Chapter 1
"What matters isn't what a person has or doesn't have; it is what he or she is afraid of losing." - Nicholas Nassim.
Panting, I gripped the sling of my worn out bag tightly as the situation dawned on me.
We're cornered.
All four of us.
Sweat began to trickle from my forehead down to my neck as I struggled to gasp for air. The cold breeze did nothing to ease the raging turmoil within me. Conventionally, it's do or die, but in this situation it is without doubt that they will drain us and we die regardles of whatever we do. We're powerless against these bloodsuckers.
Come on, Aurora, think!
I had to shake my head to grasp for some wit.
We can't outrun them. Running's definitely not an option, not with these monsters. We've been running for hours and they still found us. Not to mention the people I'm with are either approximately 11 years below my age or pregnant!
Lily. I almost forgot she is. She must be worn out and practically hurting. For days that's all we did. We run. We hide. We look for shelter.
But now that we're caught. Now that they're in front of us, a few feet away, it's an evident dead end.
If we can't outrun them, perhaps I can-
"Please.." I swallowed when I heard Lily's plea. I missed some of what happened because I drifted off a bit crafting possible plans for..delay. At this point we can't die without at least trying.
Glancing at the family beside me is enough torture. And the eyes of her children!
Come on, Aurora! Think!
It hurt to look at her, crouched and huddled with her children. She's holding two of her kids on either side of her almost as if she's preventing them to see what's about to happen. And that big round bump.
I wonder if that baby inside her belly's aware of what's happening. Of what her mother's feeling. I was once told they do.
"Take them." One of the pale guy ordered. His red orbs flickering as he took long strides toward where I stood. Reflex urged me to back away which I did-Once those pale and lifeless fingers are on me, all of our efforts would be put to waste-The only response I got was a nasty smirk. One that reminded me yet again as to how screwed up we currently are.
"No-No! Please! Not my kids! Please! Not my children. Spare them, please!" I glanced over Lily only to see her flailing her arms frantically as two towering men held both of her arm while the other two effortlessly detached both of her kids off her.
This is what I hate seeing.
Helplessness.
Desperation.
Loss of hope.
I saw how the two kids cried holding their arms out to reach out for their mother who's doing the same.
The kids.
They're terrified.
"Let's head back to Blood-"
"Spare them." I stated cutting the man before me from finishing what he's about to say. I got his undivided attention but I have to come up with something worth buying us some time. Anything.
"You're in no position to bargain, mortal. You're insolence and disobedience is enough to get you killed!" He spat more menacingly than I had anticipated.
He looked kind of worn out. Probably from the days of searching and hunting. It took them days to find us after all.
"Then spare them and kill me instead-"
"You're lucky you're significant. Otherwise you would've been drained minutes ago. Do not test me." He seethed clasping my neck in his long cold hand. His claws nipping my skin.
"What a coward you are, then." I smirked. The unmistakable display of venom in his features meant one thing. Hope. "Following orders like a dog-" My statement was cut short when he abruptly lifted me up from the ground causing my legs to dangle. He's easy to piss off. Way too easy. I was choking hard as I struggled to get some air in. Battling for the life we risked to live. Battling to win against the fate I gambled my life on along with the others that followed me.
"You inconsequential petty little wench!" He yelled his voice resonating throughout the forest depths as he threw me out into the alignment of large trees. It would be impossible for my body not to get hit into one of the gigantic trunk as much as it would take a miracle for us to escape these night creatures.
"Have you any idea how much trouble you put me through?!" He squeezed that I had to stop breathing to bear the magnifying excruciation. "What I would defy just to get my fangs on you!" I coughed as I forced myself up heaving oxygen in and out while listening to him awaken the woods. He's mad. Furious even. Good. "You dare compare me to those foul hell hounds-" He stopped his amplified speech when one long howl-so loud and so close-sounded. Clearly, he forgot to reckon the territory he's in. And that loud signifying howl proved my intuition's correct.
"Wolves." One of his men remarked. Eyes wide with vigilance and from what I can deduce; fear. They may be fast. But wolves are known for their strength. And they're very territorial.
Two clashing primal creatures.
I steadied myself as I cradled my arm and chest. At least the sudden spur would buy us enough time to think of something while the vampires we're with are in affright.
"We have to leave. There are too many of them!" The other informed looking like he's about to sprint. "These humans will slow us down, we need to go. They're close!"
"What about the girl?"
"Leave her. We have no other choice!" Their leader spared me a glance-one fleeting glare before speeding off in a blur with the others on his trail.
Cowards.
I grunted, my breath coming in short gasps as my consciousness succumb to the pain. This is going to be a lot harder than I thought. One problem gone and now we have a few approaching paws to stress over.
"What now, Rora?" Lily whispered. Eyes pooling with unshed tears as she hugged Justin and Mia in her grasp.
She can't run.
I can't run. Not in this state.
We were spared from becoming bloodbags only to become dead meats if we don't do something. But what should we do?
What should I do?
"Just a minute." I quipped shortly as I braced myself up. Heaving and alternating the process of forcing myself to breath and stop taking in oxygen as my seemingly contracting and heavy-loaded chest jolts in magnifying stream of pain. This is getting worse. Now what should we do? These dogs are the best trackers of all time. With our current state, we won't be able to run far enough to find a place to hide and mask our scents. Not when we're covered in gashes and open wounds.
The smell of our blood's probably all over the place considering the amount of cuts and wound we've accumulated for the past days. And as if it's the best timing in the world, my stomach decided to demand for acknowledgment.
Great. Just great.
I guess it wants me to dig in before I die-A sudden howl, louder than earlier caused my limp body to go stiff. Then seconds after, the sound of predatory growls could be heard from where we were.
"They're here." Lily's voice is trembling as her words exactly matched what I was thinking. I shot her and the kids a look silently telling them to stay quiet. She pushed herself along with her kid closer to the bark of the tree and into the thick bushes as sounds drew near.
I listened. As silently as I could. From what I could hear there are paws that halted several feet away behind the tree we're in and some continued to dash off. They're probably intending to catch the vampires who tresspased their terrain.
Clutching the sling of my bag tightly. I resorted to my last straw. If we can't escape them. I can at least distract them with my scent.
I glanced around found a fallen branch behind me.
"Rora, what are you-" Slitting the skin on my arm open, I noisily stood up making sure my bleeding arm moved a lot. I made sure a lot of it was splattered to Lily's direction before I dragged my heels away from the tree where I'm currently hiding. "Trust North." Was the last thing I heard from Lily.
Large dogs came into view. All exhibiting feral growls as they saw me. Eyes in bright shade of gold, bodies covered with sandy furs.
Slowly, I raised my arms causing them to change stance looking ready to attack if I dare make another move. "I mean no harm." I began, as evenly as I could. There are six of them. All incredibly large and ready to pounce. It seems that my little speech did nothing to make them less...livid.
Great. I'm still going to die.
"I was just trying to pass. I swear it isn't my intention to-"
"Human." I jolted as one unexpected statement registered into my ears. I badly want to swear as the sudden jerk brought yet another pain into my chest. "You reek." Disregarding the thought of him insulting me of possibly smelling so..unpleasant, I trudged to face him. At least I could understand this one. I don't speak wolf. The man is huge. His bulky figure emphasizing just how big he was and the strength he's capable of. He can ring my neck without breaking a sweat.
"Listen, I-"
"It's all over you. The horrid smell of those bloody leeches." He fumed, not letting me finish.
"I was-"
"You crossed our borders! Do you know what happens to the likes of you who steps into our land?"
The likes of me.
Humans.
The reign of the two domineering creatures left us with no place to exist. No worth. No value. No rights.
To vampires. We're nothing but bloodbags. Slaves.
To wolves. We're no different from the flies that annoys the hell out of them. They don't feed on us. But that doesn't mean they don't kill. Some humans are enslaved but once we tick them off, it's off with our heads.
"You even brought those bloodsuckers with you!" He strongly accused leaving no space for argument.
"Alpha, I suggest we leave. We can't risk roaming this side of the land during this time." Another large guy edged in right after bowing to the one he referred to as alpha.
"Blood." He uttered with venom and distaste. Cursing, he ordered his men to go back. But not without me.
"Listen. I'm practically useless. I'm bleeding, and I'll only be a burden. If you leave me here, I promise to be off your borders before the sun rises-"
"Did I give you permission to speak?!" He inquired and by the tone of his voice. It would be best if I remained silent if I want to delay the time of my death. He's riled up and a mad alpha's not something I would want to vex even more. He could split me in half if I utter one more word.
"Take her." Two men came my way and held me captive. Fighting this one is suicide.
I was placed on top of one the wolves who made it clear it won't hesitate to chew my legs off if I do something wrong. Geez. Hostile much?
These creatures have issues.
"Let's go." Their alpha commanded and then and there, all of them adhered to his order.
As we retreated back to where they're headed, I couldn't help the nagging thought of knowing I left Lily all alone in the forest.
She's pregnant and she needs immediate help but I couldn't risk trusting her with these people since I don't even know what would happen to me once we reach their base.
And the kids.
I badly want to go back but judging by my current state, I'm afraid I couldn't offer any help too. Despite the grunting complaints this wolf under me's consistently giving, I don't have any strength left to lift myself up from splaying my body onto his wide back. I feel weak. Drained. Exhausted.
Suck it up buddy.
"Alpha, Mateo reported it was spotted heading east."
"Are you telling me that it could be lurking nearby?" I fought my heavy lids from shutting as I listened to the two men talk.
"I'm afraid that's correct, alpha."
Blood. For years I've been hearing the infamous name. Rumor has it that it's a beast holding not a single similarity to the wolves or vampires we see and come across everyday. A lone entity capable of alarming both kinds enough for them to feel threatened. Just like how these wolves are now.
I wonder what it's like. I wonder how big it is. It must be if these large dogs fear it. I wonder how it looks like. I wonder what it is.
They name it Blood.
It must be that bestial basing on how its name suggests. Primal. Untamed. Wild. Vicious. Violent. A killer.
It draws blood as it kills.
Draws blood as it feasts on its prey.
I felt my nerves picked up as a cold whiff of air blew sending dreadful chills on my skin leaving goosebumps on its wake.
I felt the wolf under me pause, before I heard a low rumbled from its throat.
Something's off.
I managed to lift my head to gauge my surroundings only to find a thick mist tauntingly heading our way.
With that amount of fog, I couldn't see anything clearly. It's a complete drawback for me in case something does happen.
"Keep your senses operational." The alpha warned. His voice just a mere whisper. If these wolves are apprehensive then it must be something serious. "Midnight cloaks. Don't get bitten."
Right.
I've heard about them.
Now I'm certain leaving Lily and the kids behind is the worst decision. These flying creatures are definitely the worst group to deal with. They only appear when it's midnight and they give the worst bite ever-well that's according to the stories I've heard-it's lethal and extremely agonizing. One bite is capable of rotting a man's living cells within five minutes. They're that deadly. They hover the forest during midnight looking like flying or floating cloak and will attack anything that moves or makes noise.
I just hope Lily and the kids are safe.
"Alpha!-" The other guy shouted as one cloak suddenly loomed in out of nowhere. His voice was short. But it was loud enough to attract unwanted attentions. Not even two seconds after, we were already crowded by hungry cloaks coming in all sorts of direction, plunging in just to take a bite.
I was crouching. Mostly shutting my eyes-which I know is a bad idea. I grunted in pain when a large furry body fell, trapping my foot in the process. It whimpered. Breathing frantic as two cloaks menacingly pinned him down.
No way!
The other wolf I was riding earlier is long gone and now I'm almost under this larger furry decaying body.
I saw how the awful process began from the wolf's neck. It's disorienting.
He's gonna die!
He will die.
Fazed with hysteria I started glancing around. About to call for help. They're all occupied! There are way too many cloaks!
Do something, Aurora!
This internal conflict will be the death of me if I don't do something soon! These cloak creatures can fly. And the structure of their body's light. Too light. The only solid and firm about them are their heads.
Think!
I'm pretty sure I can crack them up with the right force. I need something. Anything!
Crawling my way towards the large roots of the tree, I scanned the area for possible weapons. Catching the log, I wasted no time in taking.
Another cloak hovered over the lying wolf, feasting on it as they took and took.
"Hey." I called out. Swallowing large amount of air which I soon regretted after as it caused another stream of agonizing current of torture.
"Now's not the time to whine Aurora, you have death to salute your middle finger with."
As if on cue, one of them heard and screeched. Spreading its dark wings as it flew towards where I stood. I took two strides and aimed the log on its head successfully crashing it in the process.
Well, that was easy.
Pumped up with adrenaline, I called the other two out swinging the log into their heads.
They laid lifeless on the ground near the dead wolf they...killed.
I didn't have time to look at the wolf because another cloak's surging towards me. Followed by another. And another. I wouldn't have any problem swinging the log if it didn't cost so much strength and energy.
I feel so consumed and exhausted that I barely had it in me to stand. Sooner or later, I'll get bitten too. I didn't realize I was edging further away from the group. Quite far that I could barely make out who's silhouette belonged to who. Not that I know any of them or knew the distinction between each of their wolf forms.
Would they even help me if I did call for help?
Probably never.
This is not good.
And that undeniably large cloak coming towards me's not good too.
I'm gonna die.
I'm really gonna die!
I tried backing away but my legs failed causing me to land on the solid ground with a loud thud. Screw the log, my chest and arm already hurts. So much. Just as the cloak took a long dive an abrupt swish passed me followed by the sound of vile snapping and cracking.
I don't know what's happening but I'm positive I'm about to get bitten. Any second now.
Like any moment now. It won't take the cloak a second longer to get close to where I am would it? Unless...
"BLOOD!" Came the loud scream that echoed throughout the forest.
I really wanted to stay up but the feeling of getting slowly consumed by darkness drowned me in. Supporting the aching parts of my body, I dropped my weight on the forest floor looking at the enormous black blurry figure of something couldn't quite recognize.
The last thing I heard was a fading roar before my eyes shut.
A/N: Hi! So I tried writing something different. Hope you'll like it! Hit the star button if u do and please, SHARE!😊
STAY SAFE!💚💚💚
-Van.
Ps. Comments are highly appreciated.
Lemme know what you guys think! 😉
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