the guard will not only kill him, but it would make his corpse impossible to identify, even on a cellular level. The female guard, whom Petrim already healed, wouldn't do, but the male one had a similar body frame as Simiet.

He took a step in the direction of the guard. The vampire actually seemed terrified, and struggled heavily against Kiriin's hold. Petrim felt a sudden sympathy for him, which made him hesitate.

"Would it help," asked Simiet impassively, "if I told you how much children he ate? The last month?"

"Oh, shut up! Like you're any better!" Petrim said angrily.

"No, I am not. I didn't kill or eat any children. Never ate human flesh actually. But I let it happen. So yes, you have every reason to hate me. But I am useful for you, at least for the time being. He is not. He is a liability."

Petrim cursed and used his sudden rage to smother any sympathy he felt for the bound guard. He Healed him, and he held back nothing. Blessedly, Simiet used the Silence again, so he didn't hear his muffled screams. As he was done, the silence was gone too.

"Remember him, Inquisitor," he said pointing at the ruined remains of the guard. "This is what awaits you, if you betray us."

Simiet seemed unshaken, but he only nodded. Then, removed his long coat with the symbol of the Inquisition– two links of chain crossing each other, forming an 'x'– and exchanged it with the guards camouflaged coat. It was heavier and kevlar reinforced, but it also had a hood, for vampire soldiers needed protection from sunlight just as the inquisitors. It was also in good condition. Earth was a dry Element, so it only affected living beings. That was also the reason why they couldn't just kill the guard and Heal his corpse.

Felim came over him from his hiding spot, while the Inquisitor was busy with dressing the dead vampire.

"When do we kill him?" He asked softly.

Petrim was surprised. Not at the kid's apparent hatred toward the vampire– any vampire at all– or his bloodlust. But the fact that he seemed to be a hundred percent certain that Petrim meant to kill the Inquisitor. Which he meant, indeed.

"Soon," he whispered. "Be ready, and use your power sparingly. Not at all until you had a chance to rest. Food restores your strength, but you need sleep too. I might need your help dealing with the vampire."

Felim nodded.

"Gladly," he said, still low enough that only he could hear. Then more loudly he asked about food. Petrim gave him some from his backpack, which he acquired at the high school.

"Alright," Simiet said once he was done. "Now, we should leave. I found the key to the gate in the guard's pocket. Take their guns… I mean," he corrected himself at Petrim's frown, "I suggest that you should take their guns."

"We should wait for the others," Kiriin said.

Simiet took a deep breath, but before he could say anything, Petrim shook his head.

"No, Kiriin. They are on their own. A small group, such as ours could hide relatively easily, especially if the vampires busy with hunting a larger group… or, ideally, more small groups like ours."

Kiriin looked at him incredulously, while Simiet approvingly. He didn't know which bothered him more: Kiriin should have seen the necessity, and the last thing he wanted was a vampire's approval.

"I can see the wisdom of that plan," Kiriin said. "But still, the others expect our help and leadership. Doing otherwise is betrayal, it's sacrificing them for our survival. It's as simple as that."

Petrim felt his anger rising again.

"Betrayal, you say? Yes, Kiriin. Survival? Maybe, if we do it, and do it fast. A single, large group, even with two elemental– three, if you count Simiet– and with a handful of guns has no chance against the pursuit the vampires will send after us. We can't fight but we can hide. That's our only chance. Two dozen people can't hide. Four people can. It's as simple as that."

Kiriin just stood there for a moment, then nodded.

"Yes, elemental. Four can. But three can do that even better."

With that, he took one of the rifles and turned back where the remainder of the fugitives were. Where the shouts and sounds of alarm and gunshots were coming from. Petrim didn't realize it earlier, but he started to hear it a few seconds ago.

"We need to leave," he said after Kiriin left. "Come on."

And so, the three of them left Hargvan's district.