Scene 1: Kingdom of Worlds

Chapter 5: Captured

Jayce and I are hauled by the Vamiry down the aisle and past the terrified passengers shrinking back into their compartments. No one tries to interfere or help us. I don't blame them. Levi is the king of Devilyn after all. The dude that gave us tickets wobbles sideways to let our congregation pass, shock and fear tainting his features.

The Vamiry which has a hold of me shoots him a warning glare as the door to the train opens, and I'm shoved out into the cold air. I assume this Vamiry is the boss and trusted adviser to Levi.

I yank my arm free as the rest of the Vamiry, along with Jayce, join us outside.

My brows furrow at the sight before me. We haven't stopped at a train station or anything. All I can see is the dark forest surrounding us, tree branches above blocking the daylight out. The leaves rustle, a cool breeze slithering down my spine.

I startle as the train we just exited lets out a loud chuff, a billow of smoke blown in our faces, before crawling away down the winding train tracks. Soon enough the forest has swallowed it whole.

There's a long drawn breath of silence while my brain struggles to make sense of what is happening.

Jayce is stoic beside me, an unmoving statue. Eventually the head Vamiry turns to me, smiling with his fangs, and reaches over for me. I flinch back, but his cold, spider-like fingers close over my wrist, jerking me forward.

Jayce growls, fists clenching, teeth grinding. The other Vamiry step closer, flanking him, a clear warning. He doesn't pounce.

"This way, then." The one with a firm grip on me motions to the forest with his free hand. "Levi's waiting."

I follow him silently, glaring at the back of his head and mob of dark brown hair, and together we all enter under the canopy of twisting trees. Straining to look over my shoulder, I lock eyes with Jayce. He nods reassuringly. But I know there's nothing he can do or say that will calm my racing heart. I left my backpack of supplies on the train and am cursing myself that I didn't change out of this horrid yellow dress when I had the chance. Now the cold from enclosing shadows seeps through my coat and into my bones.

We trudge along, farther into the forest. There's nothing immensely different with the trees in Devilyn compared to Earth. The only slight change is the darkness and depth of them. They seem to ooze black inky shadows from their roots and bark. I shudder, stumbling over a protruding root. The Vamiry yanks me forward, marching at a speed my shorter legs struggle to keep up with. The silence is suffocating. Even if I wanted to speak I wouldn't be able to, my words stifled before they've even left my lips.

All light vanishes and soon my eyes cease to make out even shadows of trees. The only thing guiding me forward is the cold grip of the Vamiry. I frown. How can he possibly see where we're going?

But my question is answered when he glances over his shoulder to check the rest of the group haven't fallen behind. I gasp involuntarily. Two glowing red eyes peer at me through the dark, the only source of light in this forest. The Vamiry has night vision. He catches me staring and a sly smirk spread across his lips.

"You can't hide from a Vamire. Not even at night."

I don't doubt it.

Another angonizing hour passes with me stumbling blindly along with these night vision, fanged freaks and Jayce, who has gone deathly silent. We're kept far enough apart that we can't communicate, not even with our gazes.

At last my tired eyes spot a flickering, orange light up ahead. A fire. As we draw closer I hear the crackling of burning branches and the heat of licking flames.

I'm nudged forward by the Vamiry, and hesitantly I step into the awaiting clearing. All heads snap our way as we approach. I count at least twenty other Vamire bustling around a raging fire. But they all stop what they're doing to watch our small group enter. The head Vamiry sidles up, dragging me along behind him, and the others urge Jayce forward as well. As we reach the center of the clearing I finally make out the shadow of tents dotted around in small groups. There's enough of them to accommodate a small army. I have no doubt that one belongs to Levi.