Vampire Assassin: Love and Lies

The tournament had finally reached its final stages. Cassius was finally beaten off by Emma. The only ones left were Damian and Gabriel of course. Who could beat those two?

The arena was electric, filled with the buzz of excitement and anticipation. Students crowded the bleachers, their cheers echoing off the high ceilings as they awaited the final match. Damian stood in the center of the ring, his posture tense, his gray-blue eyes locked on Gabriel, who looked as confident as ever.

Emma's heart raced as she sat among the crowd. She clenched her fists, willing Damian to win. Despite Gabriel's reputation for strength, she believed in Damian. She'd seen what he was capable of, both the ruthless and the heroic. He would win—he had to.

Her optimism was contagious. Zoe leaned over, smirking. "He's got this," she said, more to reassure herself than Emma.

But not everyone was so sure. Oliver sat quietly, his hands gripping the railing as he analyzed Gabriel's every movement. Nadia's usual composure had cracked; her nails dug into her palms as she watched Damian prepare for battle.

Before the match began, the air shifted as Dr. Adrian, the principal, strode into the arena. He was a figure of elegance and authority, his every step commanding attention. His sharp eyes scanned the crowd, and a faint smile played on his lips as he nodded toward the competitors.

Trailing behind him was Mr. Saville, his shoulders hunched and his face pale. He looked like a man who had seen too much and was haunted by it. He glanced nervously around the arena, avoiding Damian's gaze.

Zoe noticed his pitiful state and sighed. For all her toughness, she couldn't help but feel a pang of sympathy. "He's a mess," she muttered, shaking her head.

Emma didn't respond. Her eyes were glued to Damian, who was rolling his shoulders and gripping his daggers tightly.

"Let the match begin!" Dr. Adrian's voice rang out, and the arena erupted into cheers.

Gabriel wasted no time. He dashed forward, his speed almost too fast to follow. Damian barely had time to block the first punch with his dagger, the impact reverberating through his arm.

Gabriel smirked. "That all you've got?"

Damian responded by slashing at him, his movements quick and calculated. His daggers gleamed under the arena lights as he aimed for Gabriel's torso. Gabriel dodged effortlessly, countering with a kick that Damian narrowly avoided.

The two exchanged blows, the clash of steel and magic filling the arena. Damian unleashed a barrage of attacks, his daggers moving like extensions of his arms. Each strike was precise, aiming to exploit any opening in Gabriel's defense.

But Gabriel wasn't just defending—he was toying with him. He blocked Damian's strikes with ease, his smirk never faltering.

"Is this really the best you can do, Caiden?" Gabriel taunted, his voice low enough for only Damian to hear.

Damian's eyes widened, but he didn't respond. He pushed harder, using every ounce of strength and skill he had. He feinted to the left before spinning and slashing at Gabriel's side, but Gabriel caught the blade with his bare hand.

The crowd gasped as Gabriel's fingers tightened around the dagger. With a sudden burst of strength, he snapped it in two.

Damian stumbled back, his remaining dagger raised defensively. Gabriel laughed, tossing the broken blade to the ground. "Nice blades. You're not worthy of these."

Emma screamed, her voice breaking. "Damian, get up!"

Gabriel pressed his advantage, his attacks relentless. He unleashed a powerful punch that sent Damian skidding across the arena floor. Blood trickled from Damian's mouth as he struggled to stand.

"Stay down," Gabriel sneered. "You're only embarrassing yourself."

But Damian wasn't finished. He pulled himself up, his breathing heavy but his resolve unshaken. Damian was desperate. He charged at Gabriel, using the broken dagger in one hand and a surge of magic in the other. He created a burst of energy that momentarily blinded Gabriel, giving him an opening to strike.

The crowd roared as Damian landed a hit, his broken dagger slashing across Gabriel's arm. But the victory was short-lived. Gabriel's expression darkened, and with a roar, he unleashed a wave of dark energy that knocked Damian off his feet.

"Damian!" Emma cried, tears streaming down her face.

Gabriel didn't let up. He advanced on Damian, his fists glowing with magic. Each blow was heavier than the last, pushing Damian closer to the edge of defeat.

The fight spilled out of the arena, Gabriel grabbing Damian and hurling him into the stands. The crowd scattered, screams echoing as the two continued their battle.

Damian summoned every ounce of strength he had left, using the move he hadn't used in years. A powerful burst of dark red energy erupted from his hands, sending Gabriel flying back. For a moment, it seemed like Damian had turned the tide.

But Gabriel recovered quickly, his expression twisting into a sneer. "Caiden," he said, his voice dripping with contempt. "You finally showed yourself."

The crowd roared on oblivious of the bombshell just dropped. For most of the students, the name meant nothing. But for Damian's friends, it was a name they couldn't forget. They had seen Oliver's dad journal

Oliver's head snapped toward his father. Dr. Adrian's face twitched, his usual composure slipping as he stared at the fight.

"Dad…" Oliver whispered, his voice shaking.

Gabriel's taunts grew louder as he relentlessly beat Damian. "You thought you could hide forever, didn't you? Thought you could escape us.?"

Damian was barely conscious, his body battered and broken. Blood dripped from his face, pooling on the ground.

Gabriel circled Damian, his voice taunting. "Are you surprised Damian? You like my new strength?" He crouched and grabbed Damian's face to look at him. "Behold, Gabriel 2.0. Silent Blades first super assassin. And you... I have a lot of questions for you my friend. Come."

Before anyone could react, Gabriel opened a swirling black portal. The crowd gasped as he grabbed Damian and stepped through, disappearing from the arena.

The match was over, but the mystery had only deepened.