The guard's lips pressed into a thin line before he pulled a small key from beneath his vest and pushed it into the collar's lock. His fingers slipped because of the blood on his hand, and Stefan almost grabbed him out of desperation, but Enzo caught Stefan's arm.
"Let him do it." Enzo said with a stern look.
Stefan forced himself to stay still.
A second later, the lock clicked. The collar loosened and dropped into Stefan's hands before falling to the ground.
For a brief moment, Stefan stood frozen as the familiar sensation of his ability rushed back through him. It was like taking a breath after being held underwater for too long. His shoulders trembled once, then he turned sharply toward the battlefield.
A wounded soldier was being dragged by two others, his face pale and his mouth open in a silent cry as blood poured from the torn armor around his stomach.
Stefan vanished into thin air.
