Chapter Six

Ariya

I felt goosebumps on my neck as a low growl came from behind us. A searing pain shot up in the back of my head. I saw black as I hit the ground. Mya screamed in fear.

“Hang on!” Link shouted.

Link used his ability to move anything to pull us closer to him and away from danger. I sat up slowly as the pain started leaving my head. Mya. She was healing me. The sight quickly returned to me. As my eyes refocused I looked to see who was attacking us. A pair of red eyes were glaring at us.

“It’s him.” Link hissed.

“No , it’s not. Look closely, what do you see? He was turned. Drake would be a lot more in control or he wouldn’t have stayed hidden for so long. This guy. He isn’t in control. He’s a rabid. As soon as Mya was close enough for him to smell her blood, he went crazy.” I stated.

“Then why is he staring at all of us?” Mya asked.

“Look around. We’re all bleeding. But if we can’t take this one out, we’re definitely no match for Drake.” I said.

They both gulped, suddenly unsure of themselves. While I knew whose side I was truly on, the rabid wouldn’t have been allowed even in my clan. He had to be stopped.

“This is what we trained for. Have each other’s back and we’ll be fine.” I said.

“Right.” Link said.

“Yeah.” Mya said.

“Alright then, let’s go!” I said.

Mya hung back like we trained, while Link and I charged forward. I drew my sword and lunged for the attack. The vampire easily side stepped my attack, flexed his body and struck me in the chest. I flew backwards. All the air flew out of me as I landed. This guy was so strong. Link took the opportunity to attack with his sword but just as easily as I was sidestepped, so was he but instead of getting knocked the way I did, he went the opposite way. I got up, drew a knife and went after the vampire. Instead of attacking me this time, he jumped over me. By the time I turned to see where the vampire went, Mya screamed.

“No!” I shouted, running to stop him. He had grabbed one of the blades we dropped and was raising it above his head ready to slash down at Mya. I ran as fast as I could, predicting the move he was going to make.

Please let me make it in time.

The vampire’s arm flexed as he arcked the blade downward. As the vampire was halfway through his arc, I crossed my left and right arm over each other and raised them defensively. The vampire slashed through his arc, bringing the blade down on my arm guard as I stood over Mya, protecting her. The weight of his attack was heavy. The tip of the blade bit into my skin, slicing me over my left eye. I screamed in pain and shoved my hands up as hard as I could, the blade lifted but caught me on the way up. I kept my left eye closed as blood poured down my face.

Without hesitation Link threw a sword at the vampire using his ability. I started running to get to Link as fast as I could. The sword hit the fence we climbed over and buried itself deep into the wood. The vampire was already at Link prepared to strike.

I’m not going to make it.

“Link!” I shouted, reaching my arm out as if I could stop what was about to happen.

Knowing there was no way out. Link looked at the vampire, ready for death. As the vampire raised the sword ready to end Link’s life, I shouted, “STOP IT!”

My heart sank as I predicted what was to come.

If only I was stronger. If only I hadn’t brought them with me. I could have come with Caleb and they wouldn’t be about to lose their lives.

My blood boiled again. The rage I felt about losing them both and not being able to do anything about it. I could feel everything bubble inside of me. I desperately wanted to save them from dying. My left arm was outstretched as if I could do anything to stop it. I willed everything I had in me to save them and that was when it clicked.

The vampire was finishing the stroke of the sword as a black dome covered over Link. That was it! I did it! My ability is almost activated completely. I was so excited that I temporarily forgot the chaos of the battle.

The vampire glared at me with hate in his eyes. Angry, I had stopped the attack. Angry that I didn’t let him get his kill. He charged at me with everything he had. His speed tripled what it had been before.

Link and Mya looked at me with fear in their eyes. Unable to stop the vampire as he struck, sending me flying. An abrupt pain shot through my chest. I coughed as blood rushed up and came out of my mouth. I looked down at the metal rod sticking out of my chest. As the world around me faded to black I heard Link and Mya scream as they saw what happened.