“How did she find us?” one of the assassins grumbled.

“Is it not obvious? She used the high ground of the rooftops in the same manner that allowed to to stifle our earlier acquisition of the prince,” the masked vampire spoke.

“An articulate vampire?” Elise questioned having heard all of it, “So you’re the one responsible for the Scorupi Mamba here and the convoy attack earlier?”

“Quite right my dear,” the masked vampire spoke turning to face her now, “I am indeed the one responsible. And in turn you would be the conniving mysterious warrior responsible for disrupting our prior action against said convoy, yes?”

“{Good lord his smart guy talk is starting to annoy me-} Well that works for me,” Elise stated as her right leg arched up.

All watched as a bow flew straight into her hand which she quickly took aim with. Eye on her target and hand on an arrow she pulled. The vampire blinked as Elise quickly let go and fired a shot. He side stepped though the arrow did quickly pierce through his cloak.

From his side step he launched. A mighty bound up through the air soaring for Elise’s position. She quickly jumped back and threw the bow, taking up her rapier just as the masked man landed. His focus remained on her.

“My my, I had hope for a slightly more invigorating engagement for one who had the gall to cut down my previous servants,” the masked man spoke, “Instead you pronounce yourself forth in the open and allow for such easy play.”

“Look I’m sorry but if I have to hear you talk like that anymore I might end up with a migraine. Lets cut right to it alright?” Elise retorted raising her rapier.

“Such disrespect- very well. For if you are in such a hurry to die this day then I will comply with your request,” he spoke stepping forward.

Reaching into his sleeve he pulled a sword hilt. A small Gladius, certainly shorter than most. He shot in swinging. Elise shot back a step, taking up her sword in her right hand this time round and positioning her left behind her back.

She swung up, angling the blade to deflect. As the Gladius screamed against it with a clang. Weaving under she swung up and struck. The vampire’s weapon bounced up as she whirled her weapon round and swung at his midsection.

The masked man slid back while bringing his sword down on top of hers. The clang of the weapons though short as it was as he created distance. On the streets below the assassins moved against the guards who had begun to clash- daggers versus broadswords. Their dance and flurry, the agile assassins against the defense oriented guardsmen.

Above the masked man began again. He lunged in and thrust forward, the rapier swung to counteract. As he powered in she swung round up and over right down atop. And as he came down she’d deflect with her own sword blocking with the same angle as before.

His Gladius met only the thin metal of her weapon though hers did not buckle despite the force of the vampire. She did not aim for total blocks, only deflections. And with each swing of the Gladius she would move her own blade and offset his swing.

She whipped round and swung, blocked by the Gladius. Twisting back 180* she took another swing with a back strike. As he blocked she spun again and aimed at his side. Again- a block, though her blade swung down and gashed across his leg.

He yowled out and stumbled, a bit of smoke radiating out of the wound.

“A blessed blade?” he grumbled.

She offered nothing and stepped in with another diagonal swing at his shoulder. His Gladius flew up to block and the two weapons again clashed. She moved back with her right foot and then stepped forward again taking a swing at his waist. His sword dropped to block, the metals colliding though quickly she swung up.

The vampire stepped back in evasion- then tore forward with a thrust. A quick sidestep and her foot swung up with a flip- SMACK!! Straight into the mask which sent him stumbling back. His cloak flapped, the sun landing on his wound.

Flames erupted temporarily in that spot and he roared in anguish, spinning back around and smacking the wound with his gloved hand. Elise though wasted no time and shot in with a thrust. His blade shot up and smacked against the side. As her blade bounced off though she whipped her arm- the tip of her blade tearing through his side.

“EYAGH!” he howled stumbling back as more smoke rolled from him.

She held position and flicked her weapon, maintaining her fencer stance. The vampire however stumbled further. Smoke drifted from his abdomen as he stood with the sun at his back.

“Nrrrgh…”

“Shocking that a human can trade blows against an all powerful vampire isn’t it?”

“Shallow cuts at best my dear. Though you may deflect my attacks I will eventually land a powerful blow and you shall fall. A rapier is no match for a powerful blow from a Gladius.”

“A thousand cuts will tear anyone apart eventually, and I haven’t begun to get serious. Lets see how many it takes for you to falter~” she mused.

The vampire shot forward swinging the short Gladius. Elise swung up but not for the blade- instead the hilt. Her own edge rode along and struck true. The vampire yelled out again and fumbled his steps back.

Smoke drifted from his hand and a bit of smoldering blood dripped to the ground. She stepped back and thrust forward, her feet hopping as she took a drive at his center. Another yelp and another moment of falter as he fell back. She paced ahead again as he swung the Gladius- a single hop and then a downward swing.

His eyes went huge as the slice appeared in his mask. A simple crack and the skull broke off revealing his face. The two pieces clattered to the ground as did his Gladius. The sun hung behind him while Elise stood in front of him.

“Y-you. H-how did?”

“Not so articulate now are you assassin?” she said with a bit of muse once again, holding her sword directly to his chest, “Call off the Mamba or I’ll run you through or nick your hood. You’ll burn either way unless you give up.”

“Ngh… but if I do that they’ll kill me-”

“And you think I won’t?” she retorted immediately, raising the tip of her blade to the man’s face.

He stared up, a face racked with dread.