It’s been over nine months since I have gone to the area in the woods where Micah and I would train. Nine months since the flame in my heart went out. Nine months since I lost my true love and fated mate. It hasn’t gotten easier. It’s only become harder living another day without him. My heart has never stopped aching; each day, the pain I feel only worsens. Kayla told me the mate bond could become physically painful for some when your mate dies. She has been giving me potions to help the pain, but in the last couple of months, they haven’t worked as well as they usually would. I tend to keep away from everyone and find somewhere quiet until the pain passes, as I don’t want them to worry more than they already do. It can sometimes last a couple of hours. I have to bite down on a stick I wrap with material to suppress any screams or cries. My heart is so broken that I realise that not even magic or potions could ever fix me.
Heading to the training field, I notice a she-wolf racing towards my father, frantically yelling and waving something in the air.
‘Vampires!’ I finally hear clearly. I run over to her as she reaches my father. Everyone has gathered around. She hands my father an envelope that has been sealed with red wax. No one had sealed envelopes with wax since long before my father was a pup.
‘I was alone, doing my usual routine of berry picking and a vampire wearing black approached and gave me this to give you, Alpha Maximus. He said it’s important we meet with them, and then within seconds, he was gone,’ she said.
I try to take the envelope, but my father steps back and opens it.
‘Alpha Maximus, we understand humans and werewolves have been killed frequently over the past year. I know you have had men trying to track us down so you can kill us as punishment for these deaths. For one, you will never be able to find our lair unless we bring you there ourselves. Two, it’s important you know that we vampires are not responsible for these deaths. Demonic wolves called ‘Blood Dwellers’ that are part vampire, part demon and part wolf are controlled by a Demon Lord called Atticus. It is he who is behind these deaths. We have been tracking and trying to stop Lord Atticus from his killing sprees to no avail. He has no intention of stopping, and he is extremely powerful. We must meet to come together to end him and end all these senseless murders. Meet us at Blue Scale Rock tomorrow night during the full moon.
Sincere regards,
Lord Talon,’ My father reads.
‘Liars, they’re lying! It has to be a trap? They must be planning an ambush? There are no such things as blood-sucking demon dogs! I saw their eyes, red like blood. I saw one dressed in black, sucking the blood from Micah. They killed him. I saw them!’ I shout angrily.
My father looks at the note in his hand and reads it in his mind, assessing the situation.
‘I don’t think trusting a vampire is ideal. I think Lylah is right. They must be planning an attack since they know we are hunting them down.’
***
We wait patiently at Blue Scale Rock. The moon has only begun rising. My father halves us into two groups. He is upfront with my brothers and half the warriors but insists I stand back and stay with the backup, hiding fifteen metres behind him amongst the shrubbery and trees. My mother and Kayla are also with the second group of warriors. I protest at first, but he gives me a stern look to do as I’m told. Sighing, I trudge begrudgingly back to the others but hide in a nearby tree, so I can see and hear better for when the vampires arrive.
Sitting on the branch, I swing my leg impatiently. We’ve been waiting three hours now, and there is no sign of the vampires. I’ve been waiting for over nine months to get my revenge on them for killing Micah, and tonight is finally the night I can take my vengeance and kill them. I take my dagger Micah made and angrily carve into the thick branch. As I wait, a strange but warm invigorating sense overcomes me. I can’t help but look around as I’m being drawn to something in my surroundings. But then I see two shadows step forward.
‘They’re here,’ my father says.
Everyone steels themselves or stands in a fighting stance as two vampires approach. I shake my head of the familiar feelings I always felt around Micah and try to concentrate on the two vampires standing in front of my father with my dagger in hand, ready to strike. The male vampire has blonde hair combed back and wears a black suit with a red vest and shirt underneath. The woman has dark brown hair past her shoulders and wears a two-piece red silk dress. The top is a corset followed by a long silky skirt. They look ready to attend a ball rather than a meeting with werewolves at the edge of the woods. They only appear to be in their mid-twenties, maybe younger.
‘Alpha Maximus. My name is Soren, and this is my blood flame, Nadia. We’re pleased you and your warriors could make it to this meeting,’ he smiles.
I keep trying to watch Soren and Nadia, but my mind keeps drifting away, looking around beyond them, desperately searching, but for what? I feel so confused. These feelings are the same as I felt when I was in the presence of Micah. A sense of calm, security, happiness… lust. An urge to run past the vampires and further into the woods overwhelms me. ‘What is wrong with me? Stop it, Lylah, stop. You need to focus. Micah is dead. He isn’t here, and this is your moment to seek revenge!’ I say, slapping myself in hopes of removing these feelings that are suddenly consuming me.
‘How do we know this isn’t some kind of ambush?’ my father asks Soren and Nadia.
‘I guess we have no way to assure you we mean no harm and intend no harm towards you. We can only give you our word to trust us,’ Soren answers.
Rotten Liars! I bet they have vampires everywhere in the trees and shrubbery, just like we have warriors hiding. They are probably waiting for the right moment to strike, but I won’t let that happen. I’ll make sure to kill them first!
My father laughs, ‘You expect us to take your word? How do we even know you aren’t responsible for the deaths of all those humans and werewolves? I suppose you want us to take your word for that, too?’
Soren and Nadia frown at one another before staring back at my father.
‘Alpha Maximus, if I may? Nadia says, taking a small step forward. ‘Blood Dwellers exist, they are real, and the one who can summon and control them is very real. Lord Atticus and his Blood Dwellers are a threat to all species, including ours. The only way we can put a stop to him is by working together. It hasn’t been an easy decision for our coven to work with another species, but it’s the best decision if we are to stand a chance to end Lord Atticus.’
The urge to go further into the woods consumes me. I subconsciously climb down the tree in a trance-like state. My father quickly grabs my shoulder as I nonchalantly walk past him.
Everyone, including Soren and Nadia, watch me with confusion.
‘Lylah! What are you doing?’ he growls, tightening his grip on my shoulder.
I blink a few times and realise I’m no longer in the tree but standing in front of my father. I look around with the same look of confusion as everyone else.
‘I don’t know...’
He sighs, ‘Cleary,’ he says, annoyed and pulls me beside him.
What in the wands was that? Why don’t I recall climbing down the tree? I’m so confused. Why do I have this urge to run past Nadia and Soren? Why is my heart beating so fast? All the questions race through my mind as I stare at my feet. Suddenly the red eyes flash through my mind, and I flinch, jumping back in fright.
Soren, Nadia, my father and my brothers stare at me, and I look up at Soren and Nadia and notice they both have brown eyes.
‘Why aren’t your eyes red? That night when I saw you when you attacked us. Your eyes were red, like blood,’ I yell.
My breathing intensifies as I fight these urges and feelings and have the memories of that night flash through my mind. I’m sweating, and I feel like I can’t breathe.
‘That’s because it wasn’t us. Vampires don’t have red eyes. We have the same coloured eyes as any other human,’ Soren says.
‘You both said your names are Soren and Nadia, but this note is signed by a Lord Talon. Why isn’t he here conducting this meeting?’ my father asks.
‘Lord Talon is the vampire lord of our coven, just as you are the Alpha of your pack. It’s our job and pleasure to keep him safe. We know you have many other warriors waiting to attack us. This is a safety precaution. Not that you would be able to defeat Lord Talon, but we insisted that we conduct the meeting on his behalf,’ Soren explains.
We hear the snap of branches and the sound of heavy breathing that matches mine. A man with long, dark thick hair heaves forward. I can’t see his face. He is dressed all in black, including his cape, but his shirt has the top few buttons undone, exposing his hard muscular chest. I realise he is fighting himself to stay back. I can see the beads of sweat dripping from his forehead onto the ground. He shakes his head, ‘No, it can’t be,’ he says in a deep husky voice. Butterflies erupt in my stomach and flutter, hearing his voice.
‘Lord Talon?’ Soren says, confused and worried.
‘Lord Talon?’ I mumble his name. He flinches his head up, and his red crimson eyes immediately make eye contact with mine.