Chapter 11: Warehouse II

Ethan's body reacted instinctively before his mind could fully grasp the situation. Terrell and Clara dove for cover as bullets began to rain down on their location. It felt like they had been anticipated; after all, Terrell had practically announced their arrival, almost inviting the gunfire.

Now was not the time for such thoughts. Terrell stood by his side with a slight frown on his face, while Clara stood on the other side.

"Idiot," she mouthed at him, her voice drowned out by the sound of gunfire.

Terrell flashed Clara a defiant grin and raised his middle finger before pulling a machine gun from beneath his trench coat. Slinging it over his shoulder, his eyes glowed with a bright golden light. He held up three fingers, signaling Clara to get ready. She nodded.

“Three… two… one…”

As soon as Terrell’s last finger dropped, the gunfire ceased abruptly, almost as if on cue. Without missing a beat, the duo sprang into action, moving with synchronized precision.

Ethan jumped into the warehouse right after them. A few cars were parked near the entrance, and several vampires were hiding behind them. A quick glance toward the back revealed a couple more positioned on the second floor, aiming at the entrance. Their eyes widened as they hurried to reload.

It was too late; Terrell moved like an unstoppable force. He drew a familiar dagger from his waist and lunged forward like a shadow. His speed overwhelmed the vampires, and his dagger sliced through the air, decapitating the first vampire before he swiftly turned toward the second, not missing a beat.

Clara ascended to the second floor with fluid grace. She sprang onto a car, using it as a springboard to propel herself upward. A vampire, quick on the reload, fired a shot, but Clara evaded it with ease. Her fist connected with the vampire’s stomach, forcing him to his knees. With a swift, powerful twist, she snapped his neck, his head coming off with a sickening crunch- she then continued and took care of the other one as well.

Ethan watched the massacre unfold before him in surprise. The duo was powerful; this meant he had to readjust his power ranking in this new world.

All of the vampires inside the warehouse seemed to be Golds. Were they the most common? Still, for Terrell and Clara to bulldoze through them like that was a testimony to their strength. That meant that Ethan was even stronger than he thought. He did fight and beat them along with a dozen others as well, after all. Albeit his recollection of the encounter was somewhat hazy.

Just as he was thinking of that, one of the vampires, a woman with short brown hair and golden eyes, retreated in fear towards him.

"Move!" she roared, aiming her claws at his neck.

Ethan watched her attack with a detached calm as if time had slowed. With a smooth sidestep, he avoided her strike and delivered a precise blow to her neck. Her body was hurled backward, crashing violently into one of the cars.

Terrell paused his attack momentarily and glanced his way, a shiver running down his spine before shaking his head and moving to finish off the rest.

Ethan glanced at his hand in curiosity. He was still not used to the amount of power he wielded. He needed to learn to control that.

Seeing what had happened to their companion, no other vampire dared to move in his direction. Ethan didn't bother pursuing them either; instead, he observed Terrell and Clara with interest. Clara seemed to be physically stronger than Terrell. Why was that? Was it due to age—the older the vampire, the stronger they became? Or was it related to the amount of blood or strength inherited from their masters?

Terrell didn't have any claws extending from his fingers; instead, he chose to use his dagger as he deftly maneuvered through the vampires. Clara, on the other hand, carried no weapon except for her hands—or rather, her claws. Her strength was astonishing; just one hit was enough to decapitate a vampire.

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It didn't take long for the sound of fighting to cease. Ethan wondered what the point of bringing guns was in the first place.

'Ah, they said they are meant for the werewolves.'

"That wasn't so bad," Terrell stretched as he sat on top of one of the cars, a dozen dead vampires at his feet.

"You missed one, and Ethan had to take care of her," Clara replied as she jumped off the second floor, a vampire's head in her hand.

She looked at the head with a frown before tossing it to the ground.

"I didn't miss one. I just wanted him to get a little bit of action," Terrell replied with a smile.

"Stop messing around and call for the clean up."

"Why is it always me?" Terrell complained as he pulled out his phone and dialed a number.

"How was it?" Clara asked Ethan as she approached him.

"I didn't do anything. It was all you guys."

Clara nodded, "Yes, you still need to get used to your body first. Did it speak to you?" She asked.

Ethan shook his head, "No, I'm good."

Clara, visibly relieved, nodded. "Great, let's get out of here then. It's time to teach you how to—" Her words trailed off as a serious expression overtook her face.

Ethan turned to face the warehouse entrance as he sensed a few unfamiliar auras. They didn't seem like vampires, nor humans.

"Werewolves," Clara frowned.

Terrell moved with unprecedented speed, his body a blur as he reappeared next to them.

"Damn dogs," he cursed.

Just then, the newcomers entered the warehouse. There were three of them, and the man in front was exceptionally tall. His muscles were clearly defined, even beneath the business suit he wore. He had a neatly trimmed black beard, and his dark hair was slicked back.

Next to him stood a dark-skinned woman in a tracksuit, sporting an athletic build and short hair. The final man looked like he belonged to a biker gang. Long, unkempt beard, a black bandana, a leather jacket, and dark sunglasses.

"Took the wrong turn, dogs?" Terrell grinned, his fangs making him look quite sinister.

"Better watch your mouth, leech. This is no council ground," The biker gang guy shot back.

Terrell moved to grab his machine gun, but Clara raised her hand to stop him.

"What are you doing here Duke?" Clara asked.

"I could ask the same of you, Clara," the tall man in the business suit replied.

"Council business."

Duke surveyed the dozen lifeless vampires and nodded in approval. When his gaze met Ethan’s, a flicker of surprise crossed his face.

"I thought you don't do Greys?"

"None of your business, dog. Fuck off on your merry way, the more I look at you, the more pissed I get," Terrell interrupted, causing Duke to frown.

"Come on, do something. I dare you, I double fucking dare you!"

"Terrell, enough!"

"Tsk."

"This fucking leech, why are we just standing here? Just let me rip the bastard, Duke!"

Terrell grinned mockingly, waving his hand. “Oh, look at the little doggie here. Do you need your master’s permission for everything? Even to take a shit? Come on, fetch this!”

"Damn it, Terrell, enough!" Clara frowned.

Duke glanced at Ethan one final time before speaking, "Peace treaty or not, you'd do best keeping this one under control. The Tribes will not take kindly to any of your kind making their way to our lands."

"They were not under Council rule," Clara replied calmly. "The Council does not wish for war, but that doesn't mean we fear it, Duke. We've already taken care of them, so this conversation is meaningless."

Duke harrumphed and glanced at Ethan before turning to leave. Terrell flicked his finger at them, prompting the biker gang member to curse as they walked away.

"Come on, we're leaving as well," Clara said.