Bitemarks 3.10

Bitemarks 3.10

Skarletta gave Beauclair's house a good searching. Although there was plenty that piqued her interest there was nothing of any real significance. At least until she noticed the vault doors.

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By the time the flight landed Ed's nerves were on edge. Neither did he feel any better driving the route to Beauclair's house as the sun began to dip lower in the sky, the modified crossbow sat on the passenger seat. He had no faith in it. If she could withstand a full clip of rifle fire from multiple soldiers Ed just couldn't see how this contraption would slow The Mother down. He felt even more unsettled when he pulled to a stop by the vampire's residence to see the gate swinging in the breeze. She was here. Or had been here. With any luck the delay in Ed's flight had allowed her to reach here first, get what she came for, and leave. Ed was't exactly filling himself with confidence. He slid Beauclair's 'key' into his pocket, picked up the crossbow and made his way up the steps to the house. The front door was open, not wide, but enough that Ed could see where the doorframe was damaged. He could only presume that the Mother had kicked until the lock ripped right through the frame. He pushed it gently until there was enough space to slip through then did so, stopping just inside to listen. There was no sound but he clutched the crossbow anyway and made his way, step by step down the hallway.

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Skarletta stopped fiddling with the vault's locking mechanism as her ears pricked up. Footsteps, slowly and cautiously coming her way. Had the owner returned? Certainly that was going to make life easier than trying to break through the vault doors. She backtracked down the corridor to where there were two doorways. She knew which one the footsteps were coming from and so she ducked inside the other, pushing it almost closed behind her so she could just see through the crack.

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Ed hadn't heard a sound and so far hadn't seen any other signs of disturbance. He pushed open the door ahead and went into the corridor. This was the one, he was sure, that lead to the vaults and sure enough, down the far end of the corridor were the three doors. He knew which one led to the artefact room and which led to Beauclair's own posessions. The third then was his goal. He looked over the keypad and retina scanner. They weren't damaged in any way. Maybe his luck was holding. He drew the key from his pocket and raised it up in front of the retina scanner. An LED on the keypad flashed and Ed heard the clunking sound of the door's mechanisms unlocking. With a final hiss, the door shifted slightly and Ed pushed it. It swung easily on its hinges. A flourescent light began to flicker as the door opened and Ed stepped through...

Skarletta had only a split second to react. The moment she saw him push the door she yanked her own open, sprinting from her hiding place and down the corridor towards him. He heard her but it was already too late. Her speed gave her the element of surprise. Even as he turned she was upon him, her elbow connecting expertly with his temple. There was a snapping sound and for a moment, watching him leave his feet and sail through the air, she thought perhaps she'd hit too hard and snapped his neck on impact. But then she felt the sharp pain in her left shoulder and looked down at the spiky silver tube protuding from it...