Chapter 11 – Grace

The feeling of being watched settles on my body, my steps slowing as I slowly move away from the water and off the gravel lining the river shores. I have a feeling someone is stalking me like prey and if I need to protect myself, I would rather do it on solid ground and not on gravel slick from the river water. Something inside me screams that this person is not wolf, leaving only two options – Fae or Vampire. I prefer the Fae.

Although I continue forward, I keep my senses alert for any movements that will come my way. If its Fae, I will have to stop moving and talk to them, reassure them I am not a threat and show them the token on my ear. If it is a vampire, I will have to be ready to fight to the death. The forest slowly quiets, the sounds of night life fading away until an earie silence is left. Taking a deep breath, I try to pinpoint where the threat is coming from, dodging backwards just in time for a black figure to come crashing by, smashing into the tree. Dropping my back pack, I eye the figure sprawled out on their back at the base of the tree waiting to see what will happen. Turns out I don’t have to wait long as they spring to their feet, turning to face me with blood red eyes and fangs dripping with venom. I have come face to face with the fledgling. The fledgling lets out a loud blood curdling scream before rushing me, swiping their claw like hands in my direction trying to land a blow. I carefully dodge, doing my best to stay on solid ground and lead the fledgling away from the river. I needed to find a sharp branch to spear them with and soon.

Deciding in a split minute, I turn my back on the fledgling and rush towards a fallen tree I spotted just after leaving the willow tree, hearing the fledgling thrashing around the bushes behind me, hunting me down. I will be a juice box for them soon if I can’t kill them. A snap to my right has me veering a hard left as the fledgling crashes into the spot I just vacated. Without a second thought, I continue sprinting towards the direction I remember the fallen tree being, turning to look back for a split second to see the fledgling stand, looking around confused with what appears to be a branch stuck in their abdomen. Good. This will slow it down. With a grin, I focus on the task at hand, pushing myself forward until finally I emerge from the bushes directly in front of my target and get to work ripping off a sturdy branch while listening to the forest and pin pointing where this fledgling is. With a loud crack, the branch I need comes off, the tip of it perfectly sharp. I’ll only have one chance to plunge this into the heart of my pursuer or pray some help arrives to kill it with me.

I don’t have to wait too long for the fledgling to track me down as the sounds of it thrashing through the brush, its shrieking loud and clear tells me it is coming and fast. Crouching, I position the branch and wait, making sure to keep my breathing even and calm my pounding heart. I think right now I would rather be dealing with a horny male than a deadly fledgling out of control.

Finally, the thing emerges, its body rushing towards me with new twigs stuck inside its skin slowing it down. I count each step it takes, smiling when the perfect time comes and I thrust the branch up into its chest. The fledgling releases a feral cry, forcing me to release the branch and cover my ears with a wince. But I keep watching it and smile as the skin where the branch is embedded in slowly cracks. The cracks continue to grow, getting bigger and bigger as micro fractures spread out from it like concrete being hit with a sledge hammer until finally pieces of the fledgling splinters off. The fledgling falls to its knees in front of me, reaching for my body in futile until it collapses, dead. When sunlight comes its body will burn into nothing but dust and ash.

Relieved I survived a fledgling, I lean back on the fallen tree behind me to catch my breath. If I make it out of this event alive, I will be demanding an award from the Ancient Eli for exterminating his mistake. After calming my frantic heart and catching my breath, I start the trek back to where I dumped my bag, happy to see that no one came by and took it the moment I spot the back pack. With a sigh of relief, I star my journey back up again. If any wolves were around, they most likely heard the commotion caused by the fledgling and would be on their way towards me right now. I have to get as far away as possible.

My mind wanders to what reward I may receive from Eli. Being an Ancient, he most likely has collected some good items over the years. Maybe I will ask for a few weapons or an expensive paint set. Maybe even a house of my own. Anything would be good really. I chuckle, letting my mind wander for a moment only to realize my mistake when string arms grab me from behind and I find myself pressed against a sturdy tree, a well toned body pressed into my back with signs of an erection grinding into my ass.

“Hello my dear prize.”