All Chapters of Shadows and First Blood: Chapter 11 - Chapter 20

The rain had stopped, but the mist clung to the trees like a living thing, curling over the asphalt, hiding shadows, and muffling sounds. The highway stretched ahead, glistening silver under the faint glow of distant streetlights. Every movement, every whisper of wind, felt deliberate, as if the world itself were conspiring to test us.Travis drove with quiet intensity, fingers gripping the wheel, jaw set, eyes flicking to the mist with constant alertness. He didn’t speak much, but the tension radiating off him was enough to keep me on edge.“They’re close,” I murmured, voice low, ears straining for the faintest hint of movement. “Hunters. I can feel them.”His pale eyes glimmered under the dim dashboard light. “Then we make sure they regret it,” he said, voice calm but edged with something sharp—determination, defiance, maybe even a hint of fear.The first flicker of headlights cut through the mist ahead, followed by a second pair behind us. They’d split up, the classic hunter strate

The fog thickened as we pulled off the road, tires crunching over wet gravel. Travis kept one hand on the wheel, the other brushing damp strands of hair from his eyes. I could feel the tension in him—the same way I felt it in myself. Hunters were getting bolder, and instinct told me we were running out of time.“We need eyes and ears,” I muttered. “We can’t keep flying blind forever.”Travis shot me a sideways grin, pale eyes glinting. “I suppose that means visiting friends, then. Friends with fangs. And maybe a flair for dramatic entrances.”I groaned. “You always make it sound so casual.”“Casual is my specialty,” he said, shrugging, then gave a playful wink. “Besides, they owe me favors. And we could use a little… backup.”We followed a narrow, winding road until we reached a rundown warehouse that looked abandoned to any human eye. The fog wrapped around it like a blanket, hiding it from the street. Travis parked behind a stack of crates, and we slipped inside, moving quietly.Ins

The abandoned house rose from the fog like a forgotten memory, half-collapsed roof, broken windows, and ivy curling up the walls like silent fingers. Inside, the air was heavy with dust and mildew, but it also carried the faint, familiar scent of other vampires—Selene and Darius, I assumed, had been here before.Travis kicked a loose floorboard playfully. “Perfect hideout. Rustic charm. Minimal human interaction.”I rolled my eyes but let the warmth of his proximity calm me. Hunters were out there, waiting, but here, in the quiet decay, there was a moment of reprieve.He pulled his guitar from its case, strumming softly, letting the music fill the empty space. I watched him, fascinated by the ease with which he brought life into the silence. Even danger lurking couldn’t mute that part of him.“You always do that,” I murmured, stepping closer. “Make abandoned places feel… less abandoned.”He glanced at me, eyes soft. “That’s my gift. Also, my curse. Can’t really turn it off.”The room

The fog still clung to the alley like a living thing, curling around corners, hiding shadows, and making every sound feel amplified. I pressed myself against the brick wall, knife ready, ears straining for any hint of the hunters’ approach. Travis crouched beside me, his pale blue eyes scanning the darkness with unnerving calm.“Okay,” he whispered, voice low but teasing, “this is dramatic, yes. But I like dramatic. Makes my job more… interesting.”I shot him a glare. “You always find a way to make near-death experiences sound fun.”He grinned, brushing a hand over my damp hair. “Because it’s more fun with company.”The fog shifted, and I caught movement at the far end of the alley. Hunters. Two of them, fast, calculated, coordinating. I pressed back against the wall, trying to control my pulse. The adrenaline roared, but there was a strange clarity, a cold focus I only felt when survival was a heartbeat away.“On my count,” Travis whispered, glancing at me. “We’re going to create a l

The city never felt so alive—or so dangerous. Neon lights cut through the fog like knives, reflections bouncing off wet asphalt. Every sound—a distant siren, the clatter of garbage cans, the shuffle of boots—made my nerves jump.Travis held my hand tightly as we sprinted down the alleyway, breath visible in the cold night air. “Okay, dramatic princess,” he said, voice teasing but tense, “I call this… urban survival 101. Lesson one: never trust streetlights.”I rolled my eyes despite the adrenaline racing through me. “Lesson two: you’re insane.”He grinned, brushing a damp strand of hair from my face, thumb lingering against my cheek. “Adorable when scared,” he teased. “You’re welcome.”Hunters’ voices echoed nearby, coordinated, organized. We had no time for hesitation. Our only advantage was speed, wit, and a city full of shadows.We vaulted over low fences, leapt across fire escapes, and ducked into abandoned storefronts. Every corner brought danger, yet every stolen glance at Travi