Even if Derek was had not shouted at them, they result would have been the same. They did not need anyone to tell them how dangerous their situation was or how to handle it. By the time Derek had instructed them to flee, a few wise members were already by the windows they had used to claw into the manor. With survival being their creed in those moments, everyone only sought out a way to help themselves and did not really consider the lives of their comrades.
The Dreadborn simply stopped moving and stood still where she had landed. Her eyes hovered around the room as she observed the thieves fleeing from her. She put forth no efforts to chase them as if she couldn't be bothered to go for a fleeing enemy. What truly intrigued her was the youth with dark hair that had reacted to her charge. He now stood before her without giving away an inch. He was determined to buy time for his men even if he had to go against such an unsurmountable obstacle. She was further interested in him by this action and interpreted it as either being bravery or idiocy. She was not quite sure which it was but either option was going to result in the same thing, a clash.
"...Why are you not running? You seem to think you can still get what you came for even as I reside here now. If you think you will be spared for this supposed sacrifice I can assure you, I find the offering lacking."
Derek was not expecting any leniency from her but was rather confident in his ability to escape should she press him too much.
"Why, of course not. I just wanted to insure that my men manage to keep their lives and safely make if out of here. Our intel stated that you would not be here at this time so we came a little short handed but I still believe I can buy a few minutes for my men from you."
He spoke this as he began to distance himself from her. A direct clash was suicidal so his intention was to keep her attention on himself and make use of his surroundings. Even if it was a little cheap, he was determined to let his men leave. She looked at his residing figure but made no attempts at stopping him. Derek soon came to a stop as his back made contact with a wall. On the wall was a portrait of a stunningly beautiful woman. She had blonde hair and was fashioning a blue dress that was littered with vibrant rose patterns. He was not exactly sure but he could have sworn she looked exactly like the Dreadborn that now stood in front of him.
Driving away the distraction, his head fell back to his foe but his eyes were soon widened with shock as he failed to find the opponent he was to face. A chill ran down his spine as he realized that she had somehow disappeared without making a sound to alert him. Fear crept up on him when he realized he was not as in control of the situation as he had allowed himself to believe. His anxious eyes began to dart around the room in hopes of finding her and he soon did. The first thing to register in his vision was a slender hand gently caressing the painting he had just seen.
Standing next to him was a beauty he could have sworn wore a solemn and almost angry expression. She had somehow crossed the distance he had so carefully placed between them without making a sound and she stood besides him without him knowing when she had arrived. The shock that this fact brought him was enough to send him flying back in shock. He jumped back to distance himself once again, but without paying much attention on his surroundings, what result was he expecting other than crashing into a vase that was resting quietly on a wooden stand? He thought that it must have been watered recently because water began to flow from his head.
What did she do? How could she have done it?
Questions began to rush in and out of his head as he was trying to understand exactly what had happened. The Dreadborn simply looked over to him as she registered the noise he was making. She was momentarily distracted by the portrait but now her attention was brought back to the intruder. Her mood then began to change and it was no longer overbearing but was now a little pitiable towards the thief. She then let out a sigh and began to walk in his direction.
"My interest in you has waned little thief. It would be wise of you to retreat now while I have no interest in pursuit. Put as much distance between yourself and I as quickly as possible before you are forced to stay here for as long as I decree."
Derek of course was a lot more on guard against her after what he had just seen. Her actions and words seemed to add weight towards her claim. She had already displayed superhuman feats meaning she could have easily captured him and his men if she so wished. The fact that she didn't really do much only further confirmed a guess he had made during this rather bizarre encounter. She was not going to catch them or more accurately, she never had the intention to. She could have crushed them without leaving them any room to move around if the situation was otherwise. She was also ready for them but did not prepare any traps for them.
What is she after?
The question was burning with in him as the curiosity only seemed to grow with her actions. Granted he was no Lovell, that did not mean he was completely dim. He knew now was as good a time as any to escape from the grasp of a predator he had no hope of going against. Without any further confirmation needed from her, he immediately started running around the room in search of the sack he had thrown at her earlier. As soon as he got it back, he would run out of there without anything to restrict him and he would be home free. That was at least the plan he was hoping he would enact but on his way towards his bag, the sound of a window shattering enter the room.
A dark shape flew in with crossed hands covering its head as if to protect its face from the sharp shards. It then proceeded to tumble down across the floor between the Dreadborn and Derek. It quickly came to a stop and threw something at the Dreadborn. Derek was not completely clear as to what had been thrown because he was still a little shaken by the sudden intrusion. After focusing on the flying object, he was able to identify it to be a dagger.
The Dreadborn looked onto the dagger with indifferent eyes and simply tilted her head to her right. The dagger flew straight at the initial position of her head and pierced the wall behind her. Her gaze was now refocused onto the intruder who was clearly lacking in manners. After noticing the dagger being stuck into a wall, Derek also directed his eyes to the shape that stood before him. He focused his gaze and was a little startled by what he saw. Before him stood Lovell who was behaving a little bit more strange than usual. His eyes were bloodshot and he seemed to be bleeding from his lip. He almost seemed to resemble a rabid animal.
"Lovell? "
Derek pressed, not exactly sure what was happening.
"I asked one of our guys that was running away outside what was happening. The only words I managed to squeeze out of him were 'she...here...wasn't...supposed to...' I came to the conclusion something had gone wrong with the initial plan. After noticing almost all our men were fleeing but you were nowhere to be seen, I came to give you what i assumed was much needed backup."
Lovell then shifted his eyes towards the unfamiliar woman and asked.
"Why don't you stop looking at me with such a sour expression and tell me who you are lady?"
Derek felt the heat leave his body when he heard the words Lovell had just spoken. His eyes looked at the Dreadborn who was now wearing an expression of displeasure. The situation he had just escaped was suddenly biting at him once more. Derek then approached Lovell slowly and then put his arm around his friends shoulders with a tense face.
"I'm touched that my friend cares about me enough to come help me when I'm in danger. As you can see miss Dreadborn, the current situation was caused by a misunderstanding. Now, if you may please allow us to take our leave."
She then placed her eyes on Lovell, he who was mostly ignorant about the current situation and simply met her chilling stare with a rather spiteful one of his own. Although he heard Derek refer to her as a 'Dreadborn' he wasn't exactly in the mood to think about the implications just yet. His experience right before their meeting left him a little irritable. In normal situations, she was a wall that he would not dare approach but as of that moment, she was a wall he wanted brought down.