[img]https://www.da-files.com/creative/contests/2015/dracula/winners/drac_winner_3.jpg[/img]


The preparations to journey back to the hellmouth had begun quickly.  By the next morning, though still dark as midnight, all of the group was to be readied for departure, though there was no time to inform the king of the plan.  Sybil was to tell him soon before they left, while the others readied the ship.

"The elf king made it clear, we're not to take Sybil!" Fanon pleaded with his comrades.  They were at the docks, the waters placid with a soft fog rising over it.  

"As far as we know, she's the only one who can close the portals," Armuille stated.  "Which means she may be the only one who can open them again, save for the demons."

"She wants to come," Blackheart chimed in, smoking a pipe filled with tobacco.  "The king may have to come himself, if he can't part with the lass."

"Silence!" Bernen Wildcat said sharply, as the tiger-cat dropped from the top of the ship to the others.  "Listen."

It was faint at first, but then the sound grew louder.  Off in the darkness of the night, something drew closer and closer.  It sounded like birds flapping at first, the sound much stronger in the ears of the cats and elves.  Within seconds, hundred upon hundreds of vampire bats flew over the elven kingdom from the dark sky.

"Sound the war horn!" one of the elven guards commanded.  The horn blew twice, indicating that they were under an attack to all of the others.  One of the vampire bats swooped down and tackled the elf to the floor, then sunk its razor sharp teeth into his neck.

The wounded soldiers that had just returned from their war against the humans were the first to feel the brunt of the attack.  They were all bedded and healing in the gardens, just outside the castle and nearest the docks.  It was only a moment after hearing the attack horns when the vampires all moved in.

Some of the bats were large and hideous, their wings spanning the size of two grown men and their claws as long as an elven blade.  They tore through the unprepared elven soldiers, ripping them from their limbs and slicing them at their throats.  One vampire smashed an elven soldier to the floor, then pulled his spine out from his flesh.

Ardenelle was to see the demon hunters off at the docks, but her first instinct now was to protect her king.  Her fellow soldiers banned close around her, as did the demon hunters.

"The king is in the throne room," Ardenelle yelled, her words barely audible over the intense screaming and fighting surrounding them.  "We must protect the king!"

"Dalious!" Blackheart grabbed the pirate by the arm.  "This is not our fight, lets set sail."

"We won't make it far at sea," Dalious responded.  "The throne room can be barricaded.  To the elf king!"

"We'll trap ourselves in that way!" Blackheart pleaded.  "Out there we have a chance!"

"There's no time!" Dalious said.  He had already started running up the hill toward the castle with Ardenelle and the others.  Blackheart hesitated, but then ran in suit.

They reached the gates just in time to be let in, as it was quickly shut behind them.  They all piled into the large throne room, locking and barricading the doors and windows around them.  The screams and shouting could still be heard from the outside, as the elven soldiers fought back in the kingdom.

"Protect the king!" Ardenelle shouted, and the elves formed around him and those nearest him.  

The walls started to bang with noise, scratching and smashing and laughter from the vampires.  The fortress was too strong even for them to penetrate, but they never stopped trying.  As more and more of the elves fought and died on the outside of the castle, they continued to try to enter the throne room.  

"Doors won't hold for long," Armuille stated.  "Is there an alternate route, perhaps one leading underground?"

"There is, take the king to safety," Ardenelle commanded.  "The rest of you hold position.  We must defend this keep."

"Where does this alternate route lead?" Fanon wondered.

"Just outside the kingdom," Ardenelle replied.  "Near the river."

"We need our ship," Dalious said.

"The ship is lost, captain," Blackheart spoke.  "We took too long.  Nothing out there but death."

"The kingdom is not lost, not yet," Ardenelle said.  "You underestimate us elves, we will fight and we will win."

The passageway was opened and the choice remained for all, to flee with the king or to stay and fight.  Blackheart, Fanon and Armuille went with the king, while Ronen, his brother Felian, and Bernen Wildcat stayed to defend.  Dalious went over to Sybil as all of this was going on, mainly just to check on her.

"You should go with the king," Dalious told her.  "Protect him, his kingdom might fall, but as long as he lives he still holds claim to these lands.  We will try to fend the vampires off, if we reach the Sparrow we will meet you at the river.  Goodluck."  Dalious grabbed her close and kissed her on her cheek.  "In case I don't see you for another decade."  He gave a wink, as the golden doors behind him cracked.  "Go, now.  The vampires will soon get through."

Dalious unsheathed his elven katanas, ready for what was about to come through the doors.