“No Lessons for the Weak”

Raphael

I spat out blood and wiped my mouth with the back of my hand.

The silence was suffocating.

Isaac Crowe stood there, his long coat barely moving in the faint wind. As if nothing had happened. As if the fight he had ended in less than a minute wasn't even worth mentioning.

He was different from what I had expected.

Not a noble warrior. Not a bitter old man.

He looked at us like we were nothing.

And that was the worst part.

Michael

He said nothing for a long time.

Then his gaze slowly swept over us, as if he were evaluating our existence.

"You're weak."

No hesitation. No doubt.

Just a statement.

I took a deep breath. I hated it, but he was right.

"You saved us anyway." My voice was calm, but I held his gaze.

He barely shrugged. "You were in the way."

Gabriel

"Then why do you keep saving us?" Raphael asked before I could.

Isaac looked at him.

"I didn't save you." His voice was cold, almost irritated. "I killed the vampire. The fact that you're still alive is a coincidence."

"A coincidence?" Raphael chuckled dryly. "Three times in a row? I'm not great with odds, but that sounds like complete bullshit."

Isaac said nothing.

But he wasn't impressed either.

Michael

"We need you," I finally said.

Isaac scoffed quietly. "I don't care."

I clenched my fists. "You're the only hunter who can train us. We are the last of Lumen Dei."

Isaac remained silent.

Then he simply said:

"Lumen Dei is dead."

Raphael

I saw red.

"Our parents gave their lives to save us. And you stand here acting like that means nothing?"

Isaac finally looked at me. His gaze was sharp like a blade.

"Yes."

I wanted to lunge at him. Really. But Gabriel grabbed my shoulder.

"Why?" Michael asked instead.

Isaac turned away, as if the conversation was already over.

"Because you'll die if you keep following me."

Then he disappeared into the fog.