Beauty of a crystal

CHAPTER 12

The sound of her pounding footsteps echoed through the forest as she ran, her heart racing and her breath coming in quick, shallow gasps. Her legs pumped furiously, carrying her away from him as fast as they could.

She risked a quick glance over her shoulder but saw no sign of him. With a surge of adrenaline, she pushed herself to keep running, determined to put as much distance between them as possible.

Her heart was screaming for help. Her fear caused tears to stream down her cheeks. Without notice, she tripped on a root and fell face-first onto a rock.

As she attempted to rise and run, black dots clouded her vision. She let out a piercing scream as she struggled to stand, only to realize that her ankle was fractured.

She stumbled and fell to her knees, her hands landing on a bush of sharp thorns. The searing pain shot through her body, and she cried out in desperation, feeling her head throb as she started to lose consciousness, the world around her fading into darkness.

As she landed on the ground once more, she barely had time to gather herself before Vlad's sinister smirk loomed over her. At that moment, everything faded to black.

~♤~♤~♤~♤~♤~

Abigail remarked, leading Matthew and Xavier out of the private jet and into the waiting black limo, "You're back earlier than anticipated."

Matthew replied as the last one to get in, "That's because Xavier managed to drink our client to sleep."

Xavier snickered at Matthew's words.

Xavier settled in the car and asked, "How is she doing?" Abigail, who was skimming through her purple book, replied.

"Physically and mentally, she's at rest, but her soul is a little damaged from the separation. The only problem we might face is if she comes in contact with any vampire DNA."

Matthew looked at Abigail with a raised eyebrow, curiosity apparent on his face. "What happens if she comes in contact with vampire DNA?" he asked.

Abigail took a deep breath before answering. "Well, the human body is not designed to handle the unique properties of vampire DNA, so the result of such contact would be extremely painful for her."

Xavier furrowed his brow in confusion. "Painful? What kind of pain?"

Abigail looked thoughtful for a moment before responding. "It's hard to describe, but it's a burning sensation that spreads throughout the body. It's like nothing you've ever felt before."

Matthew and Xavier exchanged a concerned glance, both feeling a sudden pang in their hearts. "Is there anything we can do to prevent this from happening?" Matthew asked.

Abigail shook her head. "Unfortunately, no. The only way to avoid the pain is to avoid contact with vampire DNA altogether." She said, "Until you mark her and claim her as your mate. "

As they felt the stabbing sensation in their gut once more, they knew something was amiss. It was then that they heard Crystal's voice, distant yet unmistakable, calling out for help.

"Something's wrong with her," Matthew declared with a sense of urgency, as he quickly summoned the white dove. "We need to find her and make sure she is safe."

The dove took off into the sky, soaring high above as Xavier instructed the driver to speed up and make haste. They knew that time was of the essence, and they could not afford to waste even a single moment in finding Crystal.

As they raced towards their destination, their hearts were heavy with worry, and their minds were filled with countless questions, each more troubling than the last.