Lillian opened her eyes slowly.
She felt no pain.
The vampire screamed.
He stared at the spear protruding from his back, its tip coated in glowing blue liquid. Lillian gasped and scrambled backward.
"Liquid Schracula," Herakim said calmly. "You won't melt. But you will paralyze."
The vampire collapsed.
Lillian stared at the old man and the werewolves behind him. Could she trust them?
Four new were-panthers burst from the woods.
"Someone get our Savior into the castle!" Herakim commanded.
"I'll go," Luna said.
Diana stopped her. "You stay. I'm faster. Tyler, with me."
Diana rushed to Lillian and bent down.
"What are you doing? Leave me alone!" Lillian cried.
Diana ignored her, lifted her onto her shoulders, and ran.
A female were-panther slashed at Lillian. Tyler punched her in the chin. Diana ran harder, the other werewolves fighting to clear a path.
The castle's stone perimeter fence appeared – dark iron spikes between moss-covered stones. Then the grand gate: massive black iron doors secured with a giant padlock.
"Lillian, the key," Tyler gasped.
"It's in the car," Lillian said.
"Let's break it open," a Beta suggested.
"If we break it, they can enter too," another countered.
"I'm coming with the key!" Blaine shouted from the trees.
Tyler smirked. "While you were debating, I called him."
A loud growl echoed from the forest.
"They're coming," Herakim warned. "I have no more powder."
Blaine arrived with the keys. Diana grabbed them, confused by the number.
"Give them to me," Lillian said impatiently.
She found the right key, unlocked the gate, and they rushed inside.
---
Everyone calmed down. Injured werewolves sat against the walls, letting their wounds heal. Lillian paced the room in her blood-stained sweater, leaves dotted across her skirt.
"Have a seat," Herakim said.
Lillian glared at him. "Who the hell are you? Why are people attacking me? Why are you protecting me?"
"We're not attacking you," Diana said. "The ones who attacked you are were-panthers and vampires. We're werewolves."
"So what do they want from me?"
"They want you dead," Herakim said. "Because you're the only one who can save our kind from the vampires. We'll protect you with our lives. But you must keep this secret."
Lillian searched her skirt for her phone. Gone. Left in the car.
"The more you resist our protection," Herakim said, standing, "the closer you get to death."
Lillian scoffed. "You couldn't even win against them. And you want me to trust you?"
"Just trust us," Tyler said.
"I don't want to." Lillian's voice cracked. "My car window is broken. My belongings are gone. I could be killed at any moment – because I have to save you."
"One of us is a mechanic. He'll fix your window. We'll bring your things back. And we'll protect you with our lives."
Lillian straightened. "Of course you will. If you want to live."
Blaine scoffed from the couch.
Lillian turned to him. "Hello?"
He looked at her.
"Your Savior – the one who almost died today – that's who I am."
Blaine rolled his eyes and looked away.
"Blaine will stay with you most of the time," Herakim said.
"What? Why?" Blaine and Lillian asked in unison.
"He's his own boss," Herakim explained. "The others work for people. He has free time."
Herakim left. The others followed.
"Don't worry," Tyler said at the door. "Everything will be fixed. No one will notice a thing."
---
Lillian walked upstairs, her footsteps loud on the wooden floor.
"Can you walk more quietly?" Blaine called.
"Shut up!" she shouted back.
She stepped into her bedroom and stopped.
High vaulted ceilings. Ancient stone walls. A grand fireplace crackled softly. Moonlight poured through tall arched windows, turning the emerald curtains into pools of silver.
Then she remembered the were-panthers.
What if they come through the window?
She turned and walked back downstairs.
Blaine sat on the couch in the dark, head resting back.
"Why are you back here?" he asked.
"My castle. I can sleep where I want."
She lay down on the couch. Blaine stood up and walked toward a downstairs room.
Lillian followed.
Blaine stopped. "What are you doing?"
"Stretching my legs."
He walked again. She followed again.
He turned on the light and faced her. "Your heart is racing. I can hear it."
Lillian said nothing.
"I know we caused your fear tonight." Blaine's voice softened. "You don't have to be alone in this. We'll protect you."
He sat on a couch near the bed.
"I'll sleep here. You take the bed. If you're okay with it."
Blaine lay down.
After a moment, Lillian lay on the bed.
Both closed their eyes.
Outside, the forest was quiet.
For now.
---
The castle is supposed to be safe – but Lillian can't shake the feeling that something is already inside. Drop a Power Stone and add to library to continue the journey.