I Fell In LOVE with a VAMPIRE

Chapter 8 ; Fire and Blood

The cabin shook violently.

Glass rained across the wooden floor as another explosion blasted through the front wall.

Smoke poured into the room.

Mara grabbed Elena's arm.

"We have to go!"

"But my mother's journal!"

Mara snatched it from the table and shoved it into Elena's backpack just as the front door burst open.

Damien stepped inside.

He looked untouched by the flames.

His black coat hung perfectly over his shoulders, and his golden eyes glowed in the firelight.

He smiled.

"There you are."

Elena backed away.

"What do you want from me?"

Damien tilted his head.

"If I told you the truth, you wouldn't believe me."

"Try me."

He took one slow step forward.

"I don't want to kill you."

"I want to save you."

Mara scoffed.

"You're lying."

Damien's smile faded.

"Am I?"

He looked at Elena.

"Lucien has only told you half the story."

"What story?"

"The First Vampire isn't the greatest monster in this world."

"He is."

"No."

Damien's voice became unusually calm.

"The greatest monster... is the man you're falling in love with."

Elena shook her head.

"That's not true."

"You've known him for a week."

"I've known him for three hundred years."

Before Elena could answer, a streak of silver light shot through the air.

Mara raised both hands.

Ancient symbols appeared around her wrists.

"Get out of my house!"

A blast of blue magic struck Damien square in the chest.

The impact sent him crashing through the broken wall.

For a moment...

Silence.

Then Damien laughed.

"You've gotten stronger, little witch."

He stood up without a scratch.

"So have I."

His eyes turned blood red.

In an instant, he disappeared.

"Mara!"

"Move!"

Damien reappeared behind Mara and grabbed her by the throat.

Elena gasped.

"Mara!"

"Run!" Mara choked.

Damien looked at Elena.

"I won't hurt your friend..."

"...unless you make me."

Elena froze.

Her heart raced.

She couldn't leave Mara behind.

But if she surrendered...

Everything Lucien had sacrificed would be for nothing.

Then a howl echoed through the forest.

Another.

Then dozens more.

Damien looked toward the trees.

His expression changed.

"No..."

Dark shapes burst from the forest.

Massive wolves surrounded the cabin.

Their leader stepped into the clearing.

Unlike the others, he stood taller, with black fur streaked with silver and bright blue eyes.

As the moonlight touched him, his body began to change.

Bones shifted.

Fur disappeared.

Within seconds, a young man stood where the wolf had been.

He looked no older than twenty-three.

His long braided hair rested over one shoulder, and a scar ran across his cheek.

He glared at Damien.

"You've crossed into our territory."

Damien released Mara and smiled.

"Well..."

"This just became interesting."

The stranger's eyes shifted to Elena.

For a brief moment, surprise flashed across his face.

"So..."

"She's the one."