Chapter 10: The First Move

The cold night air pressed against Elena's skin as she walked beside Damien, her thoughts a tangled mess. Natalie trailed a few steps behind, her arms crossed tightly over her chest.

The weight of Damien's words still clung to her like a second skin.

A war was coming.

And somehow, she was the reason for it.

Elena took a slow, deep breath, trying to steady herself. "So what now? Are we just supposed to run?"

Damien's silver eyes flickered toward her. "For now, yes."

"That's ridiculous," Natalie snapped, her voice sharp. "She has a life, Damien! Friends, school, a home! You can't just expect her to throw all that away because of some—some prophecy!"

Damien sighed. "You think I want this?" His tone was sharper than usual. "I never wanted Elena to be part of this world. I was trying to keep her safe."

"By lying to me?" Elena shot back, stopping in her tracks. "By hiding the truth until it was too late?"

A muscle in Damien's jaw twitched.

"I was trying to protect you."

Elena clenched her fists. "Well, guess what? That didn't work out too well, did it?"

For a long moment, Damien didn't say anything.

Then he exhaled and turned away. "We don't have time to argue. We need to move."

Elena's stomach churned.

It wasn't fair.

None of this was fair.

But deep down, she knew Damien was right.

Lucian wasn't going to stop. And if there were more vampires like him—stronger vampires—then staying in town wasn't an option.

She swallowed. "Where are we going?"

Damien glanced at her.

"There's someone who might be able to help."

Elena frowned. "Who?"

He hesitated.

Then—

"My brother."

Natalie blinked. "Wait. You have a brother?"

Damien's expression darkened. "It's complicated."

Of course it was.

Everything about Damien was complicated.

The Hunter's Approach

Far away, beyond the city, a figure stood on the edge of a tall rooftop, his coat billowing in the wind.

His piercing golden eyes flickered with hunger as he gazed toward the horizon.

He had been waiting for this.

For her.

A slow smirk curled across his lips.

"Elena Grey…" he murmured. "At last."

Behind him, a group of vampires knelt, their heads bowed.

"She has a protector," one of them said cautiously. "Damien Nightshade."

The man let out a low chuckle. "Of course she does."

His golden eyes gleamed.

"Let him try to protect her."

Then, without another word, he vanished into the night.

A Dangerous Road Ahead

Elena sat in the passenger seat of Damien's car, staring out the window as the trees blurred past.

Natalie sat in the back, silent for once.

The weight of everything pressed down on Elena's shoulders.

Was this really happening?

She was leaving her home, her life, everything—because of some war she didn't even understand.

Her throat tightened.

"What happens if we find your brother?" she asked softly.

Damien kept his eyes on the road. "If he's willing to help… he might be able to train you."

Elena's chest tightened. "Train me?"

Damien nodded. "You'll need to learn how to fight, Elena."

A shiver ran through her. "I don't want to fight."

Damien's grip on the wheel tightened. "You might not have a choice."

Elena swallowed hard.

She didn't want to think about it.

Didn't want to imagine a future where she had to kill to survive.

But deep down, she knew…

Damien was right.

And if she didn't prepare—

She was going to die.

Elsewhere…

Lucian knelt before the Queen, his head bowed in submission.

"She is leaving the city," he reported.

The Queen's crimson eyes glowed in the dim light.

"Good," she murmured. "Let her run."

Lucian frowned. "Shouldn't we send someone after her?"

The Queen chuckled softly. "Patience, Lucian." She leaned forward, her voice like silk. "Let the girl believe she has a chance."

Lucian smirked.

It wouldn't be long now.

No matter where Elena ran—

She would never escape them.