Darkness Chapter 54: part 2

**Vincent**

"Show me. I should be able to scent her!" Quinn exclaims eagerly. I lead them down into the depths of the chateau, and Quinn's face lights up as he declares he can faintly smell her presence. We follow the scent trail until we reach a fork in the path. "She's good. She covered her tracks well. I think she went this way."

As we continue on, Quinn's determination is unwavering as he continues to pick up her scent. Finally, we emerge from the most western part of the property, and Quinn's expression darkens. "Dude, I can try to track her, but she's already miles ahead of us. Even pregnant, she's a force to be reckoned with. She's cunning and quick. I can sense she's purposely backtracked to throw us off her trail," Quinn says with a sense of urgency in his voice.

“Fuck!” I run my hand over my face, “I'm an idiot! She thinks I love Bianca more. I love her so much more than Bianca. Hell, she's having my baby. How could I not love her? She's my everything, and I made her feel unloved. She thinks she isn't good enough.”

Alec sighs, “Boss…”

“She knew I was upset over Bianca. I kinda ignored her. I fucked up. Where could she go?”

Alec asks, “Home?”

Quinn shook his head solemnly. "No, she's not going back. Here, she can hide. Back home, she's a target. She will stay in Europe."

"Let's return, extract our intel, and search for her. She's only preying on animals, so she'll likely remain in heavily wooded areas," Alec suggested.

"I'll dispatch my two top trackers. But we must act swiftly. The scent will soon dissipate," Quinn declared. And as if on cue, the skies opened up and rain poured down, washing away the few remaining traces of Nelly and my hope along with it.

**Nelly**

I have been on the run for what feels like an eternity. Exhausted and desperate, I stumble upon a small cave and decide to seek refuge for the night. As the first light of dawn breaks, I gather my strength and set out to find a road that will lead me to a bus station. The journey ahead is long, but I am determined to reach Italy, my only sanctuary.

As the bus rumbles along, my stomach growls with hunger. The moment we arrive, I waste no time and head into the woods in search of sustenance. I manage to catch a few animals, enough to keep me going until I reach my destination.

With still four hours of walking ahead of me, I press on. Walking may not be the most glamorous mode of transportation, but it keeps me hidden from Vincent and his pack of wolves, as well as any vampires on the hunt for me. I know they are out there, lurking in the shadows, waiting for the perfect moment to strike.

As the sun begins to set, I pause by a tranquil lake. I am so close to reaching my new home, I can almost taste it. I must keep moving, keep pushing forward, for the dangers that lie in wait are relentless. But I am determined to survive, to outwit my enemies, and to find peace at last.

Despite my anticipation, my little one had different plans. She was kicking me relentlessly, as if I were a football. "Relax, little one. Mommy is almost there," I whispered as I gently rubbed my stomach, soothing her restless movements. Determined, I continued my journey, finally arriving at my destination. I couldn't help but wonder if he would be shocked to see me after all this time. With a deep breath, I knocked on the door. As it creaked open, a woman's eyes met mine. "I am looking for Kaden," I declared, my voice filled with a sense of urgency and longing.

A tall man with a broad body walks up behind her. His eyes go wide. “Nelly!”

“Hi…” He wraps me up in his arms and hugs me. “I missed you.”

Kaden smiles, “I missed you, too, Sis.”