章 789: Mutual Destruction

*Thud, Thud, Thud, Thud*

The footsteps of the creature seem louder than life as it walks down the stairs, everyone's heartbeats even start to mimic the sound, though, that isn't the case as it finally reaches their hiding spot... Everyone but the Witcher were struggling to keep their breaths quiet as adrenaline fills their veins, pushing them to act out, fight or try to flee... Only the vague hope of the beast not noticing them keeps them stiller than the stone and steel surrounding them.

*Sniff, Sniff*

The Garkain takes in large, loud breaths through its nose as it slowly comes to a stop, it's foot resting beside the hole the group were hiding within...

*Sniff, Sniff*

Hurtelt grips his dagger tight, ready to spring into combat at any second...

*Sniff, Sniff*

Etredi slowly swallows her saliva, making sure that it's not audible...

*Sniff, Sniff*

Dythi lightly positions his feet so he can move in an instance...

*Sniff...*

Zudite frowns, not daring to chant a spell in-case it hears him.

...

*Thud!... Thud, Thud*

The beast walks off, having apparently not noticed anything of interest to it, though, the group only breath sighs of relief when it finally reaches the bottom of the staircase and enters a hallway.

They climb out of the hiding place and Hurtelt slowly bring the case closer, opening the door and helping Tildanird out.

Tildanird "Thanks... I thought that thing would notice us, thank god it didn't."

Hurtelt "We're lucky, the thick scent of fresh blood masks us... If it were a Ghoul, Siren, or Fiend we'd all be found and dead right now. Vampire's are especially attuned to blood, allowing us to remain hidden."

Zudite "That's great, but should get going before anything notices us..."

Hurtelt nods and starts leading everyone up the stairs again, luckily no one else seems to be coming down, allowing them to relatively peacefully make their way up... That's around where their luck ends though.

Suddenly something dashes from a nearby hole, grabbing Etredi and pulling her into it, she screams and uses her nails to resist being pulled in any further.

Etredi "AHHH! H-HELP! IT'S PULLING ME IN!" she shouts, utterly terrified, her fingers becoming bloody as she does her best to resist the creature that'd grabbed her.

Hurtelt leans down and grabs her hands, but the awkward position makes it difficult for him to pull her out himself...

Etredi "AHHHRRGGHH! My leg!" she gives a pain shout, the creature digging its claws into her leg to get a better grip on her.

"Huh?"

"ARE YOU OUT THERE? HELP US! I DON'T WANT TO DIE!"

"PLEASE SAVE US, I BEG YOU!"

The prisons held in cages starts shouting at them, attracted by Etredi's voice... They could tell she wasn't a captive like they were, the Vampires didn't touch them with the exception for making the initial cuts to bleed them.

Hurtelt scowls, and looks behind him, "Damn! Zudite we need light, our covers blown, help me get Etredi out!"

Zudite nods, quickly creating a light orb that reveals their position to everything in the room, the Slaves, Plumards and other Vampires on the ground floor.

Tildanird bends down and quickly grabs Etredi now that's he's able to see, managing to finally pull her out with the Hurtelt's help. However, he grimaces when a Plumard with its claws pierced deep in her calves is pulled out as well. It looks up at them and screeches, the light dazzling it long enough for Tildanird to stomp and crush its head.

Dythi "Guy's we gonna run, now!" he shouts, as Vampires begin running towards the staircase in pursuit of them.

Etredi tries to stand but stumbles to the floor, her calves too wounded for her to do anything...

Hurtelt "Tildanird grab her, we need to go!" he says, beginning to run up the stairs, the others following him.

The slaves continue to shout for their help, pleading that they'll do anything to be freed, inadvertently drawing more Vampires to pursue the group.

Zudite "All of you shut up! You're going to get us killed!" he shouts, afterwards chanting a spell which causes a part of the stairway behind them to tremble and crack before collapsing.

"DON'T LEAVE!"

"SAVE US!"

"IF YOU WON'T HELP THEN DIE!"

Hurtelt scowls at them as he runs, "Fucking ungrateful bastards!" he says, dropping low while swiping at the neck of a Plumard that sticks its head out of one of the many holes in the room.

A few Vampires try to hop across the broken bridge caused by Zudite, falling to their deaths as they fail to make it all the way... A few do make it across but the group had already gotten to the top of the stairway.

At the top the group is greeted with another long dark hallway, this time not looking as ancient as the place they'd escaped from... The stone bricks look relatively new, and the air itself smells somewhat fresher... Sound of the raging vampires continue to come from behind them, but Tildanird notices the two large heavy stone doors that were currently open...

Tildanird "We should close this!" he shouts with Etredi still on his shoulder, getting nods from the others as they all gather behind one, pushing it with all their might but still not getting it to move.

Zudite "Hold on!" he says, casting a "Grease" spell on the door which allows them to slowly move it without friction from the door and the floor preventing it.

They do the same to the other side, closing just as the Vampires reach the top, banging against it just as Zudite dispels the Grease spell...

The dull thuds of Vampires trying to breakthrough can be heard, but the group are relatively sure they won't be able to get through...

Hurtelt "Vampires are strong, but you'd need at least two Higher Vampires or an Elder to get through that." he says, beginning to walk through the hallway.