The sun barely pierced the thick canopy of trees as we walked deeper into the forest, each step sinking into the damp earth. The mist clung to the air like it was trying to suffocate us, and the wind howled through the narrow mountain pass. It had been hours of walking with nothing but the sound of our boots and my constant complaints.
"You sure this is the way?" I asked for the tenth time, rubbing my hands together to keep warm.
"Yes, Eli," Sebastian replied without even turning around. His voice was flat, but there was an edge to it. "The sanctuary is close."
"Define close," I muttered under my breath. "Because my feet are about to file a complaint."
Luna, who was walking slightly ahead, shot me a sideways glance. "You do know whining doesn't make the distance shorter, right?"
"I'm not whining. I'm just pointing out that this whole quest thing would be much easier with teleportation," I said, grinning at her. Her lips quirked up slightly, but her eyes were still sharp, scanning the trees.
We continued on, the silence between us heavy with anticipation. The forest had taken on an eerie quality, the trees now twisted and gnarled, their branches like skeletal hands reaching out toward us. I tried to shake off the unsettling feeling creeping up my spine, but something wasn't right. Even the air tasted wrong.
I glanced at Luna, who seemed tense too. Her eyes, normally filled with a mix of playfulness and intensity, were now filled with focus. She had been quiet all day, her jaw clenched, muscles coiled like a spring ready to snap. Whatever was out there, she could feel it too.
"You guys notice how quiet it is?" I asked, trying to sound casual, but my voice was tight. "Like, no birds. No animals. Just… nothing."
Luna's eyes flicked toward me, her brow furrowing. "Yeah, I've noticed. Something's not right."
Before I could respond, Sebastian suddenly stopped, holding up a hand. We froze, our eyes darting around, listening for whatever had triggered his attention.
"Get ready," he said, his voice low and ominous.
"For what?" I whispered, my heart racing. "Because if this is some kind of vampire bullying ritual, I'll pass, thanks."
A guttural growl echoed through the trees, and my blood ran cold. The hairs on the back of my neck stood on end, and I could feel the ground vibrate with the thudding of heavy footsteps. Whatever was coming, it wasn't friendly.
And then, out of the mist, it appeared.
A massive, black-furred beast, easily the size of a car, emerged from the trees. Its eyes glowed a sickly yellow, and its fangs gleamed like daggers. It was hunched over, all muscle and fury, with claws that looked like they could rip through steel. And those eyes—dead, soulless—locked onto me like I was its next meal.
"Oh, fantastic," I muttered. "A monster straight out of my nightmares. Just what we needed."
The beast roared, shaking the trees, and lunged at us with terrifying speed. Before I could even think, Sebastian was in front of me, his sword drawn, meeting the creature head-on. The sound of steel clashing with bone echoed through the forest as he parried its attack, pushing it back.
"Stay behind me!" Sebastian growled, but Luna was already moving.
With a swift motion, she drew her twin daggers, her eyes blazing with determination. "You handle the left; I'll take the right," she said to Sebastian as she darted around the creature, slashing at its legs with precision.
I stood there, useless, watching the two of them move like they had done this a thousand times before. It was both terrifying and impressive. I felt a pang of frustration—here I was, supposed to be unlocking some grand destiny, and I couldn't even fight a giant monster without hiding behind my friends.
The beast howled in pain as Luna's blades found their mark, but it wasn't backing down. It whipped its massive tail around, catching Luna off guard and sending her crashing into a tree. She hit the ground hard, her face contorting in pain, but she quickly pushed herself up, eyes blazing with defiance.
"Luna!" I shouted, rushing toward her, but she waved me off.
"I'm fine!" she snapped, wiping the blood from her lip. "Focus on the damn beast!"
The creature charged again, its eyes wild with rage. Sebastian moved to intercept, but before he could strike, several arrows whistled through the air, embedding itself into the beast's side. The monster let out a mighty scream, thrashing wildly as it collapsed to the ground, twitching.
I blinked, trying to process what just happened, when a figure stepped out of the shadows, bow in hand.
"Well, well," the man said, his voice smooth and mocking. "Looks like I saved your hides."
Sebastian tensed immediately, his eyes narrowing. "Black Order," he growled, his grip tightening on his sword.
The man grinned, his eyes gleaming with malice. "Good to see my reputation precedes me."
Luna stepped forward, her daggers still at the ready. "You have no business here."
"Oh, but I do," the man said, twirling his bow lazily. "The Order has business with your little vampire friend. Eli, right? They'll pay handsomely for your head."
I swallowed hard, feeling the weight of his gaze. "Great. Just what I needed. Another psycho bounty hunter."
The man drew another arrow, aiming it straight at me, his eyes cold. "It's nothing personal, kid. Just business."
Before he could release the arrow, Sebastian moved with lightning speed, closing the distance and slashing at the man. Their blades clashed, sparks flying as they fought. It was a brutal, fast-paced dance of steel, but Sebastian's skill was undeniable. Within moments, he had disarmed the assassin and knocked him to the ground, his sword at the man's throat.
"You won't be collecting any bounties today," Sebastian said coldly, before knocking the man unconscious with a swift blow to the head.
I exhaled shakily, the adrenaline still coursing through me. "Well, that was fun."
"Fun's just getting started," Luna said, wiping the blood from her lip again. "We need to move. Others will come."
Sebastian nodded. "The sanctuary is just ahead."
And so, we pushed on, leaving the unconscious spy behind. As the forest finally gave way to an open clearing, there it was—the sanctuary. A massive stone structure, half-hidden in the mountainside, covered in ancient symbols that glowed faintly in the dim light.
We finally made it.
But as I stared at the imposing entrance, a sense of dread settled in my chest. The trials were about to begin, and something told me the real danger was only just starting.
"Welcome to the deep end, Eli," I muttered to myself. "Hope you can swim."