As they passed through the heavy iron gates, the forest seemed to swallow them whole.
The bright, harsh sunlight of the afternoon was replaced by a cool, green shade that filtered through the thick canopy of leaves. Zora looked around in surprise.
She had been in this part of the woods before when she sneaked out at night, but somehow, she had completely missed the small, winding path that cut through the ancient trees.
It was a narrow trail, barely wide enough for two horses to walk side by side, and it felt like a secret passage hidden away from the rest of the world.
They moved at a steady pace. It wasn't a fast gallop, but it wasn't a slow walk either. The horses seemed to know the path well, their hooves making a soft, rhythmic thudding sound against the damp earth and fallen needles.
Zora focused on keeping her balance, her body slowly getting used to the swaying motion of the white horse.
She didn't want to fall off again, especially not in front of the two men. She kept her eyes on the back of Avner's head, watching the way he sat tall and confident in his saddle.
After about twenty minutes of riding deeper into the woods, the trees began to thin out. They reached a large, beautiful clearing covered in soft grass and tiny wild flowers.
To a human, the clearing might have seemed silent, but Zora's vampire senses were far sharper. She could hear the faint, distant sound of rushing water coming from the far end of the forest.
It sounded like a river or a large stream hidden behind the thick brush. The air here was fresh and carried the scent of pine and wet stone.
Avner and Kyle reached the center of the clearing and pulled back on their reins. They climbed down from their horses with an ease that made Zora feel a bit envious.
She looked down at the ground from her position on the white horse and blinked. She knew this was going to be another moment of potential embarrassment.
Getting onto a horse was one thing, but getting down without looking like a clumsy mess was another. She was just about to swing her leg over and take a leap of faith when she saw a hand offered to her.
She looked up and saw Kyle standing beside her horse. He wasn't laughing this time; instead, he had a neutral expression as he waited for her to take his hand.
Zora reached out and let him help her steady herself as she slid down to the grass. Once her feet were firmly on the ground, she gave him a small, grateful smile.
"Thank you," she said softly.
Kyle nodded once in acknowledgment before turning back to the Duke.
The two men stood for a moment, looking up at the sky as if they were searching for something hidden among the clouds.
Zora joined them, tilting her head back and squinting at the bright patches of blue visible through the branches. 'What are we looking for?' she wondered.
She didn't see any birds or strange clouds. She felt a bit silly standing there looking at nothing, but she remained silent and waited.
Finally, the Duke turned and stretched his hand toward her. Zora didn't need to be told twice. she quickly stepped forward and handed him the large, elegant bow she had been carrying.
Avner took it and tested the string, pulling it back with a display of strength that looked effortless. The wood of the bow groaned slightly under the tension, and then he released it, the string making a sharp twang in the quiet air.
He stretched his hand out again, and this time she handed him a long, straight arrow with a sharp silver tip.
Kyle had already taken his own bow from where it was attached to his horse's saddle. For the next hour, the quiet of the forest was broken by the sound of arrows whistling through the air.
The two men were incredible shots. They didn't just aim for targets; they competed against each other. Sometimes they aimed for the thick trunks of distant oak trees, and other times they shot at birds circling high above the clearing.
Zora watched with a mix of fascination and caution. Every time an arrow hit its mark, she was reminded of how dangerous these men were.
They were hunters, and they were very good at it. As they moved around the clearing, they began to focus on smaller targets.
They used the low-hanging branches and the knots in the wood as practice points.
Zora spent her time running back and forth, fetching the arrows that were still in good shape, and keeping the quivers full.
Suddenly, the Duke's focus shifted. He wasn't looking at the sky or the trees anymore.
His body went still, and his eyes narrowed as he looked toward the thick bushes at the edge of the clearing.
He had sensed something moving on the ground. This part of the estate was connected to a much larger, wild forest, so it wasn't a surprise to see wild animals wandering through the trees.
With a quick, fluid motion, Avner aimed his bow at a squirrel that was darting across a fallen log. He released the arrow, and the small animal was pinned instantly. He didn't even celebrate; he simply reached for another arrow.
While Zora was momentarily distracted by a colorful butterfly, the Duke stood perfectly straight, his entire body becoming like a statue.
He closed his eyes for a split second, as if he were using his other senses to track something far beyond what a human could see.
Then, he suddenly turned and shot an arrow deep into the dark woods. The arrow flew so fast it was almost a blur, disappearing into the shadows.
He lowered his bow and looked at Zora. "Go and get the animal I caught," he commanded.
Zora blinked, looking into the dark line of trees where the arrow had gone. 'There's no way he hit anything that far away', she thought. It looked impossible.
She assumed he must be bluffing or testing her. But she knew better than to argue. She bowed her head and said, "Yes, Your Grace."
She turned and walked into the thick woods. As soon as the trees blocked her from the view of the two men, she felt a sudden rush of excitement.
She was alone. She was in the forest, and there were animals all around her. A thought occurred to her that made her heart beat a little faster.
If she could find a small animal and feed right now, she wouldn't have to worry about sneaking out tonight. Now that her hunger had not started to grow, this.was the best chance she could get to feed.
This was incredibly risky. The Duke and Kyle were just a short distance away, and their ears were sharp.
But Zora's whole life was a risk. She had to take the chance while she had it. She closed her eyes and sharpened her vampire senses.
She listened to the heartbeat of the forest, the rustle of leaves, the hum of insects, and the tiny, rapid thumping of a small creature nearby.
To her left, she heard a rustle. With incredible vampire speed, she dashed through the ferns. She was so fast that she didn't even disturb the grass.
She reached out and caught a small mountain rat that was trying to hide under a root. She looked around quickly, making sure no one was watching, before letting her fangs elongate.
She felt the familiar sting as they slid out. She sank them into the animal, drinking quickly until the animal went limp.
Once she was satiated, she felt a rush of warmth and strength in her limbs. She carefully disposed of the tiny body deep between some thick, thorny bushes where no one would find it.
She wiped her mouth and took a deep breath, calming her heart. Now she just had to find whatever the Duke had actually shot so she could go back.
She pushed through a patch of tall weeds and stopped. To her absolute surprise, she spotted a small deer lying on the ground. The Duke's arrow had hit it perfectly.
He really did hit it, she thought, her eyes wide. She realized she had been gone for a few minutes, and if she stayed away any longer, they might start asking questions. She didn't want them to come looking for her.
She reached down and grabbed the deer by its legs. As a vampire, she could have lifted the entire animal over her shoulder with one hand, but she couldn't show that kind of strength.
She had to act like a normal, somewhat weak village girl. She began to drag the deer behind her, making sure to huff and puff as if it were a great struggle.
She made sure the deer left a trail in the dirt, acting like she was using every bit of her energy to bring it back to the clearing.
As she neared the edge of the trees and saw the two men waiting, a sudden, terrifying sound filled the air. A whoosh of wind passed so close to her head that it actually ruffled her hair.
An arrow flew past her, missing her cheek by only an inch, and thudded into a tree behind her.
Zora froze, her heart hammering against her ribs. She swallowed hard, her throat feeling dry. She slowly looked up and found herself staring directly at the Duke.
He was standing with his bow lowered, but his gaze was locked onto hers. He wasn't looking at the deer. He was staring straight into her soul with a look that was cold, sharp, and dangerously observant.