[img]https://i.imgur.com/q964FNz.png[/img] It all happened so fast, but Morgan was surprised - the boy was fast, at least by human standards. Managing to pull away just enough to avoid being pummeled to the ground, the young man even managed to get into a defensive position, back to the wall, his small blade flashing in the sunlight as both hands curled around its worn handle. [b]"Shoot the messenger, will you?" [/b] The voice of his opponent reflected the frantic beating in his chest - or so said Morgan's ears as the vampire paced counterclockwise, three steps to Jordan's left. Morgan looked quickly over his shoulder; had anyone heard the loud voice of the boy? The sniffer's attention snapped back to Forthey. [b]"I'm the least of your problems. Interest doesn't matter, sometimes. It's just not how things are."[/b] [i][color=fff200]'Can't give in. Focus.'[/color][/i] In times of stress, it was harder and harder for Morgan to keep his other self at bay. Already, the distressed breathing and the rapid beating of the boy's lungs and heart were causing the beast to strain at its mental chains, desperately clawing for the blood that coursed through the apprentice's veins. But this boy was not like other, more easily obtained breakfasts - he was trained. Morgan was no truly trained fighter, but even he could recognize the position that Forthey had taken. It was easily dependable with a stance placed between himself and Morgan. But it was then, under his metal mask, Morgan's lips pulled into a thin frown. [color=fff200][i]'Deja'vu.'[/i] [/color] An image flashed into his head - a guard, a full witness to the murders of three bloody meals, fearfully backed against a wall, sword centered at Morgan's bloodlusted face. The beast did not hesistate - charging forward, it fully took the spear to the chest, but kept moving forward through the blade to seize the screaming protector and begin draining the life from the bewildered guard. Such a solution would be too messy - people would search for this young man and there would be an ugly trail that would be difficult to cover. [color=fff200]'[i]But if I am assuming too little--'[/i][/color] Morgan's body hurled forward, weapon raised vertically, right hand over left. To those who could see the swift action, the top of the weapon came hurdling downward...only to reverse its action. Somewhere in between Morgan's form sliding low to the dusty ground and raising his left arm to swiftly spin his weapon's downward momentum into an upward arc, the right hand released from his weapon to deliver an uppercut the space between Jordan's spread legs, apply a blunt force none too gently to the nether-region. The tactic? To redirect attention, hopefully bump the hard stance upward while simultaneously disabling the boy. A risky maneuver, with obvious consequences, but Jordan was correct - if the vampire managed to get close enough, the struggle would be over. If all went well and according to plan (but when does this ever happen?), Morgan would feel his booted foot tap against the stone wall behind Jordan as the pain stricken boy collapsed on top of his legs. [color=fff200][i] '--I could be in the military's hands in hours.'[/i][/color]