by Stella Night
He’d learned that move from Eliza when they’d clashed earlier that day. She might be a soulless bloodsucker, but the woman knew how to fight.
The Alpha collided with the rocks, yelping with pain. It dropped to the forest floor, dazed and shaken. Santiago shifted back to wolf form and pounced on the fallen creature. He clamped his jaws around the Alpha’s neck, not hard enough to kill the beast but hard enough to prove Santiago had bested him.
The Alpha whimpered in submission, signaling his defeat to both Santiago and the rest of the pack. He dismounted the fallen wolf and stalked to the center of the glade. The former Alpha slinked up to him and knelt in front of him. It was a surprisingly human gesture.
Santiago threw his head back and howled. The rest of the pack joined in, including the kneeling wolf in front of him. The pack was his now.
He raced off in the direction of the pyramid temple and the wolves followed.
Chapter 14
It had been a long time since Santiago had been part of a pack. He felt powerful running at the head of a phalanx of wolves. They cut through the forest like a spear head, moving with deadly purpose.
They found the first soldier not far from the temple. Perhaps they hadn’t chased him too far, after all. Maybe Eliza still hoped that the ritual would work somehow, so she hadn’t strayed too deep into the woods.
Wherever she was, Santiago would find her, and he would avenge Amanda’s death. It wouldn’t bring her back but it would bring some balance to the world.
The two wolves to either side of him streaked ahead and pounced on the soldier from either side. He never even saw them coming.
The other wolves spread out, searching for targets. Shouts rang out in the darkness, followed by the rattle of automatic rifle fire. The metallic smell of blood wafted through the forest air.
Whatever hesitation the wolves had shown before was gone. They wanted Eliza and her mercenaries gone as much as Santiago did. Now that they had a strong leader, they entered the fray without fear.
The yip of a wounded wolf sounded off to his right. Santiago veered in that direction, searching for a fight. He found a ring of wolves surrounding Eliza.
The woman moved like a blur, striking lethal blows and dancing away before the wolves could counterstrike. She was so much faster than they were. The beasts kept her hemmed in, but they weren’t able to hurt her.
Santiago charged into the chaos. Eliza saw him coming, a sneer twisting her face. She looked confident and unafraid, having bested him before. But Santiago knew her tricks now. Know your enemy, she had always told him. Well, Santiago knew Eliza. He wouldn’t make the same mistake he made before.
Instead of charging headlong into her, going for a killing blow, he feinted in her direction then dodged to the side, barely avoiding the swipe of her powerful fist. But he hadn’t been trying to hurt her, at least, not directly.
He was distracting her, giving the rest of his pack time to strike. And they did. They bit at her legs, moving in and out quickly every time she paused. Surrounded as she was on all sides, it was impossible for her to avoid every nip of their sharp teeth. Especially since Santiago continued to assault her.
If she ignored Santiago, he would wound her. But if she ignored the other wolves, they would get their blows in, too. His strategy was working.
None of their strikes were particularly effective on their own, but taken together, they were tearing her down slowly. It would be a death by a thousand cuts.
Killing a vampire wasn’t all that different from killing anything else. It wasn’t all stakes and garlic like in the movies. Separating her head from her body would get the job done.
Eliza knew she was outmatched. Santiago could see the panic in her eyes. The rest of her mercenaries were either dead or they’d regrouped back at the pyramid. If she stayed out here, she would fall.
She leaped over the ring of wolves with lightning speed. A few of the animals managed to tear at her in midair, but they didn’t stop her escape.
She ran back to the pyramid with Santiago and his wolves in hot pursuit.
A couple dozen soldiers had taken positions on the steps of the pyramid, their rifles ready to shoot at anything even resembling a wolf. Eliza fled to safety behind them, nursing her wounded flesh.
Santiago paused at the tree line, surveying the terrain. Eliza had a strong, defensible position. A lot of wolves would die trying to break that formation. It was doable, but the loss of life would be enormous.
The wolves at his side were natural hunters. They knew better than to run straight at the armed men. Groups of wolves were already flanking around the pyramid through the woods, preparing to attack from either side.
Their attacks wouldn’t do much good unless something kept the soldiers focused away from their flanks. Santiago could provide that distraction. With a growl, he bounded towards the pyramid, drawing the attention of the mercenaries.
Shots rang out. Bullets thudded into the soil around him, kicking up gouts of rocks and dirt. His sides stung as projectiles grazed his skin. He didn’t let the pain stop him. He had his sights set on Eliza. It would all be worth it if he could just get to her.
A blue pillar of spectral flame erupted from the top of the pyramid, sending a shock wave out in every direction. The blast sent soldiers tumbling like rag dolls down the steps of the pyramid. Even Eliza was thrown from the platform.
But Santiago barely noticed. His eyes were fixed on the figure emerging from the flames. It was Amanda. She floated above the platform radiant with power. Her hair flowed behind her and her eyes burned gold.
She hovered there like an avenging angel sent down from the heavens, wielding the power of a god.
***
The energy coursing through her body was unlike anything she’d ever imagined. She felt connected to the land around her, drawing strength from it and channeling that power to strike down any who dared defile this forest.
The Forest God’s spirit howled inside her, reveling at being freed from his tomb. Swept up in the feeling, Amanda threw her head back and screamed defiantly into the night. It shattered the air with its intensity.
The soldiers beneath her covered their ears with their hands, trying to shut out of the terrible sound of her wrath.
One of the men stumbled to his feet. She recognized him as Pony Tail. He lifted his rifle and took aim at her. She acted on instinct, guided by the spirit inside her. Amanda moved in a blur, faster even than Eliza.
She appeared beside Pony Tail and plucked the rifle from his hands with unnatural strength. She flung it aside. Pony Tail gaped at her, his legs trembling with fear. She placed a gentle hand on his head.
“Serve me,” she commanded.
Pony Tail’s body contorted as Amanda’s energy flowed through him. He fell to his hands and knees. His back hunched over and his limbs changed shape. His face elongated and sprouted fur, and his ridiculous hair turned into a stripe of dark hair on his now gray back.
He had transformed into a gray wolf, exactly like the wolves she had come here to save. He would be one of her guardians now like the rest of them.
The Forest God’s knowledge was hers now. The things he knew, she knew as if she’d always known. The power at her fingertips was beyond measure. Turning a man into a wolf was just the tip of the iceberg.
And the man was truly a wolf now, through and through, with no memory of his former life. All of his sins had been washed clean by the transformation. He’d serve a noble purpose now protecting this forest.
Other soldiers watched the transformation take place with horror in their eyes, like they were getting a glimpse at their own futures. They weren’t wrong.
Amanda drifted from man to man, placing her hand on their heads and commanding them to serve her. New wolf guardians arose in their place, joining the fight on her side and turning against their former comrades.
It didn’t take long for the untouched soldiers to flee in terror.
With a thought, tree roots twi
sted up and out of the ground, wrapping around the soldiers’ limbs and preventing their escape. Amanda didn’t know how she did that. She didn’t really know how she was doing any of this. The Forest God was working through her, telling her what to do.
The few remaining soldiers who’d evaded her traps kept running. She commanded her wolf guardians to retrieve them. They would be transformed as well.
Now that the Forest God was inside her and free, she could command the animals directly, like a general marshaling her troops. This was her forest now. There would be no escape. These soldiers were guilty of invading her realm. Their sentence was servitude. They would defend the land they’d attacked.
It was a fitting punishment.
***
Santiago watched in wonder as Amanda wielded her new found powers. He didn’t know where she’d gone or what had happened to her, but clearly she was able to channel the furious energy he’d felt coming from the pyramid temple.
He didn’t know if there had been a god in this forest before, but there was one here now. And she was a mighty and powerful god.
As impressive as she’d become, Santiago saw past the shining glory and saw the woman underneath. Whatever she’d become, she was still Amanda, still the woman he loved. His heart swelled with joy to see her again.
She was back. She was alive. His world hadn’t ended after all.
He wanted to run to her, to take her in his arms and smother her with kisses. But she clearly had other things to deal with at the moment. He didn’t want to break her focus. He could wait until she finished her symphony of retribution.
Through all the confusion, Santiago noticed a dark blur in the night. Eliza. She was moving towards Amanda’s back, unnoticed by his ethereal love. He didn’t know whether Amanda could be hurt, but he sure as hell wasn’t going to wait to find out.
He ran at an angle to intercept the vampire. She moved with startling speed, almost invisible. Santiago could just barely follow her with his eyes. The light glowing from Amanda helped. The entire area was bathed in her radiance.
He pumped his legs as fast as he could. Then he pushed himself even faster. He’d lost Amanda once before. He couldn’t risk losing her again. Eliza had to be stopped.
Santiago’s aim was true. His body collided with Eliza, knocking her off course. They tumbled to the ground in a heap. When their bodies stopped rolling, Santiago was on top of her. Hatred burned in him like wildfire. The red haze clouded his vision.
He would rip her throat out for what she had done.
Eliza held up her hands in supplication. “Stop, I wasn’t going to hurt her.”
Santiago stared down at her, searching her face. Her eyes welled up with bloody tears. Her face was a mask of misery. Santiago thought he saw some of his old friend in her expression, and he felt that throb of pity in his chest again.
He wanted to trust her. To believe that there was some of the old Eliza still lurking in her dead heart. But after everything she’d done, he couldn’t risk it.
“Please,” she begged. “Just hear me out. I wasn’t trying to attack her. I swear.”
Santiago shifted back to human form. He sat firmly on her chest and he wrapped his hands firmly around the vampire’s neck, ready to squeeze at the first sign of betrayal. “Bullshit,” he snarled. “You already tried to kill her once.”
“I know. I’m sorry. But that was before.”
“Before what?”
“Before the ritual was complete. I had to kill her then, but there’s no reason for me to hurt her now.”
Her logic was sound. Still, it didn’t erase what she’d done. It didn’t change what she was. “Then why were you running to her? It didn’t look like you just wanted to have a chat.”
She shook her head. “But that’s exactly what I wanted. I was just excited, that’s all. I’ve waited so long for this moment. I wanted to ask her, to beg her, to grant my request. I wanted her to make me whole again.”
“You think she’d help you after what you’ve done?”
“No. I don’t know. Maybe. I mean, I turned her into a god, after all. That’s gotta be worth something.”
“You tried to kill her. You didn’t know she’d come back. You didn’t care.”
Eliza closed her eyes. All of the fight gone from her. “I know,” she said. “I’m sorry. If you can’t forgive me, I understand. I wouldn’t forgive me. Do what you have to do, Santiago. If you think I deserve to die, all I ask is that you make it quick.”
“Stop,” Amanda commanded, her voice booming through the forest like rolling thunder. “Spare her life.”
Chapter 15
Santiago stopped short, turning to Amanda in surprise. “But she deserves to die.”
“She deserves to be punished.” Amanda glided over to them, alighting on the ground beside Santiago. The glow surrounding her faded and she was just Amanda again. She rested a soothing hand on Santiago’s shoulder. “And she will be.”
“Are you sure?” he asked.
“I am.”
Santiago got off the prone woman and stood beside Amanda. “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine.”
“Really? Because you’re, um, a little different.”
She smiled. “I did something different with my hair. Thank you for noticing.”
He laughed and shook his head. “At least you’ve still got your sense of humor. But seriously, what happened to you?”
She shrugged. “I’m kind of a god now. It’s complicated. I’ll explain it to you later. Right now I’m trying to pass judgment on Eliza. You know, forest god stuff.”
“Oh,” he said dumbly. “Sure. By all means. What are you going to do with her?”
“I’m trying to get to that, but a dashingly handsome man keeps interrupting me.” She kissed him then, sending warmth through his entire body.
He leaned into the kiss, wrapping his arms around her waist and holding her tight. No matter what she was, she still felt like the woman he’d fallen in love with.
She sighed and pulled away. “Not in front of the vampire, dear.”
Amanda shook herself, like an actor getting into character. Then she turned to Eliza, who had gotten to her knees.
“Please,” Eliza begged. “Oh great forest spirit—”
Amanda raised her hand to silence her. “Amanda is fine.”
“Oh great Amanda—”
“Stop. Eliza, you have stained the soil of my forest with your evil. That ends now. I am banishing you from this place forever. Never to return.”
“No, please,” Eliza said, clutching her hands together like she was praying. “I know what I did was wrong. I know it’s unforgivable. But I’m pleading with you on my knees. Please change me back. Make me whole. I’ll do anything.”
Amanda frowned. “That’s the problem. You’re willing to do anything to fix what happened to you. Even if it means hurting people. Someone like that isn’t worthy of my help.”
“So you can fix me?”
“Yes. But I won’t. You don’t deserve it. What you deserve is to live with the knowledge that your selfish actions are the reason you’ll never be made whole. That is your punishment for the crimes you’ve committed here.”
Eliza wailed in agony. “Just kill me, then. I’d rather die than continue living like this, broken and alone.”
“I won’t stain this sacred ground with your blood.”
The chill in Amanda’s voice was frightening. Santiago felt the terrible power surging through her. She really had turned into some kind of forest god.
“Is there any way to change your mind?” Eliza pleaded. “Anything at all?”
Amanda turned to Santiago. “What do you think? Is there any chance for her to redeem herself?”
He considered it for a moment. “She wasn’t always like this. I think those vampires really did a number on her. She’s suffered through a lot.”
Amanda nodded. “Alright. I’ll give you a chance. You’re still banished. But I’ll allow you
to return once. After you’ve atoned for your crimes and proven yourself worthy. Only then will I help you.”
“How do I do that? How do I prove myself worthy?”
“That’s up to you. But it better be damn good. If you come back here the same woman you are now, you’ll never leave this forest again. Agreed?”
“Agreed,” Eliza said. “Thank you, Amanda. I promise I won’t let you down.”
“I’ll believe it when I see it,” Amanda said. “Now get the hell out of my sight before I change my mind.”
***
Amanda and Santiago were alone, sitting together on the steps of the pyramid. She explained everything that happened to her after meeting the Forest God. He listened intently, hanging on every word.
When she finished, the sun was rising, brightening the horizon. Santiago sat in silence for a while, letting it all sink in. Amanda didn’t mind. It was actually kind of nice to just sit and watch the sun come up over her forest. Her forest. That was going to take some getting used to.
“Well,” Santiago finally said. “I guess you got what you wanted. You saved the wolves.”
She laughed. “That’s true. Although this wasn’t exactly how I expected it to happen.”
“What? You didn’t plan on merging with a primeval forest god? I thought that was your plan all along.”
“Yeah, you caught me. It was all part of my cunning plan.”
“On the plus side, you’ve increased the gray wolf population in this forest. That ought to throw those morons at the NCC for a loop.”
She reclined on the step behind her, leaning on her elbows. “You know, in all the excitement, I forgot about those guys. I should probably let them know I’m never coming back.”
Santiago pretended he was typing with his fingers in the air. “Dear science dicks, I’ve come down with a slight case of forest god. Goodbye.”
Amanda laughed again. “I like that. If only I had email out here.”
“You mean this temple doesn’t have wifi?”
