Jessica stared in horror at the scene before her. Frankie, the friendly surfer girl she'd met just hours ago, crouched over a dead boar, her mouth dripping with blood. As Frankie's head snapped up, Jessica found herself locking eyes with a predator. Gone were the warm green irises she'd admired earlier. In their place glowed crimson orbs filled with hunger and rage.

"Frankie?" Jessica's voice came out as a strangled whisper.

The vampire girl snarled, baring razor-sharp fangs. In a blur of motion, she lunged at Jessica.

Instinct took over. Jessica's bones cracked and reshaped as fur sprouted across her body. The transformation was lightning-fast, honed by months of practice. As Frankie's claws raked across her chest, Jessica's own claws extended to meet them.

The two monsters collided in a tangle of fur and fangs. Jessica yelped as Frankie's teeth sank into her shoulder. She retaliated by swiping at the vampire's face, leaving deep gashes across her cheek.

They tumbled through the underbrush, snarling and snapping. Rain lashed at them, turning the ground to mud beneath their bare feet. A bolt of lightning illuminated the scene, casting stark shadows across the jungle.

Jessica's mind raced. What had happened to the fun-loving surfer she'd met on the beach? How long had Frankie been a vampire? And why was she attacking now?

She didn't have time to ponder the questions as Frankie came at her again, moving with inhuman speed. Jessica barely managed to dodge, feeling the wind of Frankie's strike ruffle her fur.

"Frankie, stop!" Jessica tried to reason with her, but it came out as a series of growls and yips.

The vampire showed no sign of understanding or recognition. Her eyes were wild, consumed by bloodlust. She lunged again, fangs bared.

This time, Jessica was ready. She caught Frankie mid-leap and used the vampire's momentum to slam her into the ground. Mud splattered as Frankie's back hit the earth with a dull thud.

Jessica pinned her down, using her werewolf strength to hold the thrashing vampire in place. Frankie hissed and snarled, snapping her jaws inches from Jessica's throat.

For a moment, Jessica hesitated. She didn't want to hurt Frankie, but she had to protect herself. As Frankie's struggles intensified, Jessica lowered her head, jaws opening wide. If she could just incapacitate the vampire long enough to figure out what was going on...

A resounding crack split the air. Pain exploded across Jessica's skull as something solid connected with the side of her head. She yelped, tumbling off of Frankie and onto the muddy ground.

Dazed, Jessica looked up to see Damon standing over her, wielding a thick tree branch like a baseball bat. His eyes were wide with fear and determination as he placed himself between Jessica and Frankie.

"Back off!" he shouted, brandishing the makeshift weapon. "I won't let you hurt her!"

Jessica blinked in confusion. Didn't he recognize her? Then she remembered - she was still in werewolf form. To Damon, she probably looked like some rabid beast attacking his girlfriend.

She tried to speak, to explain, but all that came out were growls and whines. Damon took a menacing step forward, and Jessica scrambled backward, not wanting to fight him.

"Jessica! Damon!" Kevin's voice rang out through the storm.

Jessica turned to see Kevin and Salina emerging from the underbrush, looking bedraggled and out of breath. Relief flooded through her at the sight of her friends.

"Stop!" Salina shouted, taking in the scene. "Everyone just calm down!"

A low groan drew their attention. Frankie was stirring, pushing herself up on shaky arms. As she blinked and looked around, Jessica saw that her eyes had returned to their normal green. The feral hunger was gone, replaced by confusion and dawning horror.

"Oh god," Frankie mumbled. "What happened? Did I...?" Her gaze fell on Jessica's werewolf form, and she gasped. "Jessica?"

Realizing the fight was over, Jessica focused on calming herself. She felt her bones shift and crack as she transformed back into her human form. Damon stumbled backward, nearly dropping his branch in shock.

"You're... you're a werewolf?" he stammered.

Jessica nodded, wincing as she prodded at the bump forming on her head. "Yeah. And apparently, your girlfriend's a vampire."

Frankie struggled to her feet, leaning heavily on Damon for support. "I'm so sorry," she said, her voice thick with remorse. "I didn't mean to attack you. I just got so thirsty, and then I smelled your blood..."

"Wait, wait, wait," Kevin interjected, holding up his hands. "Can we back up a second? You knew Frankie was a vampire?" He directed this question at Damon, who nodded sheepishly.

"Yeah, I've known for a while now," Damon admitted. "She's usually got it under control, but sometimes when she gets too hungry..."

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"I have forgot to bring my stored blood bag at the hotel. I didn't think we would be gone long, but the hunger kicked in. That was why I left the cave to find an animal to feed on," Frankie explained. "I didn't want to risk hurting any of you. But then the storm hit, and I got disoriented, and by the time I found that boar, I was so far gone..." She shuddered. "I'm really sorry, Jessica. I never meant for this to happen."

Jessica sighed, running a hand through her rain-soaked hair. "It's okay. I mean, it's not okay that you attacked me, but I get it. Believe me, I know how hard it can be to control your inner monster."

Salina snorted. "Yeah, our girl Jessica here is a certified expert in the whole 'secretly a monster' department."

"You guys knew?" Damon asked, looking between Kevin and Salina.

Kevin nodded. "Yep. Been there since the beginning. Long story short: Jessica got bit by a werewolf last year, and we've been dealing with the fallout ever since."

"Wow," Frankie breathed. "And here I thought I was the only one with supernatural problems back at home."

Jessica couldn't help but laugh at the absurdity of it all. "Guess we've all got our secrets, huh?"

The moment of levity was short-lived. A series of terrified screams cut through the sound of the storm, coming from somewhere deeper in the jungle.

"What was that?" Salina asked, her eyes wide.

"I don't know," Jessica replied, already feeling her muscles tense in anticipation of danger. "But it didn't sound good."

"We should check it out," Damon said, his protective instincts kicking in. "Someone might be hurt."

Jessica nodded. "Agreed. But everyone stay close. We don't know what else might be out here."

*****

The group moved cautiously through the underbrush, following the sounds of distress. As they drew closer, Jessica caught a whiff of something that made her hackles rise - the sharp, acrid scent of ozone mixed with the metallic tang of blood.

They pushed through a last layer of foliage and froze at the sight before them.

A massive figure loomed in a small clearing, surrounded by the twitching bodies of what looked like resort security guards. The creature - if it could be called that - was easily seven feet tall, with bulging muscles barely contained by a tattered orange jumpsuit. Its skin was a sickly gray, crisscrossed with stitches. But it was the face that sent a chill down Jessica's spine.

Bald and twisted into a permanent snarl, the thing's features were undeniably human. Yet there was nothing human about the eerie blue glow emanating from its eyes or the arcs of electricity dancing between its fingertips.

As they watched in horror, the monster reached out and grabbed the last standing guard. The man screamed as blue lightning coursed through his body. In seconds, he collapsed to the ground, smoke rising from his charred flesh.

"What the hell is that thing?" Kevin whispered, his voice trembling.

Jessica shook her head, unable to tear her eyes away from the nightmarish scene. "I don't know. But whatever it is, it's definitely not natural."

The creature's head snapped toward them, its glowing blue eyes locking onto the group. A twisted grin spread across its face, revealing rows of blackened teeth.

"Well, well," it growled, its voice like gravel scraping against metal. "Looks like I've found some new playmates."

Jessica's blood ran cold as recognition dawned. She knew that voice. It had haunted her nightmares for years.

"No," she breathed. "It can't be."

But as the monster took a menacing step forward, the truth. Somehow, impossibly, the creature standing before them was none other than Ivan Stone - the serial killer who had murdered Jessica's mother.

The same serial killer who was supposed to be dead.

"What's wrong, little pudding?" Ivan taunted, electricity crackling around his massive form. "You don't recognize me?”

Jessica's mind reeled. How was this possible? She'd watched the news reports of Ivan's execution. She'd felt the bittersweet relief of knowing her mother's killer was finally gone. And yet here he stood, transformed into something even more monstrous than before.

"Jessica?" Salina's voice was tight with fear. "You know this... thing?"

Jessica swallowed hard, forcing herself to face the nightmare made flesh. "Yeah," she managed. "Long story short, that's Ivan Stone. He killed. . . My mother."

A collective gasp went up from the group. Frankie and Damon exchanged bewildered glances, while Kevin and Salina moved protectively closer to Jessica.

Ivan's grin widened, revealing more of those terrifying teeth. "Aw, you do remember me. I'm touched." He took another step forward, prompting the group to take a collective step back. "And look how you've grown. Last time I saw you, you were just a scared little girl. Now you're all grown up…." He chuckled, the sound like rocks in a blender. "After all, big girls are my favorite."

Jessica's fists clenched at her sides, claws threatening to emerge. "How are you alive?" she demanded. "You were executed. I saw it on the news."

"Let's just say I made some new friends," Ivan replied, gesturing to his transformed body. "Friends who thought I'd make an excellent guinea pig for their little science experiment. And boy, were they right."

As if to show, Ivan held up a hand. Bolts of electricity arced between his fingers, casting an eerie blue glow across the clearing. "They wanted to create the perfect weapon. Instead, they created a god."

"You're no god," Jessica spat. "You're just a twisted freak who preys on the innocent."

Ivan's eyes narrowed. "Brave words, pudding. But I can smell your fear." He inhaled deeply, a look of ecstasy crossing his face. "Mmm, yes. It's delicious. Just like your mother's was when I-"

"Shut up!" Jessica roared, her eyes flashing yellow as rage overtook her. She lunged forward, but Kevin and Salina grabbed her arms, holding her back.

"Jessica, don't!" Kevin hissed. "He's baiting you!"

Ivan laughed, the sound sending chills down Jessica's spine. “You better listen to your friends. They're smarter than you. But then again, that's not saying much, is it?"

Damon stepped forward, placing himself between Ivan and the group. "Look, man, I don't know who you are or what your deal is, but you need to back off. Now."

For a moment, Ivan looked almost amused. Then, faster than Jessica's eyes could track, he lashed out. His hand closed around Damon's throat, lifting the surfer off his feet.

"Damon!" Frankie screamed. She moved, but Jessica held her back.

"No! His touch is lethal!"

As if to prove her point, blue electricity crackled around Ivan's hand. Damon's eyes went wide, his body convulsing as the current passed through him.

"Let him go!" Jessica shouted, desperation clawing at her chest. She couldn't watch another person die at Ivan's hands. Not again.

Ivan's gaze locked with hers, a cruel smile playing across his lips. "As you wish."

He hurled Damon's limp form through the air. The surfer crashed into a nearby tree with a sickening thud before crumpling to the ground.

"Damon!" Frankie broke free from Jessica's grip and rushed to her boyfriend's side. She cradled his head in her lap, frantically checking for signs of life.

Ivan's attention returned to Jessica. "Now then, where were we? Ah yes, I was about to show you what real power looks like."

He raised both hands, electricity arcing between them in a dazzling display. The air crackled with energy, making Jessica's hair stand on the back of her neck.

"Run!" she yelled to her friends. "Get out of here!"

But before anyone could move, Ivan unleashed his attack. A massive bolt of lightning shot from his hands, illuminating the entire clearing in a blinding flash.

Jessica braced herself for the impact, knowing there was no way to dodge in time. But the searing pain she expected never came.

Instead, she felt a rush of air as something large and fast moved in front of her. When her vision cleared, she saw Frankie standing between her and Ivan, arms outstretched. The vampire's eyes glowed red, and her fangs fully extended.

"You want a fight?" Frankie growled. "Then fight me, you overgrown battery."

Ivan's eyes widened in surprise, then narrowed with cruel delight. "Well, well. Aren't you full of surprises? This is going to be fun."

As Ivan and Frankie squared off, Jessica's mind raced. They were outmatched and vulnerable. They needed a plan, and fast.

But as she watched Ivan's hands crackle with deadly energy once more, Jessica feared they might already be too late. The true enemy had revealed himself, and he was more terrifying than she could have ever imagined.