CHLOE'S LAUGHTER RANG OUT LIKE A BELL. “Werewolf and Vampire hunters? You've got to be kidding me! Are you guys pranksters or something?” Kent's brow furrowed, his voice dropping an octave. “We're not here for laughs, girl. We're all business.” Ben, standing tall and stoic beside him, offered a firm nod of agreement. Chloe shrugged, her amusement waning like a birthday balloon with a slow leak. Kent leaned forward, his eyes gleaming with a mix of urgency and curiosity. “Haven't you heard? People have been dying under suspicious circumstances – bites on their necks and not a single survivor… except for you.” Chloe's face paled, her lower lip quivering like a sapling in a storm. “I-I'm not sure what happened…” she stammered, shaking her head in confusion. With a compassion that belied his no-nonsense demeanor, Kent softened his tone. “For your safety, and the safety of Shadowvale, we need you to tell us who – or what – bit you.” His gaze locked onto Chloe's, unwavering and int
AS CHLOE, SCARLETT AND I SHUFFLED TOWARD Chloe's uncle's car, I leaned in and whispered, “Hey, what was all that about?” Chloe scrunched her face up like a crumpled paper bag. “Huh?” she said, rolling her eyes like a slot machine. “You know exactly what I mean,” I hissed through gritted teeth. Chloe, Scarlett, and I piled into the back seat of Uncle Mike's car, while Emilia whined her way to the front seat like a siren in a traffic jam. Finally, Uncle Mike's wife joined him in the front, and the car growled to life like a hungry bear waking from hibernation. I leaned in close to Chloe, dropping my voice to a conspiratorial whisper. “Alright, spill the beans. Why did you tell those men that your brother is a vampire?” Chloe and Scarlett shot me the kind of look you'd give someone who just claimed they could talk to houseplants. “I don't know what you're going on about,” Chloe replied, her voice dripping with confusion like honey from a beehive. “Why would I say that? That's just…
"I AM SORRY, FIONA, I DIDN'T MEAN TO leave you behind.” My heart pounded in my chest, mirroring the tapping of her impatient foot. Her face crumpled like a discarded tissue, skepticism written all over it. “Oh, really? So, what happened that made you leave?” Her words sliced through the air, sharp and icy. Panic surged within me, my brain kicking into overdrive, desperately searching for a plausible fib. “Huh… something came up, and I had to leave,” I stammered. Her eyebrow arched like a questioning caterpillar. “Huh… something like what…?” My inner alarm blared, and I knew I needed another lie – fast! “Huh… I should get you something to drink,” I blurted, scurrying off to the kitchen. Operation: Lie Creation was underway, and I needed a moment to brainstorm. I yanked open the freezer door, revealing a cornucopia of gastronomic delights. Thanks to Vivaldi's mind control, my freezer overflowed with all sorts of scrumptious treats. Icy air tickled my face as I grabbed whatever I
I’M STANDING ON THE DOORSTEP, hesitating. The doorbell tempts me, but I’m not sure if ringing it is such a good idea. Just then, the door swings open, revealing Chloe. Her face lights up when she sees me, and I’m instantly swept into a warm, cozy bear hug. She takes my hand and leads me inside, and I feel as jittery as a kid on their first day at school. Inside, Winter catches my eye. Her expression is tense, like she’s just swallowed something incredibly sour. She bites her nails nervously; clearly, she isn’t ready for any more drama. I wave at her with a small, reassuring gesture to let her know I mean no harm. In return, Winter gives me a weak half-hearted wave, maybe just out of politeness. I sit down on the couch, and Chloe immediately fires off the question, "Where on earth have you been?" Chloe's question hangs in the air, and I let out a sigh before answering, "After coming back to Shadowvale, the guilt trip down memory lane and everything that's happened to you has been
I'M HUNCHED OVER, SUCKING IN AIR as blood dribbles down my chin. Wincing, I yank out the arrows lodged in my chest one by one, the pain making me hiss through my teeth. I rise to my feet with a grunt and lift my shirt, watching in morbid fascination as my wounds close up like some sick magic trick. Winter's breath hitches, her hands clapping over her mouth as if to trap her gasp inside. "How did you—?" she stammers, her voice barely a whisper. "How...?" I chew on the inside of my cheek, at a loss for words. I'll just have to tweak her memory later. For now, I turn my attention to the Hunters or WVH, as Winter calls them. They advance with unhurried steps, dressed to kill—literally. Their sleek, charcoal gray outfits hug their muscular bodies like a second skin, while dark grey armor plates enhance their silhouette, covering all the important bits like chest, back, shoulders, forearms, and shins. Their utility belts, laden with pouches and holsters, hold an array of weapons and tools
THE SCREAM RIPS THROUGH THE AIR like a sonic boom, a hurricane of force that slams into me with the power of a freight train. I'm sent flying, tumbling through the air like a leaf in a storm. It's a wonder my skin doesn't peel right off my bones. Out of the corner of my eye, I see the stake-wielding Hunter get knocked off his feet, his weapon skittering across the ground. Wand Guy—let's just call him Wandman—is quicker on the uptake, throwing up a magical shield around himself just in time. His face contorts with effort as he channels his energy into maintaining the barrier, teeth gritted in concentration. As Winter's scream fades, the magical bonds holding me captive disappear, and I hit the ground with a bone-jarring thud. My body feels like it's been put through a meat grinder, and my wounds stubbornly refuse to heal. Guess there's a limit to my supernatural healing abilities, after all. Wandman's shield flickers and dissipates, and he drops to his knees, exhausted from the effor
AS THE STAKE PLUNGES DOWN, the sound of ripping flesh echoes through the night, making my stomach churn. I freeze, my breath caught in my throat, and for a moment, time seems to stand still. Mr. Aura's eyes widen in surprise, mirroring my own shock. Then, without warning, Mr. Aura crumples to the ground with a heavy thud. Standing behind him, his hand slick with blood, is none other than Casper. His eyes are wide as saucers, fixed on the still-beating heart in his hand. "I killed him," he mutters, his voice trembling with shock. But our moment of victory is short-lived, as Casper lets out a blood-curdling scream. A bullet rips through the air, tearing into his flesh. He grits his teeth, his face contorting in pain as he scoops me up and throws me over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes. Before he can speed off, I use the last ounce of my strength to utter a single word: "Wait." Casper pauses, his body tense and ready to bolt. "Winter," I manage to croak out. "She's in the truck
VIVALDI EYES MY BATTERED FORM with a disapproving shake of his head, like a parent scolding a child who's come home covered in mud. Crouching down, he begins to extract the wooden bullets lodged in my body, eliciting a series of groans and winces from me. "Just a few days without me by your side, and look at the mess you've become," he says with a tsk.Suddenly, a bullet whizzes through the air toward Vivaldi, on a collision course with the back of his skull. But in a lightning-fast move, he spins around and plucks the bullet from the air like he's catching a fly. "Hmph," he scoffs, shaking his head with a tut-tut-tut. "The fear of me is the beginning of wisdom," he declares with a sly grin.Without warning, he hurls the bullet back at the Hunters with deadly force. The air crackles as it rockets toward them, almost creating a spark. Before the Hunters can register the approaching projectile, it pierces through one of their throats, leaving a gaping hole. Blood gurgles from the Hunter