Strings of Fate

10th String: Run

I didn't even register what I was about to do, but I jumped in front of her, and pulled her into a hug, knowing that she might kill me for invading her personal space... I couldn't risk it... she can't... she won't be able to take it. Natalie couldn't see him..

She shouldn't see that guy. She shouldn't see him taking throwing the lighted matchsticks at the Lithieum vampires, that I didn't notice were wet, most likely with gasoline... she shouldn't see their bodies burning... she shouldn't see anything...

But she did.

I was too late.

I heard a sharp intake of breath, and not long after, I was thrown out of the way. I stumbled and rolled, stopping when my back hit a tree. It hurt. I knew that it hurt. But I couldn't feel anything. Maybe I should have worried about myself. About my injury. Maybe I should have yelled for help, shout to get any Hunter's attention.

Believe me, I'd do it if I could. But I couldn't feel anything but fear when I saw Natalie standing a few feet away from me... a chilling sensation crept up my bones... making every nerve in my body numb... My eyes widened... and I wanted nothing more than to run from here. Death was here... or probably someone he sent... it felt like it. The air around us turned cold... terrifyingly cold, even if vampires were burning...

Natalie.

She had this crazed look in her eyes, that only mad serial killers could have... she wanted blood, but not in the vampiric way... she wanted to kill. if Armand thought that the energy she was releasing during Training was killer intent... I don't know what to call the energy coming out of her body now. Maybe only werewolves like him could see energies... but now... it was so strong that even a normal Hunter like me can feel it.

Her eyes... they scared me to the core.

They weren't that bright shade of red anymore... but darker. Her black pupils extended, and had a small sphere of red inside. The black rims around her eyes thickened, and started forming spikes that reached her pupils.

She was downright scary.

Even the guy seemed to notice her, too. He slowly raised his head, when he met her eyes though... Natalie smiled, a cruel, sadistic smile that made my whole body freeze.

"Run."

That word was the last thing I heard from her before the fight started.

•Alex's POV•

The battle between the Hunters and the Varvakeion was intense. The Lithieums? Some of them were saved, some, unfortunately... died. It appears that we were a bit too late, which I blamed on Hulk man's stubborn ass, but at least we got to rescue some of them. They seem like good people, but most of them were going hysterical after they found out that Natalie was still inside. Apparently, if Natalie dies, they're not sure if the clan will continue, because Meister Hebreus hadn't been found by anyone yet. Not the Hunters, not even the Lithieum's Cavaliers could find him. They think he was killed, but I highly doubt that. I'd seen Natalie fight before, and to think that she almost killed Clark with only 5 percent of her true strength. Uhm... Clark wasn't really the strongest student in Mountainville, his brother, Mark Barton, was. And I think that even if Natalie used only 12 percent or something, she could still kill him. She's strong... but she hadn't figured out her true strength yet. She hadn't gone that far at all. And I personally think that she could kill millions if she wanted once she got to use the full amount of her skills. Not that she would anyway.

"Natalie!!! NATALIE!!" I heard a guy scream. I turned and looked at him. He was shouting her name, and he was pushing anyone who got in his way, vampire or not. My eyes widened as i scanned his appearance. He had brown hair... and blue eyes. Pale skin, too, a vampiric trait. But when a Mage used a Lightning handcuff on him, he started thrashing around, and his eyes turned black. He flinched every now and then, it was obvious that he was in pain. I mean, that's a Lightning handcuff, duh. He'd get zapped everytime his skin makes contact with it. No, I wasn't surprised because he was handsome--although he certainly was--but because he was familiar.