Eliza’s mind spun in a desperate mania to control what was going on. She was so incredibly tired of feeling helpless. Eliza just wanted to reach out and make everything slow down. She just wanted a minute to catch her breath. Flashes of Heather’s body on the silver morgue table broke her concentration. Eliza’s understanding of history tumbled from her mind; she felt dozens of thoughts slip through a veil in her mind. She knew that eventually all her thoughts would slip through the veil and she would know nothing. Yet suddenly, Eliza seemed to know what to do. The slow motion returned to her vision. This time however, Eliza realized it for what it was: her dark gift. The battle which waged around her continued so slowly that she could barely see the gradual movements of the fight. Eliza picked herself off of the ground. She looked around at the chaos and found an abnormal peace. People drifted easily down to the ground from the height of their jumps. The wild strikes and swings, all slowed, seemed harmless without their momentum.
Eliza walked past Tom to the vampire which was still mid swing. She pulled the blade from his hand and, with almost no real strength required, ran it through the vampire’s abdomen. She felt the sharp edge of the blade slide between the vampire’s ribs and into his fleshy heart. Eliza continued on to aid Mirana and Harper who were frantically avoiding the angry attacks from Randal. To her dismay, Randal was invisible once more. Eliza’s eyes scanned the grass for evidence of his position. She found to distinct footprints in the grass where dew had been knocked from the blades ends. Eliza approached him, she could feel her control off time waning. She had enough strength left however, to place her hands around Randal’s neck. Eliza knew she would be counting on her new family to back her up. She would only be able to hold Randal a few seconds after time kicked back into full gear. Eliza found that she had faith in them however, and found strength in their shared loyalty.
Eliza braced herself against Randal and let time slip back through the veil with the hectic thoughts. “Here,” she screamed pulling backwards strongly and sending herself and Randal into the soil. “Hurry,” she pleaded as she already felt the powerful vampire wrench himself free of her left hand. She wrapped her arms around him and clung as desperately as she could.
The second advantage was all Mirana needed. The powerful matriarch of the NuBlood coven slashed at Randal’s neck. An intense spray of blood erupted from Randal and poured into the grass. Swiping more furiously, Mirana struck at Randal’s head until it become completely detached from the rest of his body. Still holding onto him, Eliza lost control and tried to drink in the blood which exploded from the fresh decapitation. Randal’s twitching body was able to break free of Eliza’s grip and she felt blood slide slowly down her lips and face. Mirana pulled up sharply on Eliza’s shoulder. “That is enough child.” Mirana spoke more tenderly than she ever had to Eliza. “This battle is won.” Mirana stroked Eliza’s back comfortingly as Tom and Harper leapt back into battle to defeat the remaining assailants.