Chapter 25
Aaliyah
I turned my head to see Tristan on his phone. Biting my bottom lip, I returned my gaze to the woman, only to see her fleeing into the woods.
I began to follow her. The woman turned to stare at me with wide blue eyes. Her face was dirty, her dress stained with blood.
"Wait!" I called after her, running in high speed. I followed her to a point where she just vanished into thin air.
I exhaled sharply, looking around for her. It was then I realized I had wandered far from Tristan. I was lost in the forest.
My skin tingled with fear as Tristan's words echoed in my head. What if there are vampires around?
"Tristan?" I called out as I turned around, trying to find my way back. But I was lost.
I noticed subtle movements and scanned my surroundings. I shivered, wondering how I would escape if I was attacked by vampires or other creatures.
"Tristan!" I yelled, my voice echoing in the forest.
Then, a small girl, about nine years old, came into view. She was dressed in dirty old clothes. Her pale white skin was covered with dirt, and her hair looked like a bird's nest.
"Hi," I said quietly.
The girl nodded as she continued staring at me.
"My name is Ali."
The girl took a step backward.
"I'm not going to hurt you," I whispered. "I'm only lost. Can you help me find my way out of here?"
She didn't say anything, and it seemed as if she didn't understand what I had just said.
"Do you understand?"
She remained silent, her doe eyes wide. She looked thin, as if she hadn't eaten for days. How could a small child like her be in this forest?
Where are her parents? Had they come with us for hunting? I doubted it, as no parents would bring their children to the forest to hunt vampires. If she didn't belong here, then who was she?
She took another step backward.
"Are you familiar with this place?"
The girl nodded, and I sighed, inching closer to her.
"Can you lead me out of here?"
She didn't respond. As she took one step back, I inched closer.
"Where are your parents?"
What if they were dead, and she was left stranded in this forest? I felt bad for asking about her parents.
"It's not safe for either of us," I said, moving closer. "Can you show me the way?"
I closed the distance between us, reaching out to touch her wrist when I felt a biting cold seep into my skin. My eyes widened in shock as I realized who she was. The child was a vampire.
Before I could move away, she grabbed my wrist. I was shocked by how much strength she had. But then again, she wasn't human. Her eyes slowly darkened, and she peeled her lips back to reveal two sharp fangs. She hissed.
I yanked my hand away and stumbled back, falling to the ground. Before I could regain myself, I saw other vampires appearing from the woods. The child's presence had been a clever ruse to lure me in.
Vampires were real, and they were always hunting for blood, hiding in the dark during the day and hunting at night.
They surrounded me. I had no other option but to flee, even though deep down I knew there was no chance of escaping. I had heard they loved the chase before feeding on their prey.
They closed in, their eyes consumed with darkness, their fangs bared.
Before I knew it, one of the vampires lunged at me. Cold hands wrapped around my neck, pressing me down.
But the hand slipped free from my neck, and so did his body.
Tristan.
I caught sight of one side of his face as he flung the vampire, ripping his heart from his chest.
He was angry.
"Tris—"
"Don't," he cut me off. "Not a word from you.*
I scrambled to my feet, walking away from the scene.
"Lycan!" one of the vampires spat as they all lunged at him at once. In the blink of an eye, Tristan had ripped their hearts out, impaling some of them against a tree.
I caught sight of the small child as she turned around, running to the other side of the forest.
Tristan exhaled sharply as he slowly turned in my direction, his hands dripping with vampire blood.
Then he closed the distance between us. "I wouldn't have any problem with you if you just behaved and followed my rules."
"I'm not a child," I frowned.
"Well then, why didn't you help yourself out of this mess?" he asked.
When I didn't respond, he took out a white handkerchief from his pocket, wiping the blood from his hands. He always had kerchief with him.
"You were standing in an evil forest where vampires live. Do you know how many live here?" he asked. "You saw how pale their skin had become. It's because they haven't fed in days. You should count yourself lucky that I found you quickly."
Discarding the handkerchief, he stared at me intensely. "Are you hurt?"
"No," I shook my head.
He sighed. "I was worried when I didn't found you at my side."
"I am here now."
A tight smile appeared on his face.
Without warning, he leaned closer, brushing his lips against mine. My lips immediately parted, letting him in. Though the kiss had come suddenly, I didn't pull away.
I felt him tremble as I placed my hand on his chest. I slowly moved my hands to his neck, pulling his collar closer. He shuddered as he squeezed my waist, a low growl rumbling from his throat.
I bit my lower lip as he pulled back, my hands slipping down to his chest, feeling something rough.
"Scars," I said, running my fingers over them. "How did you get them?"
"Lucian," he said.
I frowned slightly. "Was the fight that tough?"
"When two powerful Lycans fight, what do you think happens?" he asked. "Not only from Lucian though. Over all the years I have spent on earth, I've fought many."
I dipped my head, pressing a small kiss on one scar. "It's beautiful."
"You haven't seen them all yet."
"I know. Still, it's beautiful."
He smiled. "Let's get back to camp before more of those creatures return."