• Chapter 1

    It was a silent night. I was in the house. My love was sleeping with our daughter tucked in next to him. I turned and looked outside. We were hiding from the village, who thought our vampire child was cursed and would kill them all. Nari was her name. I turned and looked outside again. It seemed safe, I thought. Perhaps I could rest. I got in bed with Dio and Nari. I woke her up. She yawned. Her long black hair reached her waist when she stood up. "Shh, Nari," I murmured. She nodded and looked outside. I followed her gaze to see a couple of eyes staring at us. I shook Dio awake. He looked up at me. "Mayai, what's wrong?" he asked. I pointed back outside, but the eyes had vanished. Nari was shaking against me from shock. I kissed her head and stroked her hair. I had imagined it, I assumed. But how could both Nari and I see them? I shook my head and decided to occupy myself with getting out little three year old back to sleep. I rocked her slightly in attempt. I looked up. The eyes were back. Nari had fallen asleep in my arms. I gently lay her down and got up. I grabbed my jacket and stepped outside. My black dress flowed behind me. I stepped towards the eyes, tensed. I had an extraordinary power of fire. The eyes stepped out. They belonged to a wolf. He was larger than normal, a sleek black coat with a white chest and white tipped tail. He was beautiful. I stepped forward, then heard a branch snap. My eyes darted to side-to-side. I noticed figures on the outer edge of the small clearing. The wolf took my hand in his my mouth. I was afraid he was attacking me, but he guided me towards the house. I looked back at the shadows. They hadn't seemed to notice us yet. I was panicking in my mind. The wolf dropped my hand and turned, his black coat glossy in the light of the moon. I stepped back in and awoke Dio. He peered into the forest and noticed the shadows as well. "Do you see the wolf?" I asked gently. "Wait, what wolf?" he said. "I thought you said there were humans." "There are, but there was a wolf." I turned back. I saw him clearly, his black coat still shining slightly. Obviously, Dio didn't. He tried to follow my gaze, but only saw darkness. He shook his head. "The hunt is getting to her," he muttered, and I could barely hear. He turned off the light. Our house was technically a cluster of trees. The only signs of life was the light that barely shone through the leaves. Of course no ordinary humans could tell we were there. But we took no chances. I hugged Nari reassuringly as a frown was planted on her face. She looked relieved as she watched outside. She pointed again. I saw the wolf circling some humans. Those humans must be blind! I thought. They have no idea that the wolf is circling them. I heard a gunshot. Not thinking of my death, I pushed Nari away gently and jumped out of the leaves. I fell to the ground and saw a human dead. The wolf's eyes were glowing white. I realized he had possessed the human, then made the human commit suicide. They all looked at me and raised their guns in almost complete unison. The wolf suddenly lunged over them gracefully. Then landed on the other side. I watched him as he controlled a human and shot the others before himself. He went back to the wolf. I realized what he was. "A spirit wolf!" I said. "My spirit wolf, correct? And Nari's. That would explain why Dio can't see you." He nodded, then began speaking to me through telepathy. Yes, Mayai. I am Raiz, a spirit wolf. I belong to you and your daughter. I serve to protect you. I have been in your family for generations.