Chapter 3

My mom 

 also mentioned that he could be able to help me with my destiny,even though I never really understood why they were all after 

 me. All I knew was that I needed to survive and keep running for 

 as long as I had to. However, this wasn’t like the fairy tales where 

 the charming prince magically appears to save the unfortunate 

 damsel and they ride into the sunset on a rainbow unicorn; in 

 fact, I find those stories to be quite absurd. I was neither a damsel 

 in distress, nor did I enjoy the comforts of a charming prince. 

 I’ve been taking excellent care of myself for the past fifteen years, 

 and I’ll keep doing so—not that I needed one anyhow. 

 “Pay attention, Isabella!”I made a mental push. I must not let 

 these recollections get the better of me. 

 I sized up my opponent and inquired, “Why?” She was obviously 

 very well-fit because she was much larger than me—well, every 

 monster I had ever encountered was larger than me. Since I was 

 smaller than them, I always had the upper hand because they 

 consistently misjudged me and didn’t survive long enough to 

 realize how wrong they had been. 

 “I believe you already know the solution to that one,” she said 

 with a menacing grin. However, I don’t, um. I’m not sure how to 

 respond to that. Yes, I was aware that they genuinely wanted me 

 dead and that it had to do with my blood, but why, for heaven’s 

 sake, would they genuinely want my blood? Well, let’s talk about 

 something else.

 How did you find me?” I asked, desperate to find out how I had 

 let them get away. 

 She said in a thick English accent, “In case you haven’t noticed by 

 now, you have a kind of scent to you, it’s different and just simply 

 hard to resist. I’m wondering how your blood would taste.” I 

 naturally retreated farther. 

 You are extremely unique and rare. I have been on this horrible 

 planet for almost a millennium, and not once have I encountered 

 someone with a scent as potent as yours. Poor lovely youngster. 

 It’s unfortunate that you are still too young, but don’t be afraid, 

 sweetheart; I promise that your passing will be swift and 

 painless. I swear you won’t even feel anything. Like a demon 

 possessed, she let out a rapid, easy chuckle. “Just like snapping a 

 dried-up twig.” 

 “You know you’ve lived for so long that I kind of feel bad about 

 having to kill you, but on the other hand, I doubt anyone will 

 miss you that much,” I smirked in response. 

 She spat, laughing at my comments, then sent me a sidelong 

 glance. “Foolish child!” Dark veins shot down her arms and up 

 her neck in a random pattern, enveloping her eyes in a pitch-black darkness. And her mouth opened, spitting incredibly long 

 canines out. 

 My heart rate skyrocketed, and I asked, “What in the bloody hell 

 are you?” If I wanted to succeed, I had to know exactly who I was 

 up against. 

 My mind was hit by a recollection of one of the very few lessons 

 my dad ever gave me. He said to me that knowing your 

 opponent’s advantages and disadvantages is half the fight won. 

 He used to frequently remark, “Be one step ahead, Isabella, dear.” 

 “Oh, child. Have you never come across a wendigo before?” she 

 went on to laugh, “Scared? You should be.” I heard her bones 

 snap as she gradually transformed into this enormous creature 

 that was towering over me. She snarled as I moved to avoid her 

 claws, but she growled with rage as I struck her with my dagger, 

 barely piercing her skin. 

 It seemed like time didn’t fly when you’re fighting for your own 

 fucking life, but it felt like we had been fighting for an eternity, 

 even though it had only been for ten minutes. Guess it’s true 

 what they say about time flying fast when you’re having fun and not flying fast when you’re not.

 I knew I was losing and I was losing fast when I was violently 

 pushed to the floor and my dagger was tossed somewhere only 

 the goddess knew. Every single attempt I launched against her 

 was pointless; she simply ignored them with ease. 

 Standing before me, breathing raggedly like a wounded beast, the 

 massive wendigo snarled. 

 “Hi! I looked up to see Iris beginning to transform into her white 

 wolf. “Get away from my best friend, you extremely terrifying 

 giant monster.” 

 “No, Iris, please go.” I groan, for I could never forgive myself if I 

 caused her harm. I couldn’t bear the guilt of having caused her 

 harm. Enough people have already lost their lives defending me; 

 no more need to die. 

 With her sharp claws, Iris lunged at the wendigo, slashing and 

 fighting it until it was roughly blown away; I heard her whimper 

 as she crashed against a wall. However, Iris bought me enough 

 time to grab my silver dagger, and using my element of surprise, 

 I struck the wendigo right in the heart, causing it to shriek loudly 

 as its heart melted like ice—I’m not kidding—melting into some 

 sort of blue liquid