Chapter 8: The Hunt Begins

The wind howled through the empty corridors of Blackwood Academy as the final school bell rang, signaling the end of the day. But for Elena, the day was far from over.

Her mind was still reeling from her conversation with Damien.

A vampire.

He's a vampire.

The words felt impossible, yet she had seen the proof with her own eyes. She had seen him kill. She had seen the blood dripping from his hands. And now, he was telling her that some unknown force had marked her as a target.

But for what?

Why her?

She wasn't special. She wasn't some chosen one.

She was just a girl.

And yet…

Deep down, something inside her knew Damien was right.

A Dangerous Meeting

"Elena, hurry up!" Natalie called from down the hall.

Elena blinked, realizing she had been standing frozen by her locker, lost in thought. She quickly shut it and followed her friend outside.

They had agreed to walk home together, partly because Natalie was still on edge about Damien—and partly because Elena wasn't sure she wanted to be alone.

The sky was overcast, thick with dark clouds that threatened rain.

They hadn't even made it two blocks from the school when Natalie spoke.

"So… what happened?"

Elena hesitated, kicking a pebble on the sidewalk.

"What do you mean?"

Natalie gave her a look. "Don't play dumb. You confronted Damien, didn't you?"

Elena sighed, rubbing her temples. "Yeah. I did."

"And?"

"And…" Elena lowered her voice. "He told me he's a vampire."

Natalie's steps halted.

Her eyes widened. "He actually admitted it?"

Elena nodded.

Natalie swallowed hard. "Shit."

Elena crossed her arms. "You don't even seem that surprised."

Natalie bit her lip, glancing around as if making sure no one else was listening. "Because I've heard rumors before. But hearing it confirmed is different."

Elena's stomach twisted. "He also said that… I'm a target."

Natalie's face paled. "A target for what?"

"I don't know," Elena admitted. "But that vampire last night wasn't just some random monster. He was after me."

Natalie grabbed Elena's arm. "Then we need to tell someone. The police, or—"

"The police can't do anything against vampires," Elena cut in.

Natalie hesitated. "Then what do we do?"

Elena didn't have an answer.

But before she could think of one, something changed.

The air around them felt… wrong.

Cold.

Like something was watching them.

A shiver ran down Elena's spine.

Then—

A whisper.

A voice, low and smooth, carried on the wind.

"Found you."

Elena's heart stopped.

She spun around.

The street was empty.

But the shadows stretched a little too long. The wind had stopped. The world felt still—like something unnatural had taken over.

Natalie grabbed her wrist. "Elena… we need to run."

Elena barely had time to nod before the shadows moved.

The Monster in the Alley

Something stepped out of the darkness.

A man—tall and lean, with slicked-back black hair and piercing red eyes. He was dressed in a crisp black suit, his movements slow and deliberate, like a predator that had all the time in the world.

"Elena Sinclair," the man murmured, smiling.

His voice was silk and poison.

Elena's blood ran cold.

"How do you know my name?" she demanded.

The man tilted his head, his smile widening. "Oh, my dear… I've known about you for a very long time."

Natalie yanked on Elena's sleeve. "We need to go. Now."

Elena didn't need to be told twice.

She turned and ran.

But the man's laughter followed them.

And before she even made it five steps—

He was in front of them.

Elena's breath caught in her throat.

How?

How had he moved so fast?

She and Natalie skidded to a stop, their bodies nearly colliding with his.

The man's red eyes gleamed.

"You can't run from me, Elena."

Her stomach twisted. He was playing with her.

Like a cat with a trapped mouse.

Natalie took a shaky step back. "What do you want?"

The man smiled again. "It's not about what I want."

His gaze locked onto Elena's.

"It's about what she is."

Elena's heartbeat pounded. "I don't even know what I am."

The man chuckled. "Not yet."

Then—

He moved.

Faster than her eyes could track.

Elena didn't have time to react.

Cold fingers closed around her throat, pinning her against the alley wall.

"Elena!" Natalie screamed.

Elena gasped, struggling, but the man's grip was like iron.

His red eyes gleamed in the dim light, his lips parting to reveal fangs.

"You smell… different," he murmured, leaning closer.

His fangs hovered over her throat—

Then—

A blur of motion.

Something slammed into the man, ripping him away from Elena.

She fell to the ground, coughing, as a new voice growled—

"Touch her again, and I'll rip your heart out."

Elena looked up—and her breath caught.

Damien.

A Fight in the Shadows

The two vampires clashed, their movements too fast for Elena to follow.

One second, Damien was throwing a punch—

The next, the man dodged, twisting behind him and striking with inhuman speed.

Damien barely managed to block.

The alley shook with the force of their fight.

Walls cracked. Dust rose in the air.

Damien gritted his teeth. "I should have known they'd send someone after her."

The man smirked. "You can't protect her forever, Nightshade."

Then—

His red eyes flickered to Elena.

And before Damien could react—

The man vanished into the shadows.

The fight was over.

The silence that followed was deafening.

Elena's heart pounded as Damien turned to her, his silver eyes stormy.

"Are you okay?" he asked, his voice rough.

Elena's throat was raw, but she nodded. "Who… who was that?"

Damien exhaled sharply. "His name is Lucian Vale. He's one of the oldest vampires alive."

Elena shivered. "And he was after me."

Damien's jaw tightened.

"Yes."

Elena swallowed hard. "Then tell me, Damien… what am I?"

For a moment, Damien didn't answer.

Then, in a voice barely above a whisper, he said—

"You're the reason this war is about to begin."

Elena's breath hitched.

And deep down, she knew—

Her life would never be the same again.