BXBX NOVEL Chapter 59: A Game Of Cat And Mouse
Gen took a deep breath, then scaled the fence with ease, her agility allowing her to clear the barrier silently. She landed softly on the other side, her enhanced speed carrying her swiftly towards the house.
She wore through the trees, grinning as she felt the wind on her face. As she neared the mansion, a sudden explosion shattered the silence. A tree nearby burst into flames, the shockwave throwing Gen off her feet.
She twisted in mid-air, landing on her feet but taking some superficial damage. The wounds began to heal almost immediately, her regeneration kicking in.
"Curious." She muttered, realizing that Ivan had rigged the trees with explosives. He had somehow made it nearly impossible for her to detect them, even with her heightened senses. Judging by what just happened, he probably grew them into his trees.
Ivan\'s voice crackled through hidden speakers, echoing through the wooded area. "Welcome, ma\'am," he said, his tone mocking. "Welcome to your death."
Gen\'s eyes narrowed, a smile tugging at the corners of her lips. "This just got interesting," she murmured, her excitement building.
Another tree exploded just to her left. She dodged the blast, her movements fluid, but the debris from the tree still grazed her, leaving shallow cuts that healed within moments. Ivan is tracking me somehow, remotely detonating the explosives to try and catch me off guard. What a twist! I\'m glad I didn\'t stay home.
She dashed through the forest, weaving between the trees as explosions erupted around her. The ground shook with each blast, debris flying through the air. Gen laughed in delight, her eyes gleaming with the thrill of the hunt. Despite the danger, or perhaps because of it, she was exhilarated.
"Is this the best you\'ve got, Ivan?" she called out, her voice filled with mirth. "You\'re going to have to do better than that!"
More trees detonated, the explosions getting closer and closer. Gen felt the heat of the blasts, her skin singed but healing rapidly. She moved with supernatural speed, dodging and weaving, her laughter echoing through the night. The thrill of the chase, the prospect of a fight. It was intoxicating.
"Keep running, ma\'am!" Ivan\'s voice taunted. "You can\'t escape! You\'re already dead, you just don\'t know it yet!"
Gen\'s grin widened as she closed the distance to the mansion. The trees thinned out, and the explosions grew less frequent. She could see the lights of the house through the thinning canopy. One last tree exploded right in front of her, the blast throwing her back, but she rolled with the impact, springing to her feet with ease.
"Almost there," she muttered to herself, her excitement noticeable. "Just a little more."
With a final burst of speed, she broke through the last line of trees, emerging into the clearing that housed the mansion.
The grand structure loomed before her, its windows reflecting the flickering light of the distant fires. The mansion was imposing, built in the style of the humans centuries ago. The mansion was a three story building of dark stone, with tall, narrow windows that seemed to watch her approach.
Ivy clung to the walls, its tendrils snaking upwards toward the gabled roof. The front doors were massive and ornately carved, flanked by imposing stone columns.
Gen whistled in appreciation. "That\'s a damn fine house." She knew Ivan was watching, waiting for her next move. She flexed her fingers, feeling the strength in her limbs, the power coursing through her veins. This was it. The Hunt. She knew she was born for this.
"I\'m coming for you, Ivan," she whispered, a smile curling her lips. "Let\'s see how good you really are."
With the need for secrecy gone, Gen decided subtlety was no longer necessary. She walked purposefully towards the front door, her senses on high alert. She knew Ivan would have rigged the interior with traps, just as he had the surroundings. But she was ready.
The grand doors creaked open under her push, the sound echoing through the cavernous foyer. The interior was just as impressive as she expected, with high ceilings, intricate moldings, and a sweeping staircase that led to the upper floors.
Crystal chandeliers hung from the ceiling, their light casting bright light on the marble floor. Paintings adorned the walls, depicting various abstract scenes. Despite its grandeur, the house felt cold and unwelcoming. She knew what it was. A fortress rather than a home.
Gen stepped inside, her eyes scanning for any signs of danger. As expected, Ivan had left her a welcoming gift. The faint, nearly imperceptible hum of electronic devices reached her ears. She detected the slight shimmer of tripwires and the subtle glint of pressure plates embedded in the floor.
A smirk played on her lips as she moved forward. "Watch and be in awe, Ivan. This is the power of a vampire." She poured vitality into every muscle she had. With an exhale that sent steam floating out of her mouth, she shot off.
She zoomed through the house, her movements swift as she navigated the deadly maze. She leapt over pressure-sensitive tiles, ducked beneath nearly invisible wires, and sidestepped motion-activated sensors.
Each step was calculated, her enhanced senses guiding her safely through the building. An explosion detonated to her right, the blast force causing her to pivot and avoid the shrapnel. Another trap triggered to her left, but Gen anticipated it, diving forward and rolling to her feet without missing a beat.
She moved through the mansion like what she knew she was. A predator. The halls were lined with portraits of stern-faced ancestors, their eyes seeming to follow her as she passed. She flashed them a grin as she passed.
The mansion was vast, with countless rooms and hidden passages, but after a while, she knew where to look.
The basement.