The alley was narrow, deserted.
Katrina's footsteps echoed against the damp walls.
Too late, she understood.
A figure appeared in front of her.
Then another behind.
Five in total.
Two with red eyes and too long smiles.
Two others, more massive, the wild smell, the shoulders too broad.
And a last one, motionless, observant.
"Bad place for a walk," one of them muttered.
Katrina didn't answer.
She attacked.
The air vibrated. An invisible wave threw the first vampire against the wall with a sinister crack. She spun around, dodged a claw, struck with a sharp gesture: the werewolf was pushed back, sliding to the ground.
— Get her! shouted the wizard.
The fight became brutal.
A vampire tried to grab her — she pushed him away, but the other hit her shoulder, scratching her. The pain made her wince slightly. She returned fire, sending a burst that cracked the stone.
But there were too many of them.
Reinforcements arrived.
She backed away, cornered, breathing short.
Suddenly—
Two figures appeared.
One struck with deadly precision.
The other moved like a shadow.
- NOW ! Asher shouted.
He was there.
— Take her! he shouted to his companion.
— Out of the question! Katrina protested.
— Trust him!
The other figure grabs her.
— Sorry, ma'am.
They disappeared.
Katrina struggled, panicked.
— He's alone!
"He'll be fine," the man replied in a firm voice.
At her house, the door slammed, locked.
—Who are these people?! Katrina asked, panting.
- I don't know.
He grimaced suddenly, raising his hand: blood.
— You are injured!
She ran to get a kit, came back immediately, knelt in front of him, concentrated, worried.
He looked at her with a tender smile.
—Thank you, Katrina.
She froze.
"How… how do you know my name?"
He smiled...and took off his coat.
His face appeared.
Katrina's jaw nearly dropped.
— Kl… Klaus?!
— In the flesh, to serve you.
He bowed slightly.
— How do you know Asher?!
— Long story.
He stood up.
"Let's just say he got me and my brother out of a real mess.
- I assume you were the culprit...
Klaus sighed, amused.
— It's crazy how in one night you got to know me.
Katrina blushed.
The door opened.
Asher entered.
- Finally.
He observed the scene.
— I see that you have become acquainted… or perhaps that you already know each other.
Klaus smiled innocently.
Katrina turned her head away, red.
"It doesn't matter," Asher said.
— We still don't know who the enemy is.
—It's not Fishlegs? Klaus asked.
— It's more complicated.
- How so ? Katrina asked, worried.
— The men were at Varek.
He inhaled.
— But the order came from elsewhere.
When I read their minds... someone else was directing them.
He stared at her.
"And this person is after you, Katrina.
She turned pale.
The danger had just changed its face.