Page 2 of Her Immortal Protector

Nyx's lips curl into a knowing smile. "Blood. You can smell it pumping through every living creature around us. Now, let your instincts guide you. Hunt."

I shake my head, trying to resist the pull. But the hunger gnaws at me, an all-consuming need that threatens to overwhelm my senses. Before I can stop myself, I'm moving through the forest at impossible speeds, my feet barely touching the ground.

I spot a deer grazing in a small clearing. In an instant, I'm upon it. My hand closes around its neck, lifting it effortlessly. The deer's terrified eyes meet mine, and for a moment, I hesitate.

But then I smell its blood, hear its frantic heartbeat. My newfound instincts take over. My fangs pierce its flesh, and warm blood floods my mouth. The taste is indescribable - rich, complex, satisfying in a way nothing else has ever been.

I drain the deer dry in seconds, letting the carcass fall to the ground. As I wipe my mouth with the back of my hand, I'm hit by a wave of conflicting emotions. Horror at what I've done battles with an intense feeling of satisfaction and power.

"How do you feel?" Nyx asks, suddenly beside me.

I turn to her, my voice shaking. "Alive. More alive than I've ever felt. And that terrifies me."

She nods, understanding in her black eyes. "The hunt is part of who we are now, Christos. Embrace it."

I look down at my hands, still stained with blood. "I don't know if I can."

"You will," she says confidently. "In time, you'll learn to control your hunger, to use your new abilities. But for now, let yourself feel the rush. It's the only way to truly understand what you've become."

I close my eyes, letting the sensations wash over me. The strength coursing through my veins, the heightened awareness of everything around me, the lingering taste of blood on my tongue. It's intoxicating and terrifying all at once.

2

ARIA

Isprint through the maze of industrial corridors, my lungs burning with each ragged breath. The metallic tang of rust and oil fills my nostrils as I dart around another corner, my shoes squeaking on the grimy concrete floor.

"She went this way!" A gruff voice echoes off the walls behind me.

Shit. They're getting closer.

I push myself harder, my legs screaming in protest. The dim emergency lights cast eerie shadows, transforming innocuous pipes and machinery into monstrous shapes. My heart hammers against my ribs, threatening to burst from my chest.

A door looms ahead. I grab the handle, twisting desperately. Locked.

"Dammit!" I hiss, spinning around.

The footsteps grow louder, accompanied by harsh breathing and the crackle of radios. I scan the corridor, searching for an escape route. My eyes land on a narrow gap between two massive storage tanks.

Without hesitation, I squeeze through the opening, scraping my arms on rough metal edges. The space is tight, barely wideenough for my body. I hold my breath, pressing myself against the cold surface of one tank.

The pursuers' voices grow clearer.

"Where'd she go?"

"Check those doors. She couldn't have gotten far."

I clamp a hand over my mouth, muffling my panicked gasps. Sweat trickles down my spine, my shirt clinging uncomfortably to my skin. The acrid smell of chemicals burns my nostrils, making my eyes water.

A beam of light sweeps across the floor, inches from my hiding spot. I press myself further into the shadows, praying they don't notice the gap.

"Nothing here. Let's try the next section."

The footsteps recede, but I don't dare move. My muscles quiver with tension, screaming for release. I count to sixty, then slowly, carefully, begin to edge out of my cramped sanctuary.

I lean against the cold metal of the storage tank, my heart still racing. As my breath steadies, memories of the past few weeks flood back, piecing together how I ended up in this mess.

It started with a tip from an anonymous source. A whisper about Nexus Corp's secret lab, buried deep beneath their shiny corporate headquarters. At first, I thought it was just another dead end, but something about this lead felt different.

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