CHAPTER 25

**AMELIA**
I feel the cold hands of the vampire gripping my arm, the pain throbbing where he holds me. My heart is pounding uncontrollably, and a scream escapes my throat as I try to break free. I am alone in the forest, with no one to help me. The vampire looks at me with a sadistic smile, and I struggle desperately against his body.
“We found you; you can’t run anymore; you’re all alone.”, he says, his voice dripping with malice.
“The king will kill all of you!”, I shout, trying to sound brave, but my voice trembles with fear.
The vampire just laughs, shaking his head.
“The king is not here now, which means we can do whatever we want with you. I confess, I am very eager to taste your blood, queen.”
My scream intensifies as the other vampires around us laugh. I see the red eyes of the vampire gleaming even more as he looks at the blood dripping from my arm.
“We can kill the girl now, but our leader wants to see her first.”, one of the vampires says.
My heart races; fear is taking hold of me. I am just a human girl, surrounded by monsters.
“Let me go!”, I scream, but my voice sounds weak. The vampire places a cloth over my nose, soaked with some substance that makes me cough and struggle even more frantically. Desperate, I lift my leg and kick hard between the vampire’s legs. He cries out and releases me, pain evident on his face.
I take the opportunity and run, holding my dress tightly to avoid tripping. My breath is ragged, and I feel the adrenaline pulsing in my veins. But before I can get far, another vampire leaps at me, baring his sharp teeth.
I fall to the ground, his weight on top of me. I see a dagger on his body and quickly grab it, stabbing it with all the strength I have in his heart. The vampire screams, and I push the blade deeper, watching the life drain from his eyes. I shove his body off me, panting and terrified.
I try to stand up, but another vampire is already on me. He places his hands around my neck and pushes me against a tree. The pressure increases, and my vision begins to darken.
“Screw what our leader wants; I’m going to love watching you die.”, he whispers with hatred, squeezing even tighter.
My strength begins to wane, and I am about to lose consciousness when I hear loud howls echoing through the forest. An arrow cuts through the air and hits the vampire holding me. He screams in pain and releases me. I fall to the ground, coughing and trying to catch my breath. I lift my head, seeing wolves running towards us, their eyes shining in the night.
The wolves attack the vampires ferociously, and the fight becomes a chaos of teeth, claws, and blood. One of the wolves stops beside me, growling menacingly at any vampire that comes near. I manage to stand up, still staggering, and retreat away from the battle. I am panting, trying to catch my breath, while the wolves attack the vampires with ferocity. The chaos around me is a whirlwind of teeth, claws, and screams.
I lift my head and see a shadow mounted on a horse, and my heart nearly stops when I realize it is Aaron. He stands out in the middle of the confusion, a beacon of hope. I sigh in relief and try to run towards him, but before I can, a vampire appears and grabs me forcefully. He pulls my head back, exposing my neck.
“Aaron!”, I scream, desperate, as tears stream down my face.
Aaron dismounts and runs towards us, holding a large sword. The vampire opens his mouth, baring his sharp teeth.
“Don’t you dare come closer, or I’ll kill her right in front of you.”, he threatens, tightening his grip on my neck.
I scream again, feeling panic spread through my body. My eyes meet Aaron’s, and I see the fierce determination in his golden eyes as he stares down the vampire.
“Let her go now!”, he orders, his voice firm and filled with fury.
“No, I’m going to kill her.”, the vampire responds, his voice dripping with disdain.
“If you hurt her anymore, I will make you suffer before a slow death.”, Aaron threatens, taking a step closer.
“She’s just a human like all the others.", the vampire retorts, but I can see the momentary doubt in his eyes.
Aaron grips the sword tightly, his muscles tense with anger.
“She is much more important than you.”, he says, his voice low and dangerous.
The vampire smiles, opening his mouth to bite my neck. He grabs a dagger and presses it against my chest, threatening me.
“You think she’s special or different? She’s just another one of your girls you use, great king, Aaron.”
“Don’t come closer, or she will suffer.”, the vampire warns, pressing the dagger against my skin.
I close my eyes, trying not to panic, as I feel the vampire’s tongue graze my neck.
“Kill him, Aaron!”, I plead, my voice trembling.
Aaron raises his sword, ready to strike, but a scream escapes my throat as I feel the vampire’s teeth pierce my neck. The pain is sharp and instant, burning like fire. The vampire’s hand pushes the dagger into my body, and I scream again, falling to the ground with a thud.
“No!”, I hear Aaron’s voice shouting.
“Aaron!”, I cry out, my voice filled with desperation and pain. He yells in rage and begins fighting the vampire, moving with fury.
I am lying on the ground, my vision blurred by tears and unbearable pain. I place my hand over the wound and feel the warm blood flowing, staining my white dress. Weakness takes over me, and dizziness threatens to engulf me.
“Aaron...”, I call for him, my voice a trembling whisper. He fights the vampire, each movement a deadly dance of swords and claws. I feel my body growing weaker, the pain dominating every thought. The fear of dying before breaking the curse overwhelms me.
“I can’t die...”, I think, struggling to keep my eyes open. Tears stream down my face as the pain intensifies.
“Aaron...”, I call again, my voice barely audible. Suddenly, he is beside me, his hands firm and desperate, touching my face.
“Amelia, stay with me!”, he orders, his voice filled with concern.
“Aaron...”, I breathe, the pain turning my voice into a moan.
“Stay awake, I’m here. Just stay awake.”, he insists, removing the dagger from my body. I scream in pain, the sound echoing through the forest. He tears a piece of fabric and presses it against the wound, trying to stop the bleeding.
I feel my heart beating strongly in my chest, each beat a struggle against imminent death. The tears continue to fall, and I fight to keep my eyes open, to not succumb to the darkness that threatens to engulf me.
Aaron carefully picks up my body and starts running towards the horse. My vision becomes more blurred, and I fight against the impending faint. He mounts the horse, holding me firmly.
“I don’t want to die...”, I whisper, my voice laden with fear and pain.
He shakes his head, his golden eyes fixed on mine.
“I won’t let you die, Amelia.”, he promises, his voice an anchor in the surrounding chaos.