Chapter Nine: Trap
817 Words
Two weeks.
For two entire weeks, Elara Vale had ignored Jace Ryder.
No insults.
No arguments.
No fights.
Nothing.
And somehow...
That irritated Jace more than when she actually talked to him.
The school dance was supposed to be a distraction.
Music.
Lights.
Students laughing.
Dancing.
Having fun.
Jace hated every second of it.
Girls kept approaching him.
"Want to dance?"
"No."
Another tried.
"No."
A third.
"Please go away."
Across the room, Mason was having the time of his life.
Somehow he'd convinced a girl to dance with him.
Traitor.
Jace was about to leave when he saw her.
Elara.
She stood near the exit.
Watching him.
For only a second.
Then she turned and walked away.
Jace immediately followed.
No hesitation.
No thought.
Just instinct.
The moment she disappeared behind the school, he knew.
Trap.
Good.
He was hoping for one.
---
The fight began instantly.
No words.
No warnings.
Steel flashed.
Jace dodged.
Elara attacked.
He countered.
She blocked.
Both moved like predators.
Fast.
Deadly.
Merciless.
The battle raged through the darkness.
Then—
Pain.
White-hot pain exploded through Jace's side.
His eyes widened.
Elara's blade had found its mark.
He staggered backward.
Blood immediately soaked his shirt.
Fine.
No problem.
He'd heal.
Except...
The wound didn't close.
Jace froze.
The blood kept flowing.
His heart skipped.
No.
That wasn't possible.
Wolves healed.
Always.
Every time.
Yet the blood continued pouring from the wound.
His vision blurred.
The world tilted.
"What..."
For the first time all night...
Fear entered his voice.
Elara heard it.
And immediately knew something was wrong.
The fight stopped.
Jace looked down.
Blood.
Too much blood.
Far too much.
His knees buckled.
"No..."
The wound should've healed by now.
It wasn't healing.
Why wasn't it healing?
His vision darkened.
The last thing he saw was Elara's confused expression.
Then everything disappeared.
---
When Jace opened his eyes again...
Someone was staring at him.
A pair of red eyes.
Bloodthirsty eyes.
Predatory eyes.
Jace screamed.
Actually screamed.
He nearly launched himself off the couch.
Only to crash directly into another person.
"What the—"
He turned.
Elara.
Standing right behind him.
"Oh."
She blinked.
"He's awake."
Wonderful.
Absolutely wonderful.
Across the room, Orion sat in an armchair.
Leg crossed over the other.
Looking disgusted.
"Great."
He pointed at Jace.
"Dog Boy finally woke up."
Jace glared.
Orion glared back.
"You smell awful."
"Excuse me?"
"You heard me."
Orion dramatically covered his nose.
"Get him out of my house."
Jace's eye twitched.
"I hate the smell of dogs."
"I'm not a dog."
"You are absolutely a dog."
"I'm a wolf."
"Big dog."
Jace looked ready to throw something.
Elara looked suspiciously amused.
Orion pointed toward the door.
"Leave."
Jace blinked.
"What?"
"I'll kill you some other day."
The casualness was somehow terrifying.
"But leave."
He waved dismissively.
"I don't feel like getting blood on my floor."
Jace slowly stood.
Still confused.
Still weak.
Still bleeding.
Then he noticed something.
The wound.
Blood.
Fresh blood.
His eyes widened.
It had started again.
Right beside Elara.
The moment he got close.
The bleeding got worse.
Much worse.
Orion noticed too.
Immediately.
His expression changed.
The amusement vanished.
Replaced by concern.
His gaze shifted between Elara and Jace.
Then back again.
Something clicked.
Something neither teenager understood.
But Orion did.
His eyes narrowed.
"Interesting."
Very interesting.
Before Jace could ask questions, Orion grabbed him by the arm.
Hard.
"What are you doing?"
"Leaving."
"Excuse me?"
Orion practically dragged him toward the door.
"You need to go."
"What?"
"Now."
The front door opened.
Orion shoved him outside.
Jace stumbled.
"What is wrong with you?"
Orion stared at him.
For several long seconds.
Then said quietly—
"Stay away from my sister when you're injured."
Jace frowned.
"What?"
For the first time all night...
Orion looked serious.
Dead serious.
"That's your death."
The door slammed shut.
Leaving Jace alone.
Confused.
Bleeding.
And filled with questions.
---
The ride home was silent.
The walk inside was worse.
The house was dark.
Most lights had been turned off.
Jace quietly entered.
Hopefully unnoticed.
"Where were you?"
He froze.
Cole.
Sitting on the couch.
Waiting.
Of course.
Jace immediately adjusted his jacket.
Hiding the bandages.
"I'm tired."
Cole didn't answer.
Jace started toward the stairs.
"Going to bed."
Still no answer.
Then—
Sniff.
Jace froze.
Sniff.
Cole stood slowly.
His eyes narrowed.
"What is that smell?"
Jace's stomach dropped.
Not again.
Cole took another breath.
Then another.
His expression darkened.
The scent was everywhere.
Vampire.
Far stronger than before.
Far stronger than it should be.
His gaze slowly lifted toward Jace.
Studying him.
Watching him.
Thinking.
"I don't know what's happening..."
Cole said quietly.
Jace swallowed.
"...but I know something is happening."
The room became silent.
"And I don't like it."
For the first time since waking up...
Jace realized something terrifying.
Whatever happened tonight...
it wasn't over.
- Writer
