Page 12 of Wicked Magik

My head popped up and my fingers clicked against my snout. The other human. There was another. They ran into the forest. My forest.

The wind surged with a ferocious intensity, hurling the scent toward me like a tidal wave. It was overpowering, far more potent than before, consuming my senses completely. I stood there, every nerve in my body electrified and buzzing with an uncontrollable excitement.

I could chase, I could go find the scent.

I will find the source and have it for myself.

Yes, yes. I will take the scent. Make it mine. I will keep it.

I stared down at the human and raised my hand to destroy it. I sniffed and stared at its chest. It no longer rose or fell. I tilted my head and laid it on its chest.

Hmm. Void of life.

That was the easiest kill yet. I puffed up my chest and roared and sprinted over to the lifeless body I had killed first. I swiftly picked up the book of spells from the cold dead hands of the human.

I took one long lick across its throat and snapped my jaws.

Yes. Good, very good. More? I could drink more.

The scent surrounded me again. The wind tickled the hair on my arms.

Right, the scent. I snatched the book and ravenously licked the blood off the pages, my hearts pounding like a war drum as I sprinted into the depths of the forest. An insatiable hunger drove me forward, desperate to discover what it was about this human that emitted such an irresistible aroma.

I wanted it, needed it, wanted to taste it, devour it.

Chapter 5

Vesper

The heat of my breath evaporated behind me. It wasn’t chasing me, at least not yet.

I ran. My life depended on it.

The ground was soft, I knew my tracks would be easily found. The soft moss covered everything and the vines that hung freely swayed with ease.

Could I climb them and go up into the trees?

They were thick, lush and as I went deeper their colors changed from a wide array of greens, blues, magentas, and oranges. The moonlight could barely filter through the lushness of the forest. The only light I had were the blue orbs that were litalong the ground. Bright white pebbles that gleamed in the fog that hid my feet.

I was going to fall.

I wasn’t a fighter, a runner. Hell, I couldn’t watch zombie movies because they freaked me out. The running, the constant hunt of monsters wanting to eat your brain.

Now there was a literal monster after me and he was going to freaking kill me.

Damn you Leo. Damn you all, why couldn’t you just let the dead rest in peace?!

I ran further, deeper. The wind brushed into my face, the golden leaves pelted me straight in one of my eyes. My foot caught under a root that was above the ground and I stumbled and fell with a thump.

I groaned and quickly rose to my feet. I could hear the pounding of the ground, huffing, growling.

Shit, shit, shit.

I scrambled off the ground, feeling the softness of the moss underneath me slide away. The wet dirt filtered into my knees and I slipped again. Anxiety gripped at my chest.

I could not give up now. I had just told mom I would leave.

This was not what I meant.