3

My fingers pressed against the keys, writing faster, rawer, the laptop humming beneath my fingers’ touch.

A few days later, I found myself in the woods behind the fortress. Frustrated**,** I began pushing my way through the swaying arms of the trees**,** at the same time**,** trying to brush off the clinging vines**.** But the foliage grabbed at me with needy fingers as I tried to work my way through the thick of them**.** When a particularly persistent vine wrapped its way around my arm**,** I jerked at it**.** But holding tight**,** it refused to let go**.** With an irritated  snort**,** I tugged harder**,** and when the vine recoiled with offense**,** I grumbled**, “Damn,** but you**’re sensitive today!”**

I could feel the emotions of all the plant life within the forest**,** and though I knew I had hurt the vine**’s feelings,** I didn**’t have time to deal with its sulking.** Javaleen**,** my stepmother**,** had sent me to the forest  to gather a special flower**.**

Why she couldn**’t have done it herself,** was beyond me**,** but that was Javaleen**,** always wanting  me to do her job**;** she felt it was beneath her now that she had been elevated to a Potion Maker within the compound**.** She was one of six Potion Makers**’** residing within the Laraque Coven that brewed the mixtures**.** And as she still considered me a low level witch**,** I**’d been designated by her to gather herbs.**

As the call of a bird brought me out of my thoughts**,** I shot an eye toward the sky**,** taking in the quickly changing light through the leaves of the canopies**.** The pinks and oranges of the rising sun painted the sky**,** and I shook my head at my tallying within the forest**.** The action had caused me to be late**,** and with the breaking of dawn**,** I was sure to have to answer for the lateness of the hour**.** Javaleen was supposed to have had a brew made before sunup for Redakai and his coven members**,** and because of me**,** the potion wasn**’t made.** I would be punished for my tardiness**.**

As I gazed through the canopy**,** I debated not even returning**,** instead just remaining here within the forest**.** I knew what awaited me**…Redakai…and he didn’t like me.** In fact**,** I wasn**’t even sure why he had bought me in the first place;** I had been of little benefit**.**

He had made it clear from the moment he had brought me to his fortress**,** that he**’d just as soon rip my throat open as have me anywhere near him.** The feeling was mutual**.** He was just too**…too…everything!** Too big**,** too handsome**,** too maddening**,** too**…** dangerous**.**

All Vampires were killers**,** but Redakai**,** by the Goddess**,** Redakai was unlike any of the others**.** When he killed**,** he was**…** merciless**.** I had seen him take on three**,** four**,** even five werewolves at a time**,** ripping their bodies in half with a single twist**,** a feat that I had never witnessed any other vampire accomplish**.**

As well**,** I**’d seen him take on rival vampires,** his speed and ability unparalleled**.** But**,** I feared his silence the most**.** It never boded well for anyone**,** and I could only pray that it wasn**’t that silence that awaited me when I arrived home.**

With coaxing, the vine loosened slightly, and I took the opportunity to slip my arm out, feeling the sting of its parting embrace. The forest was eerily quiet, almost as if it were holding its breath. I picked up my pace, the pressure of my stepmother and Redakiai’s wrath pushing me forward.

The smells of the earth and the dew grew stronger as the sun climbed higher in the sky. The air grew warm, and the scent of the flower and herbs I’d gathered grew faint under the cloying perfume of the flowers that were just beginning to open their petals. I had to get back before the sun’s rays grew too powerful.

As the forest began to lighten around me, the shadows of night retreated from the floor, allowing the first light of dawn to kiss the earth. The leaves of the trees looked like they were on fire as the light danced across them. I was so close, and yet, it felt like I was still an eternity away.

I could feel the eyes of the forest upon me, the animals watching my every move. The birds grew silent, and the rustling of the leaves grew more intense as the wind picked up. A strange occurrence within the forest.

Behind me, a twig snapped and my heart jumped into my throat.

Reliving the moment, I continued to type.

The forest had never been this quiet before, and the sudden silence had begun making me uncomfortable. Slowly, apprehensively, I turned in the direction of the noise, but all I saw was the gentle swaying of branches and the soft dance of leaves.

It could have been nothing, a deer or a rabbit, but fear coiled in my stomach. The war between the Laraques and the Olympus, a particularly nasty pack of werewolves, and the Laraque coven’s enemy, was never far from anyone’s mind. The forest had become a battleground more than once over the centuries.

Quickening my pace, and with the basket of herbs and flowers I held banging against my leg, I ran. The day was growing lighter with every second that passed. And just beyond the horizon, the sun was about to rise in full, and I was still in the forest. The newly born vampires needed the potion to survive, and if not made quickly, I would be the cause of their death.

Panic set in, and I pushed myself harder. I had to get back to the coven.

The sound of paws thudding against the earth grew louder. I didn’t dare look back, but I knew what was coming. The forest had given way to reveal a clearing, and I sprinted towards it, hoping beyond hope that it was just a figment of my imagination. But it wasn’t. The paws grew closer, and a deep, guttural growl echoed through the trees, sending chills down my spine. I could feel the hot breath on the back of my neck, and the stench of wet fur and blood filled my nose.

I tripped over an exposed root, my basket flying out of my grasp. The contents scattered everywhere, and I went sprawling, my hands skidding through the dirt. The creature was almost upon me, the vibrations of its paws sending tremors through the ground. I rolled over onto my back, ready to face whatever monstrosity had been chasing me, and saw the largest wolf I’ve ever laid eyes on. Its fur was mottled with various shades of grey, and its eyes glowed a fierce yellow, and it was not alone.

The pack surrounded me, and their eyes bore into me**, hungry and wild. I knew what they saw. Not a witch, but prey. The biggest of them all, the pack’s alpha, took a step forward, its teeth bared. The others followed his lead, their eyes never leaving me. They had caught the scent of fear, and they liked it.**