A sort of psychic energy gathers at Tasha's hands, and with a short struggle and a push, a blast of energy propels towards Taylor.

Taylor feels the impact like a truck that crashes onto his chest; his body is flung back like a meteor and within an instant his back crashes against the back wall before his body collapses to the ground.

“Agh, fuck.” Taylor exclaims. Not given a moment to gather himself, he instinctively senses more danger approaching. He quickly rolls off to the side and gets on his feet just as a large sword crashes into where he previously was, breaking into the solid stone floor.

Fuck, why are we fighting upstairs. It would have been better in the basement. Taylor remarks casually before he pushes forward instantly and a flaming leg catches Jared on the stomach. Taylor assumed that he would be flung back, but Jared took the hit like it was nothing and Taylor’s aching foot felt like he hit a steel wall. All Taylor manages to do is attach his flame onto Jared’s body.

“Fuck. Okay. Let’s stop before we get ahead of ourselves.” Taylor says as he takes out his phone. “On the other end of this phone is a friend of mine. He practices the dao of space, so he can be here in a second. Let’s talk this out.” He says as he looks to Tasha.

Tasha lets out a grin. “Do you think we’re afraid of you? Jared and I are both on the sixth stage. We can kill you before your friend even arrives.” She says, unimpressed.

Taylor sighs. “Alright, you’re both ballers. I get it. But I’m also on the sixth stage and I’m confident I can hold you off. My buddy is also on the sixth stage, so this can ugly real quick. Also, if you just bought my flame time to catch.” Taylor says with a smile as he watches the flame on Jared begin to grow larger. “If this continues, I doubt Jared will make it out in one piece. Do you want that, Tasha?” He asks again.

A frown appears on Tasha’s face. She didn’t understand what was so special about that flame, but that’s exactly why she didn’t trust it. “What do you propose, Taylor? That we stop our hunt? That we learn to live and let live? Do you want us to let the vampires go in peace?” She asks, her stubborn determination apparent in her tone.

Taylor shrugs. “Honestly, I don’t care what you do. But I have to report back to the association and I’d rather not have to hand my old friends over to be executed. I just want you to go. To leave the city and murder vampires somewhere else.” He says with a sigh.

Stubbornness and a stern stare was still on Tasha’s face. Eventually she lets out a sigh. “For whatever our previous friendship was worth, we’ll let you go this time, Taylor. But the next time we meet, expect your execution. The world is continuing to turn, Taylor, and the people… there will be no consideration for the previous order. We will rebuild the world on top of your ashes. Now leave.” She decides, like a judge deciding Taylor’s fate.

Taylor sighs, regretting how this turned out. But he didn’t know what else to do about it. He could only do what he was told; he left.