I run through the woods at an incredible speed, quickly dodging trees, but the enemy is still close, their footsteps heard clearly over the sound of wind and blood pumping loudly in my ears. My heart is racing almost as fast as my feet, my veins clearly seen through my skin, black, pulsing.
No, I'm not afraid, but I am in pain, doing my best to hold back the wolf that so eagerly wishes to run wild, free. But at the moment, I am not free.
I see an end to the woods just a few yards ahead, and I suddenly burst through the trees and into a field of wheat. I smile slightly as the wheat hits my arms, and I release the wolf. I run through the wheat that is now only half a foot taller than me. I hear hissing behind me and a scream, then the footsteps stop.
I take a moment to realize I smell verbena, and it's all around me. The wheat must be covered in verbena, I think. I smile at the thought and stop running.
Verbena, also known as vervain, made vampires weak. It burns their skin, dulls their powers.
I look behind me to make sure that no one has somehow followed me into the field, then I flatten my ears and run in the direction of the farmhouse I caught a glimpse of.
As I near the house I slow down and turn back to my human form. I am tame, as usual.
I jog the last few feet to the porch steps and knock on the door. I have a cut or two on my arm, but I ignore the stinging that just started.
Footsteps approach and the door opens, revealing a girl (about 15, maybe 17). She wears an over-the-shoulder gray, thin, baggy shirt and ripped skinny jeans. Her light brown hair tumbles down to her lower back, just around her waist, and her hazel eyes stare at me in distrust.
"Hello." I say, giving the girl a faint smile.
"What you doin' here?" she replies, a hint of an accent.
I gesture slightly to a few cuts on my arm. "The cuts sting badly from the vervain that has been sprayed on your wheat."
She stares at me, surprised, then opens the door fully and gestures for me to come inside.
"What are you? And how did you know?" she questions, her voice now gentle, dangerous, the hint of the accent gone. I smile and laugh quietly to myself.
"Well, don't you recognize a wolfblood when you see one, girl?" I turn and face her, smiling at the shock I had placed on her face. She gathers herself and closes the space between us, quickly unsheathing a silver dagger and holding it to my throat.
"Tame or wild?" she asks, her heart rate increasing.
"Put that dow-"
"Tame or wild?!" she interrupted, cutting my streak of Mr. Nice Guy short.
Her eyes glowed a dark purple, a strong authority within her words. I growl and swiftly grab the blade, cutting my hand as I shove it down and hold her back by her shoulder with my left hand.
"Wild if you attempt enforce that kind of authority upon me again, love." I release the blade, licking the blood from the cut on the palm of my hand. "Silver does not effect me, by the way."
The purple in her eyes fade back to hazel as she stares at me in fear. She drops the dagger and I look down at my arms in time to watch the black in my veins fade.
She hastily reaches down and grabs the dagger, putting it back where it was.
"So, what's your name, sweetheart?" I ask as walk past her and into the kitchen. I grab a damp rag from the counter and tend to the wound on my palm, leaning back against the counter.
