"Run" I whisper to Demidicus's confused face before I could take a step forward, I felt my eyes roll back, and the world fell away from me as I pass.

-Anala-

I'm running.

Running from something.

Towards something?

I don't know the difference anymore.

But I'm moving faster and faster. My arms reach for something, anything in this cold nothingness.

I'm clawing for survival, waiting for someone to reach out to me as well.

Air escapes my lungs, and a slow burn begins in my throat.

A slow burn that won't go away; it keeps burning away at every fiber of my being. 

This is pure agony. 

I can't take it anymore. 

Is there anyone who can stop this? 

Someone...anyone... please. I really can't take any more. 

There. Is. Nothing. Left.

"Breath, you damn fool." A growl ripped through the pain. 

Breathe? 

"Get air into your damn lungs now!" Her voices ripped through again, distracting the searing pain.

"WE WILL LIVE!" Ulrica growled, the haze finally breaking.

That's right...I'm not alone.

I cannot be erased like this... We will not be erased.

I woke up with a gasp, still feeling the burning sensation in my throat.

Something seemed to be digging at my brain. With agonizing slowness, I opened my eyes, immediately shutting them when the light burned my eyes from the unshaded window nearby, the moonlight scorching my eyes. It made the sun seem dim in comparison. When I tried to peel them open again, I forced myself to turn my head, nearly gagging from nausea that hit me. I wanted to clutch my head, but my arms felt like dead weights at my side. My entire body didn't seem to want to respond.

I moaned softly.

Rica? I think softly.

I'm here, you dummy. You forgot to breathe for a minute. Rember air equals life. She reprimanded. Quickly I release the breath I was holding.

Right...gotta remember to breathe.

Please do so. Now please try to keep us alive for at least an hour. I desperately need rest.

Okay. I reply softly

Promise?  Rica murmured 

I promise. I reply, rolling my eyes. I feel Rica shrink inside my mind, safe and alive. At least we can count on that for now.

Without moving my head too much, I glance around the room. It seemed to be the same one I woke up this morning, but the lamp had been replaced since I didn't see my handprint on it anymore. Looking closely, I saw little bears dancing around the base of the light. 

"Pretty," I croak out. The bed felt warm and safe, and the covers were not scratchy and stiff. And everything smelled clean. It was like waking up in another life. I could sense others shuffling around outside the door. But none seemed to come close to my door. 

Shuffling around, I catch a glimpse at my hands.

This is so strange. I think, Why am I not tied up? Are they not afraid? Or maybe they think they can take me because I'm so weak right now. Yeah... That must be it. I can't even stand the thought of moving my legs. 

But this is still so...weird. A part of me wants to stay in this bed and go back to sleep, but I can't. I promised Rica I would keep us alive. 

A booming knock startled me from my thoughts. I look up quickly, but the knock wasn't to my door. There was absolute stillness. No air stirred the grass or leaves outside. Not a sound could be heard either close at hand or in the far off distance. Even my own breath seemed to die as soon as it left my mouth. It was an eerie sort of tranquility, so instead of being soothed my senses became heightened. I felt like the prey even though no predator could be detected. It was as if the world were encased in a cocoon, a bubble, and there was no way out. A minute or an hour passed before the creaking of the door hinges groaned from outside.

"I didn't expect you to be here tonight." Luciana's voice rang out in the night, breaking the silence.

"Clearly." A raspy voice replied, "Are you going to invite me in, or should I just sit out here and acquaint myself with the vermin that lives in these woods." The raspy voice barked irritably.

"It has been a long time since I saw you. How do I know you're not here to kill me and my clan?" Luciana asked cautiously

"Oh hush, that was over a long time ago. You shouldn't hold a grudge, it gives you wrinkles." there was a long pause, "Well...it will give you more wrinkles."

"How charming." Luciana murmured, there was another pause and shuffling as the ladies moved into the house. 

Carefully, I lifted the covers, ignoring the pains shooting pains. I took a steady breath and lifted myself off the bed and towards the door. I needed to be ready if there was any trouble.

"Why are you here?" Luciana questioned.

"Come, let's have a drink." the raspy voice ordered.

"I'm busy at the moment, so if you-"

"Then sit down and watch me drink. Where's the brandy?" She asked, there was the sound of clanking glasses before it because silent again.

"Is she safe?" The voices asked.

"For now," Luciana replied.

"I want to meet her." The voice said softly.

"No." Luciana 

"I've kept my word. I have not once interfered with what happened to her. Now it is time you keep your promise. Let. Me. See. Her." the voice enunciated.

"No," Luciana said firmly. Glass shatters outside the room, carefully I back up, waiting to open the door at a moment's notice. 

"Always with the temper." Luciana chides

"Yes, well it runs in the bloody family. I will need a new glass, I seemed to have finished my drink." Luciana sighed and the chair creaked as she went to get a new glass.

"I cannot allow you to meet her, not until you give your word you will not harm the child."

"I've merely come to provide her with a choice. Everything out there can kill her, but I can do it the most efficiently. With me, she will not suffer. It will be quick and humane, like falling asleep if you will. I just need to borrow your kitchen."

"No," Luciana said again.

"You are a stubborn one." the voice groaned.

"Well, it runs in the bloody family," Luciana mimicked.

"So tell me then, what will happen if she lives. Will she grow up, get a bit stronger. And then what? What is your marvelous plan."

"Now, it wouldn't be a marvelous plan if I tell it to a traitor, now would it?" Luciana said sarcastically.

"Traitor? You make it sound like I'm some sort of criminal. I did what I had to do to keep our race alive. To keep you alive, if I remember." 

"Oh, please you sold yourself to the highest bidder and now look at what you do to survive. You serve the very man who persecuted us. Who took our lands and burned our family.  You betrayed us, all of us." Luciana snorted.

"Now I see, you plan to use The Blood Wolf name. To unite us all to rise against the tyrant king and his grim reaper. My dear sister, you are truly naive. Do you honestly expect that child to become queen? He is already tracking the girl and it won't be long until the king's black knight is at your doorstep tearing everything you have worked for apart. You will lose. And that girl will be lost to all." the intruder declared. I felt my hands grow hot at the thought of the king. 

Why was he still tracking me? I don't want to be a part of some bigger plan.

"Why can't you see. That girl is our key to life. And not just feeding off the scraps of wolves, but our lives. We can go back to our ways, and it's not just for the witches. When was the last time you've seen a fairy - " Luciana questioned

"Awful creatures, never liked them." the voice interrupted.

"Or a fae." Luciana continued "When was the last time we felt the earth's magic without fearing the king would kill us for using illegal magic. ILLEGAL MAGIC. We are born on this earth, and we cannot use our given talents for fear of being executed. That king keeps children for sport. He treats all of us like puppets. But that girl is hope." Luciana pondered.

"There is no hope. No light at the end of the tunnel. There is just death and destruction unless we keep the king happy." the voice pointed out.

"A Blood Wolf being born is hope. She escaped the king's black knight. She is already starting to bring hope to us. She saved vampires who were going to sell her to the King. Don't you see it? Once hope becomes a symbol, you cannot kill it. Give hope a name, Her name, and she will never die." Luciana proclaimed

"So you are prepared for another war?" the voice exclaimed.

"The war never ended." Luciana declared

"And what makes you think she will go along with this?" She asked

"She wants what we all want. Peace. A chance to start anew. She will never have that if the king is still alive, and a part of her knows that. She is young but she learns fast and has good instincts."Luciana said and for a second my cheeks felt hot. 

"She will need time to heal." The voice murmured, "How will you keep her hidden? You must know you cannot stay here." 

"Then help me." Luciana pleaded, "Help me keep her safe until she is strong enough to fight. Help me train her." 

Train? Safe?  Both those words have never been good for me.

"He will kill me. He will kill you. I have lost too much to risk on a child." The voice whispered, fear creeping into her deep voice.

"She is of our blood Lilura. She has no one else. We have no one else. My fated is gone. Your family is dead. But they live in her." 

Family? So many questions raced within my mind. I've only ever known my father, my brothers. I was told they all died in the war. But family? How?

"Hope?" Lilura's voice distracted me.

"Hope!" Luciana confirmed.

Rica! I yell loudly in my head.

I'm here. She murmured

Did you hear that? 

Kinda hard not to. She said exasperated

What do we do? Should we run? I panic

Where would we go? she asked

Our meadow, New York, anywhere! I scream. It felt like the walls were suddenly closing in. I went to the corner farthest from the door and hugged my knees.

Ana, we don't have the best track record at keeping ourselves safe. I don't trust witches and I especially don't trust this Lilura spumae but we need help. Shelter. Our body is failing us. If we stay with them, we can rest. When we are strong we can go. We do not have to fight. (spumae= Latin for scum)

But they expect us to fight. To start a war.

And they will be wrong. We choose our fate Anala, you chose to leave and start fresh. Well until we can defend ourselves we don't stand a chance out there. They are willing to train us and there will be food. Hopefully edible but there is always the forest.

You're right, I sigh giving up the argument. 

Thank you, now isn't it time we go meet the bitch that wanted to kill us? Ulrica growled,

Honestly, your priorities are kind of weird.

You are my priority. I will always keep you safe Ana, just remember that.

"Promise?" I whisper

Promise. 

HOLY SNAP! I'M BACK!!!! I AM INCREDIBLY SORRY FOR WAITING THIS LONG TO PUBLISH I SWEAR I HAD A MILLION OF ROUGH DRAFTS FOR THIS CHAPTER AND THEY ALL WERE NEVER GOOD ENOUGH. 

AND THEN LIFE HAPPENED WITH EVERYTHING GOING ON!!! I HOPE ALL OF YOU ARE STAYING SAFE AND STAYING HOME IF YOU CAN.

I WANT TO THANK EVERY SINGLE PERSON WHO HAS BEEN READING UP UNTIL NOW AND VOTING AND EVERYONE WHO IS FOLLOWING ME!!! YOU ARE ALL SO AMAZING AND I TRULY APPRECIATE ALL OF THE SUPPORT. AND EVEN THOUGH I DIDN'T ANSWER I STILL READ EVERY SINGLE COMMENT, SAW EVERYONE VOTE AND FOLLOW AND IT ALWAYS MADE MY DAYS BETTER.

PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF YOU LIKED THIS CHAPTER IT TOOK ME MONTHS TO GET IT TO THIS SO YOU CAN IMAGINE HOW BAD THE OTHER DRAFTS WERE.

BUT IF YOU DID LIKE THIS CHAPTER, PLEASE VOTE AND FOLLOW ME IF YOU HAVN'T ALREADY!! I WILL SEE YOU ALL VERY SOON!!!