Chapter 22

"Well, of course, I love her.", I state.

"You've made me proud.", she tells me.

"I'm glad I made someone proud.", I whisper.

"You've made Jessica proud as well.", she says.

"Mhm."

Realizing my bloodline only wanted something in return, so when they didn't get it, they got mad. Shaking my head, I get up and decide to go on a midnight scroll.

"Mind watching over Jess and Maya?", I asked.

"Yes, ma'am.", she says.

Grabbing a jacket before heading out; feeling the cool night air nipping at me as I walk along the path. Breathing in the air, as I felt warm from the cool night air, smiling, I enjoy the feeling as I continue to walk with no destination in mind. There was a sound when I finally paid attention to my surroundings; I'm in the middle of the woods, and there was a sound again, closing my eyes, and using my ears to pinpoint.

"Look, who's ever out there? Come out.", I say, glancing around.

When no one answered, I got a little annoyed; growling, I turned around and headed back to where I came in when suddenly it pulled me back. Turning around quickly, I catch a dark figure; moving closer to the figure as I hear it talk.

"She's a threat."

"We need to kill her.."

I stop walking before I feel wings come from my back, quietly flipping my wings so I'm not on the ground, turning around, and flying away. I was almost at the entrance when the figure started coming up behind me. Cursing, I tried to get them off my tail, but it wasn't working, so I quickly got out of the woods and land. I wasn't about to bring this thing towards everyone else; glaring at the thing, I see that it's more monster-like than human. I couldn't figure it out, but something was telling me not to get too close to them. Watching it as it opens its mouth and a black substance comes shooting out. Freaking out, I move to the left, glancing at the black substance. I see it melting the concrete. I'm screwed; I need to find some way to contain the thing before it does any actual damage.

"I'll eat you since you enjoy eating me!", it screams out.

What is it- it's a creature, but what kind, though? What creature can make it look like it's a shadow but also shoot out a black substance and that someone eats? Too many questions that I'm unable to answer, so I just start asking questions.

"What are you?"

"I'll eat you!", it screams out.

"Okay, but what are you?", I say.

"I'll eat you.", it says again.

I know it knows more, but why does it keep saying 'I'll eat you'; taking a better look at the creature, I notice it's about Jess's height, maybe a little taller than her, but they're a child. Did someone hurt their parents?

"Sweetie, I will not hurt you.", I say slowly, making my way to the ground.

They finally stopped saying 'I'll eat you.' but now they're just staring at me; giving them a soft smile, I speak again, "Did someone cause you or your family harm?" They nod their heads, so someone hurts them; great, letting out a sigh, I decide if I can't get them to say more.

"Did they hurt you?", I asked.

They just shake their head; children speak the minimum, especially when it's with a stranger. Not wanting to scare them, I sit crisscrossed on the ground with my hands out in front to show them I mean no harm.

"Did they hurt your parents?"

"Yes.", they answered.

"Can you show me where they are?", I asked gently.

They growl at me before repeating 'I'll eat you.', seems like there's more to this than I first thought. Keeping myself on the floor, I ask another question, "Did someone hurt more than just your parents?" That got them to stop before they nodded their head, so they have siblings.

"Can you tell me what you are?", I ask.

Once again they just shake their head, that question, I figured they would do that, so I'm not surprised. Smiling at them, showing them it's okay for them not to answer questions I ask.

"Do you know where they're hurt?"

They nod their head before pointing to the spots, two in the chest, one on the thigh, and two more on the leg. Needing to know the specific spot on the chest where they're hurt, "Sweetie, could you point to where on the chest they are hurt at?", I ask. They point to the middle of their chest, then the heart. Eyes go wide, I rush to get up, which makes them growl at me, but I snap at them.

"Enough, if you want your family to survive, I need to see them right now."

They continue to stare as I don't back down, so they nod their head, walking closer to them until I am right in front of them. They grab onto my arm and the next thing I know, we're in a cave. Glancing around the cave, I spot the parents, so making my way over to them, I see that their shadows beings, without taking my eyes off the parent in front of me, I speak, "My name is Raina, I'm the professor for the care of magical creatures. I know very little about your kind, so if it's possible for you to talk me through what I need to do to keep you alive."

"We do well to heal ourselves, but a vampire attacked us.", came a voice.

Shit, vampire venom can cause shadow beings' healing abilities to stop working; if I'm not mistaken, shadow beings need souls to actually get the venom out of their systems.

"I can't give you my soul, is there any other way to help.", I say.

"Do you have ice or fire power?", the same voice asks.

"Yes, I have both.", I answered.