Chapter 7: Ghost Roads

Moonlight barely broke through the twisted canopy as David staggered forward, Priya limp in his arms.

Branches clawed at his clothes, raking bloody lines across his arms. Every breath burned his ribs.

He didn't dare stop.

Lucien walked at his side, silent as a shadow. His pale face was spattered with black ichor, red eyes glowing faintly.

David risked a glance at him.

"She's not going to die," he said hoarsely.

Lucien didn't answer immediately. He watched Priya's slack face, her blood-crusted hair.

Then he nodded once.

"Not tonight."

They crashed through the undergrowth into a narrow animal trail.

David let out a breath. "This path leads out of Ashroot. I remember it."

Lucien's lip curled. "You think it will be so easy?"

David ignored him. He shifted Priya's weight carefully, brushing a strand of hair from her face. She murmured in her sleep, brow creasing in pain.

He felt something twist in his chest.

Hold on, he thought. Just hold on.

They moved faster, David half-carrying, half-dragging her, Lucien gliding soundlessly ahead.

Branches snapped behind them.

David's head jerked around.

Nothing.

But the forest felt wrong.

Lucien held up a hand.

"Wait."

David froze.

Silence fell.

Then he heard it.

A low growl.

Four pairs of glowing eyes blinked open in the dark.

Massive shapes stalked forward on all fours.

Werewolves.

Their fur was matted with old blood. Their claws dug trenches in the earth.

One stepped forward and shifted—bones cracking, fur retreating, reforming into a towering man with yellow eyes and scars crisscrossing his bare chest.

He pointed at David with a clawed finger.

"Murderer."

David's heart sank.

Lucien's mouth curved into a small, cruel smile.

"Ah. Diplomacy time."

The werewolves fanned out, blocking the path.

David set Priya down gently against a tree. She moaned weakly, eyes fluttering.

He straightened slowly, raising empty hands.

"We don't want trouble," he said.

The alpha snarled. "You led that thing here. You broke the Vault. You doomed us all."

David swallowed. "We're trying to stop it. We hurt it."

The alpha's eyes burned with rage. "Not enough."

Lucien's laughter was low and dangerous. "Step aside, mutts. We don't have time for your posturing."

The werewolves all growled at once.

David shot Lucien a glare. "Shut up!"

But Lucien only smiled wider, fangs gleaming.

"Make me."

The alpha didn't wait.

He lunged.

David barely dove aside in time. Claws ripped a furrow in the ground where he'd been standing.

Lucien met another charging werewolf with an inhuman blur of motion. His claws slashed, spraying blood.

A second werewolf tackled David from the side. They hit the dirt hard. The beast snapped its jaws at his throat.

David shoved his silver-edged knife between its ribs.

It howled in agony.

Black blood gushed over his hands.

He rolled away, gasping.

Priya stirred.

She tried to sit up, her vision swimming.

"David—?"

Another werewolf closed on her, teeth bared.

David roared, "NO!"

He hurled himself at the beast, knife flashing.

They crashed together. David stabbed again and again.

Blood soaked them both.

The werewolf collapsed.

David dragged himself up, shaking, chest heaving.

Priya blinked at him, tears welling.

"You came for me."

He met her gaze, breath ragged.

"Always."

Lucien was a blur of black coat and flashing claws. He tore another werewolf's throat out, red eyes blazing with glee.

The alpha saw his pack fall and shifted back to human.

He held up bloodied hands.

"Stop!"

Lucien turned, fangs dripping.

David grabbed his shoulder. "Enough!"

For a long moment, it was silent but for ragged breathing and the crackle of burning silver blood on the forest floor.

Lucien licked a fang. Then he wiped his claws on his coat and stepped back.

The alpha staggered, glaring hate at them.

"This isn't over," he rasped.

David's voice was hoarse. "We're trying to stop it. Help us."

The alpha spat blood. "You want help? Kill yourself. That thing wants your blood. Your witch's blood. End it now and save us all."

David felt cold all over.

Priya's eyes filled with horror.

Lucien laughed softly.

"Charming negotiation. Truly."

David forced himself to speak. "We'll find a way. We have to."

The alpha shook his head. "Pray you do. Or we'll finish what they started."

He shifted back to wolf form, bones cracking. Then he limped away, growling at the survivors to follow.

Leaves rustled. Then they were gone.

Silence.

David slumped.

His hands trembled with blood and exhaustion.

Priya stirred. He rushed to her side, pulling her close.

She whimpered softly, eyes glassy.

"I… I couldn't hold it," she whispered. "It was in my head. David, it knows me now."

He swallowed hard.

"I know."

She shuddered.

"It said it would breed."

David felt rage boil in his gut.

"Over my dead body," he growled.

Priya buried her face in his chest, sobbing.

Lucien watched them impassively, arms crossed.

"Touching," he drawled. "Are we done here? Or do you want to recite more poetry while that thing grows stronger?"

David glared up. "Shut. Up."

Lucien lifted an eyebrow. But he didn't argue.

David scooped Priya into his arms. She was shaking so hard it was like holding a child.

Her voice cracked.

"David… I'm so tired."

He rested his forehead against hers.

"I know. But you have to hold on. For me."

Her fingers tightened in his shirt.

"Promise you won't leave me."

He closed his eyes.

"I promise."

Lucien watched, face unreadable.

For a moment, something like regret flickered in his eyes.

Then he turned, voice hard again.

"Move. The abomination is wounded, but it will recover. And it will remember this place. We need to be gone before it returns."

David pushed himself up, Priya in his arms.

"Where?"

Lucien's smile was razor-thin.

"Somewhere… less welcoming. There's an old hunter's lodge at the edge of Ashroot. Abandoned. Warded. Barely. We can make it before dawn if you stop crying on each other."

David didn't bother responding.

He adjusted Priya carefully and followed Lucien into the shadows.

Behind them, the forest creaked and groaned.

Roots slithered.

Dark laughter drifted on the wind.

And somewhere far away, something screamed in pure rage.

They stumbled onto the old logging road just before dawn.

Priya passed out in his arms, her head lolling. David bit back sobs, clutching her tighter.

Lucien caught him looking at her and snorted.

"You're both going to get us killed."

David didn't break eye contact.

"Good. As long as we take that thing with us."

Lucien actually smiled.

They limped toward the barely visible silhouette of the lodge.

Black smoke drifted from the Ashroot behind them. The forest was burning in places where the blood had spilled, warding symbols cracking with flame.

Priya moaned softly.

David kissed her hair.

"I've got you," he whispered.

She didn't answer.

But her fingers twitched in his shirt, holding on.

Far behind them, the abomination dragged itself from the ruined clearing.

Its skin split and writhed, birthing new eyes, new mouths.

It hissed in a chorus of stolen voices.

"You're mine. All of you."