[A few hours ago]
I slapped away the branches that tried to claw at my face as I trudged after Rosemary through the dense forest. Each step felt heavier with my mounting annoyance. "What the hell are we doing out here?" I muttered under my breath, my voice dripping with fatigue.
Rosemary didn't slow down. Her only response was a low growl, sharp and impatient. "I'm telling you, I can smell her around here!" she snapped. She didn't even glance back as she pushed forward, her movements sharp and determined.
The sun hung high above us, its rays filtering through the thick canopy. Despite the shade, the light made me uncomfortable, a constant reminder of how out of place I felt. At least the trees offered some relief. "It's morning," I pointed out with a shrug, trying to sound casual. "I doubt a vampire would be out here. Doesn't seem like their prime time for a stroll."
In truth, I didn't care whether a vampire would or wouldn't be here. I just wanted to go back and collapse into my bed. I hadn't slept at all last night, having spent the early hours watching over Silas. There was something oddly soothing about watching him sleep, though I'd never admit that out loud.
Rosemary's sharp voice cut into my thoughts. "You're out here, and you're a vampire," she retorted, throwing me a pointed look. I sighed—long and exaggerated. What had gotten into her today? We hadn't found Ambroxius yesterday, and I couldn't see what made her so sure we'd find her now.
"Yeah, but I'm... special," I said with a dismissive wave, motioning at the rays of sunlight piercing through the canopy. I avoided the light instinctively, careful not to let it touch my skin. "I'm not exactly thrilled about testing how much sun I can handle, though."
Rosemary ignored my sarcasm. She sniffed the air again, her nose twitching like a feral animal on the hunt. "She's close," she insisted, her voice low and guttural. "Can't you feel her?"
I fell into step beside her, trying to mimic her focus. I sniffed the air half-heartedly, even closed my eyes for a moment to concentrate. But all I could pick up was the earthy scent of the forest and—was that someone's lunch? My stomach growled when I remembered I haven't had my fill yet, and I rubbed my nose in frustration. "Yeah, no. I don't think we're working with the same equipment here," I admitted.
Rosemary groaned, dragging a hand down her face. "I don't want this trip to be a waste. Do you know how hard it was to get past those mages?" she said, her voice laced with irritation.
I frowned, remembering the duo stationed outside the academy—the man and woman duo barking orders at students to stay inside. They had been relentless, like guard dogs. Getting past them had been a hassle, to say the least.
By "getting past," I mean we'd been forced to climb the trees and leap from branch to branch like some kind of makeshift parkour team. Even as a vampire, I wasn't exactly thrilled about the idea of falling and breaking my bones.
"You're right," I said dryly, glaring at her. "I'd hate to think we wasted all that effort sneaking past those two."
Not that I'd had much of a choice. Wherever Rosemary went, I was dragged along. It wasn't like she'd ever follow me anywhere. And, well... Silas had told me to stick with her. Buddy system, or whatever. Not that I was scared of Ambroxius, but if Silas told me to do something, I'd do it. He had this way of making me feel like his word was law.
I watched as Rosemary jogged ahead, her movements quick and purposeful. She stopped at a tree, sniffed around its base, and then let out a frustrated growl before stomping off like a child denied dessert.
I sighed, more to myself than anyone else. Why had I even followed her? Just once, I should've ignored Silas and stayed behind. Rosemary wasn't exactly the dream companion I'd imagined werewolves to be. All those movies and TV shows had made them seem so... cool. Reality? Not so much.
"Find anything?" I asked, though I already knew the answer.
Rosemary turned to me, her face tired and irritated. "I don't get it. I caught her scent heading this way," she said, her voice full of frustration.
I scratched the back of my neck, trying to think of something helpful to say. "Maybe... I don't know, it's windy? For all we know, she's on the other side of the forest, and the wind just carried her scent here?" My words came out more like a question than a statement.
Her eyes lit up as though I'd just solved a complicated puzzle. "That's it! I smell her again—this way!" she exclaimed, suddenly dropping onto all fours and bolting off into the trees.
"Wait!" I yelled after her, throwing a hand up as if I could somehow stop her with the gesture. My voice echoed uselessly through the trees.
I was alone now. Great. Just great.
"This girl," I muttered in defeat, rubbing a hand over my face as I slapped yet another branch out of my way. The dense forest seemed to close in around me with every step I took after her. Morning light filtered weakly through the canopy, and for that, I was grateful. Walking here at night would've been a different story—unnerving, if not outright terrifying, especially with Ambroxius still lurking somewhere in these woods.
"Rosemary?" I called out, cupping my hands around my mouth in a futile attempt to amplify my voice. My tone betrayed my growing frustration. "Come back already, will you?"
I had a sneaking suspicion she was already halfway across the forest. Typical of her. A sigh escaped me as I scratched the back of my head and trudged forward, my boots crunching against the uneven, rocky path. I leapt over a few scattered stones, my eyes scanning for any sign of her. Tracking Rosemary was no easy task—her scent was faint, almost nonexistent, and my nose wasn't nearly as sharp as hers.
"Rosemary, I'm going home if you don't show up!" I shouted again, though even I didn't believe my own threat. Still, irritation bubbled inside me. She'd dragged me out here, and now she'd vanished into thin air. Unbelievable.
As I pressed on, strange symbols carved into the bark of nearby trees began to catch my eye. They were intricate, almost hypnotic, and staring at them for too long made my skin crawl. Some kind of rune, perhaps? A protection spell? I wasn't sure, but whatever they were, they didn't feel welcoming. I gave each one a wide berth as I passed, my unease growing with every step.
A troubling thought crept into my mind. What if Rosemary had come into contact with one of these symbols? Could they harm her? My stomach twisted at the idea, and I quickened my pace.
I stopped near one of the carvings, my curiosity getting the better of me. The intricate lines were expertly etched, almost like the handiwork of a master woodworker. Something about it felt alive, pulsating faintly under the surface. I fought the urge to touch it—every instinct I had screamed at me not to.
"Don't be stupid," I muttered to myself, stepping back and continuing my search. But as the minutes dragged on, doubt began to creep in. Was she really worth chasing through this cursed forest? Maybe I should just turn back and wait for her to return. Rosemary wasn't exactly helpless—if anything, she probably knew more about these carvings than I did.
I was about to call it quits when a sudden prickling sensation ran down the back of my neck. The hairs on my arms stood on end as if the forest itself was holding its breath. The feeling was unmistakable—someone was watching me.
I froze, rubbing the back of my neck as I slowly scanned the trees above. And then I saw them: glowing red eyes peering down at me from a high branch. My stomach dropped.
"Ambroxius…" I whispered under my breath.
She perched there, her smirk as sharp and wicked as ever, her pink hair cascading messily around her face. Her eyes glinted with cruel amusement as she waved down at me. "Hello, servant of Sloth—Minerva's little pet," she purred, her voice dripping with mockery.
I took a step back, my muscles tensing. "Ambroxius," I said again, this time with more force, my guard already up as she leapt gracefully from the branch. She landed with eerie precision, her feet barely making a sound. Dusting herself off, she placed her hands on her hips and regarded me like a predator sizing up its prey.
"The mage lover," she teased, her lips curling into a sly grin. "Still chasing me, are we? How dedicated." Her face flushed with a deep red tint, and I noticed the telltale smear of blood at the corner of her mouth.
My stomach churned. "You… who did you feed on?" I demanded, my voice a low growl.
Her eyes widened in mock innocence before she giggled, the sound light and airy yet undeniably sinister. "Oh, that? Don't worry, darling. It's so easy to pose as one of the students. Human boys are so predictable—none of them can resist a little temptation." She licked her lips as if savoring the memory.
"But don't fret," she added with a playful wave of her hand. "I didn't kill them. That would be… messy."
Her attempt to act cute only fueled my anger. I crossed my arms, glaring at her. "You're not getting out of here, Ambroxius. Just give yourself up. You're cornered."
Her laughter rang out, high and mocking. "Oh, sweet, naive little thing. You think you can corner me?" She waved dismissively, as if my words were beneath her. "And besides, you're far too young for me to take seriously. I wouldn't want to… corrupt you."
I shot her a disgusted look. "Get your head out of the gutter," I snarled.
She tilted her head, feigning a pout. "Aw, is that what your Gael friend told you? That if I surrender, everything will magically resolve? How quaint." Her flirtatious smile widened as she took a deliberate step closer, closing the gap between us.
My instincts screamed at me to retreat, but I held my ground. "Stay back," I warned, my voice low and steady.
Her expression darkened, the playful glint in her eyes replaced by something far more dangerous. "Lady Minerva didn't teach you how her power works, did she?" she whispered, her tone suddenly cold and void of emotion. "Do you want me to show you?"
"What—" I began, but before I could finish, she surged forward. Her hand slammed into my chest, pinning me against a tree.
A burst of light erupted from the bark, and I gasped as vines shot out, wrapping around my arms and legs. The thorns bit into my skin, burning through my clothes and drawing blood. I thrashed against them, but the more I struggled, the deeper the thorns dug.
"You're so predictable," Ambroxius cooed, leaning in close as I let out a pained yell.
"Hush~" she cooed, pressing her hand firmly over my mouth. I thrashed against her, but it was pointless. The thorns dug through the fabric of my clothing, tearing into my skin with an unforgiving precision. Pain bloomed in sharp, searing waves as my flesh shredded under their relentless grip.
It was unbearable—like a hot knife stabbing into my arms and legs, twisting deeper with every moment. "Does it hurt?" she asked, her voice laced with mockery. I panted, my breaths ragged and uneven, as her hand finally slid away from my mouth. For a fleeting second, I thought of screaming for help, but something about the vines binding me drained all my strength. My limbs felt leaden, my voice caught in my throat. Even as I blinked blearily up at her, my vision wavering, I couldn't summon the energy to fight back.
"Do you seriously have nothing better to do?" I gasped, the words barely escaping through clenched teeth. The pain made it hard to think, let alone speak. Not only had she tried to kill me twice already—now this made the third time. Her persistence was maddening.
Ambroxius grinned, her expression one of pure amusement. "I really don't~," she replied with a sing-song lilt, as if my agony were a delightful pastime for her.
Another rope snaked down from the tree trunk above, slithering like a serpent before coiling tightly around my neck. I let out a strangled cough as it pulled taut, its thorns puncturing the tender skin beneath my jaw.
Blood trickled in warm rivulets down my throat, soaking into the already stained fabric of my shirt. The vines around my arms and legs tightened in unison, and I could feel the thorns digging deeper, threatening to snap my bones with every futile movement.
I struggled helplessly, every attempt to resist only tightening my restraints further. My strength was fading fast, and I could barely summon even a flicker of resistance. It was as if the vines were alive, feeding off my pain and sapping my will to fight. My head drooped forward, my body hanging limply against the unyielding grip of the restraints. The only thing keeping me upright was the noose around my neck.
"Is that all you've got?" Ambroxius taunted, crossing her arms as she studied me with a look of disdainful amusement. "Lady Minerva has done so much—terrifying things, things that make her the envy of others. And look at you." Her words dripped with condescension, every syllable a dagger to my pride.
I forced my head up, glaring at her through half-lidded eyes. "Do… I… look—like I care?" I hissed, my voice ragged and weak, but the venom in my tone was unmistakable.
Fuck Minerva. Fuck her and whatever hellspawn whose talking to me as of the moment. Right now, the only thing I cared about was getting out of this and putting this smug bitch in her place. Fear for my life? That wasn't even on the table anymore—I was too pissed to care.
Ambroxius threw her head back and laughed, the sound grating on my already raw nerves. "You're just like her! I can see why she likes you. Though, between you and me, she's more the dead-inside type, while you… you're hot-blooded, aren't you?" Her grin widened as she leaned in close, her breath warm against my face. I flinched as her tongue darted out, licking the blood that had trickled down my chin where the rope had chafed my skin raw.
I snarled weakly, baring my teeth like a cornered animal, but she only leaned back, smacking her lips with an exaggerated hum of satisfaction. "Interesting taste," she mused, her eyes narrowing with a predatory gleam. "I've never tasted something like this before. No one's ever had the blood of Sloth before, have they?"
I let out a bitter, pained laugh, my chest heaving with the effort. "I guess… I should—give you… a medal… huh?" I spat, glaring at her through the haze of pain clouding my vision.
"You're pretty snarky for someone on the verge of death," she said, tilting her head as her grin turned feral. "I like it. Are you sure you don't want to take me up on my offer? Leave this miserable place and work under Lady Lucia instead. I promise, she'd treat you better."
"Fuck off," I snapped, earning another laugh as she threw her head back, her shoulders shaking with amusement.
My body trembled as I tried again to break free, but the vines only tightened further, the thorns digging deeper into my flesh. Blood dripped steadily onto the forest floor, staining the grass and soil beneath me. The sound of it hitting the ground—soft, rhythmic plips—echoed in my ears, growing louder with every passing moment. I squeezed my eyes shut, trying desperately to block out the pain, but it was useless. It burned, white-hot and all-consuming, as though I were being branded with molten iron.
Ambroxius leaned closer her hand slipping under my chin to force my head up. I opened my eyes reluctantly, meeting her gaze. "You're starting to make me feel bad," she said, though her sadistic smile made it clear she felt anything but. Her thumb brushed against my jaw, and for a fleeting moment, I considered biting it clean off.
"Do you want a hint about Lady Minerva's abilities?" she asked, her tone almost playful as she tilted her head to the side.
I stayed silent, my body too weak to respond. Even if I wanted to speak, the pain had stolen my voice. My vision was starting to blur at the edges, the world around me dimming. Was this it? Was I really about to die? I couldn't even muster enough fear to care anymore. The pain was overwhelming, drowning out every other emotion.
Ambroxius smirked, leaning closer as she trailed a finger through the blood beneath my nose. "She can control blood, you know," she said, her voice low and conspiratorial. "I've never seen it in action myself—she rarely uses it—but it's a terrifying thing, isn't it?" She raised her blood-slicked thumb to her lips, licking it clean with a satisfied hum. "If I were you, I'd be trying a little harder to get out of those vines. They might kill you~."
Her words pierced through the fog of pain clouding my mind. She was right—I had to get out of this. I couldn't let it end here.
"And that Gael friend of yours," she added, her tone turning almost casual. "What do you think he tastes like?" My eyes snapped open at that, narrowing into slits as a fresh wave of rage surged through me.
I wasn't done yet. Not by a long shot.