Chapter 24: PREQUEL

 Loud thunder clapped and heavy rain dropped from the sky. Jordan and Jeyden chased after the hoard of wolves under the heavy rain, the wolves howled but no one went to their aid. Their alpha was nowhere to be seen and two powerful vampires are out to get their blood for trespassing in their territory. 

 Jordan and Jeyden slowed down making the wolves ran faster. They wouldn't get any benefits if they killed those mutts and they're better off not coming back if they want to come back alive, the vampires wouldn't spare their lives again if they decided to trespass the second time.

"Scared them shitless," Jeyden smugly said while crossing his arms while Jordan shook his head and they both turned around to walk back to their territory but a faint heart-beat rang trough Jordan's ears. He stopped and held out his hand to stop Jeyden from advancing back to their territory. 

 "What?" Jeyden asked Jordan who shushed him and listened carefully where the faint heart-beat was coming from. They went through the trees and out of the forest's path, when they walked deeper into the forest the faint heart-beat got louder until they found a girl no older than sixteen, beaten and bruised.

Jordan sucked in a deep breath while Jeyden tsked and knelled down to check the girl's bruises. "What kind of a monster would abuse a girl as young as her," Jeyden quietly mumbled while carrying the girl in his arms. 

Jordan started to loathe the one who did this to the poor girl, beating her and leaving her in the forest to die. She looked so young and didn't deserve the kind of abuse she must have went through. 

The two vampires brought back the girl to their territory where no one was awake. It was silly to think the humans think vampires don't sleep, yes we don't need sleep but that doesn't mean we don't, also funny that they think that we're allergic to garlic. 

 They went to a room and placed the girl down on the bed, Jeyden went out to call the girls to treat the poor girl. Jordan stayed and stared at the girl with brown hair, he wondered what color eyes she has. 

Then the girl's eyes opened and a strangled gasp escaped from her lips. She started struggling for air and Jordan comforted the girl and sung a slow tune to calm her down. When the girl calmed down her big doe-brown eyes stared at Jordan with a perplexed look. 

 Monica and Isabella walked towards the girl and went to aid her bruises but the girl flinched under their touch so they retracted their hands and sat at the edge of the bed. They all had a staring contest with the girl while Zach bursts in the room whistling loudly. 

 Jeyden and Jordan turned to give Zach a glare who smiled guiltily and stood at a corner, observing everyone. Jordan ran a hand trough the girl's hair and softly smiled. 

Everyone noticed that she didn't flinch under his touch.

"What's your name?" Jordan asked and the girl didn't speak so Jordan continued talking, "Monica and Isabella will aid your cuts and bruises, alright? They won't hurt you." Jordan assured the girl and he stood up but the girl's hand flew to grasp Jordan's.

Jordan stared at the girl's hand clasped in his so he sat back down to sit next to her while the two girls aided the girl.

Everyone wondered where she came from, their territory is hidden deep within the forest and the forest is far away from any living humans.

They waited for the girls to finish up before Jeyden and Zach went to get food for the girl. Monica and Isabella left the room leaving Jordan alone with the girl.

 "What happened to you?" Jordan asked the girl and the girl stared at him, "I-I was abused." there was a rasp to the girl's voice like she hadn't drank any water for days. Jordan ordered someone to get water and he squeezed the girl's hand in his.

"Would you mind telling me everything?"

The girl shook her head, "I'm an orphan, and... and I was different in my village. T-they didn't like different so they beat me, insulted and yelled at me for being different." she said while tears formed at the back of her eyes. 

Someone arrived with the water and Jordan took it while shooing the newly arrived vampire out of the room and he helped the girl sit up and placed the cup to her lips. The girl gulped down the water until the cup was empty.

"Well, you're safe here." Jordan said and the girl closed her eyes. She hopes that it is safe here.

***

It's been weeks since they found Jessica left to die in the forest. She told them everything, how her mother died shortly after her seventh birthday and that's the day when they thought was something off about her and they learned she was different.

At a young age she was torn away from a great childhood every kid deserved. Than playing with her friends she slaved for their village, than eating dinner with what's left of her family she was starving alone in the attic. Than enjoying Christmas she was the one who cooked and stood at the corner to starve. 

No one deserved to be slaved at a young age.