Chapter 7: Ambush

I sit at the wooden table in the lobby of the inn. Spite that "incident" from last night, I had trouble sleeping for some reason. Julian slept like a rock while I tossed and turned. Something in the back of my mind lingered but I didn't know why.

      Tapping my fingertips on the table, I glance  around in search of Julian. He said he had to use the restroom but this park didn't seem to have a porter potty anywhere. Weird...

      I slowly rest my arms and head down on to the table. Drifting off, I close my eyes.

***

      I feel a light tap on my shoulder and raise my head. Turning around I let out a sigh. There he is...finally back after five hundred years of powdering his nose.

      "Oh you decided to come back after all" I yawn.

     He smiles ane chuckles. "I had to make sure to release any issues for now. Did you take a nap? When I came over you didn't seem so comfortable."

      I growl and faceplant myself into the table. "Phira...are you okay?" I hear him ask. I slowly raise my head up and see concern written all over his face. "Yeah...lack of sleep. That's all" I answer back.

     His gaze softens and he lifts my arm with his hand. "We still have a long way to go...with no map at all."

***

      As we walk the forest seems to be getting more dark. The trees were like swallowing the sky. They were everywhere and I wasn't sure if time had even passed. There was no sign of day...just darkness.

      My gut was uneasy. Something bad was going to happen soon. What that is? I'm not sure. I had to be prepared so I transfomed.

     Raising my head, I sniff the air. My eyes scan the area as we continue to walk the stone path. Julian seemed uneasy as well and I could feel it. He trailed behind me but not too far.

     My ears perk up by a few rustles in the nearby bushes. I quickly turn my head and growl. Someone was watching us...more than one person.  Thieves? Assassins? Whatever or whoever it was, I was not having it! If they wanted to be ripped apart by a still half asleep werewolf then so be it. I wasn't going to die today.

     "Should we? Not sure if this wolf needs muzzle or a bullet to their mangy head."

      My heartbeat quickens and my stomach turns. Werewolf hunters!

***

    Ophira stopped moving. So did I. The voice sounded like a hunter and this only meant one thing. This was a trap. By who? I have no idea.

      A person steps out of the bushes with three other people. They were all wearing some type of odd uniforms. I couldn't make it out well except for the fact that it was camouflage. Three men and a woman.

     Her face wasn't very noticable but her scent was familiar...the inn?! No it couldn't be...could  it?

      "So, you really think we'd let you pass? Your little hybrid friend and you are done for. No one enters Shadow Forest and comes back." The woman says with a smirk.

     Ophira stares back. "Silvaus...were is he?" She growls and bares her fangs. Her ears draw back and she postions herself for an attack. I step foward and place a hand on her. She doesn't budge and slowly turns her head towards me. Her eyes trail from me and back to the hunters.

      "Oh him? That's for you to see. For now we're going to have to see if you can even survive. Two to four." One of the male hunters says with a smug look.

    Ophira snarls and pushes me aside. She lunges at the their lead and reaches a claw out. She manages to hold the hunter's gun down and pushes her down. One of the male hunters pulls a dagger out and the other two run back, keeping a distance. I quickly rush in front of the attack. The dagger comes down and hunter slashes the side of my neck. I stagger back and place a hand to the wound.

     Something was stirring inside me. I couldn't remember what my body was trying to tell me. Something about my blood though...

     The hunter takes a step back and the woman hurls Ophira off. The leader whips the gun out and aims towards Ophira. Ophira dodges a few shots and then turns her head towards me. I could tell she noticed the wound as she fiercely jumped towards the hunter with the dagger. She throws him off his feet and swips a claw at him. He drags his body and screams as she sinks her teeth into this shoulder. She flings him and the leader takes the opportunity to aim and shot again. This time I was too slow to let out a warning.

    Ophira yelps and drops to the ground. She drops to one knee. A bloody hole appeared on the her left leg. She grasps her claw around the wound and glares up at the female hunter.

    I run over to the fallen hunter and grab the dagger. I wasn't quite sure what I was about to do but it was crazy enough.  I roll down the sleeve of my right arm. I look at my wrist and wince. Placing the dagger to my wrist, I close my eyes and slice.

     I let out a breathe and turn my arm over. Blood drips down my arm and on to the ground. A few second later the wound on my neck and neck start burning. I lean down and the slash on my wrist starts to bubble up. More blood rises up and a stream twists around my arm.

     I turn my head towards to the two and they stand there gasping for breathe. Ophira was still fighting with a wound in her leg and the huntress was trying to hold her off. To her surprise that was last bullet.

     The woman curses under her breathe and yells for back up. The two other hunters leap out and I whip around. The second male hunter turns to me and backs up. "What the? What type of voodoo is this?"

     I grin and swing the blood whip at him. He flies across the forest, hitting a tree stump. The third hunter starts shooting at me and I morph the whip into a sword. How was I doing this? I don't remember really having powers for some reason.

     I rush over and swing the crimson blade at him. I swing the sword and knock the gun from his hand and with a swift thrust I stab him through the stomach. I pull the blade out and he drops to the ground, writhing in pain.

    I turn to Ophira wrapping her jaws around the werewolf huntress's neck. With a quick snap she drops the body. She looks up at me and her eyes widen. "Julian...what is your body doing and why are your eyes red?!"

***

     I slump to the ground and return to normal. Examining the gun wound in my leg, I let out a cry. "Crap! I need like pressure to stop the blood or something." Julian gaspes and coughs. I turn my head towards him. "Do you need to do that vampire stuff or something?" I ask. He looks at me and says nothing at first. Then he walks over to one of the unconscious hunters. I turn my head and hear a scream. Placing my hand on my head, I sigh. Yep, he may be a hybrid but he needs both things to survive.

     He walks over to me and and bends down. His eyes were normal again but his wounds still seemed fresh. Julian flips his wrist over and blood starts dripping down his arm. It forms into an odd stream and wraps around my wound. The bullet pops out and what's left is a circular ring of dried blood. It wasn't scar because I wiped a finger and it smeared. Ew, this is amazing but really gross.

     I let out a sigh of relief. "So...you blood powers. That's unusual."

     He glances down at his wrist. The blood had dried as well as the gash on his neck. "I suppose so. My body felt off when I my neck was slashed. Then the rest happened but hey, it heals doesn't it?"

     I wrap my arms around his waist and hug him. He freezes for a moment then returns the hug. I rest my head in the crook of his neck. "I'm just glad we made it. Your not dead and that matters" I muse. He laughs and I feel his body warm up. It was warmer than usual. Maybe him drinking blood again did that? Never mind that...I'm glad the mini murder party was over.

    "Let's find this stupid place...I feel the worst has just begun" I say with a sigh.