Obsessed By Moonlight

The first attack

The night deepened, and with it, the tension inside the house. Outside, the storm raged on, lightning streaking across the sky and thunder rumbling in the distance. Elena, Lucien, Mia, and Cassie huddled in the living room, their nerves stretched to the breaking point.

Cassie sat on the couch, wrapped in a blanket and still visibly shaken. Mia paced back and forth, twirling a stake in her hand, while Lucien leaned against the wall, his eyes distant and brooding.

Elena stood by the window, peering out into the darkness. She could feel it—the growing sense of dread, the oppressive weight of Damien’s presence lingering just beyond the trees. He was out there, waiting, watching, biding his time.

“How long do you think we have?” Mia asked, breaking the silence.

Lucien glanced at her, his expression grim. “Not long. He’ll make his move soon. He wants to keep us on edge, to wear us down before the Blood Moon rises.”

Cassie shivered. “This is like something out of a horror movie. Only worse. Because it’s real.”

Elena forced a smile. “We’ve faced worse things than Damien before. We’ll get through this. We just have to stick together.”

Cassie nodded, though she didn’t look entirely convinced.

Suddenly, there was a loud crash from the backyard, followed by the sound of splintering wood.

Lucien was on his feet in an instant, his eyes blazing. “Stay here,” he ordered, but Elena was already moving, grabbing a stake from the table and following him.

“Elena—”

“I’m not staying behind,” she said firmly. “We’re in this together.”

Lucien hesitated for a moment, then nodded. “Stay close to me.”

Mia and Cassie followed, and the four of them moved cautiously toward the back door. Another crash echoed through the night, and Elena’s heart pounded in her chest.

Lucien threw open the door, and they stepped out onto the porch. The rain had slowed to a drizzle, but the air was thick with tension.

At first, they saw nothing—but then, out of the shadows, a figure emerged.

It was Viktor.

He stood in the middle of the yard, his pale face illuminated by the faint glow of the moon. His blue eyes gleamed with malice, and he was smiling—a cold, cruel smile that made Elena’s blood run cold.

“Hello, little sister,” he drawled, his voice dripping with mockery. “Did you miss me?”

Lucien stepped in front of Elena, his fangs bared. “Leave, Viktor. You’re not welcome here.”

Viktor chuckled, a low, sinister sound. “Oh, but I couldn’t stay away. Not when the fun is just getting started.”

Elena gripped her stake tightly, her hands trembling. “What do you want, Viktor?”

“What I’ve always wanted,” he said, his gaze locking onto hers. “To see you suffer.”

Before anyone could react, Viktor lunged, moving faster than Elena’s eyes could follow. Lucien met him head-on, and the two vampires clashed with a sound like thunder, their fangs and claws flashing in the darkness.

“Elena, get back!” Lucien shouted, but Elena couldn’t move. She was frozen, watching in horror as the brothers fought, their movements a blur of speed and violence.

Mia grabbed Elena’s arm and yanked her back toward the house. “Come on! We can’t fight him out here!”

Cassie was already inside, peeking out from behind the door with wide, terrified eyes. “What do we do?” she whispered.

“We hold our ground,” Mia said, her jaw set with determination. “Lucien can handle Viktor. We just have to be ready in case more of them show up.”

As if on cue, a second figure stepped out of the shadows—and then a third.

Elena’s heart sank. Damien’s allies had arrived.

The vampires moved toward the house, their eyes gleaming with hunger. Mia raised her stake, her hands steady despite the fear in her eyes.

“Get inside,” Elena said, pushing Cassie back. “Lock the doors and don’t open them for anyone.”

“What about you?” Cassie asked, her voice trembling.

“I’ll be fine,” Elena lied.

Lucien was still locked in battle with Viktor, their snarls and growls filling the air. The other vampires were closing in, their footsteps silent as they approached the porch.

Elena’s grip on her stake tightened. She could feel the fear threatening to overwhelm her, but she forced it down. She couldn’t afford to be afraid. Not now.

“Come on,” Mia muttered under her breath. “Let’s see what you’ve got.”

The first vampire lunged at them, and Mia moved like lightning, ducking under his attack and driving her stake into his chest. He let out a strangled cry before collapsing into a pile of ash.

Elena barely had time to process what had happened before the second vampire was on her. She raised her stake, but he was too fast, grabbing her wrist and twisting it painfully.

“Elena!” Mia shouted, but she was too far away to help.

The vampire snarled, his fangs bared as he leaned in close. “You’re coming with us,” he hissed.

Elena struggled, kicking and twisting, but his grip was like iron. Just when she thought all hope was lost, a blur of motion streaked past her, and the vampire was ripped away.

It was Lucien.

He threw the vampire to the ground and drove his fist into his chest, pulling out his heart in one swift motion. The vampire disintegrated into ash, and Lucien turned to Elena, his eyes wild with rage and fear.

“Are you okay?” he demanded, his voice rough.

Elena nodded, her breath coming in ragged gasps. “I’m fine.”

Lucien pulled her into his arms, holding her tightly for a moment before pulling back. “We need to get inside. Now.”

Together, they hurried back into the house, slamming the door shut behind them. Mia locked it, her hands shaking.

“That was way too close,” she said, leaning against the wall.

Lucien nodded, his jaw clenched. “They’ll be back. And next time, they won’t come alone.”

Elena swallowed hard, her heart still racing. The battle had only just begun—and she had a feeling that the worst was yet to come.