The images in my mind begin to shift and change to form the forest from a week ago. I feel my breath begin to slow and the air feels so icy. The colors and their hue change from bright to dark until they decide to stay to the colors of the night. I feel a booming sensation in my body before I open my eyes. And when I do open them I am greeted with seeing through Helena's eyes. I see what she sees and hears and she hears. She walks through the forest with her hand on the hilt of her sword and the other carries a lantern to light the way in this dark forest. The only sounds occupying this forest seemed to be her footsteps and the occasional animal. I know she was on head patrolling duty, and she was assigned to the innards of the forest while the rest patrolled the streets and the city itself. She was the only one in the forest, Natalia was at the capitol leaving Helena alone. The forests are the most dangerous at night, the only one strong enough to defend herself and the city itself. But the more I am in her body and the longer the night grows, I sense fear.

Helena is afraid. The silence of the forest is deafening and to an experienced woman of war, especially to one who has only known the comfort of war cries. Her heart beats faster and her breath does the same. She is alone and knowing her wife is beside her she can always know the world is never silent but now she is alone and her fear is trying to take hold of her. But before her fear makes her turn back she hums a tune I know well. It is an old song but she is not singing the words. I am starting to feel antsy about how long I must wait till I see what happens. But then she stops, dead in her tracks. Blood on the ground.

The carcass of a stag lay on the ground, mutilated beyond recognition, and looking anything but peaceful. The once majestic antlers had been violently ripped from the creature’s head (and going by the bite marks covering them, I could only assume that it was some sort of jaw that did this) and from them a trail of sinew and muscle, a tendril-like soup with tiny pieces of the poor creature’s skull mixed in. The head that they once were attached to had been ripped off the body, spine coming with, and lay nearby in a puddle of blood and brains, as they had been slowly oozing out of the hole in the skull. Feeling nothing but abject disgust at seeing the poor animal’s lifeless eyes, I watched as Helena observed the body. Looking slightly to her left, I saw the remains of the animal’s body. Its chest had been ripped open, ribs being violently snapped, and nothing about it was pretty. It seemed as if its organs had been ripped out in one single, violent tug. What remained of them lay in a heap on the ground. Flies buzzed around the intestines, and I could already see maggots crawling throughout a strange pulp, which I could only assume was the remnants of the heart and lungs. Looking closer I could see teeth marks throughout the skin. It was clear to me that whatever did this was in a veritable frenzy as it ripped apart this poor creature for food. Helena’s horror radiated from her and permeated my very being. As my gaze traveled back to her, I heard her shakily say, “Whatever did this is definitely not human and not any monster I've never seen”.

Helena's hand clutches her sword tighter now, at any moment she would draw her blade and fight. I feel her steel herself and walk away from the body to investigate further. There was a small trail of blood leading deeper into the forest. This entire situation feels so off for me, I have never seen Helena so afraid… it almost feels like something is controlling how she feels. But she is still a human under all of her Acer qualities. As I continue to watch in silence it becomes colder the further we walk. It is dead silent, then, something in the distance moves. Something slithers, I watched as the tail of it went behind a tree. Helena only takes one step before a noise was heard from under her feet. It was a branch… She stood still only for a bit before something dashed up to her. It only took a second before something had completely taken hold of her. From what I saw it was a long snake-like creature that had completely wrapped its tail around her, its strength was immense. I could feel the crushing weight of it trying to squeeze the life out of her. But Helena was not moving at all. Like she was in a trance. Before I could get a good look at the attacker Helena was killed thus severing my connection.

When the connection is severed that quick the pain is almost unbearable. With a death like hers, it felt even worse. My lungs feel like they are going to collapse and my ribs feel like they are broken. But while I was lying there in peace I felt a hand touch my shoulder, a rather cold hand. I look up and realize that it is now night and I see the owner of the hand. 

Under the cloak of moonlight, I saw a tall figure, long black hair flowing in the wind. Glowing red eyes shine in the darkness. As my eyes adjust I could make out the face, it was Xavier. I should have known it was him, after all, he does hunt the forest at night for some animals to eat. 

“Are you alight Jess? I heard you screaming from halfway across the forest.” He asked me.

After he asked he glances down at my surrounding area, he quickly recognizes where I am and what I was doing and his face changed from worry to concern.

“Jess you know you don't have the strength to be doing this, especially for such a death as violent as hers,” He gestures down at the memorial site.

All I can do is silently nod,

“I will be fine Xavier, but the pain is unbearable so help me up and walk me home,” I tell him dismissing his concern and I just want to sleep it off at that point.

He quickly agrees and pulls me up and begins to walk me home. His arm was mostly supporting me, because for some reason my legs felt weaker than the rest of my body. Thankfully he didn't ask any questions aloud but I could tell he was digging in my mind, without my permission no less. But I am too tired to fight him on reading my mind right now. Xavier reading minds is one of his many quirks of being a Higher Vampire, the more powerful you are the more authority you have in the vampire society. For example, Xavier's right hand has the ability to sense and manipulate someone's emotions and thoughts when she feels like it. It is a strange practice but it gets the job done.

After a while of silent walking we arrive at my house, but one problem we have to go through the tavern entrance to get upstairs. It's after dark so the tavern is in prime drinking time and most people don't like the vampires that live here but will coexist with them, so seeing one come through the door with someone who is obviously injured will be a shock. 

But when we walk through the door it's not Xaviers they were looking at, but at me. I could see that a few people in the crowd were older Acers and more were locals and a few were foreigners, all looking at me. Which I think is weirder because there is a giant 6’5 Vampire in the room and they are focusing on me. But Ida quickly comes to my aid and tells off the remaining lot staring at me. Of course, while leading Xavier she starts asking me all these questions but to stay awake I didn't answer a single one and I spent my energy trying to decode what the hell I just witnessed. Up the stairs, we end up at my actual door and as soon as we open it I could hear my little Shivrey running to see me but stopped as she sees the giant man next to me. She knows who he is but she doesn't like people around her “momma”. I finally tear away from Xavier and Ida and tell them good night as a push him out the door so I can get ready for bed. Thankfully he and Ida comply with my wishes and leave.

In peace, I get ready for bed, Shiv standing next to me at all times. I think that's her way of “protecting” me. I forgot how much of a hassle it was removing armor, even if it is the bare minimum. But I did forget the wonderful feeling it gives out when you take it off, just as nice as removing a bra after a long day. I change into a loose but comfortable nightgown and let my hair down. I forgot how long it had gotten as it cascaded down my breasts. I make a small cup of tea then I went to bed. I am too tired but I need to sleep before I see the Bellrige boys in the morning.