Loving the enemy

Chapter 3

I stalk through the forest, tracking what I assume is a werewolf. As much as I try to focus, my thoughts keep wandering back to the boy from last night.

Mate, ha yeah right

I crouch down examining a large paw print imprinted into the soil. My fingers trace around the edge. The soil is still damp. The wolf is close. I continue to head in the direction I was going, noticing something chilling.

Blood.

The red liquid is thick on a large stone, splattering from there. Someone or something had their head smashed onto this rock. I hear whimpering behind a fallen tree. I slowly stalk closer to the noise, looking over the log and seeing the victim. It's a young girl, she is lying on the ground her head bleeding and legs broken. She looks up at me, extending a blood slick arm out to me.

"Help me.... please.." I jump the log and crouch beside her body. She looks no older than ten. The same age I was when I came out here.

"What did this to you?" I ask.

"They came early this year. They are looking for something" My eyebrows furrow, confused about what she is talking about. What came early? my eyes widen in shock as I suddenly understand what she is talking about.

"The vampires?" She nods, tears streaming down her face. "What do they want?"

"I dont know." she sobs "please help me." I get to my feet, panic seeping into my blood.

Able

"Im sorry, there is nothing I can do." I turn around, ready to run to my brother.

"Kill me then, please. Please." I turn to her, sympathy building in my core. I arm my crossbow as point it at her. She looks down at the ground, salty tears mixing in with the blood damp dirt.

Why is this so difficult? She is just a werewolf. I should just be able to kill her without a second thought. Maybe it is the face that she is begging for it.

This isn't a cold blooded murder

It is a mercy kill.

I fire the arrow through her skull, her sobbing halting abruptly. Confused tears brim in my eyes but I force them back. I don't have time for this. I need to get to Able. I turn from the body, running through the vegetation back to the house.

•••••

"Able!" I shout as I step inside. Within seconds he is in the same room as me, his eyes wide as he detects the panic in my voice. "Lock the doors, pull the blinds!" I pull one of the blackout curtains down, noticing him following my orders.

"What's happening?" He asks, terrified and confused. He pushes the couch over the trapdoor, blocking it shut.

"The fucking vampires are back." I pull down the ladder to our 'attic'. We climb up, closing it behind us.

"But they aren't meant to be here for another two months."

"Well they are here. They are looking for something, what it is though I have no idea." We made this place when we first came here. Hiding up in this room every time the vampires come to this part of the woods. They are much more dangerous than werewolves. Faster, smarter, less compassionate, more deadly. The room is covered in shelves, all of them covered with non perishable foods. There are two small beds for us, but they are so uncomfortable I prefer to sleep on the floor. In between the two beds is a large wooden box. It is filled with weapons. Stolen knives and guns. Nothing spectacular, but it is better than nothing.

"Do you think they will find us?" he asks.

"They never have, as long as we stay quiet they shouldn't even know we are here."