25. Despair

The clearing in the forest had grown colder, as if the weight of Alastair’s revelations had leeched the warmth from the earth itself. Becky stood rigid, her eyes locked on the werewolf elder, her mind replaying the cruel prophecy over and over again. She could still hear Freen’s laugh in her head, still feel the warmth of her hand. How could she let that slip away? How could she let this curse take it all from them?

Alastair let the heavy silence settle before speaking again. “There’s something else you need to understand,” he said, his gravelly voice cutting through the stillness like a blade. “The three vampires who are hunting the human girl—Mile, Mike, and Devika—they don’t want the curse to be lifted.”

Robert narrowed his eyes, stepping closer. “Explain,” he demanded.

Alastair sighed, his shoulders slumping under the weight of centuries of conflict. “For some, immortality and power are a gift. The curse binds us, yes, but it also gives us strength, endurance, and a purpose in this eternal night. There are those—both vampires and werewolves—who see the curse not as a punishment, but as a way of life they would never trade. To become mortal, to lose their power... it’s unthinkable to them.”

Billy tensed, his fists clenching. “So these three… they’re trying to kill Freen to stop the prophecy?”

Alastair nodded grimly. “Yes. But it’s not just them. There’s a growing faction—a coalition of vampires and werewolves who are united in their opposition to the prophecy. They don’t want the curse to be broken. If the girl dies, the prophecy dies with her, and they can continue their existence as they always have.”

Becky’s chest tightened at his words, her heart—or what was left of it—aching with the enormity of what Freen was facing. Her voice was low but fierce. “How many of them are there?”

Alastair hesitated, his eyes darkening. “Too many. They’re scattered, but they’re organized. The three you know of are just the beginning. Once word spreads that the prophesied girl has been found, they’ll all come for her. And they won’t stop until she’s gone.”

Robert exhaled sharply, his hands balling into fists. “Then we have no time to waste. We need to get to Freen before they do.”

Becky’s head snapped up, determination flaring in her golden eyes. “I’ll go,” she said firmly. “Billy, you’re with me. Robert, too.” She turned to the others. “The rest of you stay here. Protect Nun. We can’t leave her vulnerable while these monsters are still lurking.”

Her father studied her for a moment, his expression unreadable, before nodding. “Agreed. But Becky—” He placed a hand on her shoulder, his voice softening. “You have to stay focused. I know what she means to you, but if you let your emotions control you…”

“I won’t let her die,” Becky said, cutting him off. Her voice was steady, but her eyes glistened with unshed tears. “I can’t lose her, Dad. Not her.”

---

The hum of the airplane engines filled the cabin, a constant, low vibration that matched the tension in Becky’s chest. She sat by the window, staring at the endless stretch of clouds below. Beside her, Billy reclined in his seat, his arms crossed, his expression unreadable. Robert sat across the aisle, his gaze fixed straight ahead, his hands resting on his knees in a display of forced calm.

Becky’s thoughts were a storm, her emotions tangled in a web of fear and determination. Every mile brought them closer to Freen, but it didn’t ease the ache in her chest. She had tried to distract herself by watching the clouds, by imagining Freen’s smile when they arrived—but nothing worked. The weight of the prophecy and Alastair’s words hung over her like a dark shadow.

“What if we’re too late?” she muttered, her voice barely audible.

Billy glanced at her, his voice low but steady. “We won’t be. We’ll get her out of there, Becky. No matter what.”

Becky clenched her fists, her nails digging into her palms. “And then what? Even if we save her, even if we stop those vampires, the prophecy doesn’t change. It still says I’ll lose her.”

Billy’s gaze softened, but he didn’t have an answer.

Robert leaned over from across the aisle. “You’re thinking too far ahead,” he said gently. “Right now, all that matters is getting Freen out of California and back somewhere safe. We’ll deal with the rest when the time comes.”

Becky nodded, but the turmoil inside her didn’t lessen. How could she fight against fate itself? How could she protect Freen from something so much bigger than either of them?

---

In the small motel room, Freen sat on the bed, her knees drawn to her chest. Richie leaned against the wall, his arms crossed, his sharp eyes scanning the room as if danger might burst through the door at any moment. Irin sat on the floor, her head in her hands, her breath uneven.

“They’re coming,” Irin whispered, her voice trembling. “Mile is tracking you, Freen. He knows where to look. He’ll find your old apartment, the pool… it’s only a matter of time.”

Freen’s stomach churned, fear gripping her like a vice. She hadn’t felt safe since leaving Camden, and now it felt like the walls were closing in. “What do we do?” she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Richie pushed off the wall, his expression grim. “We wait. If we leave now, we’ll leave a trail. They’ll catch us faster.”

Freen’s hands tightened around her knees. “I don’t understand. Why me? Why are they after me?”

Richie crouched in front of her, his voice softer. “I don’t know, Freen. But we’re not going to let them get to you. I promise.”

Irin’s head snapped up, her eyes wide and unfocused. “They’re close. Not here yet, but close.”

Richie straightened, his jaw tightening. “Then we wait. Becky will come. She won’t let anything happen to you.”

Freen’s chest ached at the mention of Becky. She nodded, trying to hold onto that hope, but the fear was suffocating. She had no idea why her life had become a nightmare, why she was being hunted like prey. All she could do now was wait—and pray that Becky would find her before it was too late.

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