Chapter 9: Cracks in the Light

Gray dawn bled through the cracked shutters.

David woke with Priya's head on his chest.

For a moment, he forgot everything: the blood, the horror, the abomination.

All he saw was her.

Her breathing was slow but even, her lips parted slightly. Dried blood streaked her cheek, but in the pale light, she looked almost peaceful.

Almost.

He brushed her hair back carefully.

She stirred, eyes fluttering open.

"David…?"

He kissed her forehead.

"Morning," he whispered.

Her eyes darted around the ruined lodge. When she saw the ward runes, now dark and cracked, her face fell.

"It's still here," she said softly.

David didn't deny it.

He just squeezed her hand.

Lucien's voice sliced through the quiet.

"You two done with your lovers' vigil?"

David looked up.

Lucien stood by the window, arms crossed, face pale and cold.

"I give the wards an hour at most," Lucien continued. "Maybe less. They're spent. She nearly killed herself pushing them that hard."

Priya flinched.

David glared.

"Watch your mouth."

Lucien's eyes gleamed.

"Or what? You'll stab me? Don't forget who got you here alive."

David carefully eased Priya upright.

"We need a plan," he said tightly.

Lucien sneered.

"There is no plan. We run. If we're lucky, it doesn't track us immediately. If we're unlucky… well, I suppose you'll die dramatically."

Priya's voice was ragged but clear.

"I'm not running."

They both turned to her.

Her hands were shaking in her lap, but she forced herself to meet their eyes.

"If we run now, it'll just follow. Or worse—hurt others on the way."

Lucien's smile was razor-thin.

"Admirable. Stupid. It'll slaughter you."

Priya shook her head.

"It wants me. My blood. My magic. I can use that. I can bait it."

David's heart stopped.

"Absolutely not."

She turned to him, eyes wet.

"David…"

"No!"

He grabbed her hands.

"I nearly lost you yesterday. I'm not using you as bait."

Tears spilled down her cheeks.

"People will die if we don't stop it."

David's voice broke.

"So what? I won't lose you too."

Lucien watched them silently.

Priya squeezed David's hands, trembling.

"You don't get it," she whispered. "I have to do this. My blood is the key. I felt it when it was in my head. I can bind it. Trap it. Maybe even kill it."

David felt sick.

He shook his head violently.

"You'll die."

She leaned forward, forehead touching his.

"Not if you're there. Not if you protect me."

Silence fell.

Lucien made a disgusted sound.

"Gods, I'm going to vomit."

Outside, the wind picked up.

The runes on the walls flickered weakly.

A root smashed against the shutters, splitting old wood.

The lodge trembled.

Priya jumped, grabbing David's arm.

Lucien went utterly still.

"It's here," he said quietly.

David tightened his grip on his knife.

Priya wiped her tears roughly.

"I can hold it off if you help me."

David's voice was low and raw.

"Then tell me how."

The walls cracked.

Black roots wormed in through gaps, coiling across the floor.

Lucien moved like a shadow, claws flashing. He severed the first roots, ichor hissing as it splashed the floor.

Priya lifted shaking hands, blood dripping from reopened wounds.

She began chanting.

The wards flared weakly, burning the roots.

But new ones kept coming.

The walls buckled.

David slashed wildly at roots near Priya.

"Do it!" he roared.

"I'm trying!"

Lucien caught David's eye, face tight with fury.

"This place is lost. We have to MOVE!"

David hesitated, looking at Priya.

"Can you run?"

Her face was pale as death.

"I'll try."

He hauled her up. She nearly collapsed, but he wrapped an arm around her waist.

"Don't you dare pass out on me," he growled.

Lucien slashed another root.

"OUT THE BACK!"

They bolted for the half-collapsed rear door.

The lodge shook behind them, the roof caving in as black roots burst through the walls.

The abomination's voice was everywhere.

"I smell you… I taste you… COME BACK!"

Priya screamed as a root snagged her ankle.

David spun, slashing it away with his silvered blade.

He caught her as she fell.

"Run!"

They tumbled out into the pale dawn.

Lucien grabbed David by the collar and yanked him upright.

"MOVE!"

They ran through the underbrush.

Priya clung to David, gasping spells that flickered and died.

Lucien led them in a zigzag path through the trees, avoiding snaring roots and black vines that whipped at them.

Behind them, the lodge collapsed in a roar of splintering wood.

The abomination's voice shrieked in triumph.

"I'm COMING FOR YOU!"

They didn't stop running until they burst onto a frost-covered field at the forest's edge.

David collapsed to his knees, Priya landing in his lap.

She was sobbing.

David pulled her tight, rocking her gently.

Lucien stood over them, black blood dripping from his claws, panting despite not needing breath.

He looked down at them with something almost like pity.

"Romantic," he rasped.

David ignored him.

He pressed his forehead to Priya's.

"I've got you. I'm here."

Her voice was raw.

"I'm so scared."

He kissed her.

She sobbed into his mouth.

But she kissed him back, desperate, clinging to him like he was the last thing keeping her alive.

Lucien finally looked away.

"We have to go. It'll follow our blood trail. This field won't hold it long."

David didn't stop holding Priya.

"I know."

He kissed her temple.

"We'll find another place. We'll figure it out."

She sniffed.

"Promise?"

He forced a smile.

"Promise."

Lucien cleared his throat.

"Get up, lovebirds. The monster's coming."

David lifted Priya carefully, cradling her as he stood.

He met Lucien's gaze.

"Lead the way."

Lucien nodded once.

And they ran.

Together.

Into the rising sun.

They ran until their lungs burned.

The frost-crusted grass gave way to tangled brambles. David's boots caught on roots, but he refused to fall while Priya clung to him.

Lucien was a blur ahead of them, his coat snapping like a banner in the wind.

"Keep up," the vampire snapped without turning. "It's moving faster now. Smells your blood."

Priya whimpered against David's chest.

"I can feel it… inside me."

David grit his teeth.

"Don't listen. It's trying to break you."

She shook her head, eyes wild with terror.

"It's promising things. Telling me… I'll be its queen."

Lucien let out a harsh bark of laughter.

"Charming courtship. Does it recite poetry too?"

"Shut up," David snarled.

He nearly lost his grip on Priya as they stumbled over a fallen log. She clung tighter, burying her face in his neck.

"David…"

Her voice cracked.

"I don't want to be a monster."

He stopped cold.

He cupped her cheek, forcing her to look at him.

"You're not a monster. You hear me? You're the bravest damn person I know."

She sobbed, pressing their foreheads together.

He kissed her roughly, urgently.

She kissed him back like she was drowning.

Lucien watched with thinly veiled disgust.

"Beautiful. Really. Shall I give you two privacy while the eldritch horror closes in?"

David broke the kiss, resting his forehead against Priya's.

"We keep moving," he said hoarsely.

She nodded, wiping her tears.

"Okay. I can walk."

He didn't believe her, but he let her slide to the ground. She wobbled but stayed upright, clutching his arm.

Lucien sighed, exasperated.

"At last. Try to keep the declarations of eternal love to a minimum while we're fleeing for our lives."

David glared.

Priya actually managed a weak laugh.

They staggered forward together, the three of them battered, bloody, and exhausted.

Behind them, the forest howled.

But the sun was rising.

And for the first time in days, they had hope.

Thin and fragile as a thread.

But hope nonetheless.

They pushed on across the field, the frost crunching underfoot.

Priya leaned heavily against David, every step a battle. Her hair clung to her sweat-streaked face, and her breath came in ragged gasps.

Lucien stalked ahead, eyes scanning the horizon.

"Don't slow down," he snapped over his shoulder. "It's quieter now. That's not a good thing."

David grunted.

Priya whimpered softly.

"Why… quieter?"

Lucien didn't turn.

"It's hunting," he said flatly. "It's listening. Waiting. Deciding how to split us up."

Priya shuddered.

David squeezed her shoulder, voice rough.

"Let it try."

They climbed a small rise, finally able to see the forest edge behind them.

Black vines writhed among the trees like serpents. The burned-out husk of the lodge was almost gone, devoured by crawling roots.

Even from this distance, David heard the wet, hateful laughter echoing from the shadows.

Priya clapped a hand over her mouth to keep from screaming.

Lucien watched impassively, red eyes narrowed.

"It's adapting. That thing is learning faster than it should."

David swallowed bile.

"Meaning?"

Lucien turned, voice like ice.

"Meaning we're running out of time. If you want your little witch to stay alive, we need allies. Spells. Plans. Now."

David met his gaze unflinching.

"Then let's find them."

Priya wiped her eyes with a shaking hand.

"I'll help. I can… I'll do anything."

David pulled her close, kissing her temple.

"We're in this together."

Lucien snorted but didn't argue.

He pointed to the distant hills.

"There's an old fort on the ridge. Abandoned. Rumor says witches used it during the old wars. If there's anything left there, we'll need it."

David nodded grimly.

"Then that's where we go."

Behind them, the forest went silent.

As if listening.

As if smiling.