The night air felt colder as the group moved deeper into the forest, their path illuminated only by the faint glow of the fire they had left behind. Mary's mind was a whirlwind of confusion and dread. The stranger's words echoed in her mind like a haunting refrain, each one adding another layer of uncertainty to the already fractured understanding she had of herself. He had come for her. He knew things she didn't—things she wasn't even sure she wanted to know.
"What do you think he meant?" Mary asked, her voice barely more than a whisper as they pushed through the dense underbrush. Her eyes flicked nervously to the dark woods around them, her senses on edge. She couldn't shake the feeling that they were being watched.
Lela's response was curt, her voice tight with suspicion. "I don't know, but I don't like it. Whoever he is, he's not just some rogue vampire. He's got an agenda. And it involves you."
Mary shivered at the thought, her fingers tightening around the hilt of her saber. The grip felt comforting, familiar, but it also reminded her of the darkness within her that had been slowly awakening. The thirst. The hunger. The power. She had always been able to control it before, but now, it seemed to stir in the background of her mind, a constant companion, a reminder that the longer she held back, the more it would eventually consume her.
"Do you think he's the reason I'm changing?" Mary continued, her voice quivering despite her attempts at composure. "I mean… everything's been different since I… since I turned."
Lela didn't answer immediately, her footsteps slowing as she considered the question. "It's possible. He might be the one who set all of this in motion. You know as well as I do that turning isn't just about gaining strength or immortality. There are forces at work behind it, dark forces that see us as pawns in their games."
Mary's eyes narrowed, a frown forming on her lips. "But why me? What makes me so special?"
The question hung in the air, unanswered, as they pressed on. The further they ventured into the forest, the more oppressive the atmosphere became. The trees seemed to close in around them, the darkness thick and palpable. It felt like the very land itself was holding its breath, waiting for something to happen. The silence was unnerving.
"We need to find shelter," Lela said suddenly, breaking the silence with a sharp command. "We're too exposed out here."
Mary nodded, though she didn't fully understand what her sister meant by "too exposed." They were in the middle of the woods, miles away from the nearest town. There was no immediate danger, as far as she could tell, but the sense of urgency in Lela's voice had caught her attention. The older vampire was rarely this tense.
Lela led them through the trees, her movements swift and practiced. Mary followed, her senses heightened. They moved in silence, the crackling of leaves underfoot the only sound until Lela suddenly stopped, holding up a hand to signal for Mary to halt.
"What is it?" Mary whispered, her breath coming in short bursts. The air seemed thicker now, pressing against her lungs.
Lela's eyes were narrowed, her head cocked as she listened intently to something Mary couldn't hear. The stillness of the forest was unnerving, the usual sounds of nocturnal creatures gone. Then, as if to confirm her sister's unease, a low, guttural growl echoed through the trees.
Mary's heart skipped a beat. The sound was unmistakable—something was out there, and it wasn't human.
Lela's eyes locked onto Mary's. "Stay close," she ordered, her voice firm. "We're not alone."
Without another word, Lela took off into the trees, moving with the grace of a predator. Mary followed close behind, her heart pounding in her chest. As they navigated the underbrush, the growl grew louder, more distinct, until it was followed by the unmistakable sound of something heavy crashing through the woods. Mary's eyes darted around, searching for any sign of movement, but the shadows seemed to play tricks on her.
Finally, they came to a clearing. The moonlight cast long shadows across the forest floor, and in the center of the clearing, something was moving. It was large, its form barely visible in the dim light. Mary's breath caught in her throat as she realized what it was.
A werewolf.
It stood on two legs, massive and hulking, its fur matted with dirt and blood. Its eyes glowed with a feral hunger, locked onto Mary and Lela. The growl that had been rumbling in its chest deepened into a snarl, and it stepped forward, muscles rippling beneath its fur.
Lela immediately dropped into a defensive stance, her weapon poised and ready. "Stay behind me," she ordered, though her eyes were already calculating the best way to engage the creature.
Mary didn't need to be told twice. She had faced vampires before—other creatures like the one who had attacked them—but this was different. Werewolves were more unpredictable, more dangerous in their raw power. She gripped her saber tightly, her mind racing.
The werewolf lunged suddenly, moving with a speed that belied its massive size. Lela sidestepped the attack, her blade flashing through the air as she aimed for its exposed flank. The werewolf howled in pain as the sword found its mark, but it didn't relent. Instead, it whipped around with terrifying speed and swung its claws at Lela.
Mary acted on instinct, charging forward and using the momentum to slash at the creature's leg. Her blade sank deep into its flesh, and the werewolf roared in fury, swiping at her in retaliation. She barely managed to dodge, her heart pounding as she leapt backward. The pain in her arm from the close encounter sent a shiver of dread through her.
Lela was moving with purpose, each strike from her sword precise, aimed at disabling the creature without killing it outright. But the werewolf's resilience was something Mary had never encountered before. With each strike, it grew angrier, more relentless.
"This thing doesn't die easily," Mary grunted, her breath coming fast.
"We don't want to kill it—just incapacitate it long enough to escape," Lela replied, narrowly dodging another strike from the creature's claws. "Stay focused!"
With that, Lela leapt into the air, her sword raised high, and brought it down with a deadly precision on the werewolf's shoulder. The creature howled again, staggering back, but it didn't collapse.
Mary's heart pounded, her mind clouded by the urgency of the situation. She had to do something. Without thinking, she rushed forward again, this time aiming for its throat. The blade sunk deep into the werewolf's flesh, and for a moment, time seemed to freeze. The creature faltered, its eyes widening with surprise.
Then, with a final, guttural growl, it collapsed to the ground, twitching for a moment before going still.
Mary stood over the fallen creature, her saber dripping with blood. She was breathing hard, her body shaking from the adrenaline of the fight. It had been a near thing.
Lela was already kneeling beside the werewolf, her eyes scanning the creature for any sign of life. After a long moment, she straightened up, her expression tense. "It's dead," she said quietly, but her voice carried a note of uncertainty. "But this doesn't feel right."
Mary wiped the sweat from her brow, her eyes never leaving the body of the werewolf. "What do you mean?"
Lela looked at her, her expression grave. "This werewolf wasn't just a random predator. It was sent here."
The words hung in the air between them, and Mary felt her stomach drop. "Sent here? By who?"
Lela's eyes darkened. "The same people who are after you."
The realization hit Mary like a blow to the chest. The hunter had become the hunted, and they weren't the only ones in danger anymore.