BLOOD LEGACIES

Grayson’s eyes surveyed every inch of the place, scanning with his crossbow pointed in every direction. I almost held my breath when he set his eyes where we were, I thought for a minute there he saw me, and with that crossbow pointed I half imagined the arrow would pierce my head because that is the spot it pointed but thankfully it didn’t.

He shifted his gaze to the head of the Manticore, his entire concentration centered on it, he squats observing the head. It was impossibly quiet now and I had to reduce my breathing, my body was getting more numb, the toll of this spell was already happening, but I held on, I have to... one mistake and Grayson will see Dace, I can’t let that happen.

Suddenly a phone rang and I knew very well it was his, he reached for his pocket and brought out a small device, placed it close to his ear, still not taking his eyes off the Manticore.

"What’s your status?" I heard the speaker but I couldn’t make out the voice properly.

"It was worse than I expected," Grayson began. "The monster was a Manticore"

"A Manticore? How’s that possible? Are you sure?"

"I’m certain... it was tough work" he seemed to pause at that moment like he was reminiscing. "A werelion got to it first, ripped it like a sport, I followed the body trail hoping to see the other beast but I found more parts"

"You know just not any werelion can take down a Manticore, that creature marches up with a werelion’s strength, every part of its body is poisonous to a werelion"

"Yes... I know. The werelion I saw is definitely an alpha, it’s the only explanation for how it would have gone head-to-head with the Manticore" he said as his eyes trailed to the rest of the place. "There’s blood everywhere, the werelion must be badly wounded"

"It must not have gotten far"

"I think it did" he rose to his feet. "The trail ends here it must have gotten away"