Married To The Mad Vampire Lord-Chapter 149: The danger in the forest_Part 3

Ever since Belle had seen a flash of memories and images in Rohan’s painting, she had not seen something like that again and had believed it wouldn’t happen again. But right now, when Evenly touched her wrist, disoriented and unclear images and memories flashed and invaded her mind.

She had seen Evenly struggling for breath, with blood all over her. The image was not clear enough for Belle to see where and how she was bleeding, but she had seen blood on the lady—and worst, she was wearing this same hunting attire.

How was that possible?

The image had startled her so much she pulled back from her hold and stepped back. It was strange that an image like that would flash to her when the lady was right in front of her, standing healthy and now looking worried at her sudden actions.

"Did I do something wrong, Isabelle?" asked the other woman, taken aback. She and the others had made their way into the forest and realized Belle was not following, and knowing how the two other ladies did not seem to like her, Evenly had retraced her steps and come back to find her. She had seen the duke on her way here and had a feeling they had been together.

Seeing how Belle was standing with a reddened face, Evenly had reached to hold her hand and make her hurry back with her—only for Belle to jerk away and turn instantly pale, like she had seen a ghost, or like Evenly had hurt her by holding her wrist. Did she hold her way too tight?

Belle hurriedly composed herself when she noticed Evenly was studying her expression and trying to put a reason to it. Belle cleared her throat. "No. Sorry about that, you startled me, that’s why," she said, and then added, "We should go."

This time, Evenly did not reach out to hold her hand and nodded her head. They walked side by side toward the forest without saying a word until they reached where the other two ladies were waiting impatiently for them.

"At this rate, the other groups will take possession of the best areas, and we will be left to scrap for leftovers," muttered Anne as she hooked her arm around her friend, glaring at the woman who had caused them to delay.

The hunting season was not something taken lightly by any of the participants, and the moment the groups were set inside the forest, every group would mark a territory where another group would not dare come—unless the groups were powerful people.

Many were aware of where larger animals could be found, as they had participated in the game for years, and immediately after entering the forest, they took possession of those areas.

Now, because of the little delay Belle had caused them, they would be left behind, as no one would wait for other groups to take the best spot.

"Trying to put the blame for our delay on someone when you yourself have been walking slowly is not being intelligent, Lady Benedict," Evenly retorted with a roll of her eyes as they began to walk into the forest, being careful of the sharp thorns of the strange plants and the uneven paths at the edge of the forest entrance.

"If I wasn’t carrying this heavy bag, I wouldn’t have been slowed," Lady Benedict shot back, and then added under her breath, "I really wish I wasn’t placed in this group at all. I’d have rather preferred to be with the vampires."

They stepped into the dense forest, where a light fog was beginning to rise. The atmosphere was cold and carried the scent of grass and plants. The echoing calls of unseen, unknown birds could be heard, and the ground was damp, their boots quickly wet with drops from the overhanging leaves.

"Can’t believe she didn’t even apologize for delaying us. I can tell we’re the group left behind this year, everyone else is gone," snarled Lady Johnson, her voice loud enough for Belle to hear.

Belle, on the other hand, was silent. She would have apologized for causing any delay if her mind wasn’t so wrapped up with thoughts and fear about that image that had invaded her mind.

Was it something that would happen, or was it just her mind playing tricks on her? What sort of ability was that—an ability that would show her unreal images just like in Rohan’s painting?

Belle turned her head to look at Evenly, who was looking down at the map as she walked, biting her lower lip in concentration. Was something bad going to happen to the lady during this hunt? She wondered, hoping whatever she saw was just her mind playing tricks and not real.

She wouldn’t want anyone dying—not even the other two ladies who obviously did not like her. Every life mattered.

She hoped the hunt would be something that would end with everyone unharmed. But it seemed that was too much to hope for, as hours later, things began to happen in the forest.

After they had gotten into the dense forest, where little drops of rain had begun to fall a few minutes into their search for a spot on the map—one Evenly claimed was the place she and her vampire group had been last year, saying that many animals were there, including bears of all sizes—Belle started to doubt if there were even any animals in the forest at all. They hadn’t come across a single one, not even a rat.

Belle couldn’t help but also notice that they hadn’t passed any of the other groups either. The forest was just that big. They kept walking deeper into the maze of towering trees, only sharing a few quiet words with each other, as everyone remained silent so as not to startle away any animals.

It was later in the afternoon, while they were resting under one of the trees and having a snack break, that Evenly said,

"We have to walk a few more miles to reach the second spot I mentioned. I doubt the place I originally had in mind is still unoccupied. I discovered this second location during one of my morning training hunts," Evenly told the rest as she sat down on a boulder beneath the large tree they had chosen for a short rest.

She had come prepared for this year’s hunt, determined to win against the vampiress who had stolen her husband’s attention and threatened to ruin her life. For months, she had ventured out into Grimvale for research, making sure every effort would pay off—for both her and the group members.

"I hate to say it, but it seems we’ll have to camp out here again this year," she added, gulping down a mouthful of water handed to her by Belle, who was sitting beside her. "The animals are getting smarter. They know they’re being hunted around this time of year."

Belle was about to ask her a question regarding the animals when a loud burst of laughter rang out from somewhere in the distance, like some of the group members were having the best time of their lives.

It was the first sound of any other person she’d heard since they had stepped foot into Grimvale. But just a few seconds after the laughter, it was followed by the shaky, terrified voice of a woman.

"...Please don’t! I won’t say anything to anyone! I swear it!"

The pleading voice was so loud, Belle became instantly alarmed and worried.

"Haha! Are you going to spare her because she’s pleading? Kill the bitch already," came a male’s laughter.

"Please don’t—Ahhh!"

The birds resting and chirping in the trees took flight as the sudden scream tore through the air. Right after the woman’s cries, the burst of amused laughter from unseen people echoed through the trees.

"What’s going on?" Belle asked, confused and on alert, when the rest of the group acted like they hadn’t heard a thing, continuing to eat their snacks as if nothing had happened.

"That’s a normal occurrence during the yearly hunt. You’ll get used to it, if you’re lucky not to fall victim to any of the killings during the hunts," said Lady Johnson casually as she chewed her snacks.

"I think we should leave this spot, Lady Clifton," she added, and Evenly, for the first time, nodded in agreement with something one of the other two ladies had said.

"We should. Pretend you didn’t hear anything, Lady Dagon. We should move," Evenly said firmly.

When Belle didn’t make any move to start walking and continued to stare in the direction where the scream had come from with a terrorized expression, Evenly walked back and pulled her by the hand, saying in a lowered voice,

"If you don’t pretend and you get involved in it, they’ll have a reason to hunt you down just to silence you. That’s how this hunt has always worked. You don’t see anything. You don’t hear anything. You focus on what brought you here and avoid any other group members that look like trouble... or you’ll become the meat they hunt instead of the animals."

Belle’s face paled as she let Evenly pull her along. She couldn’t believe she was expected to act like the terrifying scream she’d just heard didn’t shake her to the core—when it had made all the hairs on the back of her neck stand on end. freeweɓnøvel.com

Was this what they meant when they said the hunt wasn’t a child’s play? They harmed each other—and the rest were expected to pretend they hadn’t seen or heard anything?

Where were the guards who were supposed to be watching over them?

Belle looked up at the tops of the trees but didn’t see any sign of guards or anyone else. This wasn’t what she had prepared herself for. She hadn’t imagined the people would truly harm one another instead of hunting animals.