The Hunted

by Heather McAlendin

  “Thank you,” I said. “No sense in delaying any longer.”

  We moved quickly and silently back up to the main floor and headed toward the courtyard at the back of the compound. The closer we got, the more feelings of terror flooded through me, but it was not my own fear I was feeling.

  “Silver,” Marie whispered. “Set knows we are here.”

  I nodded and glanced upward to see Drake wink at me before we made the last few steps to the large terrace that allowed a full view of the courtyard below. To my amazement, below me stood rows and rows of humans in various states of undress. Fledglings were feeding from them, allowed to bond. It was a mass of undulating bodies but there was no sound, no cries of outrage or fear. It was as if they were all deaf and dumb to what was occurring around them.

  I was horrified! I had been hearing this unconscious noise deep within me for some time. So far, they were ignoring our presence and I had not physically seen Set. All three of us were on edge, tense and ready for the inevitable fight.

  A quick movement from just beyond my line of sight caught my attention. Show yourself you coward, I thought.

  “It’s not him,” Drake said. “I noticed it too but it’s not Set. It’s a female vampire. Perhaps a rogue or a scout?”

  After an indeterminable period of watching the scene below, I could not see or feel any other presence. I needed to make my own presence known.

  “Where is the great leader? Where is Set hiding? Has he left you all to fend for yourselves?” I shouted in a loud and strong voice.

  It was an odd sight to see vampire and human alike stop, turn as one body, and stare up at me from below.

  “What is wrong with them?” Marie whispered.

  It was as I suspected. Set was controlling them, just as a Queen Bee did with her hive. They no longer were capable of individual thought; no will of their own. The situation was incredibly dangerous.

  Drake stood behind me. His large frame was a comfort to me as I decided how to play this out. He surveyed the area and placed a hand on my shoulder. “Movement again over to the left,” he said. “Shall I investigate further?”

  “Nice to see you again.”

  I jumped back into Drake’s chest as Set appeared out of thin air and landed directly in front of me. A low, menacing growl emanated from my throat as I drew my dagger and bared my fangs.

  I held my left arm out to stop Marie from charging on the Ancient vampire. So far, he had yet to make any move toward us other than to surprise us with his presence.

  The grin that spread from ear to ear proved to me that Set thought all of this was a joke, an amusement to him. He truly did not believe anyone could harm him.

  “So you have decided to join me? Rule by my side? How wonderful!” Set spread his arms wide and jumped to the banister, balancing precariously on its edge. Contrary to popular belief, vampires could leap vast distances but none of us has yet learned to fly.

  “Do you see, my loves?” He was speaking to the minions below. All of whom had gathered together with their arms raised in the air in some grand, grotesque salute. “I told you that together we will take over the world and become the most powerful Clan to rule the world since the doomed Toltecs.”

  “You really don’t get it do you, Set?” I asked. I was clenching my dagger so tightly in my fist that my nails had begun to draw blood, which flowed in rivulets down my wrist to my forearm. “You are dooming all these to the same fate. Stop this now before you destroy every one of us. By joining all human and vampires together into one master race, there will soon be no food, no blood; and as you well know, we cannot feed on one another for long before we extinguish ourselves. You all must see that.” I shouted down to the crowd.

  “Blasphemer!” Set screamed. Before he could scream at me again, Drake lurched forward and shoved Set off the banister, only to see him fall to the ground and land on both feet, laughing at the failed attempt to harm him.

  “Do you see how powerless they are? The great Queen herself cannot touch me, nor can her weak followers.” Set mocked us in a high-pitched voice.

  I was livid. My body shook with rage and frustration, both at Set for his arrogance and at Drake for allowing his temper to once again control his actions.

  “You must die!” A familiar female voice shouted from the back of the crowd. Was she directing this at me?

  Before I could give it further thought, I watched a small band of vampires move quickly throughout the crowd below, striking anyone in their path. Set seemed momentarily stunned into silence.

  “Lizette.” I shouted. ”No!” I finally recognized the brave, petite female vampire and her group of rogue vampires.

  Lizette had been a trusted messenger and scribe when I first ruled the Clans. She had warned me of the upset within the Clan once Hannah had escaped the compound and gone about creating her own fledglings, contrary to the Vampire Code.

  “For you my Queen!” She shouted as she knocked fledglings one by one to the ground without struggle.

  What is Set waiting for? I wondered silently. I could no longer just stand and watch. Both Drake and Marie sensed my impatience and moved in close behind me.

  “We move, now!” I screamed as we jumped from the same banister Set had mocked me from only a short time before. A mere second before my leather clad feet hit the ground, the mob in front of us became animated. It was a trap after all!

  There was no way of knowing which of the unfortunates were still human and which were in the process of turning into fledgling vampires. Adrenaline took over; voices and movement ran together as I acted with only instinct to guide me. I lost track of time and space and I did not know where Marie or Drake were. I felt a rush of wind as hundreds of Set’s minions whirled around me, tearing at my hair and face. Thrusting left and right with my dagger, I had only a second to make sure its aim was true and hit the mark, either heart or neck.

  Out of the corner of my eye, I briefly saw who I thought was Drake, swinging his blade and beheading many a young vampire. To see so much Clans’ blood spilled left a cold chill running down my spine. This is not how it was supposed to be!

  “Damn it, Set. Where the hell are you? How can you stand by and watch all these fledglings die for you?” I raged at no one in particular as I jumped and slashed just to make certain I survived. So far, these young vampires were clumsy and inexperienced. Few had been turned long enough to even realize what they had become.

  I felt a sting of pain behind me and I winced as I turned to see what had happened. To my amazement, a fledgling had managed to grab the back of my neck with its newly minted fangs. The scratch was not deep but I did not like the fact I that she had caught me unawares. I realized it could happen in this situation but it angered me. I lashed out, grabbed the young vampire and drove my dagger deep within her chest. As I watched the life ebb out of her, I grew sad and I felt a horrible sense of loss. It was not her fault she became the creature she was and I had to kill her.

  A new sense of purpose infused me with energy. I turned back to face the mob and watched with pride as Lizette, Marie and Drake did their best to defend my honor and my return to reign.

  Blades flashed and the scent of newly spilled blood filled the air. At any other moment in time, it would have been akin to ecstasy to be surround by so much energy and blood.

  “Set!” I called out. “Set, I want you! Show yourself!”

  “Your wish is my command my Queen!” Set said smugly as he appeared once again out of thin air. As quickly as he materialized, everyone stopped. The mob stopped, Drake and Marie stopped, Lizette stopped. Time itself froze while Set grabbed me around the waist and held me tight against his hard, lean body. His eyes were wild and dilated as he lowered his lips to my ear and whispered, “Do you comprehend my power yet? Do you see what you are up against? You have fire within you, a fire I want to add to my own. Stay with me and I will share all this with you.”

  I could barely breathe, let alone move. My mind screamed as Set continued to
whisper and touch the outline of my body. The rage within me grew as I thought of how helpless I was at this moment. I had no idea this type of power was even possible, so how could I fight against it? Bloody tears welled up and eventually spilled from my eyes in rivers down my cheeks and neck to my bosom. Set stepped back, licked his lips, and watched as the river of blood grew and spread down my chest. He clapped his hands with glee then stepped in close, unzipping my red leather jacket and exposing my flesh to the night air.

  “Such a silly notion to live in harmony with humans when you could control them all. You could relearn to control anyone you wanted; whenever you wanted.” Set rambled on about how the Ancients had done us a disservice by allowing our psychic abilities to grow flaccid and impotent over the years.

  The Code. We have rules...

  “Where have those rules gotten you? You are here right now because those rules are outdated, created by morons who felt they had a higher sense of purpose. Vampires are on this earth to dominate and yet they live in the shadows, hiding their infinite power. It’s unfathomable and it makes me embarrassed about where I come from. Do you know I used to be worshiped like a God?”

  Trust your instincts and use Set’s weakness against him. Akita’s words rang in my ears. Set certainly had weaknesses; one was his hunger for power and the other for worship and the need for recognition.

  Set looked at me thoughtfully and then his eyes went vacant. He moved in close and licked at the pool of bloody tears that had collected between my breasts. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath.

  “Please, Set,” I whispered. “Please.”

  His head came up so fast that he nearly collided with my jaw. He stared at me a moment a sly grin came to his lips. “Please what? You want me to spare your friends? I could care less about them. They will all die eventually anyway.”

  “Please.” I began again. “Please don’t stop.”

  Set looked surprised for a moment and then I saw his ego take over any sense he had left in his Ancient brain. “Silver, Silver, Silver,” he said in a voice thick with desire as he raised his hand to caress my waist. “I underestimated you; you are a woman after all. I was starting to wonder. It doesn’t surprise me though, I am sure Andrew was more a woman than a man with his long, flaxen hair and effeminate features. I am certain that Drake is just a brute. I used to watch Yaqui and him, you know. Their couplings were anything but graceful or passionate.”

  I swallowed hard at his mention of Andrew. I wondered silently.

  Can I do this? I have to or everyone is lost. I will be lost.

  “The power that emanates from you is like nothing I have ever experienced before,” I said softly. My voice shook and I could only hope Set would hear that as pent up desire and not anger or fear.

  “Ah yes, power makes the world go around. With power comes awesome responsibility. The responsibility of world power has weighed heavily on me since my re-emergence.” Set kept repeating this statement over and over again, distracted as he walked between the rows of immobilized vampires and humans. He stopped at Marie and patted her head as if she were a child or china doll.

  “Set,” I said once again trying to focus his attention on me. I was afraid that if he got too lost in wherever his demented brain was taking him I would never recover nor would those around me. “Come back to me Set, don’t leave me this way.”

  With lightening speed, Set was behind me with his arms wrapped firmly around my chest and waist. I could feel his hot, acrid breath on the back of my neck. He was touching the spot that he had scratched with his vile tongue. I closed my eyes and willed myself not to shudder or reveal how repulsed I was.

  “Delicious, so lovely and delicious. We will make a delightful team my dear. The world has yet to see a pair like you and me,” he said.

  My stomach was churning and it took every ounce of energy to try and shield my true thoughts as I stood, frozen against Set. Finally, he made his way in front of me and stared at me with demented eyes, leering at my naked chest and the dried blood.

  “Now, what shall I do? Can I trust you enough to release you? You are so beautiful and my body yearns for you. I have not been with a woman, vampire or otherwise for so long. Being a god is so lonely. No one understands me, not really. I know you do, though, don’t you? You reigned supreme for a time but despite minor dalliances nobody understands...nobody...nobody…” Set’s voice trailed off and his gaze clouded over as he spoke.

  If I’d had use of my hands, I would have strangled the life out him and enjoyed it. I had to focus hard and draw him back to me.

  “Let me release you from your loneliness, Set.” I hated lying, even to this poor demented soul, but I was getting frantic. The longer this went on, the harder it would be to release everyone. From Set’s actions, I knew his mind was disintegrating. For a vampire that was worse than reanimation.

  Once again, Set moved in close and sniffed at my neck and hair. “Your scent is intoxicating, my beautiful Vampire Queen,” he whispered as he moved his hand up to undo my braid and let my long silver hair hang free down my back.

  Set lovingly caressed my shoulders and my arms. I could sense the desire building within him but would it be enough for him to relax his mental hold on me and the others? I could still feel the dagger clenched in my hand.

  “Set, please release me.” I begged, as well as I could manage to ever fake begging.

  A cry escaped my lips as I felt the blood rush back into my arms and legs. I could move! I looked down to see myself naked to the waist. When I looked toward Set, he was grinning lasciviously and reaching for me. I forced myself not to recoil in disgust.

  I allowed him to draw me in close, my naked breasts crushed against his chest. I closed my eyes and as he trailed his tongue down one side of my neck, I drew back my own lips, exposed my fangs and imbedded my teeth deep within his flesh.

  Expecting Set to pull back from me, I held on to him with a vice like grip. A low moan escaped his throat as he pulled in closer to me. I drank deeply, then released and thrust my dagger forward. It connected with...nothing?

  My eyes opened to find myself standing bare chested and alone. Set was gone.

  “Damn you!” I raged loudly only to hear Set’s laughter reverberating off the compound walls. I quickly gathered up my leather jacket and pulled it closed as best as I could.

  “Not quite as far gone as you had hoped my love,” Set’s voice was shrill and mocked me from every corner and shadow. Very slowly, the hundreds around me began reanimating. I backed up against one of the garden walls and ducked into the shadows, watching and trying to figure out what to do next.

  I stared in horror as the blood lust continued. It was as if nothing had happened! Where are you, Drake? Marie? My mind was scattered and I was having trouble concentrating. What had Set done to me? Perhaps it was his blood?

  Silver! I could hear Drake’s mind seeking out my own but I had lost sight of him. My vision was becoming clouded and my thoughts enclosed in a numbing fog. It was the last thing I remembered before collapsing to the ground in the darkness.

  Chapter Fourteen

  I woke to find myself paralyzed once again; my hands and arms in bonds once again. “No!” I shrieked. “It’s my nightmare come true.” Groaning, I struggled against my bonds. This was the second time I had allowed myself to get into an impossible situation. It was as if Set had gotten into my subconscious and had recreated a horrible dream. I felt my chest tighten as I panicked.

  Defeat and loss were all I could imagine now. I had failed my people and I had failed myself. Everyone I loved was gone. I reached out and could feel no one.

  My head sank down to my chest and I felt as if my legs were about to give out.

  “What’s wrong? Has the great Vampire Queen and Vampire Hunter succumbed? I am indeed disappointed. I thought you would appreciate what I had learned about you.”

  I slowly lifted my head and blinked twice, trying to make out the shape in the darkness. The voice belonged to Se
t but so far I could not see him as me mocked me from the shadows.

  “I see my Ancient blood was too much for you.” He laughed.

  “You are a bastard in the truest sense.” I spat. “I hope one day, when you least expect it you will have a chance for redemption and it will be refused.”

  “Redemption? Funny thing for a vampire to be discussing. We are the damned; there is no hope for us!” Set thundered and raged like a wounded animal.

  “Show yourself, you coward!” I shouted. “You can’t be afraid of me—or are you? Is that what these bonds are for? To stop me hurting you?” I shook the manacles as best I could. My legs and arms were rigid and frozen but I decided to stop allowing fear to control me. I was angry and if it was the only thing I did, Set would be fully aware of my wrath.

  “I’m going to leave now. Please try and think pleasant thoughts. The pangs of hunger should not set in for at least forty eight hours or so. By the third day, you will wish for anything to nourish you. In a week, you will become raging and demented. By the time I have infused the rest of these poor humans with vampire blood, you shall be dead and I will enjoy grinding your bones into dust. Parting is such sweet—”

  “Get out!” I shrieked, cutting off Set’s words with my own. “You make me sick and my own joy is knowing that in time, you will be destroyed by your own ego.”

  Set’s laughter filled the room and then his voice and his presence disappeared. He left me in the dark and the silence, alone.

  Chapter Fifteen

  “Silver! Come on now, open your eyes.”

  Am I dreaming again?

  I could hear Lizette’s insistent voice calling to me. How long was it since Set left me in this room?

  “Silver! My Queen! Please wake up. We don’t have much time.”

  “Not possible.” I moaned. “All gone...”

  I felt hands unbinding me and I collapsed to the floor. My body felt numb and empty. Lizette hovered above me as I looked up, trying to focus on her image. I opened my mouth to speak and instead had to swallow as a mouthful of warm, life-giving blood gushed down my throat. I coughed and sputtered but was grateful as a familiar heat spread to my stomach and my limbs started to radiate warmth.