Page 12 of Her Immortal Protector

I whirl back, fangs bared. "You don't understand. There are others... they won't show mercy."

Aria's heart rate spikes, but she stands her ground. "What are you?"

The question hangs heavy between us. I struggle to find the words, to explain something I barely understand myself.

I run a hand through my hair, frustration mounting. "Look, I have to go... hunt. Stay here. Please."

The hunger gnaws at me, a constant ache. But as I look at Aria, I realize something strange – I don't crave her blood. The urge to drain her, to satisfy my thirst, is oddly absent. It unsettles me even more than her presence.

"I'll be back," I mutter, moving towards the door.

"Wait!" Aria calls out. I pause, hand on the doorknob. "You saved me. Why?"

I meet her gaze, seeing determination mixed with fear. Something inside me twists, a feeling I thought I'd lost in the Change.

"I don't know," I admit quietly.

As I step outside, her scent lingers, a reminder of the dangerous attachment forming. I spread my wings, ready to take flight, but my thoughts remain grounded. What am I doing? The First would never approve. Humans are prey, nothing more.

But Aria... she's different. And that terrifies me more than anything.

I soar through the night sky, my wings cutting through the air with newfound grace. The island spreads out beneath me, a patchwork of dark forests and moonlit clearings. My enhanced senses pick up every rustle, every heartbeat in the wilderness below. It's intoxicating and terrifying all at once.

As I scan for prey, memories of my old life flood back. I remember late nights in the university lab, peering through microscopes at marine samples. The thrill of discovery, of unraveling nature's mysteries, used to be my greatest joy.

"Christos, look at this!" My lab partner's excited voice echoes in my mind. I see her leaning over a petri dish, dark curls falling across her face. "I think we've found a new species of plankton!"

I blink, the memory fading as quickly as it came. Now, instead of studying life, I'm forced to take it. The irony isn't lost on me.

A flicker of movement catches my eye. A wild boar, rooting through the underbrush. My mouth waters, instinct taking over. I dive, silent as death.

As I feed, another memory surfaces. I'm on a research vessel, the salty breeze whipping through my hair. We're tracking a pod of dolphins, their playful leaps bringing smiles to our faces. I remember the awe I felt, witnessing such intelligence and grace in the natural world.

Now, I'm the predator. The thought leaves a bitter taste in my mouth, even as I drain the boar dry.

I wipe my mouth, disgusted and satisfied in equal measure. Standing, I catch sight of my reflection in a nearby stream. Pale skin, inhuman eyes staring back at me. I barely recognize myself.

"You've got a bright future ahead, Christos," my professor once told me, clapping me on the shoulder. "Your passion for marine conservation will make a real difference in this world."

I laugh bitterly at the memory. What difference can I make now? I'm no longer part of the world I swore to protect. I'm something else entirely.

As I prepare to take flight again, my thoughts drift back to Aria. Her determination, her bravery in the face of the unknown – it reminds me of the person I used to be. The person who believed he could change the world for the better.

I shake my head, trying to clear these dangerous thoughts. I can't afford to dwell on the past. I can't afford to care. But as I spread my wings, I can't help but wonder if some part of that old Christos still exists, buried beneath the monster I've become.

I land silently outside the compound, my wings folding against my back. The weight of what I've done - and what I'mabout to do - sits heavy in my chest. As I approach the entrance, Nyx materializes from the shadows, her dark eyes unreadable.

"Christos," she says, her voice carrying an undercurrent of command. "It's time. We need more of our kind."

My stomach churns. "Now? But I've only just-"

"Now," Nyx cuts me off, her tone brooking no argument. "Follow me."

We descend into the depths of the compound, the air growing thick with the scent of fear and desperation. Nyx leads me to a dimly lit chamber where a young man sits huddled in the corner, his eyes wide with terror.

"Change him," Nyx orders, then steps back to observe.

I approach the man slowly, my hands trembling. "I'm sorry," I whisper, knowing it's not enough.

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