Paris, 1794 Ch. 8: Rachel Trapped

[Sofia's POV]

Sofia watches the bedlam from the window of an apartment abutting the Place de la Révolution. Below her, she stares as the tortured, blood crazed monsters that Elizabeth created tear through the terrified crowd. The gaunt, blood-starved, animals are coated in blood, hissing and growling as they devour random citizens. Most of the victims expire from bleeding out of their wounds, and not being drained and consumed. Senseless, Sofia thinks, recoiling. Wasteful. Mesmerized, Elizabeth watches intently next to her, a thin smile evident on her face.

These wretched things that Elizabeth made. Abominations Sofia thinks disapprovingly.

"Where is Rachel?" Sofia asks impatiently. Elizabeth taps her fingers on her arm, arms crossed.

"She'll show. Just wait" Elizabeth says confidently. Behind them, Thekla and Delphine aggressively feed from the neck of a young French maiden. She is passed out, and they are draining the last of her. The last of the seven or so attractive young meals who had been brought to the apartment by Jean with the promise of work. After so many days of restraint, Sofia has to admit that feeding freely again felt great. Sofia can still taste the rich blood on her lips.

Sofia spots a figure shrouded in a hood and dark robe moving through the crowd. No, opposite to the crowd. When the figure draws a long, silver sword, there is no doubt. Rachel. Sofia is surprised by the waves of rage that wash over her. I'll kill that bitch Sofia fumes, her fists balled in anger. I'll drain her slowly, drop by drop. She'll pay for my Katalin.

One of the animals spots Rachel, and runs towards her, claws extended, blood dripping from its face. In one graceful movement, Rachel swings the thin sword in a smooth arc, removing the creature's head. Elizabeth chuckles. Did she actually laugh? Sofia seethes. Tortured into beastliness, yes, but these are still vampires.

A second animal runs behind Rachel, and slashes at her back. Rachel screams, her back arching, and falls to her knees. Before the animal can pounce on her, Rachel spins on her knee, blade outstretched, cutting through the animal's leg. The animal falls to the ground, and Rachel quickly stabs a stake from her cloak through its heart. By this point, Thekla and Delphine have joined Elizabeth and Sofia at the window, watching curiously.

"She's still sharp" Elizabeth notes clinically.

"How...after all these--" Thekla begins, but Sofia shoots her a look. Thekla stops speaking.

Rachel has decapitated a third animal. The square has now emptied of citizens, and the two surviving creatures circle Rachel, keeping their distance but giving her no easy avenue of escape.

"They're learning!" Elizabeth laughs. Sofia glowers at her. Rachel swings her sword nervously, but the fiends are just out of her reach.

"Children, I think that it's time that we go down and greet this remarkable young woman" Elizabeth says, moving to leave the apartment.