Shalltear, originally hiding in the distant bushes, had been watching the battle with the mindset of a mere spectator. After all, the clearing where the two were fighting was far from her; even when she saw Thunderbird unleash that astonishing volley of blue Fiendfyre, she viewed it as little more than a spectacular, distant performance.
It wasn't until Alan flew toward her to escape that she took notice, her eyes widening.
*Flying in mid-air? Can human wizards fly by their own power?*
*Could he be a Prince? It's possible. Looking at how he maintains elegant etiquette and proper attire even during battle, he certainly has the demeanor of a high-born Vampire.*
*But why would a Vampire Prince appear here and fight these smugglers? Is he here for me?*
Shalltear didn't understand what a flying cloak was. Having never seen a human fly unassisted, she completely misunderstood Alan's identity and spiraled into a series of fantasies. However, as Alan drew closer with the blue Fiendfyre hot on his heels, she stopped caring about his title. This was an impending disaster.
She watched as the blue flames surged toward her like a raging tide crashing against the shore, incinerating everything in their path. Her heart went cold. After a brief struggle, Shalltear propped herself up and flapped her wings, but she couldn't fly far before plummeting back to the ground.
*What should I do? Am I going to die here today?* Tears gushed from her eyes. *No, I can't give up. I am in the prime of my life; I cannot perish in this cursed place!*
Shalltear forced herself to focus on Alan as he flew past.
"Prince! Help me!"
With teary eyes, Shalltear gathered the last of her strength, spread her wings, and pounced. She managed to snag his ankle. At this point, the young wizard's true identity mattered less than survival.
Alan, concentrating on his escape, was startled by the sudden appearance of the bat and almost instinctively cast Sectumsempra. Fortunately, he heard the creature's cry.
*Prince? What does that mean?*
*And this bat can talk? Is it an Animagus? But they aren't supposed to be able to speak in animal form.*
Now was not the time to dwell on anomalies. Wasting time on a bat would only drain his magic and slow him down.
After Shalltear latched on, she clung tightly to Alan's thigh. Realizing he wasn't attacking her, she breathed a sigh of relief and began to scramble upward with her wing-claws. The fabric of his trousers was slippery, and Alan was moving too fast. The fierce wind battered her, making it impossible to hold on for long without a more secure grip. Besides, if she reached his upper body, she could properly flatter this "driver" to ensure he didn't shake her off.
However, in her frantic scrambling, Shalltear quickly moved toward a sensitive area.
Alan, feeling the tiny creature's movements, was far from pleased. What was wrong with this bat? He didn't mind giving her a lift, but why was she trying to burrow into his crotch? With a look of utter exasperation, Alan reached down, grabbed the troublesome creature, and lifted her to his eye level.
"Prince, please don't abandon me! I am Shalltear Bloodfallen, a lower-ranking Viscount of the Toreador clan. I've only been awake from my grave for ten years! I don't want to die! If you save me, I swear in the name of the Progenitor to serve you like a beast of burden! I still want to see my hundredth birthday! Please! Waaah!"
As soon as she was in Alan's hand, Shalltear burst into wails, her tears soaking his palm as she begged for mercy.
*A Vampire?*
Alan deduced her identity despite her incoherent rambling. He looked at the "tear-bat" in his hand and sighed. *What luck. I pick up a Vampire while running for my life.*
"Shut up and hold on tight. Understood?" he said coldly.
"Yes, yes, my Lord!" Shalltear replied, thanking him profusely. "Thank you, merciful Prince! May your fangs always be sharp, and may all the blood you find submit to you! You are the embodiment of darkness—"
"Quiet," Alan barked, performing a sharp lateral shift to dodge a massive tree.
"Yes!" Shalltear clamped her mouth shut and gripped Alan's collar tightly, terrified the wind might blow her away.
Alan was flying at an incredible speed, but the blue Fiendfyre was pressing closer. He noticed the two lines of fire surging along his flanks were moving even faster than the wall behind him. They had already surpassed him by a dozen body lengths and were slowly curving inward, attempting to lock him in a cage of fire.
Alan had no choice but to accelerate. He couldn't Apparate, and his alchemy equipment was useless against elemental magic of this scale.
Shalltear, clinging to Alan's shoulder, looked back and felt her fur stand on end. The flames seemed to accelerate as they failed to catch their prey. She could already smell her own singed fur.
"Little brat, you can't escape me! I want to watch you turn to ashes, hahahaha!" Thunderbird's voice echoed through the trees from behind the wall of fire. He sounded like he was enjoying the hunt.
Alan ignored the taunts, focusing entirely on his flight. Shalltear, however, was not nearly as composed.