I strolled through the bustling streets by the river, the hustle of life swirling around me. A sudden chill prickled the hairs on the back of my neck. Instinctively, I turned, my gaze scanning the crowded streets in search of the source of my unease.
And then, a figure rushed past me in a blur of motion, and their presence sent a jolt of recognition coursing through my veins. A halo of golden hair-streaked by, and if my heart still beat, it would have faltered at the sight of Vail.
I stood frozen for but a moment, then reacted. Pulling my hood low, I followed her. An impulse surged within me to call out her name, but I stifled it. She believed I was dead. It pained me to know I couldn’t speak to her, couldn’t embrace her. Silently, I trailed behind her through the bustling crowd, wondering why she had ventured so far from home.
She pressed on, her steps carrying her farther toward the docks. At one point, she paused and looked around. I saw a drunken sailor passed out on a pile of sacks and I straddled him; if she were to look at us, she wouldn’t see anything but two lovers in the night. I perched on my prey, waiting until I could no longer hear Vail’s footsteps. My intention was to pursue her once more, but my bloodlust surged too fiercely. With a weak human beneath me, what choice did I have?
I sank my fangs into his neck and allowed his blood to flow into me. When I was satisfied, I got up and turned around. I felt a trickle of blood running down my chin. Suddenly, I was blinded by a burning light.
With a hiss of pain, I shielded my face, but before I could react further, an invisible force wrestled control from me, pinning my limbs at my sides with an unyielding grip. Panic surged through me and as I struggled against the unseen restraint, my mind raced with fear. I felt someone reach for my hood and throw it back away from my face, the light still blinding and burning my eyes.
“Not possible” I heard a familiar voice say. The light dimmed and Vail stood staring back at me, her blue eyes wide and her fingers glowing with a faint golden light.
“Shape shifter, reveal yourself!” With a determined air, Vail stepped forward, her movements deliberate as she began to murmur an incantation.
Frustrated, Vail threw her hands toward me, and a force of wind knocked me over. I hit the ground with a painfulthud, unable to break my fall with my arms. Standing above me, she peered down, her boot pressing firmly against my chest. With a wooden stake extracted from her boot, she held it poised above my heart. Even in my winded state, I could see tears streaming down her face.
“You have three seconds to tell me what is going on, or I will kill you,” she declared, her resolve unwavering despite the tears that stained her cheeks.
“Vail, I need your help,” I said.
She rose to her feet, and from her pocket she drew a closed fist, then opened it to release a handful of smoky, pungent powder. With a single breath, she blew it into my face. My eyelids grew heavy, and I fell asleep.
I awoke in a small room. Simple wood furniture decorated the place, and tattered curtains covered the window. The murmur of voices drifted from downstairs, indicating I was lodged at an inn. I tried to get up, but my body was physically tied to the bed by thick rope. Dryness clawed at my throat.
Vail sat in the corner, her form shrouded in the dim light of the room. She was sharpening a wooden stake, her coat draped over the back of the chair. She was wearing a dark blue dress that nearly blended into the shadows, holding herself with practised composure. Yet her red, tear-swollen eyes betrayed her.
“Vail—” I began, but she cut me off.
“Rosalia, what did you do?” she said using my full name. She never used my full name.
“Please, Vail, let me explain.”
“Explain?You want to explain how you had me believing my best friend was dead for months? How I mourned you, had to tell my grandmother and the whole town that you were gone? Only to discover you are a Blood Hunter—a monster who not only killed our fathers but your own mother, too?” She got up, her anger propelling her forward. She held the wooden stake tightly in her grasp. “What if I do not want to hear your explanation? I could kill you right now, you know.”
“I understand, but please, listen for a moment.”
I had to tell her the truth.
Vail closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and nodded slightly, signalling me to speak.
I recounted every detail; I spoke of Draven’s research, of Dr. Montgomery’s drunken visit to our home, the way I felt when I found out that my husband was a Blood Hunter. Each word felt like a burden lifted from my shoulders, yet the vulnerability of my admission left me feeling exposed.
Tears welled in my eyes as I confessed how I was attacked and kidnapped, how Draven turned me into a Blood Hunter at my own request, my words heavy with shame. I spoke of the hunger that gnawed at my insides, the innocent lives I had taken.
Then I asked her for help; I pleaded for any assistance to free myself from my relentless bloodlust. As I spoke, a faint whisper teased at the edges of my mind, wishing that perhaps Vail would take pity on me, that she would release me from the confines of my restraints and offer me a chance to run away.
When I finished, we sat in silence, the weight of our words hanging heavy in the air between us. I saw the truth reflected in Vail's eyes—a truth that cut deeper than any blade. The rapid beat of Vail's heart echoed in the stillness.
“You lied to me,” she finally said, her voice laced with accusation and betrayal.
“I am deeply sorrowful. I believed it would be for the best, for both of us. Though I was mistaken.”
“After you left, Imalda came to my grandmother’s house and handed me the letter. I have never felt such heartbreak.” Her voice quivered as she took a deep breath. “Though a flicker inside me knew something was wrong. I did not believe the lies that filled the page. I went to Thornwood and Imalda tried to convince me that everything was all right. I knew you were not dead. I suspected Draven took his new bride away,” she said.
“Draven is kind and a good man. Yes, he can be complicated. However, he is not a monster.”
Vail sat there not convinced. “What are you doing here anyway?” I asked when she didn’t speak.
