Chapter Four

Fogged breaths left her lips as she breathed heavily her lungs constricted and her stomach churned deeply as she lay somewhat lifeless on the cold cemented floor, tears pricked at the corner of her eyes her sobs choking her. She has been starved and experimented for days, her blood being taken away from her nonstop. The lack of blood in her system was slowly bring out the vampire in her and it wouldn’t take long before her true self comes out.

Arayah could feel her throat dry up from the thirst for blood and her hunger intensify, her fangs were slowly poking her lips and her pupils dilated turning to slits, her vampire was finally out, she feared what she might turn into but this was inevitable, she was bound to go on a rampage sooner or later, she was only able to curb her vampire side from the food her friend always gave her but now he wasn’t around to give her delicious meals she so much craved for. Her skin paled and her senses intensify the pungent smell of moss and tried up blood made her sensitive nose cringe in disgust but one scent stood out in the air, and it was the scent of wet dogs.

This riled up Arayah so much, loud hisses filled the cell room alerting the guards outside the cells, they were curious on why she was hissing loudly all of a sudden. The guard outside her cell decides to checkup on her, he trailed cautiously to her cell to see her still lying on the cell floor hissing loudly, he opens the door and moves slowly taking one step at a time. Arayah could feel each step he took, counting with him she awaited prey, waiting for him to walk right into her trap, she licked her fangs in excitement as he took another step closer to her, bending to her height he touched her skin and winched slightly. Her skin was cold as ice before he could mutter a word Arayah pulled him down to the floor and drained him of his life source all done in just a single strike with little to no noise made; she was a very strong hybrid with little training she got from her parents while they were still alive.

“Hey! What the fuck did you do to him?” one of the guards yelled pulling her out of her thoughts, pushing the thoughts of her parents out of her mind she quickly stood in defense mode waiting for the guard to strike, his claws elongated as he charged towards her, Arayah ducked at the right moment and kicked the back of his knees making him loose his step, she quickly twisted his neck before he could recover and ran out of the cell. They had only place two guards in her cell, “pathetic and I thought I could have some fun killing these dogs” she thought to herself. She quickly ran to the huge metal door of the cell and opened it, the sweet scent of the cold midnight air hits her as she steps out of the dungeon, a soft smile forming on her lips, she basks in the midnight air but it’s short lived by a loud yell which has her in defense mode immediately.

Before her stood an army of wolves and the alpha king, he was furious as his eyes shone a bright golden color.

“Catch that girl!” he yelled, the wolves charged towards her some changing into their wolf form while some stayed half human half wolf. She quickly took off but she was not fast enough she had not feed too much to heal her broken bones and open wounds, she was just at the same pace as the running wolves, an arrow shot at her thighs which has her yelping in pain, she quickly pulls it out with a hiss, limping as she ran through the forest, zigzagging through trees.

“This wasn’t the kind of fun I intended” she thought running as fast as she could, her lungs tightened as she took in short breaths, she was slowly loosing energy, the place that was shot burned, and sent chills down her spine, he bones ached and her sight became blurry, she looked behind her to see the wolves a mile away from her and a pang of hope spread through her heart, maybe she could out beat them, just maybe.

She pushed forward, forcing every bit of strength she had, she ran as fast as she could, she seemed invincible, like she was never there the only evidence of her presence was the fierce breeze that blew by when she ran.

She soon reached a moving lake, looking behind her she could not find the wolves anywhere near, she focused her hearing and could make out their faint footsteps which were miles away from her, jumping into the lake she feels the coolness seep into her bones and freezes her organs, her lungs stops aching and she is able to breathe freely, taking one last breath she closed her eyes and allows the water to wash her away, her sent and presence was gone with the wind and water as she slowly sank deeper into the lake.

She could only hope to wake up in the afterlife, dead, or wake up far away from the Alpha king and his kind, she hoped that fate would be on her side this time as her she slowly loosed consciousness and maybe fate really was on her side.

****

The sweet melodious sound of the morning bird filled Arayah sensitive ears as she gradually regain consciousness, she tried opening her eyes wandering if she was dead and already in the afterlife but she couldn’t seem to do so, she tried moving her fingers but it wasn’t working either.

“What’s happening?” she thought as she tried to force herself to wake up.

“Am I really dead? Is this how being dead feels like? ” she couldn’t tell what was happening, she could hear the rustling of the leaves and the rushing of waters, the chirps of birds and the soft pats of squirrels running up a trees, but she just couldn’t see it.

The sound of footsteps catches her ears and she quickly holds her breathe and listen to the soft footsteps, she feels a warm large hand touch her face and her defense instinct kicks in pulling her out of her mind as she gripped him by the arm and twisted it. Caught off guard the man could recover from the sudden action but soon he does as he maneuvers under her arm and has her hands twisted instead.

“For a young girl like you, you sure are strong” a strong husky voice rings in Arayah’s ear as she struggles under his hold, he breathes out a chuckle surprised at her strength and skills he tightens his hold on her more.

“Promise you won’t attack and I’ll leave you? Deal?” he asked.

“Promises are broken”

“But I won’t attack if you don’t give me a reason to” Arayah said clicking her tongue.

The man lets go of Arayah’s hand and takes a few step back, she turns around to look at him and is surprised by what she saw.

“You’re…” she stuttered her eyes wide in surprise; he raises his eyebrows in question looking down at the young girl with a passive expression.

“You’re...you’re old?” she breathes out.

“But you have a strong grip, how can you be old and have such a tight grip? Old people are meant to be weak, or is this just a facade?” Arayah said squinting her eyes in suspicion.

The middle aged man lets out a hearty chuckle, his deep chuckle surprises her, he sounds just like her dad whenever he laughed from his heart, the thought of her dad brought a sad expression on her face as she fiddled with her fingers, she missed her parents, she missed home.

The man notices her sudden change in mood and frowns deeply; he takes a step towards her and touches her face.

“Why the sad face? Whatever you’ve been through won’t meet you here princess, I am here to protect you” he said softly patting her head, Arayah couldn’t help but trust him she felt warm and safe with him for some odd reason and she couldn’t pinpoint why she felt that way.

He pulls her into a hug and pats her head fatherly, Arayah looses herself into his warm hug, bursting into tears, she was emotionally and physically drained, she could no longer bottle up all her emotions like she always did, so she let it all out and poured out all her feeling into the shirt of the old man, and all he did was shush her while patting her hair softly, satisfied she stops and steps away from his.

“Sorry about the mess I made on your shirt” she said with a tight smile.

“Well it’s nothing dear...” he paused not knowing what to call her.

“Arayah, dear Arayah” she said with a smile.

“Well Arayah dear, I’m Dave”