OUT OF THE PAN AND INTO THE FIRE

10PM OR THEREABOUTS

I didn't realize it at first, but going into the cave was not my most brilliant move. Nothing I was doing tonight might be considered a shining example of strategy and brilliance.

But I went in, against my better judgement aka gut instinct yelling at me to get my butt out of there. I had reasoned that the three flames inside were really faint and weak compared to the flames roaming at large around the forest.

Also, while I had no sense on smell and was really going in without a clue of what could possibly lurk within, I was also scentless, so whatever monsters reside there, vamps or otherwise, it was probably safer than out here in the creepy forest at night.

It was all very dumb of me. I should've climbed up a tree or something.

But okay, here I was, my ears shifted to hear better and my hair zinged into its metallic state, very, very silently. Almost like a fly sighing.

"Who goes there?" It was a young girl's voice.

So now I knew vampires could hear flies when they sighed.

I slipped quickly behind the first large boulder to hide and covered my mouth with with back of sleeve so that the vapor wouldn't show. It was cold outside, but the cave was even colder.

What did the trainers tell us about facing vampires? Shoot first, do not engage in any conversation, do not look them in the eyes. Or right, something to do with masks - which I didn't have. My hair was pretty much a dead giveaway too. The moment I showed myself, my image would be sent to every vampire in the coven, and I would be on their headhunter list...and then I'd have to eradicate an entire coven... Now that would be a problem.

I already had a warlock due to my packlands. I didn't need a coven of vampires. The thought of it made me remember the rat hunt fiasco in our dungeons. Never again!

So now I had a new complication. I had to get rid of the vamps without them seeing me. But I was pretty confident. Easy peasy lemon sqeezy. I slipped between the shadows and crept up to where my prey were. All three faint little flames huddled together... Like they were afraid. Maybe they were the weak ones. I supposed it was natural for the weak vamps to go into hiding. Vamps were cowardly like that. Even very strong vamps tend to avoid physical combat.

I crept up from behind and then I stopped just a few meters away.

I could see them now. They hadn't noticed me at all, they were concentrating on watching the entrance. I know I was scentless, but these three were clueless, even their backs were left open for the attack.

But I realized the moment I saw them that it couldn't be helped. They were not trained warriors or anything. These three were a girl, just a little shorter than I was, a young boy, and an even younger girl. I couldn't tell their ages from behind, but the youngest was small enough to still fit in diapers.

They were either really just children (which would explain their faint little flames), or very miget vampires - which I had never heard of.

Now what?

I withdrew further back, very carefully. The cave was surprisingly large with many recesses that led to what might be other caves. I carefully sensed for more vamps, but nothing.

Okay, these three were alone. Maybe their parents left them here for a while. Wait, did vampires even have parents? What would the Black Forest specialist team do?

Suddenly I remembered the video where they stormed an underground coven, and the female vamps and spawn they slaughtered - the first girl closest to their entry looked a lot like Maria - I think it was the haircut.

I had to be honest here. I couldn't do that.

It was one thing to behead vamps who had Flynn and Hank's crumpled bodies at the back of their truck, or an old powerful creepy vamp hunting you down for his collection of jewels, but it was a totally different thing to attack and kill scared looking little vamps hiding out in a cave.

Wow, Maria had to be getting to me.

I had never thought I'd come to a point where I couldn't kill a vampire.Then again, I had never thought I'd run with rogues, or go to school with a vamp, or live with a human... and I've done all that. BUT THIS WAS A VAMPIRE!

Okay, think, Sam, think! But mostly, if I had to be perfectly honest, I was just thinking of an excuse to give should I be found sharing a cave with three weak vampires - without attempting to eradicate them. Maybe I could pretend I hadn't notice them.

I slunk off, away from the trio. I needed to find a safe place, maybe a higher ground to camp at until Mate got his hot butt here. Hahaha. Cos Bell had a hot butt. ~ ❤️

At least that was what the other girls said. I had never actually properly looked at his butt. I had never actually paid much attention to anyone's butt, but I made mental note to check out Bell's when I next got the chance. Wait, should I be worried that the other girls were checking out my mate's butt?

I found a nice ledge, it was like its own mezzanine floor in the cave. It was well hidden too, with jagged edges like teeth. I climbed in cautiously - last I needed was to find myself in some gross animal's burrow. It was times like these that I wished I could smell something - anything. I know I kept harping on it, but seriously, wouldn't you wish you could smell - at least you'd be able to tell if there was another animal or something nearby.

Luckily, my little perch was empty - it wasn't very large either. I perched there like some kind of gargoyle, watching the entrance as well as the three little vamps. Okay, I couldn't physically see the three vamps, but I just kept tabs on their little flames, and made sure no other flames came near.

My excuse would be that I was simply following Bell's instructions to stay safe and wait for him. Yeah, cos everyone knew I was such an obedient mate like that. That's why I didn't just quickly loped off the three little vamp's head with my blades/hair, and it wasn't because just the thought of it made me feel sick. Like blech, I wasn't made to fight weaklings. Which, come to think of it, was an even better excuse. I wished I thought of it then, but I didn't. I only thought to blame it on Bell.

Now all I had to do was wait. Again. Why, oh why was I always just hiding and waiting?

{As opposed to killing those vamps?} Boo inquired snidely.

Grrr... (I was extra careful I didn't growl out loud), but I was also kind of relieved that it was Boo and not Wolfie on duty tonight.

{There is only one wolf} Boo informed me.

Oh yeah? Then why are the both of you so different? Wolfie who just liked to have fun and Boo who just... I'm not exactly sure what Boo liked. Maybe she liked making my life difficult.

{There is only one wolf} Boo repeated again.

But this time, I understood her to mean myself included. I was a wolf. So Boo, Wolfie, and I were one and the same person? No way!

{I'm not crazy like you.} I told Boo.

{Says the one who is talking to herself.} Boo smirked and receded.

Okay, I'm just going to pretend that internal conversation didn't happen. My feet felt kind of numb.I had squatting in the cold like a stone gargoyle for way too long. Where was mate?

"Mate!" The young girl called out the moment another flame entered the cave. Definitely not MY MATE! I held my breath. This new flame was a little darker than the three weak ones. It was a man in a dark cape. He had rushed in without even checking for danger, "We have to leave. Black Forest warriors are coming."

I suppose in his mind, the danger was definitely out there.

"But you said it would be safe here!" The young girl whined, "I'm tired, and hungry. I want to feed. The children are hungry too! Did you bring food?"

"Look, I risked my life to come back for you. Leave the spawn. We need to go now." The vamp pulled the girl away.

"No! I don't want to!" The girl whined.

The vamp seemed to be considering his options, "Fine. If it makes you happy. Bring the spawn, but we must leave now, and you must keep them quiet."

"Don't worry." The girl sounded pleased now, "I figured out how to turn them off. They won't make a sound."

Vamps... I felt a chill run down my spine. Well, at least they were taking their spawn with them. Helping a rogue family run to safety was one thing - helping a vampire family... I drew the line here.

Anyway, the vamp hoisted up the boy and the girl picked up the baby. No wonder they had been so still and quiet. I thought maybe vamps were just unnatural - so even their kids would be unnaturally silent and still, but now I knew, the girl had mind warped them. And no matter how much she looked and felt like a girl - she was a vamp.

I caught sight of her just as they left the cave. She was small in stature and young, but I realized she was still older than I was.

I ducked quickly and waited behind the large jagged rocks.

Mate was very near.

"Where are we going?" The girl asked.

"Quiet." Her mate hissed at her, "Use the mindlink."

"It's hard..." The girl whined, "I still have to hold the kids quiet!"

Now that was new. I thought Maria always felt it was more troublesome to talk. And this pretty much confirmed it... Maria really did think a mind wrap was a mindlink.

"Just tell me and I won't make another sound." The girl promised. I wondered if she was new at being a vampire. She just felt kinda... I don't know, human.

The vampire sighed deeply, "I don't know why I indulge you so, my darling. We're returning to the Ciara Coven. They have a new lord now. Perhaps he would accept you... and our spawn."

He was lying! I'm not sure which bit was the lie - but the part about indulging her was really BS. I mean, never mind a date at Moshiro's or buying her a glittery wardrobe, this girl and her kids were left hungry, cold, and frightened in the cold dark cave.

And with that, the vampire family, could you call that a family? Did vampires even have families? Anyway, they left and disappeared into the night.

Good riddance. I released the breath I was holding.

{Mate! ~ ❤️ }

Yay! Just in time! Bell and my betas were close, some other warriors too - not mine, but I was assuming they were Black Forest.

For some reason, I hoped the vamp family would get away in time.

A moment later, I could just make out the sound of vehicle engines - not motorbikes though, maybe pick up trucks? Whatever they were, they were coming closer, which was weird. I remembered running through this forest for quite a bit. I had not seen any roads.

And then it was quiet... I had gotten off my perch in the cave and had slipped out to the mouth of the cave. Now I was thinking I should better return to my little gargoyle position again. Being at the entrance of such a perfect hideout would be dangerous should the vamps decide to run and hide somewhere. I would be caught at the entrance with nowhere to hide.

I felt a little torn. I wanted to be here to listen out for Mate and the others, but I didn't want to be caught dead smack in the middle of the vamp's escape route.

And then I heard a hideous shrieking sound, and then a dark flame in my radar disappeared. Alpha Solomon's Black Forest Special Team Warriors were here. I retreated back into the cave. I had instinctively stepped back the moment the shrieking started.

Once in the cave, I climbed back up into my gargoyle position, except this time, I covered my ears and waited for it to be over.