Chapter 11: Doubt of the mission

The moonlight filtered through the dense forest canopy, illuminating Prince Leo's somber expression. His group had been tracking a suspicious trail for hours, but the eerie silence and the occasional rustle in the undergrowth suggested they were not alone.

"Stay sharp," Leo ordered, his hand resting on the hilt of his blade.

The team consisted of four skilled hunters, each seasoned in battle. But tonight, even their confident demeanor was laced with unease. One of them, a tall, wiry man named Kellan, moved closer to Leo.

"Do you think this trail leads to her?" Kellan asked, his voice low.

Leo didn't answer immediately. His thoughts lingered on Aurora, her stubborn determination and the way she always seemed to defy the odds. The idea of her captured—possibly hurt—gnawed at him.

"We'll find her," Leo said firmly. "And when we do, we'll bring her back."

The group continued, but their progress was abruptly halted when a shadowy figure emerged from the mist ahead.

---

A Sudden Ambush

The figure stepped into the moonlight, revealing crimson eyes that glowed with malice. A vampire. And not alone.

"They've found us!" Kellan hissed, unsheathing his blade.

Within seconds, the group was surrounded. Five vampires emerged from the shadows, their predatory grins revealing sharp fangs.

Leo's grip on his sword tightened. "Defensive formation!"

The battle was swift and brutal. The hunters fought valiantly, their weapons flashing in the pale light, but the vampires were relentless. In the chaos, two hunters fell, their cries of pain echoing in the night.

Leo drove his sword through one vampire, but his focus faltered as he saw another hunter taken down.

"Kellan, fall back!" Leo shouted.

"But—"

"That's an order!"

The remaining hunters regrouped around Leo, retreating to a defensible position. The vampires, sensing victory, began circling like wolves around their prey.

Before the final blow could be struck, a deafening howl pierced the air, followed by the arrival of unexpected allies—other hunters who had heard the commotion. The tide turned, and the vampires retreated into the shadows, their mocking laughter fading with them.

Leo knelt beside one of the fallen hunters, his jaw clenched.

"This mission is becoming a disaster," Kellan said bitterly, wiping blood from his blade.

Leo stood, his expression grim. "We press on. Aurora's life depends on it."

---

Aurora's Defiance

In the palace, Aurora sat against the cold wall of her cell, her mind racing. Days had passed, and every second felt like an eternity. Her body ached from her earlier struggles, but her spirit remained unbroken.

She glanced at the door, her mind formulating yet another escape plan.

"They think they've beaten me," she muttered to herself. "They haven't seen anything yet."

The sound of footsteps interrupted her thoughts, and she looked up to see Kayla once again.

"You really don't know when to give up, do you?" Kayla said, leaning against the bars with a smirk.

Aurora shot her a withering glare. "You again? Shouldn't you be off fetching your master's slippers?"

Kayla's smirk faltered. "You're lucky Zachary has a soft spot for you, hunter. If it were up to the rest of us, you'd be ashes by now."

"Oh, how terrifying," Aurora said dryly. "Let me guess—another vampire cliché? You all read the same script or what?"

Kayla's eyes narrowed, but she didn't get a chance to respond as the sound of approaching voices reached them.

Queen Seraphina and Zach appeared at the end of the corridor. Kayla stepped back, bowing slightly to the queen before leaving.

"Alone at last," Aurora quipped, her tone dripping with sarcasm. "What's the royal circus want with me now?"

Zach ignored her jab, his expression unreadable. Queen Seraphina studied Aurora for a moment before turning to her son.

"She's strong," the queen said softly.

"She's reckless," Zach replied.

"And yet, she survived an encounter that should have killed her." Seraphina's eyes bore into Aurora's. "There's something about her, Zachary. Something you can't ignore forever."

Aurora, sensing the tension, looked between them. "Oh, please, don't let me interrupt your family therapy session. It's been so enlightening."

Zach's lips twitched, but he quickly masked it. "You're not as funny as you think you are, hunter."

"Funny enough to annoy you," Aurora shot back.

Seraphina tilted her head, her gaze contemplative. "She's spirited. But that's not what I meant."

Zach sighed, rubbing a hand across his face. "We're done here, Mother."

Seraphina placed a hand on his arm, her expression softening. "Just think about what I said, Zachary. Bonds like these are rare, even if they're inconvenient."

She turned to leave, her voice echoing down the hall. "Take care of her, my son. You'll regret it if you don't."

Aurora blinked, confusion written all over her face. "What was that about?"

Zach didn't answer. Instead, he turned and left, leaving Aurora alone with her thoughts.