The morning fog hadn't lifted, and neither had the weight pressing on Godon's chest.
He sat in the back seat of Detective Marshal Rein's black SUV, beside Angela and Sam, watching the trees blur past the window. They were heading to a closed-off scene outside the eastern woods ,one of many places marked red on the detective's maps.
"Remember," Marshal said from the driver's seat, "you're not here to play hero. You observe, report, and stay behind me."
Sam rolled his eyes. "Sure, Dad. Real subtle for a guy driving three teenagers to a crime scene
At the clearing, the ground was torn up by deep claw marks carve stone like it was sand. Blood stained the grass, still dark and fresh. Whatever had happened, it hadn't happened long ago.
Angela crouched beside the deepest track. "That's not a wolf," she murmured.
"Not a normal one," Godon said quietly. His skin prickled. The same smell from his dream clung to the air .Burnt iron, wet dirt, and something rotten.
A low growl echoed from the trees. All three turned, but the sound was already gone.
Marshal stepped forward, gun drawn, scanning the perimeter. "Something's watching," he said.
Angela nodded slowly. "truth
---
The forest was colder than usual.
Zik crouched low in the brush, fingers curled around his knee, golden eyes scanning the ruined clearing ahead. Beside him, Judas stood perfectly still, arms crossed, his black coat blending with the tree shadows.
"They said it was fast," Zik muttered, voice low.
"They weren't lying," Judas replied coolly. "It's already killed two. Left nothing but bones."
Zik tilted his head. "What's the plan?"
Judas cracked his knuckles. "We hit it hard and fast. Like always."
From the shadows beyond, a low growl echoed a warped, guttural sound that vibrated the earth. Then it stepped into the clearing.
The Devourer.
Its body was shaped like a twisted wolf, but twice as large, claws like black spears, and fur pulsing with an oily, shifting darkness. Its eyes glowed amber-red, and its snout was smeared with blood.
And then it did something no beast had done before.
It spoke.
"Heid..."
Zik's chest tightened. "Did you hear that?"
"I did," Judas said flatly. "It knows him."
The Devourer lunged.
Zik moved first, rolling low and sweeping a leg at the beast's underside. The creature twisted midair ,unnaturally fast—but Judas was already in motion.
With a snarl, the vampire prince flashed forward and slammed a punch into the Devourer's jaw, sending it staggering back with a grunt. Zik followed, leaping onto its back and driving his elbow between its shoulder blades.
The Devourer roared, spinning violently. It flung Zik off like a ragdoll, sending him crashing through a half-dead tree. Judas grabbed its tail and jerked it backward, claws digging into corrupted fur, then drove a knee into its side with a wet crunch.
"Keep it off balance!" Judas shouted.
Zik rolled up from the ground, blood on his lip, eyes burning. "I'm not done yet."
He charged, dropping to all fours mid-run, his body shifting just slightly more feral now, stronger. He slammed shoulder-first into the beast, pinning it briefly as Judas dropped down from above with both feet to its skull.
The Devourer collapsed but only for a second. Its body pulsed, cracked, and expanded.
Then it roared again and hurled Judas into the sky.
Zik sprinted forward, caught him mid-fall, and both hit the ground rolling. The forest shook around them.
Then—
"Are you two done playing yet?"
They both turned.
Clare.(Judas sister)
She stepped from the tree line with a long silver-tipped spear in hand, a smug smirk on her lips, and leather boots splashed with mud.
"You're late," Judas said, annoyed.
"Had to change," Clare shrugged, twirling the spear once. "Didn't want to fight in heels."
Zik blinked. "You brought a spear?"
She raised an eyebrow. "Don't knock it, dog-boy. Let's kill this thing."
The three of them moved in perfect sync now—Clare slashing across the beast's ribs with blinding speed, Zik charging from the side and tackling its legs, and Judas landing blow after blow to its skull and shoulders.
The Devourer screamed, shrieked, but it was outmatched for once.
Finally, Clare drove her spear through its throat. Judas held it down as it writhed, and Zik leapt onto its back, snapping its spine with a twist of his arms.
The beast twitched,then turned to black ash.
They stood in silence, catching their breath.
Clare wiped blood off her cheek. "You guys still breathing?"
Zik grinned. "That was... intense."
Judas gave her a tired look. "You did alright."
Clare winked at him. "Tell me I'm your favorite ."
"Don't push it."
---
At Nezo High...
Cynthia and Daiana walked through the courtyard with quiet confidence ,Cynthia telling Daina her mother's new found job as their teacher. fingers brushing, eyes forward. Students turned to stare but not with cruelty. More like curiosity. Jealousy.
They were both striking—Cynthia in her sharp outfits and calm coolness, Daiana with her dreamy curls and flawless skin. Together, they glowed.
"How are they that perfect?"
"You think they're actually dating?"
"Cynthia's mom is a teacher now, right? Wonder what she thinks."
Cynthia heard it all.
So did Daiana.
She leaned in, whispering, "Still want to hide?"
Cynthia smiled softly. "Not anymore."
Daiana's hand slid fully into hers. The whispers didn't stop, but neither did they.
---
At Wilfred's Court...
The candlelight flickered as the vampire seer knelt before Wilfred.
Her eyes were covered. Her voice came like a ghost.
"The protector is not what you think…"
Wilfred leaned in. "Explain."
"He is light, yes… but something else sleeps beneath."
"Darkness?"
"Not quite. A choice. Fire… or ruin."
---
That Night...
Godon sat upright in bed, sweat beading his brow.
He'd dreamed it again.
A boy someone from school dragged into an alley. Torn apart. Screaming his name.
Angela stirred beside him. "Another one?"
Godon nodded. "It's the same every time. I see them. And then they die."
She reached out, brushing a hand over his cheek. "Then maybe we'll stop waiting."
Godon looked at her, eyes heavy with fear. "How do we fight something that already knows us?"
Angela's voice was firm. "Together."
He stood up on his buser and went outside.
The Next Morning at Nezo high...
Judas pull up with Clare in brand new porge
She popped her gum loudly, slung her bag over one shoulder, and walked into the building like she owned it.
Everyone is staring at them before Angela blocks their way .
Hey you can come with me Clare…Angela said
And you're? Clare asked
Zik's younger sister. Judas interven
I see… she said before taking Angela hand.
By lunch, she found Cynthia, Daiana, Sam, and Godon huddled under the big tree out back.
"So this is the infamous crew?" she asked,
dropping her bag beside them.
"You're loud," Angela said.
"You're brooding. It's called balance," Clare shot back.
Zik groaned. "This is going to be hell."
Clare smirked at him. "Oh, you have no idea."