The Van Helsing Conjecture – Excerpt No. 265

“We’re being hunted,” Clara whispered as she opened her wings.

Julia nodded, likely reaching the same conclusion. From out of the red backpack came a nine-millimetre pistol, which she tossed to Clara. The angel smiled, and noted the werewolf armed herself with a shotgun.

All around them there were several heart beats. These were steady, controlled, and disciplined… only hunters can manage that feat…

There came a twang, and one of Clara’s wings reacted on instinct. It opened and blocked the path of the bolt, the weave and density of her features were enough to stop the bolt… that would have missed us both…

“Stay close,” Clara said.

The sight of her wings must have had a psychological effect on their foe. Another three crossbow bolts flew at her and these were aimed to kill.

Her wings handled them with ease, and she fired two rounds in the air. The gunshots rang out like thunder given the surrounding trees.

A misty, moonlit night deep in the woods, where two women, dressed in earth-toned clothing, sit vigilant by a crackling campfire, its warm glow casting an eerie light on their determined faces, their skin illuminated to a warm golden brown, their eyes fixed on the shadows beyond the firelight. Several men, clad in dark, ominous uniforms, their faces obscured by the shadows, approach stealthily, crossbows at the ready, their movements eerily silent amidst the rustling of leaves and snapping of twigs. The forest air is thick with tension as the women's hands rest on the hilts of their own weapons, their bodies tense, prepared for a confrontation. The camera captures the scene in a cinematic, sweeping gaze, the focus sharp on the central drama, the forest darkness looming ominously in the background, with hints of mist and fog curling around the trunks of ancient trees.

Disclaimer: This novel is an work in progress and readers may encounter grammatical errors and inconsistencies. Please view this a draft and not a published work.