39. Violet

39

VIOLET

The forest stretches endlessly around us, a maze of twisted trees and shadows. My newly heightened vampire senses are in overdrive, picking up every rustle of leaves, every scurrying creature in the underbrush. It's overwhelming but exhilarating at the same time.

Thorne walks beside me, his presence a comforting anchor in this sea of unfamiliarity. I think back to the moment in my mind when he helped me break free. The strength and belief he showed in me... it's changed something fundamental between us.

"How are you holding up?" Thorne asks softly, his eyes scanning our surroundings even as he checks on me.

I take a moment to consider the question. How am I holding up? It feels like I've lived a lifetime since I was locked in that room, struggling against Nathaniel's influence .

"I'm okay," I finally reply. "Different, but okay. It's like I can feel everything more intensely now. Not just physically, but emotionally too. Grasping the full power of the vampire inside me instead of scratching the surface and hoping it would go away has been life-changing in more ways than one. Thank you for showing me that it was possible and that I wouldn't lose myself in the process."

"We would never let you lose yourself, Vi. Mind if I call you Vi? You are special to us, and we would be nothing without you."

I grin at him. "You can call me Vi. It's been a while since anyone did. What can I call you?"

His eyes heat up, and I feel my cheeks explode into two hot patches. "You can call me anything you fucking want, as long as you call me."

"Oh, for fuck's sake," Flint groans. "That is so fucking lame."

"But true," Thorne snorts, and I giggle like a lunatic, glad to have something lighten the mood, even a little bit.

"Something's up ahead," Caine murmurs as we break through a particularly dense patch of trees and find ourselves in a small clearing. In the centre stands a dilapidated cabin, its wooden walls weathered by time and the elements.

"This looks promising for when the sun rises," Thorne says, moving towards the structure.

I look up at the heavy canopy of leaves overhead. " Don't think we'll need it for that, but at least we are out of sight."

"I'm not risking your life on a maybe," he returns, suddenly pulling me close and brushing his lips over my hair.

I shiver in his arms and look up at him. He gazes down at me, that same heat in his eyes that made me blush only moments ago. I want to stand on my tiptoes and kiss him, see what it feels like, but he runs his thumb over my bottom lip and lets me go with a soft sigh.

Frustration and disappointment hit me. He and Caine are being too restrained. I know I should be glad they aren't pushing their luck or pressuring me, but the truth of the matter is that I wish they would.

Trying to push my disappointment aside, I follow Caine to the cabin, my vampire sight easily picking out details in the darkness. The cabin is old, but sturdy. The roof seems intact, and the door, though hanging slightly askew, is still on its hinges.

Thorne pushes the door open carefully, peering inside before motioning for me to follow. The interior is sparse - a single room with a dusty table, a couple of chairs, a narrow bed with a flat mattress and an ancient fireplace.

"It's not much, but it'll do for now," Thorne says, closing the door behind us. He mutters something under his breath, and I feel a ripple of magick wash over the cabin. "Just a simple warding spell," he explains at my questioning look. "It should keep us hidden for a while."

I nod, sinking into one of the chairs. Now that we've stopped moving, the events of the night crash over me like a wave. I feel drained, physically and emotionally.

Caine goes to the fireplace and throws a ball of what looks like ice lightning into it. A fire sprouts up, with blue and white flames licking at the edges of the hearth. The fire gives off a heat that surprises me and actually warms my cold bones.

Thorne opens his mouth to say something, but before he can speak, a bone-chilling howl splits the air outside, seemingly from a distance. We all freeze, my vampire hearing picking up the sound of multiple sets of feet approaching rapidly.

"What is that?" I whisper, fear creeping into my voice.

Thorne's expression is grim as he stands, moving towards the grimy window. "Trouble," he says simply. "Looks like we've got company."

I join him at the window, my night sight easily piercing the darkness outside now. What I see makes my blood run cold. Monstrous creatures are emerging from the trees - twisted, wolf-like beasts with glowing red eyes and slavering jaws.

"Werewolves?" I ask, my voice shaking slightly.

Thorne shakes his head. "Worse. Feral weres. They've lost all humanity, driven mad by the curse. They're nothing but beasts now, and they're hungry. "

As if to emphasise his point, one of the creatures lets out another bone-chilling howl. The others join in, creating a cacophony of terror that sets my nerves on edge.

"How did they find us?"

"Good question. But they did."

"What do we do?" I ask, surprising myself with the steadiness in my voice.

Thorne looks at me grimly. "We fight," he says simply. "Are you up for it?"

For a moment, fear crashes over me, but then I remember the strength I found in that room, the power I felt when I broke free of Nathaniel's influence. I'm not the same scared girl playing at being a vampire that I was before. I'm a real vampire now, with abilities I'm only beginning to understand.

"Yes," I say, meeting Thorne's gaze with determination. "I'm ready."

A small smile tugs at Thorne's lips. "That's my girl," he says softly. Then, louder, "Okay, here's the plan. I'll take the lead with my shadow magick, Violet, you watch my back. Flint, you take the right flank, and Caine, cover our left. Use your speed and strength, but be careful. These creatures are dangerous, even to a vampire and Dragon."

We all nod, a surge of adrenaline coursing through our veins. As Thorne moves towards the door, we fall into formation, our senses on high alert.

The moment we step outside, chaos erupts. The feral weres charge at us, their massive forms barrelling through the underbrush. Thorne springs into action, shadows swirling around him as he meets the first creature head-on. Flint's eyes glow with Snow Dragon fire as he faces off against two weres, while Caine's hands frost over, ice spreading across the ground beneath his feet. He raises his cane, and I wait for the magick to burst free but snort when he swings and hits one of them on their big square head. It howls, and Caine flashes a grin.

"Yes, I'm petty enough to use it as a bat as well."

"Nice," I say and then a snarling were lunges at me. Instinct takes over, and I move with a speed and agility that has heightened immeasurably tonight.

How about you try and get to me now, you creepy, gross, arsehole?

Silence.

Thought so, fucker.

With a yelp, I focus and dodge the creature's initial attack, feeling its claws whistle past my face. Without thinking, I lash out, my fist connecting with its jaw with a satisfying crunch. The were staggers back, momentarily as stunned as I am. I shake it off and press my advantage.

But these creatures are tough, and my momentary victory is short-lived. The were recovers quickly, its red eyes blazing with fury as it charges at me again. This time, I'm not quite fast enough. Its claws rake across my arm, tearing through fabric and skin.

Pain flares, hot and sharp, but it's quickly replaced by a surge of anger. How dare this beast hurt me? I feel my fangs extend further, an action I didn't realise was possible. They slice into my lower lips as I snarl, a growl rumbling in my chest that resounds around the forest and gives the weres pause.

For about a second.

Then all hell breaks loose. All of them ignore the guys and turn to me.

"Oh, fuck," I mutter and brace for impact.

With the extra enhanced strength that has sprouted up in the last few hours I grab the closest were by its throat, my claws digging into stinky matted fur. I can feel its pulse racing beneath my hand, smell the feral stench of its breath. For a moment, I'm tempted to sink my fangs into its neck, to drain it dry.

But Thorne's voice cuts through the haze of bloodlust. "Violet! Behind you!"

I spin, still gripping the were. It yelps as I swing it around and inadvertently smack another were with it, sending it ricocheting through the dense underbrush to hit a tree near Caine's head.

"Oh, nice snowdrop. You've got some oomph, haven't you?"

I don't have time to respond as another beast leaps towards me. Without thinking, I use the were I'm holding as a missile, throwing it into its packmate. The two creatures go down in a tangle of limbs and snarls.

Thorne flies past me as another were tries to attack me, slamming into it as they tumble to the ground. His clothes are torn and splattered with blood, but his eyes are shining with an almost feral glee. "Not bad for your first fight," he says, a hint of pride in his voice.

I grin back, feeling alive in a way I never have before.

As if in answer, more howls echo through the forest. Flint, breathing heavily and sporting a nasty gash on his arm, that heals even as I stare at it, joins us. "There's too many of them," he says, his voice tight with concern. "And for some reason, they are all focused on you."

Caine nods in agreement, ice crystals melting from his hair. "We need to run," he adds grimly.

I nod, understanding the gravity of the situation. As exhilarating as the fight has been, we're outnumbered and in unfamiliar territory.

"Which way?" I ask, ready to follow their lead.

Thorne points deeper into the forest. "I can smell a river about a mile that way. If we can reach it, we might be able to throw them off our scent."

"You can smell it?" I ask in surprise.

"Nature is my thing, you'll learn, vampy Vi. Hit the road."

Without another word, we take off running. My vampire speed kicks in, and the forest becomes a blur around me as I lose the guys in my haste to get away. I can hear the weres pursuing us, their howls growing more frenzied as they give chase.

As we run, I marvel at how different I feel. The fear is still there, but it's overshadowed by a new confidence. I'm no longer the helpless victim I was when Nathaniel turned me. I'm stronger now, faster, more capable.

Despite the danger, I feel a sense of exhilaration. The sound of rushing water reaches my ears, growing louder with each passing second. I burst through a line of trees and find myself on the bank of a swift-moving river.

I skid to a stop when I see the three guys waiting for me with exasperated expressions.

"What? How?"

"We can move through time and space, baby girl," Flint says. "But none of us could catch you for long enough to keep a hold on you."

"Well," I huff and turn around to see the weres coming straight at us.

"Jump!" Thorne yells, launching himself into the air.

We follow without hesitation, our enhanced strength carrying us far out into the rushing current. I hit the cold water and gasp. It's icy even to my vampire body. I take a deep breath right before the cold water rushes over my head.

Sinking to the bottom, I let my body relax, and I let the current carry me downstream, away from the howls of the frustrated weres.

We've escaped, for now, and in doing so, I've discovered a strength within myself that thrills me beyond anything else, ever. It's like I was made to be this thing, this creature of the night.

As we finally drift to the riverbank, I pull myself out of the river, soaked but safe, I flop to the ground.

"So, if you guys can vanish into thin air and reappear again wherever the fuck you want, why in the living hell did we just jump into a river?" I pant, shoving my hair out of my face.

"Because they have our scent now, and they will track us to the ends of the earth," Flint rasps, shaking out his hair. "The river will confuse them for a while."

"And before? Why did we have to beat through the forest to get to the wards?"

"The magick stops our powers," Caine says. "We can use them within the MistHallow campus up to a point, but it's dampened. It's not intentional, merely a side effect of the magick. After that, we had no clue where to go. Walking was easier and safer."

"Ah, okay. I guess I have a lot to learn," I say, rolling onto my side to stare at him laid out next to me.

"But you have an eternity to do it."

That moment right there is when I realise something. For the first time since Nathaniel turned me, I'm not afraid of what I've become. I'm a vampire, yes, but I'm still me, and that me is capable of so much more than I ever imagined.

I may not have chosen this life for myself, but it's mine now, and I'm going to make the best of it.