The Scent of Death
The scent of death permeated the forest.
It was everywhere, more potent than the fresh snow, the pine trees, and the brisk air. Even without the scout’s proclamation that the First was nearby, Marius would’ve known it was here.
His magic thrummed, and the Forsaken Blade vibrated against his thigh.
The scout was leading the group through the woods, communicating silently through hand gestures with Sebastian and Luna.
Marius walked next to Vivienne, and the vampire army was behind them.
Before they left, Marius spoke with his sister. She’d covered them in a privacy ward while Sebastian quickly briefed the soldiers, including Vivienne.
Crimson lined Luna’s eyes, tears that had yet to fall. Her chin trembled, and she bit her lip. “Marius, I?—”
He stepped forward and swept her into his arms, cutting her off. She was shorter than him, her head barely reaching hisshoulders.
He embraced her tightly, kissing her forehead. “I love you, Luna. I don’t say it enough, but I am so grateful for you. Thank you for raising me and for being the best sister I could ever have asked for.”
Now that he’d been away, he could see things more clearly. In leaving, he’d learned to appreciate the things he already had. A home. A loving sister. And now, Vivienne.
Luna sniffled, pulling her head away from his chest. “We can’t say goodbye.” Fierceness permeated her voice as she repeated her instructions from before. “This isn’t the end.”
“I hope not.” Not now, when he was just starting to live. What he and Vivienne had was new, and he wanted to see it through. Whatever it was. “But if it is?—”
“It won’t be,” she said sternly.
Marius smiled softly. His sister’s insistence was sweet, but he’d seen the First. He’d gone up against that feral vampire, and he knew what they were against.
Itmightbe the end.
He cupped her cheek and waited until her eyes met his.
“Ifit is, I want you to know that you’ve been a light in my life from the moment of my birth. I thank the gods for you daily, and I couldn’t have asked for a better sister.” His thumb brushed her cool skin. “I love you, Luna.”
“I love you too,” she replied as crimson poured down her cheeks.
They hugged again, and Marius promised to fight as hard as he could.
And for his sister, even though the words rose to the tip of his tongue, he didn’t say goodbye.
He hoped he wouldn’t regret it.
After debriefing the soldiers, Sebastian had cloaked their entire group in shadows. It was a magnificent and terrifying show of power, a reminder of why heruled the land.
Now they crept through the forest, invisible to the naked eye and one with the night.
At least, the rest of them were.
Marius was the odd man out.
Even though he tried to be as silent as his vampiric companions, it felt like every footfall was a clap of thunder. He winced each time a branch cracked beneath his weight or when pine needles brushed against his tunic.
Everyone else was soundless, ghosts slipping through the forest. Not him.
It was alright, though. For once, not being a vampire was a blessing. The blade on his thigh was a reminder of that.
Someone needed to kill the First, and it would be him.