The Witcher: One Night, One Life (Halloween Writing Contest Submission, vetted by the amazing Stardusk)

Two people stood outside of a cave, seemingly in the middle of nowhere, the wind howling like a pack of werewolves all around them. Said cave was sealed, covered over by rocks. The woman turned to the man, a questioning look on her face. “What are you thinking, Master Star?” she asked him hopefully. It was clear she yearned for something, some kind of solution, and he hoped he could give it to her. None deserved the fate that had been unleashed upon this poor woman. Star neglected to answer with words and instead focused himself and drew a Sign in the air, it was complex yet precise in it's nature. When he was finished, a pulse of energy then burst forward and the rocks blocking the cave entrance came tumbling down before them, dislodged. When the dust had settled, what was left was an open cave. It was dark, darker than any human eye could see, and it stretched before the two like a mouth waiting to consume them into it's deep, dark abyss. The woman then went to move forwards eagerly, but Star held out his arm to stop her entering the blackness before them. His eyes peered through the darkness before them, searching for any sign of danger. There could be any number of things he had just disturbed by opening this cave up. After a minute or two, he found none of those things however, and gave a simple nod, not turning his head away from the consuming darkness for a second. Together they moved inside the dark cave. The passage was narrow and afforded not much manoeuvrability at all should a tactical retreat be called for if they were attacked by anything while in here... Each step they took was one he measured carefully, calculating in his head how deep the cave truly went. Every so often he'd check to see if the woman with him was still there. Luckily, after not too long Star began to hear running water, although he was unsure how far away it truly was due to his heightened senses fooling him in the echoing confines of the dark cavern. It meant the cave likely opened up more judging by the echo produced. After another good 13 paces the cave did indeed open up and Star spied the waterfall that was the source of the running water he had previously heard. His viper-like eyes scanned the room carefully, cautiously, as he had been taught to do countless years prior. Then he saw it, a man. He was laying ahead of them, but was still breathing by some miracle. He had no idea if people indeed had gods, but if they did, then they certainly shone on this lucky man by virtue of the fact he still held life within him. The woman wasted no time and darted forth while Star trailed behind slower just in case something were to occur. He’d rather have ample time to jump out of harm’s way should such an action be required of him. The woman approached and began talking with her lover. Star paid no heed to their talking and instead remained on the sidelines, content to let them have their moment with one another. He then noticed something off about the man... He slowly approached and couched beside him. The man looked almost pale and lifeless, as if he'd been sapped of all his energy and spirit. Slowly. Methodically. Like something had been using him for sustenance... But that means... “Melina.” Star stated urgently as he stood up and cast his eyes around them. She was too engrossed in having found her love to listen to anything he had to say currently it seemed. Star spun as he heard something come closer from somewhere deeper in the cave, beyond the piercing darkness of their vision. There was a presence nearby... But his medallion never revealed anything this time. It was still. Whatever it was, was very powerful indeed. The man panicked a bit and moved, but roared in pain, seeming to say something hasty to Melina and she turned to Star, who had drawn his blade already... He spoke a simple sentence. “It’s coming.” As if on cue to Star’s words, a huge beast rushed swiftly into the cavern from what seemed like nowhere. A Nekurat! A Vampire. It had been... Drinking the man's blood slowly to keep itself alive all this time? Could it do that? Apparently so, Star noted, since he was still alive and the man had been fed on for quite some time. The Nekurat turned to Melina, sensing it to be another human... And then focused on Star. He was larger than either of the other two. Much more desirable as a source of food. "Finally... Prey..." the Vampire spoke in it's raspy, haunting and broken voice. The kind of which grated on the ears if you heard it, and could instil fear into your heart if you were anything but a Witcher. It dripped with ravenous hunger, a hunger sated only by what stood before it. Star blinked, his breathing slightly uneven, yet he never gave anything away. He wasn't prepared for this. A fight with a Vampire. An Ancient and dangerous one at that by the look and sound of it... Dragons are big and clumsy, even Golden ones and driving them away is easy. Killing them is difficult, but he had prepared for that eventuality, as he had been told that was his contract. But the Vampire? It was graceful, fast, dexterous, magical and deadly. He wasn't equipped for this fight. Not wasting any time, the Vampire lunged hungrily for the morsel that had been dangled before it's eyes, its fangs bared and claws outstretched in a horrifying display of it's most frightening features. Star took a dive aside and the Vampire crashed into the cave wall, causing some instability in the cavern. Not that it cared. It craved blood now. Human blood. It hissed and while on all fours began to circle Star like an animal such as a wolf would its prey. "Get out of here, Melina. Take him with you." he warned the woman without turning from the beast for a second. The woman was about to argue before realising he was right, agreeing and helping her lover out of the cavern as fast as she could. Star took a few careful steps to the side, as did the Vampire. The two circling each other in a standoff of sorts, each wondering if the other would strike first. Star was patient, however, while the beast was starved and consumed by hunger. The Vampire struck first, taking an impossibly quick swipe with it's equally impossibly long and deadly sharp claws. The Witcher stepped aside and kicked the Vampire, sending it off balance and sprawling into the cave wall. It regained balance with little issue and hissed aggressively, unhappy with it's would-be meal defending itself. It began to swipe it's claws at Star barbarically while lunging back and forth, high and low while Star was on the backpedal, dodging and weaving from the beast's claws. He ducked a high swipe and slashed the Vampire's stomach with a swipe of his sword. It roared in pain as the Witcher quickly dodged to the side to avoid the counterattack that it surely would attempt after such a strike. One slash managed to hit his chest however, and he grunted from the pain, stepping back further in order to give himself some breathing room. Star irregulated his breath with his movement as he began circling once more. The Vampire took on but a moment of confusion, and Star quickly rolled forwards and thrust his sword to kill. The Nekurat took the blade's stab and kicked out, sending the Witcher backwards and into some rocks. He recovered quickly, noticing the first wound he had inflicted was already healing on the Vampire... It moved forwards with ferocity, but it was feigned, and as Star moved to avoid, so the Vampire used it's strength, swinging it's fist and sending Star into a group of stalagmites and stalactites. He flew through them and ended up smashing into the wall of the cave violently, taking a moment getting up to recover from the bludgeoning hit. Then it vanished from sight. It became one with the dense shadows of the cave, using magic to avoid the Witcher's gaze. Star kept his guard up and continued forcing his breathing to go different speeds at random intervals to keep it confused. The Nekurat in a pinch relied on using the breathing patterns of their foes to predict their next movements, like a skilled swordfighter uses small bodily cues to parry a blow. Star swivelled his head, making sure to face even the slightest movement in shadow. Any could be the Vampire preparing it's next blow. As he cast his eyes about the empty cave, he tried backing up to a wall, his head swivelling around at anything, even dripping water or shifting rock, holding his sword in front of him at all times. He could counter this kind of magic with Moon Dust or Dimeritium, but that would render his own magic useless, and he wasn't sure whether he was prepared to take that risk just yet. He heard it. The single footstep, the banishing of shadow. The claw cutting the air as it reared for it's blow. Star turned and slashed upwards deep quicker than the eye could see. The Nekurat cried out in pain as it's face was cut with the silver blade and Star quickly used Aard, a spell which violently pushed the beast far across the cavern in it's ever so slight moment of weakness. The Vampire quickly leapt above onto the ceiling and began crawling among the rocks in hope he would lose sight of it. Star managed to keep a line of sight on it, but then it began loosening rocks to fall on him from above. At one point he cast a rock aside with Quen, a shield Sign. The break in sight was enough. The Vampire was instantly upon him and Star had to move backwards to avoid the rapid brutish slashing that the Vampire now attempted to use to kill its opponent. It used its savage grace to it's advantage, hardly giving him a break. But it wasn't a complete advantage, as the Witcher cast a Sign, momentarily trapping the beast. He struck to kill. Nothing. The blade had no impact, pierced nothing. That could only mean... The Witcher, even with his heightened reflexes, couldn't avoid the leaping Vampire that came from behind as it's magical illusion dissipated and grabbed his shoulder and neck, pulling his head aside so it had a clear line... And then it sunk its fangs into his neck and began gulping, drinking deep from the well it had forcefully opened. Star luckily had a backup plan, and, in a risky attempt, used yet another Sign. Fire burst from his hand beside his face, scorching the Vampire directly in the face, and giving himself a burn as well. Both opponents leapt back from one another, injured but preparing to attack once again. This time, they charged one another. Star ducked aside a swipe and kicked the Vampire's feet from underneath it. He attempted a downward stabbing, but the Vampire quickly retreated from the blade, allowing it to miss by mere inches. It quickly scampered around the cave, and the Witcher lost track of it, attempting to find the beast. Meanwhile, it watched from the shadows, and leapt at Star with a scathing glare, fangs at the ready and slashing it's claws. He quickly turned and used Aard, but it was unfocused, and sent him sprawling backwards as well from the intensity, while the Vampire also got a swipe in, slashing the side of his face deep. Star hastily attempted to stand, but the Vampire was quicker to recover and pinned Star to the ground, baring it's fangs. It dug it's claws into his arms and pinned him, with the nails digging in a little too deep for his liking. It became distracted by the iron-like smell the battle had brought forth from the Witcher. The sudden pungent smell overwhelmed the starved Vampire. Star managed yet another Sign, and trapped the beast again, before wrenching his arm free and casting one last Sign... He pointed to the East, hoping this cave was as feeble and small as he'd hoped it was... And cast Aard again. It worked. The wall crumbled and... Darkness. The night was not yet over it seems... The Nekurat grinned a wicked grin as it thought it was triumphant, recovering from the magic. Star took out a silver knife and stabbed the Vampire before quickly jumping up and running for his blade. The Vampire slashed as he ran, cutting his back and sending him flying forwards, slamming into some rocks. The Witcher hit the ground and rolled, but grabbed his blade as he did, standing once more as his life began to seep from him, he could almost feel it pooling on the ground below, staining the floor of the cavern he stood in. The Vampire then rushed forwards and as Star prepared a strike, it knocked his blade away and pinned him to the cave wall, it's fangs slowly bearing down on his neck, intending to finish it's unfinished meal... Then... Sunlight. It pierced through the hole the Witcher had made and hit the Nekurat, causing it to begin to burn. The only Vampire adverse to sunlight, and the Witcher's saving grace. Star took full advantage of the welcome distraction and leapt at the beast, pushing it away and grabbing his sword before plunging it through the beast's wicked heart and removing his knife, stabbing the Vampire a good few times for good measure. He then took his hand from his knife and used the silver nubs on his gauntlets and all his strength to beat the Nekurat. It fell to the floor as he gathered up the creature's rage, immersing himself in it, and mercilessly beat the Vampire until it was definitely dead. Star sighed and fell to the side, taking a deep breath, looking like he'd lost a fight with a bear. He appeared beaten to hell and back, and in fact had been. Turning to the now bludgeoned and deceased Vampire, he spoke. "Was it good for you too?" he asked, the rasp of the Vampire noticeable in his tone since he drank from it's rage. He felt himself losing blood fast, and from far too many places to count. He had quite a few slashes by this point, after all. He focused himself in meditation, the wounds he suffered beginning to heal, but not enough. He needed medical attention, or else he'd bleed out, and become the Vampire's final victim...