Page 3 of Entranced By the Immortal

“I will.” She crossed her arms over her chest, but didn’t move from where she was standing. There was something else she wanted to say, I could tell by the uncertain look in her eye.

“You okay?” I cocked an eyebrow at her.

Normally, she said what was on her mind without hesitation. She didn’t have a filter and didn’t care if she hurt anyone’s feelings. The fact that she was quiet was unsettling.

Finally, after a long moment, she nodded. “I’m fine, but… just promise me you’ll stay away from that place,” she said, her tone pleading. “I know they're on the opposite end of town, but please don’t go near those woods.”

I understood her concern. After losing my older brother as an infant, she’d always been over-protective of me. Losing her only living child would destroy her. The story of the teenage boys being attacked was sure to spike her anxiety and make her worry even more.

“Of course, Mom,” I said, forcing a smile. I pulled her into a one-armed hug, squeezing her shoulders reassuringly. “I’ll stay far away from the manor. You have my word.”

CHAPTER 2

EVER

Ilied to my mother,but if I hadn't, she would have tried to stop me.

It certainly wasn’t the first time I'd kept the truth from her, but I felt bad about it anyway as I drove across town. If she found out what I was up to, that I went straight home to pack a bag and grab my shotgun before heading for the other side of town, she’d worry herself sick. That wasn’t something I wanted on my conscience, especially not when she had so many other things to worry about.

After hearing the townspeople gossiping about the incident, I was even more inclined to investigate, every sinew of my being burning to find out the truth. I needed to know what kind of beast was lurking in those woods, what creature had Marion Forge in a chokehold.

If I found it, I’d be a legend.

If I killed it, I’d be a hero.

Either way, I would answer a question that had plagued this town for decades, and everyone would sleep a bit easier.

I'd driven by the woods enough times to know exactly where the path was that led to the mansion. Unfortunately, the dirt road that disappeared deep into the trees was completely overgrown after years of disuse, and there was no way to get the truck through there, even with four-wheel drive.

I parked near the road, killed the engine, and shouldered a backpack full of emergency supplies and ammo. It was probably overkill, but I didn’t feel right leaving it behind; I’d been hunting enough times over the years to know how important supplies could be, even in the span of a few hours. Emergencies happened, and I didn’t want to be unprepared.

That was probably what happened to the teenagers.

I grabbed the shotgun out of the bed of the truck and loaded it, listening carefully for movement in the woods. Not to my surprise, it was nearly silent, the only sounds being a few cars in the distance and a bird chirping overhead.

Whatever attacked the teenagers was probably nocturnal, but it didn’t hurt to poke around in the daylight.

Besides, my anxiety wouldn’t let me sit at home for hours waiting for sunset. I’d pace a hole through the floor if I had to wait until then; I was too eager, too determined to find answers.

Arming myself and trekking into the woods was a far better option than sitting around.

I pulled on a neon orange hunting beanie, just in case someone else got the same idea from the gossip this morning, and headed into the trees.

The branches clawed haphazardly at my clothes as I wove through the knotted underbrush, thorns and burrs clinging to them. Once I made it through the initial cluster of low-growing plants, the space opened up, the trees growing farther apart, and it wasn’t nearly as difficult to maneuver.

The dirt road was barely visible through the greenery, but it wove an ancient trail into the trees that I intended to follow. Even if I didn’t find the beast that attacked the teens, I’d get a glimpse of the once grandiose mansion I’d only ever seen in black and white photos.

I paused, listening for movement again, my eyes scanning the area around me. The bird had stopped chirping, and I could no longer hear cars driving in the distance, but I couldn’t hear any movement either. No frogs, no crickets. The woods were suffocated by an unnatural silence I hadn’t heard before, but at least I was alone.

That had to be a good sign.Right?

Adjusting my backpack and clutching my shotgun tighter, I stepped forward, the crunch of the ground beneath my foot nearly making me jump. My movements were far too loud in the silence. I felt like I was in a library, about to be scolded by an angry librarian. Taking another step, I paused to listen.

Still, there was no movement. There were no sounds, no signs of a predator.

Odd.It was the only thing that stuck out in my mind as I followed the overgrown path. I'd been hunting a lot over the years. I might not have been the most observant at times, but I knew one thing: The woods weren't normally this silent.

This type of silence was reserved for graveyards, for thedead.

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