I've been trying to think of a way out of this cell, out of this place. But this human body is so weak and my senses are not working properly.

The master is bound to come soon, to bring the darkness to the humans and end the Hunt once and for all. That is what he always planned. Was I right to send Alesco, Leila and Wynn there? I cannot help but wonder what has happened since that time. Did they even make it there, or did the humans track them down?

I remember the last time I returned to the village, all those years ago. Already the darkness was growing. When it was obvious that Leila was with child. I had to seek the advice of the master, to find out what would happen.

"Bring her to me, Ambrose. And she will rule. She will have power beyond us all, both human and vampire. She can bring us victory against our enemies."  The master had said when I told him. He was talking of my unborn child. Of Alesco.

"Please, master, what will become of Leila? That is why I am here. Will she survive?"

The human, Leila, that I took as a form of revenge had grown on me. New emotions and feelings washed through me as time went on. Perhaps it was the the loss, the loss of my eternal mate, my life partner, to that human dart. It left a hole, a deep gash in my being. And Leila was able to fill it. Despite the weakness of her flesh and the oppressive nature of her species, she filled that hole.

"She will die. No human can withstand such a power that grows within her. When the child is born, bring her to me. Already the darkness grows. With her, when she is older, she can lead the vampires to victory, she will have the strength of both species. She can rule them all."

"No!" I'd said. "She cannot die. I must change her. It is the only way."

"It may work. I make no promises, Ambrose."

I would not bring my child here, not to be raised as a weapon in war, as a tool to be worked upon. I had changed, my loss and new love had changed me. And this child was different. Perhaps because of the vulnerability of the human flesh. We would live away from the eternal darkness. To keep her safe, keep them safe.

Already the darkness was growing.

I ran back to Leila, to the place in the forest where I had her hidden. Her swollen belly giving away her pregnancy. Other vampires would be a danger now more than ever. And the master confirmed she would not live through the birth. I had no choice.

"Did you find what you needed to find? Will you grant me eternal life with you?" Leila asked me when I returned. "With our child?"

"Yes, Leila. I will." I did not tell her what I learned, I mentioned nothing of the master, or the village. Not then.

I remember that bite, my first taste of human blood. I kissed her lips before I pierced her neck. And with my teeth, I released the venom of eternal life, and I drank. The sweet warmth washed down my throat and I felt the strength it gave me. Stronger than anything else I had tasted.

Unlike a vampire being turned with a dart, a transformation to vampire is painless beyond the bite. The venom numbs the victim as the change takes place.

I had to force myself to stop drinking, the urge to drain her was a powerful one. I pulled my head up and lowered her limp body to the ground. Carefully. I did not want to harm our baby.

She changed quickly. Hair turned black and her skin pale. I watched as her body transformed, and listened as her heartbeat slowed, her breathing stopped and her body died, turning her into a beautiful creature.

Her eyes snapped open, yellow and piercing. She looked confused, disoriented as she glanced around her. "Where am I?" She asked.

"You are safe. With me, Ambrose." I said, keeping my voice soft, lifting her with strong but gentle hands.

She started shaking, trembling violently. I had never seen a vampire turned, nor did I know what to expect. But I recognised the shaking, the trembling, as hunger.

"Food." She said. "I need food..." Her voice had become distant, weak.

"Wait here." I said, laying her gently on the ground. I found a deer nearby and brought it to her, still kicking.

"Drink this." I said, holding it out to her. She looked at it and then at me. Confusion in her eyes, uncertainty on her face.

"Drink." I said, more urgently.

She licked her lips, and her fangs, as though testing them, then sniffed the creature. Something kicked in and she lunged her head forward, biting down and drinking deeply. Her face began to glow, whitening, her eyes shone with energy and fire.

I threw the carcas into the trees, for the wolves, took her hand, and we ran together, a burden lifted, the burden of her human form. We would go to my brother and collect Clemente and Wynn, begin our new life away from the master.

And here I am now, feeling the feelings she must have felt, the weakness and pains.

A sound intrudes upon my consciousness, hazy yet familiar. I strain my hearing to listen closer. Padding feet. Wolves. I move quickly towards the bars of my cell and peer out into the dim corridor. Sure enough, I see them coming. Four wolves move towards my cell, paying no attention to the occupants of the cells.

What are wolves doing here? Wolves in this human place? Wolves are messengers of the master, companions of the vampires. Unless he sent them? They do not look like they are out of place.

From the other direction I hear footsteps now, echoing slightly through the space. Someone is coming, heading towards the newly arrived wolves who have stopped just in front of me. I step back slightly but continue to watch, squinting my eyes.

Two men appear in front of the wolves, but they pay me no attention. The one closest to me is tall, thin, with square rimmed glasses. He is dressed all in black. Behind the glass I see golden eyes, sharp and bright, even to my weakened vision. He opens his mouth and I recognise the guttural growls of the wolves. He's speaking to them.

It takes moments but slowly the conversation takes shape in my mind. I still remember the speak of the wolves. The man is speaking with authority, with command.

"What's the latest in the dark part of the forest?" He asks the Alpha wolf.

"The darkness grows. It spreads quickly, daily. Your captured soldiers feed his strength. He is surrounded by devoted vampires, more than ever, and they feed his strength too." The wolf speaks, howls and growls emitting from its grey snout.

"Something else has changed." The wolf continues. "A girl. He has her by his side, a vampire. We don't know why."

My ears peak at that. A girl? It must be Alesco. He always wanted Alesco, since before she was born.

"Very well." The human says, golden eyes flashing. "Keep on patrol, update me with anything." The wolf bows in submission.

He turns to the other man with him. He had been watching the exchange but I do not know if he understood as I did.

"Mike. We'll have to go soon, he's growing and he will not stay put for long, he will come here soon if he has gathered the strength."

"Yes, sir." Says the one called Mike, there's a glint in his eye that I don't like. Something malicious.

"But we'll need to feed first, to grow our strength." As he speaks he turns slightly towards my cell. I see a silver badge affixed to his chest, black words set into the shining metal. Director.

"Yes, sir." Mike says.

Feed? Feed on what? The one in charge stares into my cell, his golden eyes catch my own and I feel my hearbeat quicken, sweat forms on my skin despite the chill of the cell. Such strange feelings, strange emotions. Poor creatures, these humans. Not the monsters they were made out to be. If they have all this mess going on in their minds and bodies it's no surprise they went bad.

The director smiles at me, but it does not reach his cold eyes. His companion is leering into my cell too, a look of malevolent enjoyment in his features.

"Feel a bit strange, does it?" He says to me. "Fear, blood and a beating heart..."

I say nothing. The director moves his hand in a fluid motion and the bars that I couldn't move at all start to rise, scraping through the old stone ceiling with a screeching howl like an upset owl. That motion reminds me of the master. The magic in the air. I can almost feel it.

My body's instincts drive me backwards, towards the wall behind me, away from the newly advancing threat. Feed. That is what they said. They plan to feed on me. But what are they? Humans do not feed on vampires. And no human has magic like that.

The director steps towards me, over the threshold of my cell, golden eyes never leaving mine. His fitting uniform contrasts with my baggy, loose robes.

"Who are you?" I ask.

"I?" He says. "I am the Director."

"What are you?"

He doesn't answer, but raises his hand and clenches his fist. I feel a force wrapping itself around my throat. I reach for it but there is nothing there, nothing I can see or feel. Nothing to pull off. I feel the crushing pressure on my windpipe, blocking the oxygen that this body needs to survive.

I wonder about death. What will death feel like now? What happens after the life is drained from this body?

I feel myself lifted from the ground. I hear my own voice, the choking noises emitting, as though from someone else. I feel my eyes bulging in their sockets. I stop fighting, feel my eyes begin to droop, my energy draining. And then the pressure stops and I fall to the ground. Instincitively I gulp at the air, breathing deeply in gasps, taking each breath as though it may be my last.

Then I'm picked up again, bruised and sore, and I'm slammed against the back wall of the cell. I feel the impact jar my back and my head snaps into the wall behind me, the wind is pushed from my lungs and my throat is constricted once again, stars and blackness erupt in front of my eyes.

I struggle again, the brief moment of respite was enough to renew my will and desire to live. I claw at the invisible force around my throat. Images flash through my mind, of Wynn and Clemente, of Alesco and Leila. I need to save them, to help them, to find a way out of here.

Images from my life flash through my mind, of hunts and running, of wolves and magic and trees and darkness. A sudden thought flashes, giving me an idea.

I open my mouth to speak, but the pressure is too much. Nothing comes out, no sound except a gurgling croak. I try again as my body begins to tremble and shake, dizziness setting in.

"I think he might be wantin' to talk." Says the man next to the director. The director looks round and I feel the pressure on my throat ease a little. Just a little, but I think it's enough.

I open my mouth again, clinging to my final hope. I feel the tendrils of unconsciousness taking hold, the fingers of death tightening. My final chance to make him stop.

I let out a growling noise, guttural and raw, the speak of the wolves.

"I can help you." I say.

I see shock in the golden eyes as the director snaps his eyes back on mine.

There we go! Another chapter. I hope you enjoyed it. If you did, don't forget to vote and comment! Thanks for reading.

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