Hunter stood dazed, overwhelmed with gratitude to his old friend for keeping his son safe; and predictably furious with the Council.
“Christ, Hunter, be honest with me. Bev is her mother, isn’t she?” Toby suddenly said, breaking through Hunter’s thoughts.
Hunter frowned, sure that they’d been careful with that particular secret. “How…?”
“Well... your familiarity with her. And they look alike. Also, it made sense to send the boy’s family to retrieve him.”
Hunter was amazed. “You’re not bad at piecing these things together.”
Toby shrugged, very much aware of his ability to read between the lines.
Hunter stood still for only a moment longer, then turned and stormed out of the room.
“Watch Adam.” He shouted back at Toby.
“Don’t do anything rash, Hunter.” Toby shouted down the corridor, then sighed, knowing it was futile.
Hunter marched down to the Council rooms, banging his fist against the door. Without waiting for a response, he threw the doors open and barged in.
There were only three Council members there. General Dawkins, Theresa, and Reynolds. They all sat sociably at the table, nursing cups of tea, talking of insignificant things. And they all looked up at the unannounced intrusion of the witch-hunter.
“Mr Astley, you’re back.” Theresa said, looking impressed at his swift return. “Did you find anything?”
“Where is Bev? Where is the witch?” He demanded, ignoring Theresa’s question.
The Council members exchanged a glance and Hunter felt the atmosphere cool.
“That is no business of yours.” General Dawkins replied without looking at him.
“Don’t start that shit.” Hunter warned. “Tell me what you’ve done, or I’ll…”
Dawkins stood up suddenly, squaring up to Hunter in an attempt at intimidation that Hunter was far from impressed by.
“Or you’ll do what, Astley? Defy us, again?”
Hunter exhaled slowly, his eyes never flinching from Dawkin’s gaze. He eventually replied, his voice low and all the more threatening. “Maybe I will. Maybe I will take what I learnt in Berlin and leave you with nothing. Maybe I’ll take Kristen and Toby with me, and let you fight this with just your 1st gens. Or maybe I’ll see how many of them want to join me too.”
Hunter saw doubt creep into Dawkin’s eyes. Oh, the General knew well enough the power and influence Hunter had over other witch-hunters. Hadn’t he seen for himself how the warren had become excited by their hero’s return. But then his gaze hardened again.
“You wouldn’t dare.” He snarled. “We all know that’s not your style – you’d rather run away alone than take on the responsibility of others. After all, didn’t your actions kill your last team!”
Just as Hunter was about to snap, Theresa stood up.
“Gentlemen, enough! General Dawkins sit back down. And Mr Astley, please calm down.” Theresa kept a solid gaze on them until they both did as they were told, then turned to Hunter.
“The witch had nothing more to offer us, so she has been taken to a secure location.”
Hunter hesitated, processing this. “A secure location? Where is more secure than the warren?”
“The warren is designed to be a base, a home for witch-hunters. We do not have the facilities to keep that sort of prisoner here.”
Hunter snorted at the idea, these rooms were solid, the doors and bolts heavy duty, and the corridors filled with trained men and women. What threat could a bound witch pose.
“Fine. Then where is she?” He demanded.
“As I said, it is none of your business.” Dawkins said snidely from the table.
“Hunter.” Theresa stepped between them again before anything happened. “We cannot tell you; I wish we could. But you are a front-line fighter and we cannot risk you being captured with that sort of information in your head.”
Theresa reached out awkwardly to grasp his arm in some sort of sympathetic hold. “I’m sorry…”
Hunter shrugged away from her and backed towards the door.
There was a cough from the forgotten Reynolds, who sat uncomfortably watching the scene. “What about your find in Berlin?”
Hunter glanced at him, looking slightly dazed by the change of topic. “Um, Kristen has it all, she’ll bring it by.”
And then he left, with the unsettling thought that the Council had almost taken his son – and would equally refuse to tell him anything.
Chapter Twenty-two
Hunter walked into the familiar cottage with a feeling of trepidation. Everything was as it should be, except for Sophie. She stood, awaiting him in the living room, a look of despair about her.
Hunter moved towards her, only for Sophie to step back.
“Don’t.” He pleaded softly, holding out a hand to her tense, half-wild form.
“I can’t.” She stressed, twisting, almost writhing against the rigid pose she dictated for herself. “I can’t do it anymore. This is just a fantasy in which I’ve allowed myself to be human – to allow myself to believe I am human.”
“I don’t know what this is, but it’s not a fantasy that I love you, and if I could choose any life it would be this.” Hunter continued in soft tones, taking a careful step towards his Sophie.
But she staggered back again, shaking her head, her eyes dark with pain. “Yesterday… was so close. I was relieved that you escaped. But these chances have run out. The next time we will meet, and I cannot be restrained by love, or desire for a life that was never ours.”
Sophie finally moved towards Hunter; her hand outstretched. Hunter blinked and looked down as she dropped a small object into his hand. He took a deep shuddering breath as he saw her gold wedding band in his palm.
Hunter opened his eyes to the dark room in which he lay. A single tear rolled down his face and fell onto his pillow.
The war was swiftly coming back in their direction, he knew it. Their little respite, if that was what it could be called, was over. And he wasn’t looking forward to what was coming.
He’d been into battle before, many times. He knew he wasn’t a coward, he did not fear for his own life, but he dreaded the loss of others, people he had started to grow fond of and felt responsible for.
It was around 7am, and Hunter had only been awake for half an hour, but still lay in bed, too miserable to move. There was the sudden unwelcome sound of someone kicking the door open. Hunter watched with one lazy eye as Kristen walked in, precariously balancing a tray with what looked suspiciously like breakfast.
Hunter noticed Adam sit bolt upright in the small bed on the other side of the room.
“Hey kiddo, I got orange juice and toast.” Kristen greeted the little boy, setting the tray down on the only table in the room.
Adam hesitated, tempted by the breakfast, but wary of the strange lady. The little boy looked over at his father for permission.
Hunter could only groan. “What are you doing, Kristen?”
“Bringing breakfast.” She replied innocently. “Think of it as thanks for saving my life.”
Hunter sat up in bed, looking his usual ruffled morning mess, with extra dark circles under the eyes today. “Technically, I didn’t save your life, Mel did.”
“Ok, then think of it as punishment for putting my life at risk.” Kristen shrugged, and helped herself to a piece of toast. “It’s all a ruse, anyway.”
The girl then proceeded to sit on the foot of Hunter’s bed. Hunter immediately pulled his feet back and got out of bed, wary of where this might go, and what the forward Miss Davies might do, even with Adam in the room. He walked over to the tray and helped himself to what was supposed to be coffee, but it was the best they had in this time of war. Hunter took one sip and grimaced at the bitter taste, then handed a cup of orange juice to Adam before finally returning his attention to Kristen.
“Ok, what do you want?”
Kristen played with her toast, in no rush to answer. “To clear on
e or two things up. I heard some stuff since we got back.”
Hunter froze, wondering what “stuff” she might have uncovered. But he stayed silent as the girl finished her toast and continued without further prompting.
“Psycho ex, huh? Understatement.” Kristen said with a smile that was caught between cruel and disbelieving. “Now that really is the actual cliché of sleeping with the enemy.”
Hunter glanced sharply towards Adam, feeling very protective of the innocent little boy, that didn’t deserve to hear people slander his mother.
“Kristen, outside.” Hunter ordered with a curt nod of his head. Without waiting for her, he marched out into the cold corridor. Hunter frowned, he wished he’d put some shoes on, his feet were bloody freezing.
“Say whatever you want to me, but I would appreciate it if you watch your tongue around my son.” Hunter said as Kristen came to join him, more than a hint of a threat in his voice. He leaned past her to pull the door shut, leaving Adam to have his breakfast in peace.
Kristen’s blue eyes darted back in the direction of the room. “Then it’s true? He’s really her son? I thought, and kinda hoped it was just a rumour.”
Hunter stood silently, he’d quickly become used to such shock and disgust from the witch-hunters, ever since they had found out.
“How?” Kristen asked, then blushed. “I mean, I know how, but how could you?”
Hunter shrugged; it was nearly impossible to explain to these people that were already so biased.
“For a year before the Shadow Witch emerged, we knew her as Sophie Murphy. She was a friend, a colleague, and yes, for a while a lover. Long enough for Adam to be conceived. There was no reason to suspect her of being a witch.”
“Is it true you used some bullshit about the boy being a possible offensive weapon to get the Council to agree with kidnapping him, rather than tell them the truth?” Kristen asked, hardly convinced, but jumping to her next train of thought anyway.
Hunter smiled bitterly at the recent memory. “Yes. They would never have understood. Half of them still don’t. Besides, it could still be true, I have no way of predicting what Adam might become. But it would involve waiting for him to reach puberty before we get a clue. Although if I’m honest, I don’t think we have that long.”
Kristen narrowed her eyes at his final comment. “Is it really that bad?”
“It’s starting to feel just like it did before Salisbury Plain.” Hunter sighed, referring back to the last decisive battle; when almost all the witch-hunters and their supporters were wiped out.
Kristen wrapped her arms about herself, suddenly cold. “Well, what are you going to do?” She asked, her eyes fixing his again.
Hunter hesitated. “I’m going to fight alongside the witch-hunters…”
“No, I mean, what are you going to do? You have-” Kristen broke off, glancing down the corridor before continuing in a much quieter voice. “You have powers no one else can dream of; a half-witch, half-eighth gen son; a blonde demon; and an army of magic monks.”
Hunter looked at her, utter shock robbing him of his ability to speak. How did she know?
Kristen shrugged, seemingly reading his mind. “I had a nice chat with Mel and Marcus, just to find out where they sided in this whole thing. You’ve got a lot of powerful friends, Hunter. And y’know, it makes me wonder why you’re content to be just a number on the battlefield, when you have all that behind you.”
Hunter sighed. “I don’t have any miracles up my sleeve.” He replied weakly. But he recognised a kick up the arse when he saw one.
“Fine. Can you get your hands on the Berlin papers?” He asked, waiting for her to nod. “Then meet me here when you have them. Bring Mel if you see her before I do.”
Kristen nodded, and without another word sauntered off down the corridor. Hunter watched her go, then returned to his room. Adam had finished his breakfast and was currently hiding under his father’s bed – the giggling gave him away. Hunter smiled, and played along for a minute, loudly exclaiming that his son had vanished. All the while he pulled on his day clothes. Once he was fully dressed, he bobbed down, and pulled his screaming and kicking son from under the bed.
“Found you! Now get dressed Adam.” Hunter said, pulling clothes out of the drawers and helping his son into them. “We’re going to visit Uncle Toby-”
“And Molly!” Adam interjected; his voice muffled beneath his jumper.
“And Molly.” Hunter agreed. “Then we’re going to a very special place.”
Hunter took Adam’s hand and led the way down the corridor to Toby’s room and knocked. He figured it was unnecessary to drag his son along for this part of business, but after the Council had nearly taken him, he was loathe to let the little boy out of his sight.
Toby answered the door within a couple of minutes, still looking quite groggy at this time of the morning.
“Hunter? What-”
Hunter smiled and, taking that as an invitation, let himself in. Adam immediately let go of his hand and took the opportunity to run and jump onto the still sleeping Molly’s bed.
“Hi Toby, sorry to bother you so early, but I’ve just come to let you know I’m leaving.” Hunter said, getting straight to the point.
Toby stood there speechless. “What? You – you’re leaving? Why? What’s the plan?”
“There’s no established plan yet. I’ve just got to go and do what I can to bring the Shadow down. I’ll be taking Adam with me. Oh, and Kristen too.” Hunter explained, realising it didn’t contain much of an explanation
Toby frowned, his mind obviously a little sluggish this morning, and hurrying to catch up. “Fine. Give me an hour to sort things out here, and I’ll come.”
Hunter knew he’d say something like that. He sighed at the reckless loyalty he seemed to gain from so many good men and women.
“You can’t come.” Hunter replied firmly.
Toby paused, for once in his life looking angry. “You’re taking Kristen. Perhaps you find the girl you’ve known ten minutes more useful than me. Well tough shit Hunter, I’m not getting left behind this time.”
Hunter hesitated, truthfully as an able-bodied 6th gen, Kristen was likely to prove more useful on whatever this mission was, rather than a crippled 3rd gen. But Hunter would rather die than admit this to Toby.
“You can’t come.” Hunter repeated gently. “I need someone I can trust to represent me here. Due to my unfortunate little clash with Dawkins, more than a few people will assume that I’m a coward and doing a runner, or that I am fracturing the MMC and rebelling. They need to know that I’m doing this for them, and that I’ll be with them on the front line when it comes to the fight.”
Toby still looked stubbornly furious, but his shoulders started to sag as his resolve wavered. “I don’t like it.”
“I know. Thanks Toby.” Hunter replied, motioning to Adam that it was time to go. “Trust me, when it comes to that big fight, you’re the guy I’ll want next to me.”
“What, so you can spend more time protecting me?” Toby retorted as Hunter and Adam left.
Upon returning to their room, they packed all of their meagre belongings into a couple of bags.
“Dad, can I take Incy?” Adam asked, having finished collecting the few toys and books that Molly had grown bored with and donated to the younger boy.
Hunter winced at the mention of the spider but conceded. If Adam could find him.
There was a knock at the door, and before Hunter had a chance to answer it, his visitors let themselves in. He was suddenly joined by his two blonde accomplices. Mel drifted in, beaming at her young friend Adam, and obviously delighted at the idea of a little trip. Kristen walked in behind her, smiling knowingly. She waved a thick folder at Hunter, who looked impressed.
“Already? That was quick work.”
Kristen shrugged. “Pretty minimal security, they trust everyone in the warren.”
Hunter looked around. Everything seemed ready. There was no time like
the present.
“Hold hands.” He instructed, slinging his bag over his shoulder, and taking his son’s hand.
Mel held onto Adam, Kristen held onto Mel, and nodded to Hunter.
Hunter took a deep breath and closed his eyes, thinking firmly of his destination, an image so strong in his mind that he knew he was there before he opened his eyes. It was a beautiful summer morning, to be stood in the English countryside, in front of one of the grandest houses in the county. Hunter looked up at the old building and squeezed Adam’s hand.
“This is Astley Manor, where I grew up. And one day, it will be your house.” Hunter explained, introducing his young son to the family estate.
“Wow, so this is the famous Astley Manor?” Kristen said, apparently in awe of the place she had obviously heard about. “So, this means you’re like, a Lord or something?”
Hunter gave her a withering glare. “Why don’t you all come in?”
Hunter led the way up to the main door and on into the entrance hall. “I’ll give you the full tour later. But for now, let’s just say that Astley Manor was built in the last half of the nineteenth century by George Astley II. It has many witch-repellent spells and devices built into the very foundations – no witch can enter without being stripped of their powers. It is also the home of the most extensive witch-related library in the world – which we will be taking full advantage of.”
Just as Hunter finished speaking, two men appeared behind him, their guns held steadily towards them. Hunter turned around, unsurprised by their presence.
“Ah, Jack, Shaun, how good to see you both again. Don’t worry, these people are guests of my house.”
The two men stood silently, sharing a glance as they tried to work out what to do next. The Council didn’t have protocol for this.
“Now, you’re probably wondering what to do.” Hunter added helpfully. “To be honest, you’re probably best reporting this to headquarters and awaiting orders. Or you could help us find what we’re looking for, so we can defeat the witches.”
The two men, still suspicious, lowered their guns.
“Sir,” Jack began, hesitantly. “There is something you should be aware of…”
Witch Hunter Trilogy Box Set Page 42