Before her was a crude vampire, covered in blood as he ripped his teeth out from his latest prey. He had gone so far into the body that the arm was torn from its ligaments, bone poking out. The vampire tossed the body away into the abyss as he caught Ray’s attention. He smiled, adjusting the red-tinted glasses perched on his face.

“They sent a reaper to take me?” The vampire spat, wiping his face. “How cute.”

Ray readied her scythe, pointing it towards her foe.

“Already to the point then?” The vampire laughed. “Don’t you even know who I am?” He opened his arms out wide.

“Don’t care,” Ray said, her voice tired and deep. She strengthened the grip on her weapon.

The vampire leaned forward, his head tilted just enough for his red eyes to peak above his glasses. “Are all you reapers this boring? You should show some respect.”

Ray took a step forward.

“Alright then,” he scoffed. “We’ll see how you like the taste of Dracula reborn, bitch.”

The vampire lifted his hand, showing off the crusty mark of the demon on the back, and bit into the palm, tearing at his own skin until he bled out. He swung his hand back, and a sword made of his blood formed before him. He had the worst, shit-eating grin on his face.

“Ready?” He leapt forward at the reaper, his long, unruly hair trailing behind like a tattered cloak.

Ray swung her scythe at the vampire, ducking down past his first attack. She rolled forward as the demon incarnate took a slice at her, narrowly avoiding her. He turned swiftly and with pure grace. Without giving her a moment to catch herself, he lunged again at Ray pinpointing his sword directly for her.

Ray clashed her scythe, bloodied sparks flying off from the sword. The blow sent her back, but she just leapt after him, again and again.

“That phantasia must be real nice,” the vampire spoke in between trading blows. “Especially for a ghost freak like you.”

Ray gritted her teeth. She shoved him back, regaining control. She took a wide swing, but the vampire masterfully evaded her, sidestepping with the motion of the train. The reaper lunged forward, attempting to grab the vampire’s arm, but lost her step as he avoided her. She fell forward with a grunt, momentum lost.

“Try a little harder, will you?” The vampire waggled a teasing finger. His toothy smile pissed her off.

Ray kicked him square in the chest, a loud oof coming from the enemy.

“There we go,” the vampire said, catching his breath.

“You. Are so annoying,” Ray growled.

“Ooh, such a lovely voice,” he cooed, “I would love to hear it scream.” He took a step forward, and in a flash he was right by Ray’s side, ready to strike. A quick swing, and the blade connected with her arm, slicing deep.

The demon’s blood that made up the sword soaked into her wound, and the culmination of both blood types made her burn.

She wobbled a bit, holding her breath as she attempted to keep up with the train. Tightening her grip on her scythe with her still good arm, she swung in a cyclone just in time to fend off her adversary’s next blow. Her heart raced with each twirl.

The blur of the passing trees became fuzzier and fuzzier. The stars in the sky and the moons watching above became less distinct. Ray could feel it, her phantasia was wearing thin. Her face jerked, and the vampire’s smile widened. He knew too.

The vampire tightened his grip on his sword, blood oozing between his scarred fingers. He sprang out, readying his next slice. Ray ducked under him, her exhaustion pulling her down. The vampire fell into a roll behind her, grounded himself and hissed at the girl.

Just one good strike, Ray thought, pulling herself together. With every breath she could feel her phantasia drain. She looked at the vampire, and he looked back

Then something clicked in her mind, freezing her.

It wasn’t fear, no it was something deep. Like her body was chained down, gripping her by the wrists with a tight hold. The vampire’s gaze, while hidden behind his tinted glasses, was pinning her down. Before she could even fathom what was happening, the demon rushed at her, and just like that, his sharp nails dug deep into her neck.

“Usually I like playing with my food,” the vampire whispered in her ear, the hairs on his chin tickling her face, “but something about you is just pissing me off.”

She could feel her blood slinking away from her, streaming into the vampire’s skin.  The vampire gripped tighter, making her choke. She was running out of time.

Her eyes raced frantically from side to side, she needed a plan. Fast.

“It’s too easy, really,” the vampire continued, smashing the girl’s head onto the roof of the train. “Maybe next time you’ll think harder about taking on Dracula, hm?”

Ray had to take a bet, and prayed.

The vampire lifted her by the neck, readying to smash her in again. She closed her eyes.

Right as her head met with the surface of the roof, Ray used the last of her phantasia to phase directly through it, her whole body disappearing into the car.

Able to breathe again, she gasped out violently. All around her were dead bodies, completely drained of blood, the remnants of which had been trailing up the walls and through broken windows.

He was siphoning them.

Ray clutched her chest, her heart wanting to give out. Her phantasia was gone. She laid there in despair, her whole body falling apart. The handle of her scythe fell next to her. Her hand trembled in pain.

And then a butterfly landed on her nose.

Weakly, she pulled herself up. The butterfly flew off, and through blurry eyes, she could just make out the outline of the torn up spirit.

Three in one day, she thought, this has to be the last one.

With the piece of soul captured, the reaper quickly drained its contents into her body once more. Her body was fighting it, not used to the elongated exposure to its magic.

She readied her scythe, and without much thought, Ray raked the roof of the train, exposing herself to the moonlight. Ray climbed out using the scythe as a grip, and entered back into the fray. Just as she hopped up, the vampire knocked her onto her feet, not wasting a second.

She rolled and brought herself back up. Her heart burned.

“Can we get this over with already?” The vampire spat, pointing his sword at her.

“Please.”

The two ran at each other, clashing one last time.

Ray knew his tricks now, and with her newly restored phantasia, was able to stay a step ahead of the vampire. Their footwork kept in unison, blood from the sword spilling more and more with each attack. Their dance would not be over until someone ran out.

Determined to end their stalemate, Ray feinted, falling to the side, kicking the vampire on the inside of his knees. He fell, losing part of his sword.

This was her moment.

Ray lunged in the air, and with a perfectly timed swing, she sliced at the vampire’s chest right as he turned to face her again. The blade cut deep, ripping his shirt and exposing his pale skin. The scythe disconnected, and a cascade of blood gushed out. It was too much for him to handle.

“Lords, fuck you!” The vampire screamed. He dropped to his knees, pathetically grasping at his chest to hold in his blood, to no avail. The train moved too fast for the blood to pool, and created a river streaming past Ray’s feet as she watched him. It was over.

The vampire continued to yell at Ray, shouting and cursing. Nothing he said could hurt her more than the excess phantasia burning a hole in her heart.

The vampire stumbled upwards, struggling to keep his footing. Ray just readied her scythe at him.

 “I’m not done with you, you bitch,” he sneered, inching away from the reaper and to the edge of the train. “You can’t kill Dracula.” He flashed her his middle finger, and jumped off the train.

Ray looked over the edge. He was gone to the dark abyss of trees as the train continued without him.

The reaper collected herself, and found her way back to the train full of the still living passengers. The light flickered, and the passengers thought she was a specter at first before realizing. They flooded her, making sure she was okay. A woman tried to wrap some cloth around her wound, but was shoved off.  The steward came bounding to her.

“Did you kill it? Are we safe? The vampire is gone?” he asked frantically.

Ray handed him her scythe. He took it with a confused look. He just watched as the girl navigated to the least bloodied bench, and proceeded to pass out.