Chapter 30: Chapter 30

I squint my eyes more as I try to see through the dense darkness of the forest. Reaching out a hand I quickly check to make sure that Julia is still close by. Even though I can hear the sounds of her footsteps I just need to be sure. Bugs buzz around us and I swipe the air trying to keep them away from my face. The last thing I need is for one of them to go into my eye and obstruct my vision more.

I look at the fullness of the moon and for once I am glad it is full. Normally on nights like these I feel a restless urge like I have too much energy. Tonight the feeling is replace with something that I am unable to name. It feels like there are a thousand eyes are on me and they feel anything but comforting. My eyes constantly watch the forest as I wait for something to happen. I just know that something is going to happen.

“Are you sure that we are heading in the right direction?” Julia ask with a huff.

Her breathing is heavy, and I know that she is tired. My body has started to feel the edges of fatigue also. I can hear my heart pounding in my ears and the heaviness of my over worked limbs. As far as the direction, I seriously wasn’t sure, but something is telling me that we are going the right way. It’s almost as if a part of me can sense a connection to him.

“Yeah, I think we are” I tell her as I start to pick up the pace.

“Think? What do you mean you think? Please tell me that you aren’t having me trudge through the forest with you and you don’t actually know where we are going?” she nearly shrieks.

“It will be okay Jules. We are going the right way. I can feel it” I tell her with confidence.

“How? It’s too dark to even see anything. If I weren’t walking next to you listening to your steps I wouldn’t even still be here. It’s a wonder that we haven’t run into a tree yet” She complains.

Odd I can see the trees. The darkness really isn’t too bad with the moon out like it is. Curiously, I decide to ask her to see exactly how much she can see. “Can you see that boulder ahead. It’s about fifty feet away” I ask her as I look at her face.

“Nope” she shakes her head in dismay. I watch as she squints her eyes trying to see more. Feeling a bit confused I start to wonder why I can see so well. Now that I think about it there is definitely an improvement on my sight. Normally I wouldn’t be able to see this well. I wonder what else has changed about me.

Before I can ponder the thought however a new sound fills the air. My feet pause as I cock my head to the side trying to listen. Is that a car. Who the hell would be driving at this time a night. Turning around I try to find the lights of the car. However I don’t see them.

“Her Julia, you hear a car right?” I ask her.

“No, is that why we stopped. I thought that we were finally about to set up camp” she says as she stretches. “Wait, no now I hear it. How did you hear it before I did?”

Before I can answer however lights can be seen through the trees. There are several sets of them, and I realize that there are many of them. “Run” I say as I snag her by the arm. I have no idea what’s going on with me, but something is telling me that we aren’t safe.

I quickly pull us into the trees as the vehicles approach. Our heavy breaths fill the air as the vehicles stop in front of us. When men start to exit the vehicle I quickly cover Julia’s mouth as I cover my own. She raises a hand to take mine away and I shake my head at her frantically knowing that now wouldn’t be a good time to speak.

“Check the area. They are still near here. I can smell them” One of the men yells. I crouch down lower behind the tree as I pray that he won’t see us. “The light skinned one we want alive. If you find the chocolate one she is yours to play with as you please” He says with a sinister chuckle.

I feel Julia stiffen beside me at his words. Who the hell are these men? Why the hell do they want me? I think to myself as I watch as the men start to check the forest. As I look at the man that is giving the orders I feel my own tremble of fear. He is enormous. His body is marked with scars. Over one of his eyes there is a deep gash that shines white against his dark flesh. He stands with his feet apart as he does something on his phone. The strength of his muscles is easily seen in the black cargos he has on. Unlike the rest of the men he wears no shirt.

Once upon a time I would have found his chiseled chest attractive. Unfortunately that thought is fleeting since her threatened my friend. My eyes quickly leave his form as a branch cracks behind us. In a panic I grab onto Julia’s arm as I shut my eyes.

Oh god. I really wish Maximus were here. If he were here than he could make us invisible or get us the hell out of here. I want to run but I know that if we do they will capture us. I open my eyes to see Julia’s look of blatant fear as she cowers with me. The sounds of crushed leaves and branches come closer, and I pull her into my embrace knowing that we are seconds from being found.

I can’t believe that this is happening. I knew that it wasn’t smart to leave our camp at night. Now here we are in the forest hiding while these evil men are thinking about doing horrible things to us. My head snaps to the right as the footsteps stop. A man stands right in front of us, and I hear a small sound of fear leaves Julia’s lips. I quickly cover her mouth before she can scream. As the sound reaches the man his head snaps in her direction as he squints as if he is trying to see.

“Hey Morbius, Over here” He yells. I look at Julia in confusion. Why is he calling someone else over here if he can see us? Why doesn’t he just grab us and deliver us? Louder footsteps fill the air and the scar filled man appears next to us. “I don’t know what’s going on. It smells as if they are right here, but they aren’t. The scent doesn’t lead anywhere else” The guy who found us says.

I watch as Morbius sniffs the air in our direction. His eyes start to flicker, and I have to hold in my gasp. He is dragon. He’s one just like Maximus is one. Then it hits me. They can’t see us. Smiling to myself I move slowly and hold a finger up to my lips telling Julia to keep quiet. I wish I could explain her confusion, but I won’t risk talking with this guy so close to us.

“Tell the human to come here” Morbius shouts. His tone is demanding and brokers no argument. As he waits for someone his nostrils continue to widen as he breathes in. His eyes have yet to stop flashing to his dragon. Footsteps rush in the other direction and I hear when I car door opens. Footsteps move toward us quickly and I can tell that more than one person is coming over here. If they decide to crowd this tree then we will have to risk moving. I’m not too sure if they can see us in this invisible state.

Suddenly someone is thrown on the ground in front of us. The body narrowly misses my feet as it lands, and I hold my breath when I see who it is. The man they call Morbius steps closer and as he crouches down it seems like his body grows. If I thought that he was menacing from a distance, I was wrong. Seeing his scars up close is nothing shy of a nightmare. The ‘boogeyman’ comes to mine as I take in his appearance.

“You said that the human woman displayed no mark. Is this not what you told me?” he screams.

“Th-that’s true. She didn’t have any bite marks. I-I swear she didn’t.” he yells as he rises on his knees. “She only had on that robe. If there were any marks, they were hidden by the robe” he rushes to defend.

“Humm” Morbius says as he crouches in front Bernard. I watch as Bernard jerks away as he his face to face with this monster. “You see, I really hate when people lie to me. Do you want to know what I do to liars” he ask as he grabs him by the collar. Bernard’s pressed shirt from earlier is now covered in dirt and wrinkles before my eyes as it is grasped in Morbius’ fist.

Bernard shakes his head quickly. I can’t see his face, but I imagine that it is filled with fear. A wicked smile shows on Morbius’ face as if he is enjoying the torment of my former boss. “Aww, I thought we were friends Bernard. You really want to ruin my fun by not getting the answer” he says mockingly. Bernard none the wiser relaxes at this fake friendly tone.

“W-we are friends. I gave you valuable information because we are friends. We had a deal remember. All I want is Emily. You can have whatever you want as long as I get her” he tells him in a rush.

I grimace at his answer feeling sick that he would deal with someone like this to get me. I have always known that he was creepy, but I never suspected that he would take it this far. I look to Julia and see that she has on a face of disgust too. We turn back to the scene right in front of us as the evil fucker chuckles.

“Damn, it is a shame that you lied to me then. You see she has to be marked to use the powers of one of us. We could have had a really special relationship, Bernard.” He says and I watch as Bernard freezes. Suddenly Morbius moves in a blur as Bernard gives a loud yell. His body hits my foot as he falls back to the ground. Blood spurts out of his mouth with a cough as he jerks. His eyes move to mine and widen.

Shit, he can see me. Damn it he can see us. I quickly move my foot from underneath him as he turns back to the men who have begun laughing. Some of them hoot loudly as if they have just scored a touchdown. They celebrate the murder of a man I despise as my stomach threatens to empty its contents.

A gurgle fills the air as Bernard tries to speak. The men laugh harder as Morbius kicks him. His pained grunt fills the air as Morbius squats back down. “This is a lesson to you human. Never make a deal with a monster just because a girl doesn’t want to screw you. No means no” With a disturbing chuckle he rises and begins to exit the trees.

“New development. We will have to activate our spy in there camp. The girl is officially a dragon and is already using her dragons power. Let’s move out!” he shouts as he gets into a vehicle. The men load the vehicles fast and as they finally leave the area I let out a breath of relief. I turn to Julia and see that she is still crying silently as she looks at Bernard’s now still form.

I hug her to me as I turn her away from the gruesome sight. She doesn’t need to keep looking at him like this. When I no longer hear the sounds of the vehicles I finally allow us to exit the trees. Julia is in shock and still hasn’t said anything. I don’t even know how to start a conversation right now. I just know that no matter what, I really need to get back to Maximus now. He has to know that his people are in danger from one of their own. I just hope that I make it in time. He has so much to answer for when I see him. Starting with how the hell I made us go invisible.