Chapter 16

"We're almost there," Stacy said over her shoulder. Her voice breaking the stillness.

"How much further?" Liam asked, his golden eyes scanning the shadows.

"Not far," Stacy replied, her tone clipped. "Just stay quiet. We don't want to draw attention."

Elena frowned, she was too exhausted, her body aching from the battles they'd barely survived. The forest eventually gave way to a rocky outcropping, and Stacy stopped, gesturing for them to wait.

"This is it?" she asked skeptically, her crimson eyes narrowing as she took in the jagged rock face.

Stacy didn't answer. Instead, she placed her hand against a moss-covered boulder, tracing a series of symbols etched into the stone. The air around them seemed to shift, and with a slight rumble, the rock face slid aside revealing a hidden entrance.

"Hunter's have weird taste for doors" Liam taunted.

"It's just one of the many entrances," Stacy replied, stepping inside. "Welcome to the lair."

The passageway was dimly lit, torches flickering on the rough stone walls. The air was cooler here, carrying the faint scent of damp earth and something metallic.

Liam's gaze swept over the narrow corridor, his instincts on high alert. "This place is…fortified."

"It has to be," Stacy replied, leading them deeper. "Exiled Legions isn't the only threat we deal with."

They emerged into a vast underground chamber, its walls lined with weapons, maps and shelves filled with ancient tomes. Hunters moved purposefully through the space, some tending to injuries, other sharpening blades or inspecting gear.

At the center of the room stood a tall, imposing figure clad in dark leather armor. His presence commanded respect, and the other moved aside as he approached. His steely gray eyes were framed by neatly cropped black hair streaked with silver.

"Stacy," he said, his voice firm. "You're late."

"Had to make a detour," Stacy replied. She stepped aside, revealing Elena and Liam behind her.

Dexter's eyes immediately locked onto Elena. His expression darkened, the calm veneer cracking to reveal a storm of emotions.

"Elena," he said, his tone low and tight. "What the hell were you doing in the forest?"

Elena straightened her shoulders, meeting his gaze. "I was hunting."

"You were being reckless," Dexter snapped, his voice rising. "Do you have any idea how dangerous it is out there right now? The Legion is everywhere, and you thought it was a good idea to go off alone?"

"I can handle myself," Elena shot back, her tone sharp.

"You shouldn't have to," Dexter growled, stepped closer. "You're my sister, Elena. My responsibility. If something happened to you…"

"Well, nothing happened," she interrupted, her voice firm.

Dexter's eyes flicked to Stacy. "And you," he said coldly. "Why did you let her leave in the first place?"

Stacy crossed her arms, unflinching under his glare. "She's not a child, head….. Dexter… whatever. She made her choice."

"That's not the point," Dexter said, his tone icy. "You were supposed to watch her back, not let her wander into a death trap."

"Enough," Elena said, stepping between them. "I can handle myself."

"You don't even know what you're handling!" Dexter snapped.

Stacy raised a hand, stepping in before the argument could escalate. "Dexter, she…"

"No," he interrupted, his eyes fixed on Elena. "She doesn't know the truth. She doesn't understand what she's caught up in."

Elena frowned, her frustration mounting. "Then maybe you should stop keeping secrets and tell me what's going on!"

Dexter's jaw tightened, his shoulders rising and falling with a deep breath.

"Elena," he said quietly, "there's something you need to know. About us. About our family."

Dexter leaned against the table, he glanced at Stacy, who gave him a slight nod.

"Elena, our family isn't just part of the Hunter Society. We founded it," Dexter began, his voice steady but heavy with meaning. "The Reinhardt family has been protecting humanity for centuries."

Elena blinked, confusion etched across her face. "What are you talking about? The Reinhardts were vampire counts, they weren't hunters."

"That's what the world thinks," Dexter said. "And for a time, it was true. The Reinhardts were one of the most powerful vampire families in history. But something changed. They say the destruction their kind was bringing to the world, the chaos and suffering. So they turned against their own."

"They became hunters?" Elena asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Dexter nodded. "The first hunters. They used their strength, their immortality, to fight the very creatures they once ruled alongside. They built the Society as a way to protect humanity from the things that go wrong in the night."

Elena's heart pounded as the weight of his words sank in. "So… we're related to vampires?"

Dexter's expression softened further. "We're their blood descendants, Elena. It's why we're stronger, faster, more resilient than most hunters. Well why I am. You were born as a half-vampire and in place for no abilities, Mom cast a spell that gave you the ability to rise after death."

Elena took a step back, her crimson eyes widened. "You knew this whole time? And you didn't tell me?"

"I didn't want this life for you," Dexter said, his voice slightly breaking. "But when Mom and Dad died… I had to protect you. And the best way to do that was to keep you safe."

"Safe?" Elena repeated, her voice rising. "I've been fighting, dying and coming back to life, and you thought keeping me safe meant keeping me ignorant."

Dexter straightened, his expression hardening slightly. "I was trying to give you a chance at something normal. But I see now that was a mistake."

Liam, who had been silent until now stepped forward, his golden eyes locked on Dexter. "So, you're a vampire, then?"

Dexter's gaze shifted to him, his expression unreadable. "Yes."

"And you think that gives you the right to decide what's best for her?" Liam growled.

Dexter's eyes narrowed. "You don't understand the responsibility I've carried since I was a child. I raised her, protected her, and kept the Society together after out parents were murdered. Don't presume to judge, wolf."

"She's not a child anymore," Liam shot back, his voice sharp. "And you can't protect her from everything."

Elena held up a hand, silencing them both. "Enough! I don't need either of you fighting over me. I need answers." She turned back to Dexter, her voice shaking. "If our bloodline ties us to the Reinhardts, what does that have to do with the Exiled Legions?"

Dexter hesitated, his jaw tightening. "The Exiled Legions are trying to resurrect Behemoth, a demon god of destruction. They've been collecting artifacts, summoning creatures and gathering power for years. But to complete the resurrection, they need blood ties to the Reinhardt line and Behemoth line. That's why they're after you.

"Wait," Elena said, her eyes narrowing. "Me? Not you?"

"They don't need me," Dexter said. "I'm already turned due to the hunter's ritual. They need pure descendants, untainted by it. That's why they're hunting you."

"So why am I here?" Liam questioned.

"Sensing the immense aura leaking from you," Dexter replied. "You're probably Behemoth's descendant."

The room fell into a tense silence as the weight of Dexter's revelation settled over them. Finally, Stacy cleared her throat, breaking the quiet.

"We need to focus," she said, her tone firm. "The Exiled Legion's next move will be to secure their strongholds. If we don't hit their supply lines now, we won't get another chance."

Dexter nodded, his composure returning. "The outpost near the edge of the forest is our best target. It's smaller, but critical to their operations. If we take out, we buy ourselves time to regroup."

Elena folded her arms, her expression grim. "And if it's a trap?"

"Then we make them regret it." Dexter's gray eyes hardened. "But first, it's time we summoned the current Legions in the Hunter Society"