Chapter Seven: The Lie That Brought the Truth

Maya's blade was steady in her hand, but her focus wasn’t on the five vampire corpses scattered across the dirt floor anymore.

It was on him.

The guy in front of her—the weirdly polite, impossibly helpful stranger she hadn’t expected to see again—was standing there like a deer caught in headlights.

Jack.

“You’ve gotta be kidding me,” she muttered, eyes narrowing as she lowered her weapon. “You?”

He gave a small, sheepish smile, his golden hair catching the moonlight. “Hi.”

“How the hell are you here? Again?”

Jack glanced at the trees. “Well, I… sent the coordinates.”

Maya blinked. “You what?”

He held up his hands. “Wait—wait. I can explain.”

“Oh, you better.”

“I—uh—I saw the nest. The vampires. I knew I couldn’t take them on alone, and I remembered you. How capable you were. I thought… maybe you could help.”

Maya folded her arms. “Really. So you just… what? Lured me out here for a fight?”

“No!” he said quickly. “I mean, yes. But only because I needed backup.”

She tilted her head, skeptical. “Could’ve called literally anyone else. Sent those coordinates to another hunter. Or—I don’t know—used your damn flashlight trick again.”

That made Jack chuckle, a boyish sound that didn’t quite match the tension in the air. “Yeah… that doesn’t really work on vampires.”

Her eyes narrowed. “Convenient.”

Before Jack could fumble his next excuse, the woods around them rustled violently.

Maya’s demeanor shifted instantly. Blade drawn, body crouched, eyes sharp.

Jack felt the surge of panic. “They’re not done.”

And he was right.

From the darkness emerged a new wave—five vampires, sprinting, claws bared and fangs gleaming.

Jack’s breath caught. He wasn’t a fighter, not really. Not the way they were. He could fight—but not like this. Not without his powers.

“Enchantment,” he whispered under his breath, reaching into his coat pocket and pressing two fingers to his blade, and then toward Maya’s weapon. A soft shimmer passed over them—barely visible.

She didn’t notice. She was too focused.

They fought side by side—Maya was fast, fluid, vicious. Jack held his ground, blocking, swinging, doing his best to keep up without drawing attention to his true strength.

But it wasn’t enough.

Maya stumbled. One of the vampires sliced into her leg, and she cried out, falling hard to the forest floor. The creature lunged forward, teeth ready to sink into her—

And Jack moved without thinking.

He closed his eyes. Just for a second.

And when he opened them again, the vampires were dead.

Ash.

Maya stared up from the ground, blood on her pant leg, breathing hard.

Jack looked back at her, pretending to be just as stunned.

“What the hell?” she asked, panting.

“You—” she pointed a shaky finger at him. “How the hell did you just kill five of them? By yourself?”

Jack swallowed. “I think… maybe you got one of them. You didn’t see. It happened right when you were hit.”

She didn’t blink. “That’s some serious luck.”

“Yeah,” he nodded too quickly. “Lucky.”

She winced, trying to sit up, but faltered. Jack moved toward her cautiously.

“Let me help—”

“I got it—”

But her hand grabbed his forearm anyway, clutching hard.

Jack’s heart jumped.

“Okay, you’re hurt,” he said softly, kneeling beside her. “I’m gonna pick you up.”

She didn’t protest this time. Her grip tightened instead.

He lifted her effortlessly—her body warm against his chest, head resting near his shoulder as she grit her teeth through the pain. She was heavier than the average girl, but Jack didn’t mind. She felt real—grounded. Strong in a way that mattered more than anything he could name.

He found a small clearing not far off, surrounded by rocks and tall grass. He sat her down carefully, easing her leg out.

“Give me your bag,” she murmured.

He handed it to her, but took the supplies out himself.

“I’ll clean it,” he offered gently. “You saved me. Least I can do.”

She watched him with wary eyes but didn’t stop him.

Jack worked slowly. The wound was deep—clean, but bleeding. He dabbed the area, careful not to make her flinch, using a soft cloth and antiseptic from her kit.

All the while, he silently cast the faintest spell—a tiny flicker of golden energy pressed into her skin with every touch. Just enough to speed healing. She wouldn’t notice. It’d just feel… warm.

When he finished wrapping the bandage, he finally exhaled. “There. Shouldn’t get infected.”

Maya’s breath was steadier now. The pain dulled.

They sat in silence for a moment, only the forest wind speaking between them.

Then, unexpectedly, she broke it.

“…Thanks,” she said, eyes still fixed forward. “For… helping.”

Jack looked over, a small, surprised smile on his lips. “Of course.”

“I still think you’re suspicious as hell,” she muttered, but her tone lacked the usual bite.

“I understand.”

“Who are you, really?”

Jack hesitated. “Just… someone who wants to help.”

“Do you always follow strangers around and jump into monster fights?”

“Only the special ones.”

Her head turned toward him.

He blinked. “I mean—not like special special. Just… you’re different.”

“Oh, you’re digging a hole,” she said dryly, leaning back against a tree.

Jack rubbed the back of his neck, awkward. “I’m not great with people.”

“No kidding.”

Another quiet stretch.

“You’re weird,” she finally muttered.

Jack smiled. “Yeah. I get that a lot.”

More silence—but this time, it was a companionable one. Maya didn’t seem in a rush to get up. And Jack didn’t dare move.

She glanced at him again. “You got a name?”

His eyes flicked to hers. “Jack.”

“…Jack,” she repeated. “Huh. That fits.”

He tilted his head. “What does that mean?”

“Don’t know. Just feels right.”

Jack’s smile widened.

She looked away quickly, hiding something behind a small huff. “I’m Maya, by the way. Since you keep showing up, you might as well know.”

Jack’s heart skipped.

He tried to play it cool. “Nice to meet you… officially.”

Maya raised an eyebrow. “This better not be your thing.”

“What thing?”

“Getting into near-death situations just to meet girls.”

Jack laughed—genuine and boyish.

“No. Just you.”