"Nora, we shouldn't do this. A storm is coming," Mom said, her voice uneasy.
I gripped the door handle. "Mom, you know that's not possible… in summer?" My words came out sharp as I pulled the door open and gently pushed her inside. She hesitated but sat down.
"Where are we going?"
I swallowed hard. "I don't know, Mom."
I turned the key, and the engine roared to life. My hands were clammy against the wheel as I sped off. I couldn't stay and risk it. If I did, my life would become a nightmare.
The air grew thick, and even the sky felt bad for me. Hot tears streamed down my face, my chest heaving with quiet sobs.
I never thought this would be my fate…to be rejected.
Then, just like Mom has said, without warning, the rain poured heavily against the windshield in heavy sheets.
The storm.
"We're being followed, Nora!" I heard her scream behind me.
"What??!" I asked, glancing at the side mirror, fear grasped me immediately I saw a pack of wolves howling behind us.
I slammed my foot on the gas, the car jerking forward. My hands trembled as I tightened my grip on the wheel, and the road blurred past me.
I looked up, staring directly into the eyes of a fierce-looking wolf standing in the middle of the road.
My breath caught in my throat as I tried to slow down, pressing the brake desperately, but it felt like I wasn't trying.
"Nora, stop the car!" my mother panicked, her voice laced with terror.
"I'm trying!" I screamed, my fingers clawing at the steering wheel, but the brakes weren't working.
"Fuck!!"
I was a few meters near the wolf, and something in me whispered that I should run him over, but I quickly twisted the wheel, jerking the car off the road.
I hit the brake repeatedly, but it was still useless.
The car spun out of control, plowing through the forest. Branches scraped against the windows, the tires skidding against the wet ground.
Panic clawed at my chest and my vision blurred. I gasped for breath, my heartbeat thundering in my ears.
I shouldn't have swerved. I should have run that damn wolf over.
I turned to check on my mum, but she had passed out.
"Mum?" My voice cracked.
Turning to look back at the road, my eyes widened when I saw a huge tree in front.
"Fuck no! Jesus Christ!" I cried, stepping on the brake and turning the steering. "Helppp!" I yelped in pain, my car was driving itself.
I yanked the wheel, my body bracing for whatever was going to happen.
My wolf whimpered inside me, her fear mirroring mine. The vampire in my blood stirred, she felt restless.
Just then, the car slammed into the tree, the impact knocking the breath from my lungs.
Flames erupted around us, filling the car in an instant. Smoke filled my nose, burning my throat.
With everything happening, I couldn't stop thinking about my mum.
Tears streamed down my face as I choked on the thick smoke. I began to regret my actions, maybe I should have listened to my mum ... I should have waited as she said.
My stubbornness led to our demise.
I was already choking, the thick flames burned my eyes and blocked my nostrils.
Climbing to the back, I tried to feel my mum's pulse, it was hard but then I felt it... she needed help.
I couldn't imagine how terrified she felt to lose me after all she went through after my dad's death.
I tried opening the door but it wasn't working, the flames increased as my skin began to burn, my eyes tearing up. I grabbed the door handle, but it was locked. I slammed my fist against it, my strength fading.
The fire crackled louder, growing closer, hungrier.
I became weak as I felt like my life was slowly passing me by for the first few seconds, I struggled and fought for my dear life but in the end, I gave up and let it go to dusk.
Closing my eyes to accept my fate.
'Lenora, open your eyes and fight for yourself, your life lies in your palms … your destiny.'
'Nora, wake up … wake up, your lineage can't be wiped out like this!'
'LENORA SILVERBERG!!!!'
My body jolted and I gasped, my eyes flying open.
I pushed the car door open and staggered out of the burning car.
The cold air slammed through my skin pores as I stood to my feet and ran out, and didn't stop. I ran, my legs weak, my breath ragged.
Branches tore at my skin as I stumbled through the forest. My heart pounded in my ears. Even though I had no idea where I was going, I just needed to get away.
I kept running despite feeling the chill on my skin, then I tripped and fell over a log.
The sound of paws thundered behind me. They were still chasing me and I heard their rapid breathing and I wondered why they were still chasing after me.
I growled in pain as I crawled, dragging myself and hid behind a tree. My fingers dug into the dirt as I peered out, my breath shaky as I observed their movements.
The wolves stopped as they sniffed the air, their ears twitching.
I had no idea what came over me, but I raised my hand. My lips moved, whispering words I didn't understand.
Then three of them shifted back into their human forms, their eyes wide with shock.
They stopped moving when I mumbled something I had never said in my entire life.
They cursed under their breath. One of them stepped forward, his eyes burning with fury.
"Who are you?" he snarled. "How are you controlling us?"
I gritted my teeth, pushing myself up. Quickly, two were behind me as they grabbed my arm.
"Why are you after my life?" My chest clenched in pain.
I had no idea what my mum's condition was.
She must have gotten roasted. Before I knew what I was doing, my eyes turned blue as I grabbed their necks and slammed them against the tree with inhuman strength.
"I really hate to do this, but it is not on my list to have anyone recognize me . . . Not now . . . Not ever." My chest rose and fell.
The strength overwhelming me ... where is it coming from?
I have never killed anyone in my entire life but why did I feel like I have been doing this?
I fell to the ground, I was so weak. I felt empty.
I could hear my wolf pleading to let her out but I had only let her out once and since then I never let her out again because I was scared that the demon.... the vampire in me would also want to be let out.
I can't take that risk.
I have to find out about what happened tonight if I survived this . . . what was that power? And spell?
Did I somehow agitate my demon?
It seems like it was going to be harder to hide my true self.
I should just give up and die, I have no one in this world anymore.
My mum was inside a flaming car, lying lifeless and I might not survive anymore.