Riley Hayes | A Vampire Novel | Book 2

Chapter 14

Damian's pov

I ran as fast as my legs could carry me, Leia and Zera clutched tightly in my arms. Their tiny faces were pressed against my chest, their soft breaths mingling with my own ragged gasps. Every few seconds, I would glance over my shoulder, half-expecting to see Archie's menacing figure closing in on us.

"Shh, shh," I whispered through my tears, my voice trembling with each step. "It's okay, we're going to be alright. Mommy's going to be okay. Just stay quiet."

But even as I spoke, I could barely convince myself of the lie. My heart was a heavy weight in my chest, pounding in sync with the fear that seemed to wrap around me like a suffocating shroud. My mother—Riley—was back there, fighting to protect us, and it felt like I was running away from her, leaving her to face the monster alone.

The world around me blurred as I pushed forward, the once-familiar landscape now a series of indistinct shapes and shadows. Every creak of the night seemed to echo with danger, and the cold bite of the wind felt like it was cutting through to my very soul.

Archie was a monster, a beast with an insatiable hunger for destruction. I could still hear his laughter, a cruel and cold sound that seemed to haunt every corner of my mind. I remembered the way he had grabbed Riley, the way she had fought back with such fierce determination. She was trying to buy us time, and now I was running, fleeing from the very place she was sacrificing herself to protect us.

Leia's small hands gripped my shirt, her tiny fingers digging into my skin as if trying to hold on to some semblance of safety. Zera, ever the more fragile, was silent, her eyes wide and filled with confusion. I could feel their fear, their uncertainty, and it mirrored my own.

I stumbled, nearly losing my balance as the weight of my responsibility and the fear of losing my mother threatened to overwhelm me. I had to keep moving, for their sake if not for my own. I had to find a safe place, somewhere far from the horror that had erupted at home.

The sound of distant footsteps made me shiver, and I quickened my pace, desperately hoping that Leuca and Rayna would find us soon. The darkness seemed to press in on me from all sides, and every crack of a twig or rustle of leaves felt like an omen of the danger that might be closing in.

"Mommy, please," I whispered through my tears. "Please be safe. Please come back to us."

I felt like I had been running for hours, but my legs refused to stop. Every muscle in my body screamed for rest, but I couldn't give in. The promise I made to keep Leia and Zera safe was the only thing driving me forward, pushing me through the fear and exhaustion that threatened to overwhelm me.

Every breath I took was ragged, and my heart pounded like a war drum in my chest. The terror that gripped me was not just for my own safety but for the safety of the twins. I kept telling myself that I had to find my father, that he would know what to do, that he could save us all. But the reality of the situation was weighing heavily on me. My mother was fighting a monster, and I had to protect Leia and Zera from whatever was coming next.

The sound of footsteps—distant but unmistakable—cut through the night, sending a fresh wave of panic crashing over me. My breath hitched, and I looked over my shoulder, trying to pierce through the darkness. The last thing I needed was Archie catching up to us, closing the gap with that predatory, insidious grace of his.

"Please, Leia, Zera, stop crying!" I begged, my voice cracking under the strain. "Remember when we play hide and seek? You have to be quiet. We can't let them hear us. We need to stay hidden."

But their cries were relentless, piercing through the night air like sharp daggers of sound. Leia's wails were louder, a desperate sound that seemed to cut through the silence around us. Zera's sobs were softer but no less distressing, adding to the cacophony of fear that surrounded us.