Claire remained there in the forest with her sister. The footsteps continued to draw closer. She listened to each step using her enhanced senses. She took the Sun Repellant IX out of her jacket pocket tucking it into her sister’s pocket for safe keeping. By the time she was finished hiding the meds. Her navy-blue eyes met with the pale figure emerging from the trees.

This man wasn’t like the vampire they had just met. His skin shimmered in sunlight like glowing diamonds. His muscular frame was a clear giveaway that he was strong. The man’s pale brown eyes remained on the clothing that rested in the grass.

“Patience,” He picked up the pink shirt on the floor clinching it in his hand. His eyes formed an angry glare at her. Claire glanced down realizing there was blood on her jacket from cleaning her sister’s hands. “It was you,” He walked toward her. “You killed my sister.” Wait, she had nothing to do with this.

“This isn’t what it looks like,” Claire removed her jacket. She wasn’t like her sister, she didn’t like fighting. She preferred to be a spectator and simply watch the fights not participate in them. “I didn’t,” The man glanced over at the blood-stained steak on the ground. “Now I know this doesn’t look good but, I swear, I didn’t-,” He broke her words.

“You must think I’m stupid,” He walked closer to her, she backed up. “You’re,” He pointed at her. “Covered in her blood and there’s a wooden steak,” He pointed at the steak. “With her blood on it.” Claire backed into a tree as he drew closer and closer to her. “You’re telling me my sister just up and died on her own.” He smirked, “I think not,” He clinched her throat, choking her.

“I think some pesky,” He bared his fangs at her. “Insignificant wolf,” He gripped tighter on her throat. “Drove that steak through her heart.” He threw Claire causing her to roll across the grass. “You killed someone precious to me.” She rose to her feet. “Now I’m going to kill someone precious to you to even the score.” He started to walk towards her sister’s defenseless body.

“Leave her alone,” Claire jumped on his shoulders. She slashed his throat with claws having no effect. He grabbed her by her hair, throwing her off him. She rolled checking her claws, she couldn’t believe it. Her claws went dull from trying to slit his throat. The vampire continued to walk toward Raven. She pulled out her pocket knife cutting a gash on her palm. “I said leave her alone.” She jumped on his shoulders using the acidic effect of her blood to burn through his diamond skin. He screamed, grabbing her by her hair. He threw her off him, she rolled across the ground getting back on her feet.

“Bitch,” He gripped his neck that had been burned by the sunlight. “It seems there is some fight in you after all.” He turned toward her. “I was going to make you suffer but instead,” He tightened his hand into a fist. “I will just rip your heart out with my bare hand and crush it.” Claire watched as his powerful fist came toward her. She ducked his strike picking her knife up from the ground. The vampire started to grab her shirt, she scooped up a pile of dirt tossing it into his eyes. “Damn it,” He covered his eyes, backing away from her. Claire made haste for the nearest tree concealing herself behind it. Claire continued to observe him as he tried to remove the dirt from his eyes.

Here’s what she knew, one, this vampire’s special trait is that his skin is covered by what appeared to be diamond armor. Two, this armor protected him from the harsh rays of the sun. Three, the acidic effects of her blood could melt away a small area of his armor. Once the area was gone the sunlight could burn him. This means she at least had a chance at beating him. The only thing she needed to know was how long did it take for him to repair his armor?

Once Claire had that, she knew exactly how long she could stay on offense before she needed to hide again. Deep breaths, she may not be as gifted at fighting as her sister but she’s smarter. She can do this, just take it one step at a- The tree she concealed herself behind shattered into tiny pieces of wood.

“Found you,” The vampire tried to hit her, Claire jumped back. He continued trying to punch her, Claire used the trees to block his attacks. One by one her hiding spots were diminishing. She had to find a new method to avoid his attacks. Claire rolled underneath the vampire’s fist, she checked her palm which she had cut earlier. That’s right, her blood had enhanced healing properties. “What’s the matter, are you afraid?”

“Are you?” Claire countered. He tried to strike her. She ducked slashed the knee cap of his jeans with her knife. She slit the palm of her hand placing it on his knee, this should slow him down. While the sun started to burn his leg. Claire quickly impaled his right knee cap with her knife. He gripped his bleeding leg as both the sun light and her knife did their damage. The wound on her palm healed as she concealed herself up in the treetops.

“Fucking wolf,” He pulled the knife out of his knee throwing it aside. “When I find you, I’m going to rip you apart.” Claire started to count seconds in her head. “Fine you don’t want to come out then, I’ll just force you out.” He started to walk towards Raven. Damn it, Claire jumped out of the tree trying to tackle him. He caught her mid-air throwing her clear across the forest.

The vampire started walking toward her. Claire started to take deep breaths. She wasn’t going to be able to hide from him. She had no choice, she had to put her brother’s self defense training to use. This is probably the only time she was ever going to admit that having Eric as her older brother came in handy. Claire rose to her feet pulling out her claws, she monitored the wound on the vampire’s knee. The wound was still bleeding but the diamond had once again formed over it. So, it took a rough two minutes for the armor to repair itself. She could do this, she took another deep breath.

The vampire continued to attack her, Claire evaded his attacks waiting for an opening. He grabbed her by her shirt throwing her aside. She rolled over to her knife picking it up off the ground. She cut her palm racing toward him, she side stepped his kick ducking underneath it. Claire touched his right side with her acidic blood. The sun started to burn him, he ignored the pain striking at her at a much faster speed. She continued to dodge striking the same spot with her claws. A gash appeared on his side, keep attacking. Claire touched his other side, another gash appeared on him. He countered hitting her with a powerful backhand knocking her off her feet.

“You’re finished,” He picked her up with one arm choking her. “Be sure to tell my sister Patience hello for me,” Claire started clenching her throat, she couldn’t get free of his grip. Her feet dangled in the air as he continued to choke the life out of her. There had to be something she could do, she noticed her the wound on her hand was starting to heal but was still bleeding. She just needed to-

“T-Tell her yourself asshole,” Claire placed her hand on his forehead, burning his face with acidic blood. He screamed dropping her, she picked up the bloody steak Raven used to kill Patience and jammed it deep into his forehead. She snapped the stick making it harder for him to remove. She clinched her throat trying to catch her breath. She didn’t have much time before he retaliated. Claire had to finish him off now.

The shape of Claire’s body started to change. Her face shifted to that of an angry wolf. Her eyes ignited with rage. Her claws stretched out being laced with the acidic effects of her blood. Thick brown fur began to shroud her body as she emerged into her werewolf transformation. She let out a loud howl rushing at him like a berserker.

“Fuck,” Brandon ripped the steak out of his skull. His pale brown eyes took notice of the wolf charging at him. Perfect, this is exactly what he was waiting for. He specialized in fighting these beasts in their natural form. Brandon caught her arms keeping her claws from touching him. He drew his head ramming it into her snout causing her nose to drip blood.

“You see sweetheart,” Brandon laughed. “Most werewolves have no control over their actions in their true form.” She tried to charge at him. He threw her aside causing the beast to roll across the ground. “In that state they are nothing but, an anger fueled beast attacking like a wild animal.” She growled lashing at him with her claws. “There’s no strategy,” Brandon knocked her arm aside. “No skill.” He punched her in the stomach. “Most of all, no smarts.” He kicked her into a tree. “Which,” Brandon used his strength to rip a tree out of the ground. “Makes them easy picking for guys like me.” She howled charging at him. “Lights out bitch,” He struck her with the tree, breaking into tiny pieces over her body.

“This wolf,” Brandon has killed several werewolves in the past. Why was this one any different? She murdered his sister in cold blood. He should have no problem with killing her but something was stopping him. This wolf, she wasn’t like the rest, she’s intelligent to have fought someone like him having little to no experience. It is an amazing feat. That and to be so…beautiful. Her long brunette hair was a flow of perfection. Her skin, nothing short of flawless. Most of all, she’s a rare breed of wolf, most werewolves didn’t have special abilities. This wolf is one-of-a-kind but she murdered his sister. Brandon had to kill her, he couldn’t just let her live after doing something like that.

“Claire,” That voice, it was the other wolf. She would be awake soon. There wasn’t any time left to think. Brandon released the sharp stick in his hand.

“Remember this wolf,” Brandon brought his lips to her ear. “The only reason you live is because,” He ran his fingers through her hair. “I was the one who allowed it.” He walked away taking his leave of the forest. The next time he saw her, Brandon wasn’t going to show her any sign of remorse.