he other as the vampire focused on the hunt and not on his image.

vikirnoff moved within striking distance and at once the bats in the air began to dart at him and those on the ground made small noises. the rain increased and the wind picked up, blowing through the leaves on the trees so that they once again shuddered and twisted, dancing madly overhead.

vikirnoff whirled gracefully among the clones, reaching for borak as he shifted into the form of the prince, slamming his fist deep. raven's face contorted into a malicious mask, the mouth yawning wide, teeth gaping. borak shifted instantly, trying to dissolve around the burrowing fingers that drove through his body with the speed and intensity of a thrown spear. vikirnoff yanked the heart free, still gliding in his flowing circle, taking the withered, blackened organ with him as he mowed down several clones.

natalya couldn't take her eyes off of him. she wanted to move, wanted to at least get rid of the bats moving so dangerously close to him, closing their circles down to make the battlefield smaller, but she felt in a trance, unable even to blink or take her eyes off of vikirnoff. she saw him so clearly beneath the image of the prince, moving in his warrior's dance, his hands strong, his face etched in lines of determination, of resolve. her heart quickened to match his beat; her feet felt the same graceful rhythm.

borak shrieked, his voice hideous as he raced after vikirnoff, his clones of raven's image falling to earth and disintegrating as if they'd never been. dark acid blood withered the vegetation as borak toppled to the ground. lightning forked in the sky, lighting the gruesome scene before the bolt incinerated the heart the hunter flung to the ground. the jagged whip leapt to the body, burning it to a fine ash before flames engulfed the blood on the ground and the nearest circle of bats.

the second circle of bats took to the air to escape the intense heat. natalya blinked rapidly as she watched the battle unfolding, feeling as if she were climbing out of a strange trance. her mind refused to comprehend what happened at first, but then she was back to

herself and she realized vikirnoff's movements were hypnotic. he was able to enthrall his enemy with his flowing movements and dull the mind of his opponent enough to slow them down.

valentine and gene shifted shape a second time, working in unison, flying at vikirnoff, directing the bats to attack him as well. vikirnoff threw off the illusion of the prince and met them in the air, a force of power and skill unlike anything the two had ever encountered before. he burst through the flapping wings of the bats, knocking several out of the sky in his pursuit of the two vampires.

gene broke off and turned tail, streaking through the trees in a run for his life. valentine chose to stand and fight, dropping back to the ground and facing the hunter. natalya tried to keep gene in sight, not trusting that he would leave when they had so clearly been following the instructions of another, most likely maxim. gene had been swallowed up by the thick grove of trees, but natalya drew her sword anyway, holding it at the ready should the vampire be attempting to ambush vikirnoff.

"you are not the prince," valentine snarled. he repeated it, shouting. "he is not the prince!"

if he was asking for permission to get away, it was far too late. vikirnoff whirled around, catching the vampire by the nape of the neck and hurtling him to the ground. he was on him immediately, driving his fist into the chest to extract the heart.

natalya felt the burn of the dragon and looked frantically around, scanning the trees, the bushes, everything near vikirnoff. a small rock rolled just inches from his leg and her breath caught in her throat. she burst out of concealment as gene rose up behind vikirnoff, triumph on his face as he lifted the knife in his hand.

natalya somersaulted across the distance, wielding her sword as she flew past, slicing through the vampire's legs as she did so. he screamed horribly, over and over as he fell backward. vikirnoff was already turning, striking as he did so, his speed so fast, he had the heart before gene hit the ground. lightning flashed and flames raced from the blackened hearts to the two bodies. vikirnoff lifted his head and looked at her.