Hunting Vampires

Chapter 2: Secrets In The Shadows

Xyla paced back and forth in her room, biting her thumbnail as she replayed the night’s events in her head. Kade had saved her—after 17 years of silence, her childhood friend had reappeared out of nowhere. And vampires? How was she supposed to process that?

There was a knock on her door, interrupting her spiraling thoughts. She froze, heart racing, and cautiously approached.

“Xyla, it’s me. Open up,” Kade’s voice came from the other side, calm but firm.

She hesitated for a moment, then unlocked the door. Kade stood in the doorway, his eyes scanning her for any sign of distress.

“I thought we should talk,” he said, stepping inside without waiting for an invitation.

Xyla folded her arms across her chest. “Talk? You think that’s enough? You disappear for years and then come back just in time to save me from some bloodsucker? What the hell is going on, Kade?”

He shut the door behind him, his expression serious. “I know it’s a lot to take in—"

“A lot? I got attacked by a vampire, Kade! A freaking vampire!” she snapped, her voice trembling with disbelief.

“I know.” His voice softened, and he took a step toward her. “That’s why I’m here. You need to know the truth, Xyla. About vampires. About you.”

Xyla blinked, her anger faltering as confusion set in. “Me? What are you talking about?”

Kade ran a hand through his dark hair, clearly struggling to find the right words. “There’s a reason why you were attacked. It wasn’t random. You’re... special.”

Her heart skipped a beat. “Special? How?”

“You’re immune to vampire bites,” he said bluntly, watching her reaction carefully.

Xyla stared at him. “What?”

“Vampires feed on humans, but not you. You’re immune to their venom, and that makes you... valuable.”

“Valuable?” Her voice dripped with disbelief. “Like some kind of prize?”

“To some vampires, yes. But that’s not the worst part.” Kade’s eyes darkened, his gaze dropping to the floor. “There’s a prophecy. One that’s been passed down for centuries. It speaks of a queen, a vampire queen, who will rise and either save or destroy the world. And you... you’re that queen.”

Xyla’s mouth went dry. She took a step back, shaking her head. “No. That’s insane. I’m just a normal girl, Kade. I’m not some... queen.”

“I wish I could tell you otherwise,” Kade said, his voice heavy with regret. “But you’re not normal, Xyla. You were never normal. You’ve always been part of something bigger.”

She collapsed onto her bed, her legs giving out under her. “This can’t be happening,” she whispered.

Kade knelt in front of her, his voice soft but urgent. “Xyla, I need you to trust me. I’ve been watching over you from the shadows, making sure you were safe. But now they know who you are. It’s only a matter of time before they come for you again.”

She lifted her gaze to meet his, her mind spinning with questions. “How do you know all of this? Why didn’t you tell me sooner?”

Kade hesitated, a flicker of guilt crossing his features. “There are things I couldn’t explain before, things I wasn’t sure of myself. But after my father was killed—"

Xyla’s head shot up. “Your father?”

“Vampires killed him,” Kade said quietly, his voice tight with pain. “He knew too much about their world, and he was protecting you.”

“Me? But why?”

“Because of who you are. My father knew the prophecy. He knew you were the one they were looking for.” Kade stood, his fists clenched. “I wasn’t there to stop them. But I swore I’d protect you, no matter what.”

Xyla’s throat tightened. “So that’s why you disappeared?”

“I had to keep my distance. If they knew I was watching over you, they’d come for both of us. I couldn’t risk that.”

Her hands trembled as she processed everything he was saying. “I don’t know if I can do this, Kade. This is too much.”

Kade moved closer, his eyes softening. “You don’t have to do this alone. I’m here now. And I’ll be with you every step of the way.”

For a long moment, silence hung between them. Xyla felt the weight of everything pressing down on her—the attack, the revelation of vampires, her supposed destiny as a queen. It all seemed too surreal, too terrifying.

Finally, she let out a shaky breath. “So... what do we do now?”

Kade’s eyes hardened, determination settling in his gaze. “We prepare. They’re going to come for you again, and when they do, we’ll be ready.”

Xyla swallowed, the reality of her situation sinking in. There was no going back now. No more normal life. But at least she had Kade. That was something, right?

“Kade... thank you,” she whispered, her voice barely audible.

He nodded, his expression softening again. “Always.”

Before she could respond, a sudden crash came from outside the window. They both turned, alert.

“They’re here,” Kade muttered under his breath, his eyes flashing with danger.

Xyla’s heart pounded in her chest. “Already?”

Kade moved toward the window, his body tense. “Stay behind me. Whatever happens, don’t let them bite you.”

She watched him carefully, his posture ready for a fight. Her hands curled into fists, adrenaline flooding her veins. This was real—too real.

“I won’t,” she whispered, her voice filled with a mixture of fear and newfound resolve.