Chapter One

Sometimes the darkness that is suffocating you, that wants your soul, is the only thing left that can save you. Do you own the bravery to allow it to take you?

Ten Years Later

“Raven, Julia, and Matt just returned. Julia is saying Matt isn’t acting right.” I followed Henry to the garage. I had sent the couple out this morning to scavenge for any supplies we could use for the compound.

I wasn’t ready for what met me when we entered the large garage. In the middle of the garage was a hysterical Julia and in front of her was five of my men holding a screaming Matt.

He looked crazed. His eyes were bloodshot, his hands were curled into fists, and he was gritting his teeth in anger. At Julia’s feet laid another of my men holding a bleeding forearm.

“What the hell is going on!” I demanded. My face was void of all emotions while on the inside I was scared. For the first time in years the feeling of cold-empty darkness was wrapping around me.

“He just started convulsing after opening a barrel sitting out front of a gas station not far from here. We got him back in the Jeep and came back here.” She was picking at her finger and wringing them in anxiety. She and Matt had been together since before the downfall.

“Boss he is freakishly strong. What do we do?” I looked at Matt. I have never seen this before.

“Matt,” I approached him my men holding him in place. He didn’t react to me calling his name at all. His skin was paled to a greyish blue. He looked dead. “Take him down to the cells and let Lexi know she has a new patient but is not to go near him without him being sedated. That goes for everyone until we know what this is.” I turned to leave but stopped when I saw Dustin leaning in the doorway watching me.

Dustin was the man that saved me years ago when this all began. Also, the one that picked me up out of my depression when my brother didn’t make it through that night.

“Get your gear we are going to town.” I informed him not to waste a second glace toward him. He didn’t move out of my way, so my body was forced to brush against his. He smiled at this.

For weeks now I have been avoiding him. When I did come out of my depression Dustin, and I became close. Three years ago, we took our friendship to the next level.

I cared about Dustin but after losing everyone there was no way I was ever going to let myself love another person. Dustin was persistent though last night he brought up children and I freaked. So, I was avoiding him.

***

Looking down at the people of Skull Valley I pitied them. Most are home with their families, so the streets were not too crowded this time of night. Those that are out seemed to be too intoxicated to notice the creatures hiding in the shadows. 

It has been ten years now since the creatures came out to the world. At first everyone was delusional thinking we could all live together happily and get along. Yeah, that lasted all of two months before bodies started showing up everywhere. 

Human or creature it did not matter fear would make anyone lash out in violence and that is exactly what they did. It did not take long before alliances were made and broken and made again. The war lasted three years. In that time most human were killed. Those that were still alive weren't the same. Most like the ones on the street below decided to drown their sorrows away with liquor.

There were some that created families and tried to live within the new rules and stay under the radar. 

Then there was me. 

I approached the gas station Julia said her and Matt had been at when Matt started changing. No one was sure what caused his behavior but from Julia’s description I was under the impression it was air borne. I pulled my bandana up over my nose. It probably wouldn’t have saved me if it was airborne but better safer than sorry.

The barrel that Matt had opened was now lying in the parking lot on its side. White powder coated the ground next to it and lingered on the rim. Being as careful as possible I collected a sample for Terra to analyze in her lab. If anyone would be able to figure this out and help our people, it would be her.

Before the end Terra was a scientist for the government at a top-secret facility. Even with the world ending she still refused to talk about it. I don’t push her because what is really the point anymore. It isn’t like things will ever go back to the way they used to be. No, those days are gone for good.

I stood up looking around observing the stations layout. It was a small two pump store. Why would this barrel be here. It doesn’t make since.

“Raven, got one approaching at your six.” Dustin reported into my earpiece. Turning around I saw him. “Vampire,” he was completely hidden within the shadows, but it didn’t matter how hidden he was. Since that night my brother died the darkness has never left me and from time to time it slips through and whispers things to me.

I couldn’t see him, but the darkness told me he was there. Rage boiled inside me as he stepped out of the shadows, an arrogant smile spread across his chiseled features. Most would look at him and see nothing but his beauty because they were beautiful. Like most predators they used it to lure in their victims.  

I wasn’t waiting for him to attack me first. His recently finished meal lay at his feet in a heap of rags and flesh. The man looked dead, but hopefully I wasn’t too late. My body collided with his in my attempt to take him to the ground. I have spent everyday of my life since my brother’s death training my mind and body. I was prepared and smiled in satisfaction as his form lost balance. On the ground in seconds, I knelt over him knowing I had no time to waste. A few good punches landed on his jaw before he grabbed me by the neck and flung me across the alley. Grunting and breathless my body hit the brick wall before sliding down.

He was quick. Even for a vampire I wasn’t expecting it. Not giving myself time to overthink my actions I threw myself to the side kicking him in the back as I missed me. I heard his growl of disappointment when his hands sprung out preventing him from hitting the wall face first.

There was no time to process before I had my knife in my hand thrusting it into the bastard’s heart. I curled my lip up in disgust watching his cold grey skinned body turn to fire and ash in front of me.

"Raven!" Dustin came running into the alley looking ready to fight. I smiled at him as I replaced my knife back into its sheath. 

"Late to the party again, Dusty?" I teased him. He grunted and walked over the man still slumped unconscious on the ground.  Dustin checked his pulse and let out a sigh. "He's alive." He added in an unenthusiastic tone. Calling in a soldier to come and escort the man to one of our hospital depots; we walked back to the truck in silence.

Dustin watched as the soldier lowered the man into the back of the truck before turning back around to face me. He seemed so calm, not like the world was falling around us. "Let's get out of here, Raven." He said with a small smile forming on his face. I poured my heart into my smile and nodded. It was forced, but almost everything in my life has felt forced for a long time.

My eyes traveled over his muscles flexing under his combat uniform and ran up to his handsome tanned face. He kept a military styled haircut, and his emerald eyes always made me breathless. His soft lips had me remembering a time when we were younger before the world ended. 

A time when I would have been shy and flirty. The last time in my life I let myself be so innocent was when I was fifteen before everything ended. Mike, my brother, had done his best to keep me safe for the most part. I guess he succeeded since I am still here.

Once Mike was gone. I took care of myself because I made a promise to him and at first, I even tried to be happy and move forward. We had taken in a small group of survivors, and they had a guy close to my age, Riley. He was nineteen years old. I had just turned seventeen and he was so sweet to me.

***

Riley walked up to me holding a bouquet of wildflowers. The biggest smile on his face.

“Happy Birthday, Raven.” He said, handing me the flowers. I was stunned for a moment, but then a smile crept onto my face, and I hugged him. The gesture alone was enough to get me choked up. I had never had a real birthday. He released me and as he stepped away, I noticed a tattoo on his arm, a fire breathing dragon.

“Riley they are so beautiful.!” I had never received flowers from anyone before.

I started spending more and more time with Riley, searching through the wreckage with him, talking, and going on secret adventures. When we spent time together, the world around us seemed to fade away.

Riley showed me a world I had not been aware of. He opened my eyes to a world where I could be safe and showed me a slight glimpse of happiness.

We Kept our days filled with short adventures and quiet conversation.

That's when I knew I had fallen for him. Even Mike noticed.

One day, soon after my birthday, Riley and I went on a hike to find supplies in one of the abandoned villages around us. We tiptoed around homes and only talked in whispers.

Riley pointed out a house with a tiny garden standing by the door. He tugged on my hand motioning me forward. He opened the door and dragged me in with him. The living room still had furniture and it was in pristine condition.

"It's like someone just left," I said slowly turning around. In the middle of the room stood Riley, but he was changing. His eyes were blazing red, and smoke was coming out of his mouth.

“Riley,” I screamed and backed away from him only to trip over a coffee table.

His expression softened and he took a hesitant step towards me, arms outstretched towards me. I flinched away, “Please Raven, it’s still me.” His voice was deep and husky, but I didn’t get the feeling that he wanted to hurt me.

“I am in love with you Raven.” His voice purred and my mouth opened. Shocked, I felt frozen despite the rise in temperature.

“What are you?” I questioned looking away embarrassed to ask.

I heard him laugh, “I am a dragon.” He said it like it was an everyday thing. I guess in the days we live in now it’s kind of. We sat and talked for hours like nothing had changed between us. I knew I couldn’t tell anyone else about this. They would kill him as soon as they found out.

“Come on I have a surprise for you.” He grabbed my hand and I felt giddy.

“Don’t worry it isn’t far.” The look on his stubbled face and the glow of his now blue eyes had my teenage heart racing.

So, I followed him. Like he said we did not go far. I was more focused on the small creek in front of us.

It was beautiful. The water was a clear blue. Not even saying anything, Riley pulled his shirt over his head and dove into the water. Tattoos adorned his body from shoulder to shoulder and down over his hard muscled chest and stomach flowing further down into places still hidden by clothing.

Laughing at him I did not hesitate to pull my shirt off and jump after him. The day had already been so hot the water felt perfect. We spent the rest of the day laughing and playing in the water.

***

"If you keep looking at me like that Raven, we might not make it back to the compound before the sun comes up." I snapped back to reality turned away from him to collect some of the ashes for Terra. She worked in the lab back at the compound. I wasn’t as close to Matt as some of the others, but I cared about all the residents at the compound.

When Mike and I showed up on the compound doorstep the only ones there were Dustin and his older brother Fredy. Fredy has always been a hard ass. Over the years he has complained about all the “strays,” as he calls them. Dustin has always had a way of getting him to give in. Dustin always said it was me he gave in to. I never saw it that way.

When Fredy left a couple of weeks ago to meet with another faction leader. They contacted us a month ago offering their support. He left me in charge when he left. I think he did it just to mess with Dustin.

“We need to get out of here before we are spotted by any others.” Rolling my eyes at him trying to be cute. Without thinking about it I scanned the area one last time.

“What the fuck.” There were at least five figures in the distance approaching us. Their laughter filled the night air and haunted me. I was not in the mood to deal with any of this.

“Look, no. Just don’t.” Dustin hadn’t noticed them yet.

“Okay great so you’re coming.”

“No, but they are.”

I stopped suddenly Dustin turning back-to-back with me. I heard his Glock being unholstered. I watched as they circled up. Caught off guard with no back up, we didn’t stand a chance.

"Well looks like we finally found us a tasty one." Instantly my eyes darted to the new figure approaching us.

“In your dreams.” I spat at him. We were outnumbered, but I guess we made it through worse.

The creature laughed slowly making his way closer to us. He was bigger than me, but not much bigger than Dustin. His dark eyes were piercing through the black mask he wore. He had on a nice suit that was slightly dirty, his long brown hair was tied up in a ponytail at the back of his head.

He stood there for what seemed like an eternity before finally speaking. “You are going to stop investigating in my territory.”

“Your territory?” I scuffed at him. They always thought they were so entitled to everything. “If I don’t want to.” I smirked at him when his eyes squinted in frustration.

“Let me just clear this up. I’m not going to stop.”

“Either you stop on your own.” He motioned towards the men now surrounding us. “Or my men will find a new solution.”

“You can try that if you would like.” I replied confidently.

The creature laughed darkly at my words, before pulling out a switchblade from his pocket and threw it at me.

I caught it easily and smiled at him. “Easy now. If I didn’t know any better, I would think you were trying to hurt me. Surely you wouldn’t want to do anything like that to little old me would you?” My eyes widened when he pulled out a gun and aimed it at my head.

“What do you think now?” He replied coldly before pulling the trigger.

The bullet flew through the air and hit me in the arm. I cried out in pain before looking down at my wound. My arm was bleeding heavily and there was no way that I could stop it on my own. The creature laughed again as he watched me struggle with the pain.

What he didn’t know was I saw a group of my men approaching in the distance and I was just biding our time until they could get close enough to help us.

The creature seemed to realize this as well because he looked over his shoulder in their direction. “You are smarter than I took you for. To bad it isn’t going to matter now.” He said before turning back around and aiming his gun at my head again.

I closed my eyes. I knew I wouldn’t make it, but my men would be saved in time. I heard gun fire and men screaming. I opened my eyes in shock. How was I not dead yet?

The answer was a six-foot mountain of a man ripping the masked mans throat out. “Darlin’ you alright?” His deep golden eyes had me sucking in my breath. He was stunning. He just saved my life. Blood was dripping down his fingers to pool in the dry sand at his feet.

He wasn’t human! “What are you?” I demanded standing up pointing my knife towards him now.

“Well now darlin’ I don’t think that’s how you should be thanking someone who just saved your fine ass.” He was toying with me, and it just made me see red.

His voice was like velvet and made my heart skip a beat. When he stopped an arm's length away from me it was too late. “Darlin’ surely now is not the time for questions.” He reached his hand out to me.

“What kind of game is this?” I slapped his hand away and stood up taking a fighting stance. “You’re one of them.”

I went to strike out at him with my blade forgetting all my training in my rage. The tip of my blade was millimeters away from his chest held in place. I tried to pull my hand back, but he was not having it. He pulled me to him twirling me around my back hitting his front. He never let go of my hand no matter how hard I fought him. 

"Feisty little kitten aren't you." He bent down breathing in my hair. I heard him purr and pure fear shot through me. 

"Get your fucking hands off her!" Dustin was seething with rage, his eyes glued on my capture. It's been six years since I have ever been bested and it had me reeling back to that time in my life before I was as strong as I was today. A part of me didn't want to fight this man though and it just made me angrier. 

"I will touch her all I want," He growled at Dustin. His hand traveled down over the outside of my breast. I moaned at his touch. I could not control it.

“Raven!” My eyes darted behind the werewolf to see Freddy running towards me. What the actual fuck was he doing here? Behind Freddy was what looked like a hoard of demons chasing him.

Dustin grabbed me to get me running, and we raced for the truck. While bullets flew by and clawed hands reached for us, we managed to make it back to the truck without too many scratches. Freddy and the werewolf who wouldn’t stop calling me Darlin’ were in the bed of the truck fighting off the demons that got too close.

Slamming the gates closed, we halted inside the compound garage. We had no clue what was in store for us, but I knew one thing for sure. The demons were becoming bolder and more dangerous. If we didn’t get this under control soon, we probably wouldn’t be in this fight much longer.