Carmilla was clad from head to toe in gear that would put the treasuries of many great nobles to shame, and for which many adventurers would gladly risk their lives for the chance to obtain even a single piece.

  Long, sharp claws sprung from her adamantite gloves like scythes ready to reap the lives of any life in her path. Form-fitting layered plate armor gleamed with the dark, verdant green of folded adamantite mixed with dyed black patches to form a camouflage pattern. The layers of metal climbed up her neck until they were hidden beneath her helm and lower tips of her red-frosted hair, which left only her face exposed, while every joint was connect by a layer of mythril chain, sealing any potential gaps from the slightest chance of a wandering blade or stake.

  On each glove, boot, leg, shoulder, and the center of her chest were large slots, perfectly matched with greater mana stones that gleamed with a blue light. Each of the nine gems were connected by glowing mana channels, while ephemeral red gleams danced in and out of existence, as if they were snakes coiling around their prey.

  Carmilla launched into action the moment her foot hit the deck.

  Haste. Acceleration. Agility. Afterimage. Mirror Image.

  Carmilla’s legs bent low like a spring, as she split into two identical copies of herself—one facing to the left, and the other to the right—and blitzed towards the abomination. A half dozen afterimages retraced each and every step the Carmillas took.

  A shrill ringing emanated from the abomination’s back cage, as it began to vibrate intensely. Its muscles tensed, and it squatted low… before it leapt toward the starboard-side Carmilla.

  Harden. Greater Reinforcement. Counterstrike.

  The port-side image of Carmilla faded into nothingness as the demon lunged in for a bite, while a clear liquid splashed out of its teeth. Carmilla swung out her left arm to receive the bite, which crashed and sparked furiously against the thin red barrier surrounding her arm—a barrier now fully materialized.

  The moment the creature latched on, she ripped her arm back, yanking it closer towards her as she bashed its head with her right hand. The creature staggered, as she stared the monster down with her own bestial ferocity.

  It seemed almost surprised as she seemed entirely unaffected by the fog billowing from its back, or the liquid from its bite. If anything, she seemed amused, as the new alpha predator toying with her prey.

  Agility. Strengthen. Flash step.

  A strange energy gathered into Carmilla’s core, and the creature howled as it braced itself, gathering its own mana together. Then, Carmilla launched herself at the creature again, closing the gap between them immediately.

  Ghost Strike. Dual Impact.

  The abomination reacted quickly, as it attempted to use its own innate speed to keep up with Carmilla’s blistering pace. It intercepted her punch with its large hands, while its rubbery skin seemed to absorb the impact of the blow.

  At least… it had, until the shadow of her fist passed through the monsters arm and smashed its face again. It retreated several steps as Carmilla raked its body with clawed strikes, splitting the monster’s flesh and splashing its dark blue blood across the deck.

  The abomination began to shake violently, as a horrific noise began to screech out from the flesh cage on its back. The creature retreated towards the stairs to the helm, while the wail grew loud and fierce enough that it shook the very boards of the ship, and drowned out all other noise.

  Carmilla winced, and glanced towards the surviving crew. Any that were too close to the thing had streams of blood start pouring out of their nails, eyes, nose and ears. That said nothing for those suffering from the boils caused by its blistering fog.

  Aura Blade!

  Carmilla sent a sweeping kick towards the abomination. Even with the distance, the foul monstrosity instinctively took another leap back… before a wave of formless energy crashed into its body, cutting a deep, horizontal gash across it as the thing was launched through the staircase.

  The vampire rushed towards the pile of debris, only for it to blast in all directions along with another burst of brown fog, yet this one was interspersed with thick grey clouds.

  Carmilla braced herself, and her eyes darted around the cloud, searching for the slightest hint of movement.

  “LYRA!” Carmilla yelled out, and was greeted by a screech, as the shadow the quetzalotl flitted around the ship. The oppressive darkness hid its brilliant plumage, as it stopped its encirclement to blast another wave of superheated air.

  With another shriek, the abomination launched itself out of the cloud and towards to sea, while a deep red glow emanated from its back

  “You think you can es—” Carmilla’s eyes widened, and she stopped herself mid rush.

  Shield wall! Reflect!

  The glow faded from the abomination’s back, as its chest puffed out and filled its exterior rib cage with a deep crimson hue, the monster’s skin strained as if it was trying to escape its own body.

  Then, a blast of flame roared out of its mouth, and crashed into Carmilla’s barrier. With a flash, the blast was launched back towards the demon, and flew just over its body as the thing fell into the sea. The flare crashed into a wave a short distance away, and blasted the water into a frothing boil, blanketing the area in thick steam.

  The steam didn’t last long, buffeted by the winds from the quetzalotl and the frozen gusts from the north… but it lasted long enough.

  Carmilla sighed, then laughed.

  “Damn, I didn’t know even demons can run scared!”

  With the monster gone, she quickly appraised the survivors.

  Dead, dead, dying, dead, injured, dead… oh.

  Carmilla spied one sailor cowering in a fetal ball by a couple of barrels near the bow of the ship, just past the signal mortar.

  She strode over to the man, as he buried his face underneath his arms. His eyes were wide, with snot and spittle adorning his rough blond beard. He continuously sputtered out the same words over and over again like a madman.

  This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

  “No, no… this isn’t real… this can’t be real… this is a dream, its just a dream!”

  Carmilla slipped her hand around his wiry arms, and gently caressed his face as he she used her free arm to forcefully flip him on his back.

  The man shrieked, and flung his arms at the woman as he tried to escape. His efforts were in vain, as she caught his chin in her iron grip and twisted his face towards her own as she soothingly shushed him.

  The moment she locked eyes with the sailor, his breathing began to calm down, and his pupils widened.

  “Now that’s much better, isn’t it?” Carmilla smiled at the man, whose main reply was a dumb and happy smile.

  “C’mon, up with you!” She grabbed the sailor’s arm, and yanked him to his feet, ignoring the smell of urea and some other foul odor that she kindly chose to attribute to the demon corpses aboard the ship.

  “H-how can I serve, my lady?” The sailor asked, before looking haphazardly around the ship.

  The few other survivors were screaming and were in various states of distress, with a great many of those appearing as if they were beyond any recourse.

  “Shall I take care of the wounded?” He asked slowly.

  Carmilla cocked her head, and caught the slight sounds of water sloshing into the ship.

  Then she glanced towards the ships sail.

  “No, no time. How much of that sail can you open on your own?”

  “I can open the jib pretty quick, my lady.” The man droned, and then smiled dumbly at her again.

  “Do it. Then take care of the wounded.” Carmilla waved him off, as the sailor began to rush with a sudden vigor to handle his new tasks, although he seemed to have caught himself in another thought.

  “Where to then, miss?”

  “Back to my ship, like the original plan.” Carmilla pointed out to the Light of the New Dawn, which seemed to her to be as clear as day. The man stared confusedly into the darkness, before replying.

  “Aye, but we seem to have drifted? That’s against the wind… should I row you instead, my lady?”

  Carmilla rubbed her temple. That’s why I hate this ability… even when it works for one thing, it makes them so dumb.

  “Just get the jib open. Lyra will take care of the wind.” She waved absent mindedly, and began to stroll towards the helm.

  As she got close to the destroyed stairs, she felt a weak yet heavy grip on her leg.

  She twisted her head around, and saw the gasping desperation in Ragnar’s eyes as he struggled to breathe. He tried to speak, but barely any sound escaped his lips.

  He rolled onto his back, as his lips slowly turned blue, and his grip slipped from her leg. Carmilla thought for a moment, then took her foot and pressed his chin down, opening his mouth.

  Inside, the blisters blocking his throat were clearly visible. “You fought well, it’d be a shame to die here, young man. Just don’t move, I’d hate to hit your spine… or an artery.” Carmilla smiled sweetly, then pointed a single claw from her gauntlet towards his mouth.

  Aura blade.

  A bolt of energy pierced through the blisters, popping them before it shot out the back of Ragnar’s neck. She them kicked him onto his belly, as he coughed out a mass of fluid and blood, gasping to catch his breath.

  Carmilla turned back towards the helm, and then a mischievous smile crept on her face. She leapt up onto the stern deck, and then spun back towards the main deck, arms stretched wide.

  With a wide smile, she shouted “Hoist the sail! Batten down the hatches! Drink up me hearties!”

  None of the suffering crew even acknowledged her, only getting an enthusiastic “Aye aye!” from the sailor she enthralled.

  Then, she caught the helmsman’s corpse in her side eye.

  “…Oi, don’t give me that look! What? Don’t tell me… You’ve never wanted to say that?!” She looked at the gruesome, twisted halved, and scoffed.

  The vampire marched to the helm, and grabbed hold of the wheel. The sailor gave her an affirmative shout, as the smaller jib was unfurled and tightly secured. Carmilla gave him a pleasant wave back, before he hurried to tend towards the rest of the survivors.

  “Lyra! Wind us up, girl!” She shouted, as the bird flew behind her. With each beat of its wings, a strong gust came from their backs and restored life to the drifting ship.

  Then, Carmilla cocked her head back towards the torso of the dead helmsman.

  “Even a dead man would be willing to part with a little sip for a thirsty young dame, right friend? After all, I’m saving lives here!” Carmilla softly asked the twisted torso of the helmsman, his lifeless eyes rolled far back into his head. Her lips flushed, and curved up ever so slightly.

  “Of course, thank-you for the meal! I wouldn’t dare waste your noble sacrifice! Enjoy your rest, you’ve earned it.” The vampire giggled lightly, her voice a near whisper that only she and the silent corpse could hear. She licked her lips, and carefully watched as the only able-bodied sailor struggled to gather his injured comrades together.

  With so much blood already spilt, she wouldn’t even need to use a special skill. The viscous pools of red fluid stopped flowing with the rocking of the slowly sinking ship, and instead began to flow slowly towards her. Then, she began to hum as she steered the ship back towards her own, occasionally summoning small beads of blood into her mouth with a flick followed by a satisfied mmph.