The dark mass tore through the air toward the ship.
It wasn't as fast as other projectiles Sonder had seen. It arced through the air like a thrown ball.
Sonder tensed.
And in the moment before it hit the ship, a memory surfaced.
Vell's voice was calm and humorous. "You'd make an excellent anti-mage."
Now she would see if she could do it.
No hesitation.
She reached out, not to her own magic, nor to any element, but to the vampire's.
Sonder stepped forward.
Seemingly into it.
Her senses and power flared outward, forcefully.
In force.
She locked onto the magic. The crude, unstable power of another creature.
She touched it with her mana and will.
It resisted instantly and violently.
It was like grabbing something alive, trying to break out of her hold.
Driven forward by its master's will.
But she didn't let go.
It wasn't stronger than her.
Her hand turned with firm authority, forcing it to change direction.
The dark mass resisted and then gave way.
Slowly at first, then all at once.
It turned and the air warped as it snapped around, facing back toward its source.
The creature froze at the sight of its own power, then tried to dodge, but it was too late.
Sonder thrust her hand forward, and the projectile surged straight toward it.
Its wings flared, trying to move, trying to escape, but after a moment, the blast struck it directly.
The dark energy folded inward on impact, slamming the creature backward and ripping it from the air.
It crashed into the mast.
Hard enough to send a shudder through the entire boat.
The wood groaned, but didn't break.
The creature fell, striking the deck, rolling weakly before catching itself in a menacing crouch.
It didn't move.
It was breathing hard and bore long fangs.
The ship creaked.
Behind Sonder, no one dared to speak.
She stepped forward.
She drew water up around her, shaping it into spears; projectiles waiting to be launched.
But they did not strike. They waited.
The creature noticed her as she stood before it.
It tensed, ready to retreat beyond her reach.
One claw dug into the wood, and its wings folded in closer, not in readiness, but in caution.
Sonder took another step.
Then another.
There was no anger or fear in her expression.
The creature lowered itself further.
Sonder stopped a few steps away.
The creature, diminished now, was still ready to attack, but it didn't. Neither did Sonder.
"Stop," she said.
Her voice was quiet, soft, and to her, gentle.
It was a simple request. A way out.
"You don't need to do this."
But beneath it, the message was cold, like a command carved in stone.
"Give up."