The Lycan’s Blood

Aria was running again Rain lashed against her face as she tore through the forest, her boots sinking into the wet earth with every step She couldn’t feel the cold anymore She couldn’t feel the branches scraping her arms She couldn’t even feel the ache in her lungs All she could feel was fear Because something was behind her Something always was For weeks, the same nightmare had found her The same forest The same darkness The same feeling that something was getting closer Aria glanced over her shoulder Nothing Only endless rows of black trees disappearing into the fog She faced forward and ran harder Behind her came the sound In A slow breath Out Another Too close Aria’s heartbeat pounded in her ears Don’t turn around She always told herself that She always turned around A branch cracked somewhere behind her Aria stopped The forest went silent No rain No wind No insects Nothing Her breath caught “No,” she whispered She knew what came next Two pale eyes appeared between the trees White Not yellow like a wolf’s eyes Not red like a vampire’s White Aria stepped backward The creature emerged from the darkness She could never see its face No matter how hard she tried There was only its enormous silhouette—too tall, too broad, too unnatural And somehow, she always knew the same thing It knew her A second figure appeared behind her A man Tall Pale Dark hair falling across his forehead His eyes were crimson A vampire Aria’s body went rigid The vampire stared at her Then his gaze dropped to her throat “You” The single word sent a chill through her She tried to move Her feet wouldn’t obey The vampire took a step closer “I’ve been looking for you” “Who are you?” Her voice sounded distant The vampire didn’t answer Instead, he looked past her His expression changed The confidence disappeared from his face Fear replaced it “It’s awake” Aria slowly turned The creature was gone She looked back at the vampire He was standing inches from her now “Your mother knew this would happen,” he whispered Aria’s heart stopped “My mother?” The vampire lifted his hand toward her face A howl ripped through the forest Aria screamed The vampire grabbed her wrist “Run!” “What is it?” He looked over his shoulder His fingers tightened around her arm For the first time, Aria saw genuine terror in his eyes “Your blood” She stared at him “What about my blood?” The vampire hesitated His eyes searched hers “There is something dangerous about it” “What?” He opened his mouth But before he could answer, something crashed through the trees The ground shook The vampire shoved Aria away A massive shadow lunged toward them Aria screamed— And woke up She shot upright in bed Her chest heaved For several seconds, she didn’t know where she was Then reality slowly returned Her bedroom Her bed The faint glow of the streetlight coming through her curtains Aria pressed a hand against her chest Her heart was racing She closed her eyes “Breathe” In Out She waited until her heartbeat slowed Then she looked at the clock 3:17 a.m Again Aria groaned and dropped back onto her pillow “Of course” Three weeks Three weeks of the same nightmare Always 3:17 Always the forest Always the vampire Always the creature she couldn’t see And always that feeling that she was supposed to remember something She rubbed her eyes “It was just a dream” She had started saying that every morning It was just a dream Nothing more She reached for the glass of water on her bedside table and took a long drink Her hands were still shaking The dream had felt unusually vivid tonight. Especially the vampire She could still remember his voice There is something dangerous about it Aria frowned. “About what?” Her own question sounded ridiculous in the empty room She shook her head She needed sleep Tomorrow was going to be a normal day She had classes She had work afterward She had laundry waiting to be folded Her mother would probably complain about breakfast again Normal things Real things Not vampires Not monsters Not impossible creatures hiding in forests Aria pulled the blanket over herself She stared at the ceiling for several minutes Eventually, her eyes grew heavy The nightmare faded And morning came Sunlight hit Aria directly in the face She groaned “Five more minutes” “Absolutely not” Her mother’s voice came from the doorway Aria opened one eye Her mother stood there with her arms folded “You said that yesterday” “And the day before” “And the day before that” Aria pulled the blanket over her head “I’m tired” “You’re always tired “I’m busy” “Doing what?” “Being young” Her mother stared at the blanket “Get up” Aria laughed quietly “You’re impossible” “And you’re late” Aria immediately sat up “What time is it?” “Seven fifteen” Her eyes widened “What?” “You have twenty-five minutes “Why didn’t you wake me earlier?” “I did” “When?” At seven “You let me sleep for fifteen minutes?” “I thought you’d enjoy the experience” Aria threw a pillow at her Her mother caught it easily “Get dressed” The door closed Aria sighed For a moment, she sat completely still Then she glanced toward the window Nothing unusual Just the same quiet street Cars passing in the distance A neighbor walking a dog Morning sunlight Normal She smiled faintly Just a dream She climbed out of bed By 7:35, Aria was downstairs in jeans and a loose sweater, trying to eat toast while searching for her missing phone “Where’s my phone?” “On the counter” She looked at the counter There it was “Right” Her mother raised an eyebrow “Sleep well?” Aria froze “Fine” “You look exhausted” “I had another nightmare” Her mother’s hand stopped halfway to her coffee Only for a second Then she continued drinking “What kind?” Aria noticed That tiny hesitation “Same one.” Her mother’s expression remained neutral “The forest?” Aria nodded “And the man?” Another pause “The vampire?” Aria stared at her “How did you know?” Her mother looked away “I remember you telling me” “No, I never told you about the vampire” Silence Her mother placed her coffee down “You probably mentioned it before” Aria studied her Something about the answer felt wrong But her phone buzzed She glanced at the screen MAYA: WHERE ARE YOU??? Aria laughed “I’m going to be late” She grabbed her bag and headed for the door “Aria She stopped Her mother was watching her For a moment, there was something strange in her eyes Fear Then it disappeared “Be careful today” Aria smiled “I always am” She stepped outside The morning air was cool Cars moved along the street People hurried to work Children walked toward school Everything looked ordinary Everything felt ordinary Aria put her headphones in and started walking Behind her, her mother remained standing in the doorway Watching Waiting And when Aria disappeared around the corner, her mother’s smile vanished She quietly closed the door Then she walked to the kitchen window and looked toward the forest in the distance Her hand trembled Because she knew exactly what Aria had dreamed about And she knew the dreams had started for a reason.