Mist

Everything happened so suddenly.

Before either of the groups could speak or introduce themselves, the beast the unusual man had dragged along suddenly snapped.

A low growl rumbled through its chest, its front paw tensed, and it leapt.

"Wait!" the pale man called, reaching for the leash. Too late.

The chain slipped from his fingers as the beast flew forward like a missile, straight toward Isaac.

"Why me?!" Isaac yelped, phasing instantly as the beast passed through him with a frustrated snarl. It skidded across the ground, turned sharply, and charged again relentlessly.

"I didn't even do anything!" Isaac cried, sprinting sideways while repeatedly blinking in and out of phase. "Go after one of the others, I just tagged along!"

The beast gave no reply. Only teeth and fury.

That left Kai and the supposed not-Dracula, who now stood across from each other in the vast hall like two duelists sizing up their foe.