"Isn't it ridiculous how they leave the corpse in the crime scene? I mean, how hard can it be for anyone to kidnap or sabotage the body?" Hayley asked Rylee as they were walking to the crime scene. He was murdered wandering the forest, no one knew what the goblin was up to, or even who or what killed him. It was all a big mystery. Rylee shrugged in response to Hayley's question, "father says that goblins have very sensitive bodies, any alteration might ruin everything. I am not stupid enough to believe him but who cares?"

"The forest is a scary place," thought Rylee as she recalled the tales her father used to tell her, and of course, as always, Hayley listened to her thoughts. Every supernatural being knew all sorts of tales and legends about the forest. The forest is said to be home to merciless hunters whose main goal is to annihilate the paranormal race. Hunters love to roam the forests at night with their rifles, and snipers as they manage to be unseen; however, griffins, which are lion-eagle hybrids are able to locate the hunters and rip their heads off. Griffins are the Protectors of the Forest. Long ago, they created a bond with the People of the Forest, they raised them as wild pets, while griffins guarded them, day and night. Hayley never understood why a person would dedicate his life to getting rid of an entire race.

After 20 full minutes of walking around in the ominous forest, they finally reached the crime scene. They were still alone as Alec and Jon had not yet arrived. They stood encircled by that labyrinth of a forest with massive dense oak trees that were much taller than 3 Hayleys combined. The dim moonlight fell over their stems casting dark shadows that cursed the forest with eternal darkness as the moon hid behind the thick leaves of the trees. At some point Hayley thought that the leaves blocked the moonlight on purpose to prevent her from seeing anything. Hayley and Rylee scanned the crime scene as they turned the flashlights from their phones on. They were at the edge of the forest where the trees met a lifeless, sombre lake. 'The goblin's body doesn't show anything suspicious.' Hayley thought. "No bruises, no cuts, there isn't any sign of struggle either. How is that even possible?" Asked Rylee.

Before Hayley could answer her question, a gust of wind stroke them as Alec's green portal appeared right in front of them. "You're late," Hayley grinned crossing her arms "we were supposed to meet at 9 and you show up 30 minutes later?" Alec remained silent sulking over the news he has just received.

"What's wrong?" Rylee queried, and Alec tossed her the piece of paper.

Dear Jonathan,

Hello son, if you get this letter I'm either captured or dead, most probably the latter. I am sorry I left you in such horrible times, but these were not my wishes. Someone has been stalking me for the past couple of days, and I have no idea who. I found out things that I shouldn't have about their plans. They'll probably rule my death as an accident, but trust me, it was not. I am sorry to leave you with such enormous responsibilities, I know you are only 18, please forgive me. I believe in you, and I trust you will figure something out. I am so proud of you, and I grow prouder every day. I will always love you no matter what. Mark my words when I tell you not to trust anyone. Not everyone are as they seem. Tell your mother that I love her and I apologise again to her. I can't tell you much in this letter because I am not even sure that it will reach you. I love you son and I am sorry.

Yours,

Your father.

"From the looks of the paper and how unorganized his way of writing is, you-", "figure that he was in a rush, he didn't write a date and his handwriting actually sucks." Hayley completed Alec's sentence.

"It appears we have two murders instead of one. I am so sorry for your loss, Jon, I truly am." Rylee hugged him.

"Don't worry man, we won't rest until we get the bitch who did it and we will shove a knife down their throat," Alec said solemnly.

"I know your father told you not to trust anyone but we swear to you on the honours of our families and we swear to god we will help you no matter what, we would never, under any circumstances, betray you," Hayley reassured. She knew how confused and uneasy Jon must be now that he's read the letter.

"You are the only friends I have, so what choice have I got?" they all laughed.

Alec started examining the crime scene and after taking multiple shots, he asked a very important and interesting question: "where are the guards?" Hayley felt stupid at that moment, how hadn't she thought of that? Of course, something was missing, such an important corpse, that of the most significant goblin, lying there with no protection, how did she ever miss that?

"I was actually wondering the same thing," replied Jon, and Hayley felt even more foolish.

"Me too," said a familiar voice coming out from behind a bush, but not alone. Samantha stood wiping the dirt off her white pants, 'who wears white pants in the woods?' Wondered Hayley. She was not surprised that Samantha was accompanied by her two minions, Claudia and Kate, as well as five other men who didn't look like teenagers at all.

"You brought your father's men? Here for a rematch?" Rylee asked startled.

"Nah, she must be terrified of getting her ass kicked again." Alec said as his eyes glowed one green and the other grey.

"We will see about that," she said as her Rapier appeared in her hand, its hilt was now blue, the same as the colour of the ocean, with a red pommel, the same colour of the sun on the day the mutation took place.

"Isn't it a bit unfair for your men?" Hayley smirked with her Rapier in her hand, she called it Serpent, and its hilt was as yellow as the sands of the desert while its pommel was white, the colour of the serpent fangs used to craft the round knob.

"Last time, I recall, you were the one who lost, bestie," Samantha grinned.

"You cheated, though. Besides, this time she has me," Alec said arrogantly.

"Me too," Jonathan said, stealing everyone's eyes as he started shape shifting. Hayley could hear the sound of his bones cracking, one by one. Thick black hair grew rapidly on his skin, he had fangs now and teeth that were as sharp as their weapons, and he then let out a howl as his green eyes shone underneath the moonlight which was suddenly visible to Hayley.

"Cool! Alec, your new friend is a werewolf," Rylee said, bluntly stating the obvious. She had her double-bit axe in her hands now, they were firmly wrapped around the black leathered handle.

"I am turned on right now," Katie sung aloud, swinging her crossbow. The rest, including Claudia, held long swords and the fight commenced.

Alec caught Hayley's eye, as he was fighting 3 of Samantha's men, she saw him opening a portal underneath him teleporting him to where one of them was standing. Alec wrapped his legs around his neck and threw a dagger at the other's hand. Hayley had always thought that Alec was the best fighter in their school, he was as strong as he was smart. After all, he was one of the mountain people who are known for being wise. She then looked at Jon, who was a wolf now, chasing the other 2 of Samantha's men. 'Cowards,' Hayley thought, they didn't even try to fight, but rather fled at the sight of Jon. She then saw Rylee running towards Katie, jumping above the top of Claudia's head to where Katie was standing. As she disarmed her from the crossbow, Hayley saw Samantha running towards her.

"I didn't realize your father hired cowards now," Hayley grinned as she swung her Serpent towards Samantha's nameless sword. "Well, these cowards fight better than you ever will." She said as she blocked Hayley's swing and then the 2 blades kept clashing and ringing throughout the forest. As they fought, flashbacks of her training were displayed in Hayley's eyes. Master Lucas trained them together, he was a 60-year-old man with a funny moustache. He always wore a basic black t-shirt with grey sweatpants. They would spend hours training with their swords and fists, chasing some rabbits 3 days per week. Hayley's favourite three days, until they became in high school when Master Lucas left for Germany, Samantha and Hayley had their fight and everything was ruined.

As Hayley tumbled over, she could swear she saw silhouettes of strange creatures on the trees, but she was preoccupied blocking Samantha's thrashing blade. Hayley then tackled her using her legs and as Samantha fell, she started singing a siren's song. The song manipulated Hayley into doing whatever Samantha wished. So, Hayley grabbed her sword and it was their fight all over again. "Not this time, sweetie," Rylee said as she had her axe around Samantha's neck. Samantha didn't flick, she continued singing, but this had no effect on Rylee which rendered Samantha silent in utter shock.

The forest fell silent as Rylee was tying Samantha to a tree. Hayley heard a thought that didn't carry the voice of any of the people in front of her, not Jonathan, Samantha, Rylee, Alec, Claudia, Katie, not even the five men who she didn't care to know the names of. 'Is it time to attack sister?' She heard the thought and then she heard a branch snap, she looked above and saw what seemed like a moving shadow. She went to Alec slowly and she nodded towards the tree where she heard the sound.

Alec looked above and then he caught a glimpse of a gun, 'run!' He thought, "hunters!" He shouted as he opened a portal. The deafening sound of shots firing in all directions menaced all their lives. Rylee left Samantha who was not yet tied and ran towards the portal, "everyone in!" Said Alec as he opened another portal right beneath the tree Samantha was being tied to, the shots continued. After Jonathan, Hayley was the last person to run towards the portal, she stopped to see where Alec was as she barely evaded a bullet. Alec pushed her into the portal and entered right after her. As they were in the Sterling's backyard, Alec was on the ground, lying on his stomach, in a pool of blood.