She collided with his chest, falling back to the ground.

“Why would you run miss, that’s what they all do?” He laughed then, a high, sickening sound.

Anna looked up at him in horror. His once angelic face had become emaciated and sharp. His eyes burned with iniquitous fires and fangs glistened in his mouth.

“Will you weep now, little miss? Cry for your wretched existence?”

Anna could find no words to reply, but shook her head feverishly, crawling back in terror.

She heard flapping and saw that the bats had returned, hovering over the scene. The boy held up a porcelain hand, listening.

“Do you hear that little miss? The bats, they sing a sweet symphony. About you did you know? Of your death, unfortunately.”

Anna screamed again, panic and fear consuming her. The boy giggled at her terror, swooping down and raking her face with his hand. His fine black nails split her cheek and she reeled in astonishment. The boy sighed pleasurably, continuing his high chuckle.

“Why are you doing this?” she choked between tears.

“I am so sorry, miss.” He looked at her seriously for a second. “But I need to play with my food before I eat it.” The impossibly wide grin returned as he lunged.

“Eskal!” A deep voice rumbled.

Eskal raised his bloodstained face from the ripped and ruined girl beneath him.

“We heard the girl screaming, you fool,” Kaymor snarled.

“But sire, you must let me play.” Eskal licked the blood off his lips, savouring the moment. 

“Make the body disappear, we leave for the city tonight,” Kaymor commanded.

“The city, why? More victims to sate upon? This girl was nice, but I need more. Oh, please say yes?” Eskal pleaded with his coven leader.

“There is a demented werewolf on the loose there.” Kaymor said. “We think he’s been infected by a Wendigo.”

“Aha,” Eskal said, “a creature like that killed my dear old Ma’.”

“This rogue’s attacks will be the perfect cover up for our own kills.” Kaymor continued. “As long as you keep your prey’s screams to a minimum, Eskal.”

Eskal gave him a mocking bow, giggling maniacally.

 

*

 

Kalkavan’s orders burned through Galk’s mind as brightly as the torch he held above him whilst he walked through the dark tunnel. In his other hand, he held the vial of demon-spawn blood Adam had delivered. Kalkavan had already used the blood to gain an imprint on the spawn so he could track him down. Fate, Galk found, was often twisted. So much so, that only a day after Adam’s return Kalkavan had sensed Evan had left Veneseron and was no longer under Vanderain’s protection.

Darkness stretched all around him, so thick that Galk couldn’t even see the tunnel walls, only the few feet ahead of him. Fear nagged at him as soon as he entered, but not because of the dark. Galk had been in the company of many and all manner of monsters, and yet the Asharon were the only ones to frighten him as much as Kalkavan did. The good news, Kalkavan only needed one Asharon to collect the spawn for him. The terrible news was that he’d ordered Galk to recruit his best hunter, the Asharon named Azizule.