- XVII -

The foot soldiers went on the werewolves immediately and the archers shot at them, too, but they were too many and too fast. Jumping over the heads of the men they came at them from above.

"Damn those disgusting beasts!", Amelia cursed, drawing her sword again.

The fight went on. She managed to kill two wolves, Marcus had injured one of them severely, but there were still more, roaring and rampaging, snapping at them. When she raised her weapon to strike down the third, she suddenly felt a slightly burning sensation on her ungloved hand. Horrified she let her emerald gaze wander to the east. The sky was not rose coloured anymore, it lit up in a bright yellow.

"Amelia! We must take shelter!", Marcus shouted over his shoulder, still fighting one of the wolves.

She looked over to the tents. None was whole anymore. Where should they go?! Her thoughts were racing. While the burning on her hand got worse, her face also started to tingle. Suddenly she remembered some caves they had passed on their survey trip.

"I know where to go!", she exclaimed.

Marcus nodded. In a distance she spotted Viktor, surrounded by wolves, fighting them unrelentingly.

"Viktor! The sun!", she called out, concern in her voice.

"I know!", he shouted back and gestured for them to leave. "Go and hide!"

"Come with us! There are caves in the woods!", Amelia urged him.

The tingle on her face had turned into a dragging pain. Her skin felt like it would peel off every minute.

"Go with Marcus! I will follow you later!", Viktor repeated, still busy with slaying the werewolves.

Amelia hesitatingly looked at him. He didn't seem to need help against the beasts but would he be fast enough to escape the deadly rays of the rising sun before it was too late? She desperately wanted to take his hand and drag him away but the growling wolves blocked the way.

The skin on her cheek blistered and cracked open, the pain almost unbearable now. She could not stay any longer or her body would burn until there was nothing left of her. Amelia bit her lip hard, then turned around and ran into the woods, Marcus following after her.

The thorns of the undergrowth they were dashing trough scratched the skin on her gloveless hand. She didn't even notice it. She only thought of escape, the monsters at their heels and the deathly luminary climbing higher and higher behind them. This wasn't what she had hoped for when she agreed to become a vampire. Viktor had promised her superiority and now she was fleeing, running for her life. And maybe he would not make it. A single tear ran down her cheek, cooling her boiling skin for only a second before it evaporated.

They jumped off a cliff, then slithered down steep slopes. The caves were only some minutes away. It however felt like hours to her until they reached them. Then, finally, soothing darkness surrounded them.

Exhaustedly Amelia collapsed on the rocky ground of the cave and took off her helmet. Deeply inhaling the cold, musty air, she threw a glance at the entrance. No other vampire seemed to have followed them – and fortunately no werewolf had either.

Marcus kneeled down beside her, also breathing heavily. His face was bright red, but the skin had not peeled off.

"Are you alright?", he asked between clenched teeth.

She looked at her hand. New skin already began to grow and cover the burned one.

"I think so.", she answered.

"Well, I think, I'm not...", Marcus growled, a pained undertone in his voice.

At first Amelia had thought he had stayed unharmed, now he clutched his arm and she noticed a trail of red staining his silver armor. One of the wolf's claws seemed to have ripped open the chainmail and lacerated his shoulder.

The wound was deep but Marcus knew he would heal on his own. William himself had once injured him worse and he had recovered without any treatment. But maybe this situation would be the chance to win Amelia over to his side. Corvinus finally swallowed his pride.

"Amelia, I apologise for treating you so rude and disrespectful.", he whispered, then hissed in pain. "I have seen you fighting tonight and your skills are in no way inferior to those of any man."

She arched an eyebrow. Was it really the proud and arrogant Hungarian speaking? The pain seemed to cloud his mind.

"Apology accepted.", she answered coolly, sitting up straight, so she could look down on him.

There was an awkward silence now, only disturbed by the sound of water dripping from the ceiling. Amelia thought of Viktor. How long would he be able to endure the light? Had he found shelter somewhere? She clenched her hands into fists, her sharp nails cutting into her own flesh. The thought of losing him was almost unbearable.

Marcus raised his head, staring at her and his eyes began to glow demonically. She was concerned about him, he could see it in her eyes. Although she saw that he, Marcus, the original vampire, the one who had given her eternal life, was kneeling right in front of her, injured!

"I have lost much blood...", he began, revealing his fangs while he spoke. "Would you be so kind and give me some of yours?"

He expressed his wish in polite words, but there was a hunger in his voice, like he was ready to attack her and take what he wanted by force. Had his apology only been a charade, played out to propitiate her, charm her, so she would willingly give him her blood? But he didn't really need it, did he? Her eyes narrowed and her lips parted, exposing her fangs, too.

"No.", she said calmly, then stood up and straightened to her full height. "You will never drink from me again."

Marcus clenched his teeth. That woman made him furious. She had seen his injury and the pain he was in but refused to help him. Hadn't his apology been enough to win her favour? Anger drove away the ache in his shoulder and he stood up, too, hissing in rage. Amelia only gave him a disgusted look, raising her chin, her eyes starting to glow as well. Suddenly something snapped in his mind. He didn't think anymore and just lunged at her.