Chapter 8: The Old Magic

The lodge squatted at the edge of Ashroot like something that had tried to crawl away and died.

It was old—half-buried in roots, the roof caved in on one side. Moss dripped from the beams.

Lucien stood in the doorway, red eyes scanning the gloom. "Charming," he drawled. "Truly welcoming."

David ignored him. He set Priya down gently on the creaking porch. She was half-conscious, her skin clammy with cold sweat.

"Priya," he murmured, tapping her cheek lightly.

Her eyes fluttered open.

"Where…?"

"Almost safe," he whispered. "Stay with me."

She tried to speak, but only a dry rasp came out.

David's throat tightened.

He turned to Lucien. "Help me get her inside."

The vampire raised a pale eyebrow. "Why should I?"

David's voice went low. Dangerous.

"Because if she dies, we all die. That thing needs her blood."

Lucien held his gaze. Then, with an exaggerated sigh, he stepped forward and hooked an arm under Priya's shoulders.

Together they carried her inside.

The interior was worse than the outside.

Cobwebs hung thick as drapery. The hearth was black with old soot. Strange runes had been scratched into the walls in faded chalk—wards against spirits, but half-erased by time and moisture.

David laid Priya down on what had once been a cot. The mattress crumbled under her weight.

She shivered violently.

Lucien sniffed. "Disgusting. I can smell the rot."

"Then do something useful," David snapped. "Light a fire."

Lucien's eyes glowed, amused. But with a flick of his wrist, he snapped his fingers.

A small, contained flame flared at the hearth.

It caught on old, dry wood. Heat bloomed.

Priya let out a tiny sigh, curling closer to the warmth.

Outside, the wind howled.

David's head jerked up.

Branches scraped across the windows, leaving trails like claw marks.

Lucien turned, sniffing the air.

"Something's coming," he said softly.

David grabbed his silver-edged knife.

Priya stirred. "David—don't leave—"

He pressed a kiss to her forehead. "I'm not. I promise. I'm right here."

Lucien rolled his eyes. "If you're both done with the tearful romance, there are things outside."

A thump hit the roof.

David spun, knife raised.

Above them, something heavy scuttled across the shingles. Nails scratched. Something let out a wet hiss.

Lucien bared his fangs. "It's scouting. They want to see if the wards still work."

David turned to the runes on the walls. He could feel them thrumming with old magic—but they were cracked.

Faded.

"Can they hold?"

Lucien studied them. "Temporarily. If she reinforces them."

Priya blinked, eyes unfocused.

"David?"

He took her hand.

"Priya. Listen. You need to wake up."

Another crash on the roof. Dust rained down.

Priya jerked at the sound, eyes clearing slightly.

David leaned close. "The wards. Can you fix them?"

She shuddered.

"They're old. Dead. I—I don't know if—"

Lucien snapped, "Try."

Priya's eyes blazed with sudden anger.

She pushed herself upright, teeth bared.

"Don't order me."

Lucien's mouth curled. "There's the little witch I remember."

Priya's hand shook, but she wiped her bloodied palm across one of the sigils.

The rune flared to life.

Outside, something screeched in rage.

The thumping on the roof grew frantic.

Branches clawed the walls.

David braced himself.

"Keep going!"

Priya's head lolled. "I—I can't—too much—"

Lucien grabbed her by the chin, forcing her to meet his gaze.

"Listen, girl. If you don't finish, that thing out there will get in. It will wear your face. It will breed in your corpse. Is that what you want?"

Priya screamed and slapped him.

But the magic surged.

Every rune in the room flared at once.

A shockwave rattled the walls.

The creature on the roof let out a shriek of agony and fell away, crashing into the undergrowth.

Silence slammed down.

David didn't realize he was holding his breath until he let it out in a sob.

He pulled Priya into his arms. She was shaking so hard it was like she was seizing.

"It's okay," he whispered. "It's okay. You did it."

Her fingers dug into his shirt.

"David—it was in my head. I felt it laughing at me. It knows me."

He squeezed her tighter.

"It can know you all it wants. It's never getting you."

Lucien watched them, face impassive.

But he didn't interrupt.

After a long moment, the wards faded to a dull glow.

David helped Priya lay back on the cot. He brushed hair from her sweaty face.

"Rest. Please."

Her eyes filled with tears.

"You'll stay?"

He nodded.

"Always."

She tried to smile. It broke his heart how weak it was.

"I'm sorry I screamed at you," she whispered.

He let out a wet laugh.

"Don't be. I deserved it."

He turned to the hearth, feeding the flame carefully.

The warmth spread, banishing the chill.

Lucien moved to the window, watching the forest burn.

"Don't get comfortable," he said quietly. "This is a temporary reprieve. The wards will fail eventually. The abomination will heal."

David didn't look up.

"Then we'll find another way."

Lucien snorted.

"And what will you do if you can't?"

David turned then, meeting his gaze without flinching.

"I'll die before I let it have her."

Lucien studied him.

Then he inclined his head slightly.

"A noble sentiment. Foolish, but noble."

Silence fell.

The forest crackled with distant fires.

Outside, the wind still moaned.

But the lodge was still.

Safe.

For now.

David sat beside Priya, taking her limp hand in his.

She blinked at him, her voice slurred with exhaustion.

"You'll really stay?"

He pressed her fingers to his lips.

"Try and make me leave."

She managed a soft laugh.

He felt something loosen in his chest.

He kissed her knuckles, lingering.

Priya's breath hitched.

Her eyes softened.

"David…"

He leaned forward until their foreheads touched.

"I'm not letting anything take you," he whispered.

Her lips brushed his. Barely.

A promise.

A plea.

A thousand unsaid words in a single touch.

Lucien cleared his throat loudly.

"Touching. Truly. But I do suggest you get some sleep before you pass out and make me carry you both."

David didn't look at him.

He only pulled Priya closer, feeling the tension bleed out of her as she finally relaxed.

She slept with her head on his chest, breath evening out.

He stayed awake, listening to the crackle of the fire, watching Lucien pace restlessly, always scanning the dark beyond the warded windows.

For the first time in days, David allowed himself to believe they might survive.

But deep in the forest, something watched.

Burning with hate.

With hunger.

And with perfect memory of the taste of her blood.

David forced himself to keep his eyes open even as the fire blurred.

Priya's breathing was slow and steady now. He felt every rise and fall of her chest against his side.

He brushed a hand over her hair gently, feeling the stickiness of dried blood at her scalp. It made him clench his jaw.

Never again, he promised himself.

Lucien's pacing slowed. He finally stopped by the window, watching the flames outside with a strangely haunted expression.

David studied him in the flickering light.

"You could leave," he said softly.

Lucien didn't turn.

"I could," the vampire agreed.

"Why don't you?"

Silence.

Then Lucien let out a sound like a bitter laugh.

"Because I'm not done hating that thing yet."

David frowned.

Lucien finally looked at him. His red eyes reflected the fire like twin embers.

"It killed my clan. Tore them apart. Fed on them. Wore their faces."

David swallowed hard.

Lucien bared his fangs—not in threat, but in grief.

"It stole everything. Even my hate deserves revenge."

David nodded slowly.

"I can work with that."

Lucien's smile was thin and cold.

"Good."

A log cracked in the fire. Priya flinched in her sleep, a tiny whimper escaping.

David tightened his arm around her.

Lucien turned back to the window.

Outside, the wind died down.

The forest fell silent.

But it wasn't the silence of safety.

It was the hush of a predator waiting.

David rested his head back against the crumbling wall, exhaustion clawing at him.

He closed his eyes.

Just for a moment.

Priya's hand twitched in his.

He squeezed it, even half-asleep.

I'm here. I'm not leaving.

He felt her relax.

The fire burned low.

The old wards glowed faintly.

And far outside, the forest watched.

Plotting.

Hating.

Remembering them.

David forced himself to stay awake.

Every time his eyes closed, he saw Priya screaming in that clearing. He felt the creature's cold hunger in his head, whispering its promise: I will breed. I will wear her face.

He shuddered.

Priya stirred again, whimpering, caught in some nightmare.

He brushed his thumb over her cheek.

"Shh. You're safe. I'm here."

Her lashes fluttered.

"David…?"

"I've got you."

A tear leaked from the corner of her eye.

He kissed it away.

She pressed her forehead to his jaw.

"I was so scared."

His voice cracked.

"Me too."

For a moment, the fear was raw and unhidden between them.

Lucien cleared his throat behind them.

"I can leave if you're going to start rutting like animals."

David didn't look up.

"Shut up."

Lucien didn't laugh this time. He just turned back to the window.

The wind picked up again, rattling the shutters.

Priya winced at the noise, but David held her tighter.

"Sleep," he whispered. "I won't let anything happen to you."

Her voice was tiny.

"Promise?"

He didn't hesitate.

"Promise."

She sighed and slumped against him, truly asleep this time.

David didn't dare move.

He rested his chin on her hair.

Lucien's silhouette was motionless by the window, like some dark gargoyle watching the world burn.

And outside, the forest hissed and whispered, pressing against the wards like a living, hungry thing.

Waiting for the wards to fail.

But for now, they had each other.

And for a single, precious moment, that was enough.