"Who're you?" Leo demanded, raising his sword. Amber tilted her head. He seemed familiar, but she couldn't place him for the unlife of her.

"Ahh. Of course, of course. I should have remembered my brilliance hasn't extended much further than my little club yet." he said, chuckling. I may not be famous as of now, but a couple of you should know me. Yes, Amber? Scott? Any bells?"

Amber squinted at him, trying to recall his face and failing. Scott meanwhile wore a frown. There was something too familiar about him; the looks he didn't recognize, but the voice...it was changed, deeper. He quickly did some mental manipulations to the voice and face. He didn't like it, but the resemblance was there.

"B-Brian?" he said, giving the newcomer another once-over.

"Bingo! Got it in one!" Brian said, giving Scott a finger gun. "The one and only. But don't feel bad about not knowing me. I've gone through some...changes." He smirked.

"Brian!?" Amber gasped. Memories of Stephanie's betrayal and murder of her came flooding back, especially that night in the graveyard where Scott's friend revealed himself to be in league with the Craven Falls killers. But that short, dumpy, chubby kid looked nothing like the handsome and suave young man before them dressed in an immaculate suit. And the levitating, that was new too.

"What happened to you? We haven't seen you since that night in the graveyard." Scott ground out, mind racing.

"Oh, it's simple. You see, Stephanie was good on her word that I would join the coven. But since there was no time to actually learn any spells, she shoved the knowledge of the entire Libris Malefactorum Arcana into my brain." Scott froze, and his jaw dropped with horror as he realized just what exactly had happened to his former friend, and all the implications thereof. Brian chuckled at his face.

"Geez, don't burn your brain out man. Trust me, already went through it. Not very pleasant."

"How-how are you still alive!?" Scott cried.

"W-What's going on?" Kevin whispered to Leo.

"Not exactly sure myself." Leo answered.

"It's simple, really." Brian snapped his fingers. His shadow, laying still on the ground, suddenly started jumping and cavorting around, playing over the floor, tables, vampire creatures, and even them. Amber shivered; when the shadow touched her skin, it was unnaturally cold. Not that it wasn't unnatural in the first place. The shadow ceased its dancing and reattached itself to Brian's feet, mirroring his stance. The only difference was it was grinning with a wide mouth full of pearl-white, razor-fanged teeth.

"What the hell is that!?" Will exclaimed.

"That, dear boy, is my friend and patron. As my mind was spreading out, encircling the cosmos, my partner here found me and kept my body alive until I returned. Since I owed him one, I heard out his proposal, and well...here I am, poised to be master of the universe. I have the power, you know." he added with a sly grin. Scott stared at the shadow intently.

"And what about Gregor? What have you done to Gregor, you bastard?" Genevieve said, getting up from the floor. Brian tilted his head.

"Oh, that? Nothing major. Just a little project I've been working on to help my friend out. You see, by utilizing the mystic knowledge I've gained, it's very possible to create these." He swept his arms out, and as one the strange creatures rose and bowed again, praying to him. Brian soaked it all in with a warm smile. Leo took the opportunity to nudge everyone closer together. "These aren't vampires like you anymore, tired, old, predictable. No, I've made them better. Stronger, faster, able to hide in plain sight! And best of all, completely loyal. I could tell them to kill themselves, not that they'd have an easy time of it, and they would happily obey. Watch. Hey you!" He pointed to a random creature. "Punch yourself in the face!"

"Sssrrreeeee!" it crooned joyously, and slammed its fist into its face, to the peals of Brian's laughter. "Thank you, master!"

"See? I love these guys." Brian said, wiping a tear from is eye. "But I hate that look in your eyes. Sleep." he commanded, and Genevieve fell to the floor, unconscious.

"'Kay..." Amber said, trying not to sound as creeped out as she felt from that little display. "So, what do you want from us?"

"That is the question, isn't it?" Brian said, considering. "To be honest, I've been so busy building up my little club, I hadn't gotten around to deciding that yet. At first, I thought I'd have you skinned alive and covered in salt and lighter fluid-" His face contorted into a terrible rictus. "-but upon further reflection, I think it would be a waste. Why kill you, when I could have you work for me instead? All it'll take is one bite from my lovelies here, and you'll be in the club too. C'mon, old pal, whadda ya say?"

"I say..." Scott glanced furtively around. The vampire creatures were divesting themselves from worship and starting to plod around them. However, there was one path. Next to the handicapped elevator, there were only two or three enemies. He met Leo's gaze, flicked his eyes that way, and Leo nodded. "...that while I appreciate the offer, I'm already contracted. You dick." He flipped Brian off.

"Very well! It's not like you actually have a choice anyway. Get them." Brian said, snickering.

"Go!" The group rushed towards the elevator. The creatures reared up to attack, and Leo jumped forward.

"Snick! Slash!

Leo's sword blazed as it finally met flesh, decapitating one and impaling the other, pinning it to the ground with peals of agony, its carapace bubbling where the fiery metal stabbed down. He glared at the remaining one, who flinched and backed away.

"Hurry!" he called, pulling it out of the now-deceased creature and moving to act as rearguard. Will hurriedly pressed the button, while Amber and Kevin guarded the flanks. The creatures circled and hissed, searching for an opening, wary of the bright flame of the blade. All the while, Brian grinned oh-so-smugly. Did they really think he didn't know his own lair?

There was a ding, and the door was ripped open as two more creatures burst out. Will screamed as one landed on him, drooling a frothy lime substance. He stared at the mouth as it waved back and forth hypnotically in anticipation, then struck.

"Urrg!" Scott shoved his arm forward, the bone absorbing the blow. "Gotta-"

"Rrrreeeeee!" With a jerk and a twist, the mouth ripped the bone plating from his arm, and grasped it along with his other wrist. It stared at him with eyes filled with burning hatred, opening its mouth to bite off his face. Scott grinned.

A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

"Bite!" The dog skulls that made up his shoulder pauldrons slid down his arms, jaws wide, and bit into the creature's flesh. It screeched and flung him away, Amber jumping to catch him. "Nice to see you again."

"Save it, how do we get out?" she said nervously. Scott gulped.

"I-I don't think we-"

CRASH!

Glass rained down and littered the floor as the skylight shattered. Leather as old as the clouds stretched and wrapped around a pipe as Mielios swung down, kicking Brian from behind and landing in front of Leo, whip at the ready.

"What did I tell you about trying to hunt vampires without backup, boy!" he snarled, then turned his attention to the creatures before him.

"That you should kill them all and burn the remains?" Leo quipped, feeling greatly relieved now that the older chosen was here. Mielios paused.

"That is a correct statement. Put it to use!" His whip flickered, unable to be seen as it lashed out again and again, rapid fire drawing blood and stunning the creatures, Leo slicing at the ones closest for as many kills as possible.

"What the hell!? What just happened!?" Brian bellowed, standing up. "Get them you fools, get them!"

"You're talking like a cliché!" Scott called as they piled into the elevator.

"I've never seen this type of vampires before. Are they a new species?" Mielios said, flourishing his whip.

"Hurry up, guys!" Amber said, mashing the close button. She was tapped on the shoulder, and Kevin pointed to the wrecked doors. She slapped her forehead and together they bent the doors back into a shape resembling whole.

"Yeah, this is not happening." Brian muttered, then shook his hands out. He began waving them wildly, and the abandoned tables and chairs started flinging themselves at Mielios and Leo.

'What the hell, he doesn't need incantations to cast spells!? It doesn't make sense, even if he has the entire Arcana in his brain. But that's cheating! How is he doing it? It has to be...' Scott though upon observing him.

"Grab them. Don't let them go, no matter what happens to yourselves." Brian said coldly, and the creatures redoubled their efforts, throwing themselves at their prey with reckless abandon, ignoring any wound the duo managed to inflict upon the frenzied horde. Seeing this, Mielios made his decision.

"Leo!”

"Huh?" With a mighty push, Mielios sent Leo flying back into the open doors of the elevator, caught by his friends.

"That didn't feel good." Scott hissed, feeling his ribs. Leo paid him no heed as he stared at the alien in shock, openmouthed. Mielios smiled sadly.

"It is a fate of those who the lord Zet-Mathaig chooses. We never die in our sleep." He dodged several jabbing mouths, then screeched at them, an inhuman sound that cracked the glass. His hands fell off, clattering to the ground, replaced with two lobster-like claws on each arm. He flung his coat and glasses off to unfold himself; a four-legged insectoid creature, his mandibles tearing through the prosthetic mask he wore. He cracked his whip, buzzing angrily.

"Come, you sons of mothers that are bitches!" His whip and claws struck again and again, but there were too many, dogpiling onto him and sinking their fangs through his exoskeleton.

"No." Leo said dumbly, reaching out while Amber closed the doors. There was a dull ringing in his ears as Kevin held him back, unaware he had moved. "No-I can save him...I...I have to save...everyone..."

"Save yourself first!" Scott snapped, holding his side. "That's what that guy wanted, that's what we gotta do. Otherwise, it'll have been for nothing." His jaw set. Damnit, he was the final arbiter of who lived and who died!

"Okay, just what the hell was that guy!?" Will said hysterically, nearly laughing and crying at the same time. This was too much. "He burst through the ceiling and turned into a weird praying mantis-man!"

"He was my combat teacher." Leo said, wiping his eyes, tying to rub the burning away. They weren’t out of the woods yet; they were still being pursued in enemy territory. It would do no good to lose his head now. He tightened his grip on his sword resolutely.

The elevator stopped, and the doors opened with a ding, revealing a smirking Brian.

"Hi."

"Aaaaaaahhhhhh!" Everyone screamed and Amber's fist lashed out, smashing his face and rocketing him into the wall.

"Ow! Dat was rude." he said, holding his face. He rubbed up and down, and the damage vanished.

"That’s not fair!" Scott cried as they piled out, ready to run. Brian grinned.

"I know. How's it feel, Scott? How's it feel to finally have the shoe on the other foot? For years you've looked down on me. Now, I have the power. Now it's my turn to look down on you." He started levitating, smiling darkly. "My magic is infinitely stronger than yours."

"Yeah right. Why don’t you come down here and we'll prove it!" Scott challenged. If he could get close to him, it wouldn't matter what defensed Brian had. Brian grinned wider.

"Oh, Scott. Even after learning all you have, you still know so very little. There's no point to a fight between us. For one, I'm far too powerful. It'd be like unloading a shotgun at an infant strapped to a car seat. For another, I'm afraid going mano-a-mano is no longer possible. The friend I met's always with me, hiding in my shadow." Said shadow was grinning its fearsome white smile and doubled over laughing at them, pointing. "My associate Riepaimva has shown me so much, and loves to aid me whenever I get the mojo flowing." Scott's heart stopped. Nothing else mattered right now.

"W-What? W-W-What did you say?" Scott squeaked, trembling in his armor, voice shaking. Amber glanced at him worriedly; he was paler than Kevin.

"Oh, didn't you know? Something the great Scott doesn't know? But how can that be? He's so smart and well-read!" Brian smirked. "The being that found me, that became my patron. A little certain someone called Riepaimva, that-"

There was no show of fear. There was no attempt at intimidation, there wasn't any thought of a counterattack. Scott just silently turned and ran, as fast as his bone armor could take him. His chest was on fire, but the only thing that mattered was away.

"H-Hey, wait up! Where are you going?" Will called after him, confused. Brian laughed as Scott fled in mortal terror, the rest of the group following.

"You can't get away that easily!" Brian taunted, flying after them with sparks glistening between his fingers. Amber grabbed Leo ad Kevin picked up Will as they made a break for it, the ghoul snatching up Scott as she passed him.

"Hurry! Faster! Faster!" the necromancer urged, resolutely not looking back in fear.

"The hell?" Amber said as they ran, wanting an explanation.

"Hurry! Faster, please hurry! If he catches up, slit your own throats!" Scott cried desperately. Amber, though only having known him a short while, had grown very close to him and had seen his highest highs and lowest lows during the Craven Falls Killer incident. But she had never heard him plead as desperately and fearfully as he had just now.

"Ha ha! Yes, run little ants! See if you can get away! Uh-oh!" Brian waved his arm and the doors slammed shut, the glass reforming out of nothing.

"Keep going!" Scott yelled, then snapped his fingers. "Armor off!" The bone pieces burst off in a flash of emerald light, clattering to the floor as Amber and Kevin smashed through the glass. They cried out as their skin was shredded, but they were all alive. "Zentima, zentima, akhouls! Self-destruct!" Scott shouted, activating the contingency spell. Brian, floating over them, glanced down as the skeletal pieces glowed brighter and brighter, exploding into sharp bone fragments flying everywhere. He pulled back to create a shield for himself, and by the time the dust had settled, Scott's little crew had disappeared.

"Damn it!" he howled at the night, shaking in rage. Damn it, damn it, damn!" He dissolved into a string of barely-intelligible curses, the glass pieces shattering and the walls melting and warping into twisted new dimensions.

"Calm yourself, Brian." his shadow said, the gnashing teeth not synching up with the words spoken, like a bad dub of a Godzilla movie. "Let them run while they can. They will merely die tired. We have everything we need yet. Once we repair the soldiers and create a few more elite units, our takeover can begin in earnest."

"Rrr. You're right." Brian huffed, stepping between dimensions to arrive back in the food court. "Cease." he told the frenzied rabble of vampires, and they all froze and backed away. "Bring him forward." Two vampires, resuming human form, dragged the mantis-like alien to their master. Mielios was beaten, bruised, bleeding, and unconscious. His breaths came in shallow gasps. Brian looked him over with an approving eye.

"Hmm. A Cimterian, how unusual. What do you think, Riepaimva? He has been bitten, several times." His eyes briefly shone white. "I can see the fluid circulating through his body. It is only a matter of time before he joins us, whether he dies or not." His shadow reared up and licked its teeth.

"I see much potential in this one." he said, ion a voice much like a snake's slither. "He is a chosen of that accursed god. Now at last I have the perfect way to get back at him. We could leave him as-is and let him turn, yes. Or we could take advantage of his years of training and combat, not to mention his unique biological advantages. I dare say this opportunity will not come again on this planet. I say..."

"I read you loud and clear." Brian said, his own face mirroring Riepaimva's grin, too wide for his actual head. He turned to the vampires. "Take him to the basement.”