Jaden’s first reaction was to shiver. Instinctively, she grabbed a stake at her waist. Her fingers slipped over her hip. There was nothing there. Clearing her mind, she recalled in weighty numbness, You’re not here to kill. You’re here to die.
"Let him go," Jaden ordered, barely turning to the victim caught up in the vampire’s grasp, her words low and steady. The man’s feet hung above the ground, kicking with renewed force at her heated words. To her great surprise, the vampire released his hold. The victim darted away, his shoulder hitting Jaden as he sped back into the lighted street. She ignored the mortal. When they were alone, she said wryly, "That was the right decision."
The vampire straightened to his full height. Jaden’s stomach tightened in unease. Crouching over, the creature wasn’t so intimidating. However, with his broad stature directed completely at her, he became quite daunting. In a fight, this creature would have the benefit of natural strength behind his vampirically enhanced abilities. Only, Jaden wasn’t there to fight him.
The vampire waited patiently. He kept his hands folded in front of his chest, not in intimidation but in easy repose. His face showed nothing, no fear or reprisal at having his meal interrupted. He wasn’t reacting like a typical young one. Usually the newly turned--especially those from the more elaborate boroughs of New York--bared their fangs with animated hisses and growls.
Jaden forced herself to ignore the truth of her eyes. Sight was not her strongest gift. Even though she had perfect vision and could navigate the night with ease, she couldn’t make out the details of those things hidden within the shadows. This one appeared much older and more confident than she first sensed. But, no, she had never been wrong before. Her senses never failed, they might waver but they never failed. She had long since learned to focus on her emotions and inborn talents. And right now, her senses said this one’s blood was new.
Seeing large empty crates and garbage bins trapping the vampire’s escape, Jaden took a step forward. She moved easily, used to confronting his kind. Again her wrist brushed near her waist, seeking the comfort of her meager weapons. Again she remembered she brought nothing. She didn’t want to change her mind. She didn’t want to alarm the young one before her. If he ran from her, she would have to start her search anew.
No, Jaden bemused in silent apathy, this is what I came for. At least he seems to possess some dignity. I would hate to be bitten by an idiot. How degrading of an end that would be for a legendary hunter.
Jaden studied the vampire for signs of curiosity. His eyes didn’t travel over her form. His attention didn’t take in the lines of her face. He waited for her to speak with the silent patience of a statue. The icy blue of his striking eyes didn’t reveal any emotions beyond watchfulness.
When the vampire merely continued to stare at her, Jaden said without preamble, "You are a nightstalker, are you not?"
One brow lifted halfway up the vampire’s smooth, pale face. It was a small effort, the only one he made in acknowledging her. If Jaden couldn’t see his gaze trained on her face, she would’ve doubted he paid attention. Once more, she started to distrust her senses, but again the sensation of newly turned blood was overwhelmingly strong. If she had to venture a guess, she would say he was maybe fifteen years made at most.
With a groan, she realized her first impression of sight was probably really off. This creature wasn’t cold and calculated. By his age, she could only assume he was dumb. Some sick, undead fiend picked a poor, helpless mental patient with the size of Hercules to be its child. No wonder the vampire only stared. No wonder he obeyed her order to release his victim without question. The creature was just another reason to prove she was doing the right thing.
She was tired of seeing and feeling such things as the atrocity before her. She knew what she had spent her life doing, seeing. Jaden wanted to live--in theory. But her life was never a life. She was tired of sensing death, causing it. The grim hold was an apathetic noose around her neck, tightening but never releasing. She was already one of the walking dead in spirit. She wasn’t frightened by her own death. Death was her only release. It was her only out. It was the only way she could shut herself off and find any rest.
Shaking her head, she continued in sarcastic disgust, "You are a nightstalker, are you not? A benighted child, a damned soul, possessor of the dark gift?" Jaden paused, waiting to see if any of her words brought recognition to the immovable face. They didn’t. With a sigh, she whispered in dejection, "A vampire."
"Nightstalker is a bloodstalker term," the creature answered at leisure. He moved his head a hairbreadth to the side.
Jaden froze at the low rumbling of the vampire’s rhythmical voice. His soft words were extremely coherent if not a little bored. They took her by surprise. She saw a swirl of color begin to enter his eyes. It slivered green and then faded. Something that she hadn’t felt in a long time threatened to awaken in her--curiosity. Jaden suppressed it. A whirlwind of confusion endangered her senses. She felt him trying to enter her mind, to put thoughts into it. She fought it, focusing herself once more. Maybe this one liked to play games. Maybe he liked to pretend he was older than he truly was. She had seen the arrogance before.
"So it is," she said easily, surprised that he knew the old term. Very rarely was she referred to as a bloodstalker. Still, this creature couldn’t possibly sense what she was. Only the old could smell the parentage in her blood.
"Are you hunting me?" A small smirk of amusement tilted the side of his mouth. The very idea seemed to fascinate him. Jaden froze. She still wasn’t so sure about her choice in vampires, no matter how she convinced herself she was. Her legs screamed at her to run. Her heart’s heady rhythm echoed the plea. This one’s confidence compounded by his size was alarming. Jaden’s determination took over, refusing to listen to the treacherous urges of her fear.
Without the assuredness of her previous statements, she forced the bitterness from her tone. "No, I don’t wish to kill you. I am no hunter."
Silently she added, not any more.
The old vampire studied the brave woman before him. He knew what she was, could feel the strength inside her veins. Just as he could tell she wasn’t there to try and harm him. Upon turning to greet her interruption, an interruption he felt long before she spoke, he had taken a brief glance over her frame. She was pretty but not glamorous. Her body was athletic and well used.
However, it was nothing he hadn’t seen before. What captured his attention the most was the peculiar shade of deep jade that glittered dispassionately in her eyes. And, at his age, that anything captured his attention was unusual. Those eyes were the only thing that kept him from abandoning her for the sovereignty of the night.
Narrowing his gaze, he unleashed his powerful thoughts, trying to pry into her mind. He could feel a well of passionless emotions inside of her. He saw her shiver, becoming entranced within his gaze. In the brief second he was inside her thoughts he detected one word drowning out all the others, death. And then she kicked him out. He hid his humor, knowing that if he wanted to he could force himself back in, but he found waiting for her to reveal herself much more diverting. Beside, he didn’t like to feel inside of humans. They were too messy, too unorganized, too alive.
"Then why do you seek me out, mortal?" he queried enigmatically, showing the first hint of interest at her intrusion. It was clear she wasn’t merely trying to save his victim from the bite. She hadn’t given the man a second glance.
The vampire’s body moved with all the enthusiasm of a faded marble statue anchored to a slab of stone. A slight turn of his lips indicated he smiled more than frowned. Jaden felt a dim sense of loathing awaken in him. He was disgusted with her. He despised her taking up his time, as endless as that time was for him. The insult stung slightly, but she refused to allow herself the luxury of caring. Lifting her chin proudly, she directed her boldest stare.
Choosing to ignore the pointed question he directed at her, she shifted her weight on her hips. With false sweetness and
concern in her voice, she muttered in a coquettish sulk, "You haven’t eaten. I just scared away your meal."
The vampire’s smile faded just as deceptively as it had formed.
Jaden trembled as his gaze finally moved from their fixed position to take her in. Even fully clothed she felt violated by the concentrated inspection. So intense was his probing, she was sure he could see through her clothing. Was she mistaken, or did his eyes linger too long on her breasts?
Before she had time to cross over and slap him, he said, unconcerned, "So you have. I’ll find it again. Good eve."
He turned to leave her. Jaden’s heart leapt in her chest at the hasty dismissal. She couldn’t wait any longer. She couldn’t last another day. Crossing forward in growing desperation, she stopped him from leaving.
The vampire’s gaze again found her as she drew close. He could’ve escaped her if he truly wanted. But, he didn’t. He would never fully understand why he didn’t. Perhaps it was her bravery in facing him. Perhaps it was her acceptance of his existence--acceptance without trembling or fear.
Pulling back her collar, Jaden offered her neck to him. Tensing, she said, "Here’s your meal, vampire. Drink it and be done."
His eyes darted naturally to her slender neck. He focused on her artery, protruding from under the thin veil of skin. It was a tempting offer, one that his teeth were capable of taking. It would take no effort to pierce the flesh. He could hear her blood rushing. He could smell its sweet scent--alluring, proud yet tainted by her emotions. But, to Jaden’s surprise, he didn’t instantly bite her. He held back as if he cared not to taste her blood. His brow lifted vaguely.
Unbidden, her hand dropped to her side. Her body stung considerably at the blatant rejection of her offer. Her cheeks flamed in anger. Damn him! Her blood was the best thing he would ever be offered--strong, pure, half vampire!
She smelled faint musk on the air--the scent of death and decay--but the stirrings of it were so faint that she only imagined she could smell the grave on him as she had with others. With this creature there was more. There was a hint of freshness and breeze to his odor and the impression of freshly churned earth, not dust.
Meeting his eyes as they bore into her, she shuddered. Her head was forced back on her shoulders to accommodate his height. She felt dwarfed by the girth of his body. His form did something wicked to her senses, awakening them with the stirrings of longing and suppressed desires. Her mind screeched in warning that all was not as it should be. She ignored the reasoning, concentrating desperately on her intuition.
The vampire wore a long dark jacket. Its ordinary lines weren’t spectacular, though it had an older look to the style. Small buttons worked their way down the front, hanging open from their holes. Beneath the coat was a simple burgundy knit shirt over dark pants--too tightly made by Jaden’s critical estimation. In the shadows she couldn’t make out if they were constructed from leather or denim.
He was a handsome creature--well formed though intimidating. He seemed bred for battle. Or for other things, her treacherous mind entered. Jaden gulped, instantly thinking of silken sheets on a large, thick bed. A wave of sensations flooded her, like the forbidden caress of cooled silk and velvet to heated flesh. A fog threatened as she looked him over with a more discerning eye than before.
Her gaze flitted over him with the concentration of a wine taster examining a glass of port before bringing it to his mouth to taste. Thick arms connected to the crowded muscles of his shoulders, bunching to a neck worthy of an All-American football player. By the snug burgundy, she could see the outline of muscle as raw and unyielding as formed steel. Shadows hid his waist. Jaden didn’t need to see his stomach to tell it would be just as muscled as the rest of him. His very presence was pure potency. Blinking heavily, the fog lifted. All of his kind was picturesque. If her head were easily turned by beauty she would’ve been killed long ago.
His dispassionate eyes studied her for long moments, unhurried by time. To him, he had an eternity to answer her bidding. At length, the creature began to chuckle. The sound was cold and heartless. Jaden’s head snapped up, alarmed to be caught studying him so long. She sneered. He watched in silent ridicule, as if he knew the images that filtered inside her imagination--as if he had purposefully put them there for her.
"You seek me out, but you do not like me, do you?" His voice came to her lighter than a whisper. For an insane moment, Jaden thought to only hear the words in her head. She didn’t see his lips move. She had no time to wonder, as he said, "You wish me to turn you. That is why you have come, eh, conceited mortal?"
"No," she responded without hesitation. The vampire’s tone was soft, never rising above a whisper. Jaden couldn’t make out an accent on his words though she detected there might be one if he spoke louder.
The vampire drew back in obvious wonder. Emotion trickled for the first time from his expression. His initial shock was only overshadowed by his obvious doubt. She waited for him to speak, disinterested as he seemed. His lips didn’t move.
"I want you to kill me," Jaden stated without remorse. The hard set of her jaw told the truth of her words. Once more, she offered her throat with a slight turn of her head. "How often is it your meal comes to you? Take a night off from hunting, vampire. Do me this small favor. My blood will be your reward."
If her statement surprised him, he didn’t show it. A lazy smile curled his mouth. His lips parted slightly, revealing the sharp point of fangs, two on top, two smaller on bottom. Jaden took the detail in stride, automatically narrowing down in her mind what tribe he may be descendent of.
Moving to pull insistently at her collar, Jaden paused. Without thought, she questioned, "How old are you?"
"Eternally twenty eight," he answered in a low grumble.
"That’s not--" she began.
"Would you like me to mesmerize you?" the vampire interrupted. He lifted his hand with an easy elegance to hover near her face before leaning in to cup her cheek. His touch was gentle and cool against her flesh. He stroked her with a deceiving tenderness. "I could take the pain away. I could take everything away."
Jaden shivered at the self-confidence of his touch. He had come so close so quickly. His nearness overwhelmed. His contact took her by surprise. Not even her uncle dared to lay a hand on her with such tenderness. Tears threatened her at his gentle hold, welling up from her heart. She blinked the moisture away. But why wouldn’t she cry at this moment, this most intimate moment of death? And why shouldn’t it be tender? It was after all the most intimate of acts for her--more so than sex or love.
For when you killed, you took a part of that being with you. The blood, the moment couldn’t be rid of. It jaded your thoughts, your soul. It marked you and marred you. It tore out a piece of you, carving a home deep inside. Jaden knew it, felt it as sure as anything each time a vampire ashed by her hand. So she supposed that when she died, part of her would forever stay in this silent, mocking creature before her.
Instinct told her to fight him, to push his hand away and strike him. But she had brought no weapons. There was no turning back, and Jaden wasn’t one to easily change her path once the decision was made. She knew what she was doing this night, seeking out the killer. She wanted to die. She wanted the curse of her life to be over.
"You have that power?" Jaden questioned in mild astonishment, suddenly remembering his offer to mesmerize her. "But you seem so young."
"I have that power," he acknowledged quietly. Jaden made the mistake of searching his ice-chipped gaze. She felt herself easily drawn into the mysterious, enticing power of him. She felt her will slip. Her emotions calmed. Her heartbeat slowed to an easy thump. The vampire invaded her thoughts, probing and prying to open her mind. Her limbs went numb with a strange lethargy. Gulping, she turned her head to the side to expose her neck. He let her eyes escape the depths of his mind’s hold.
"Just get it over with. My blood is strong. You’ll enjoy it."
At that the creature grinned. Huskily, he murm
ured, sending chills over her flesh, "I’m sure I will."
A wave of torment overcame her at the promise in his words. Her body ached and pulled towards him. If he had been a man, she would’ve done her best to attract him. She would’ve used him and discarded him. Her hands fluttered up, finding hold in the barrier of his chest. He was as brawny as she first imagined. Her fingers trembled in frightened anticipation, so intimate was his nearness. It was strange to be so close to someone and not try to fight them, especially if that someone was undead. His closeness made her quiver. Jaden knew there was no affection in his cold limbs. She knew that he cared nothing for her, but she drank in the comfort of him anyway.
Death didn’t frighten her. His potent, masculine nearness did. She waited for the first sting of his teeth, knowing it must be the worst. She had prepared her whole life for this moment, knowing it to be a hazard of the job. It was why she chose to end this way rather than a faster method. At least by this death, she was saving one last innocent life--the man whose death she interrupted.
The vampire renewed his hold on her face in a stroking caress. His fingers brushed over her ear to tilt her further to the side. Jaden closed her eyes, waiting for the draining of her limbs.
Slowly, and with drawn out precision, he pulled her forward. Muscle folded around her body as he loomed over her, pressed intimately against her. She felt the brush of lips on her skin, pulling across the tautness of her sweating flesh. The summer’s heat engulfed them, but the chill of his body sent a pleasant coolness over her.
Just a few more seconds, she thought. Her heartbeat sped once more. He pressed a kiss to her throat. Jaden jolted in surprise at the softness of it. When she inhaled, her breath came in a staggered pant. He kissed her again, his tongue dragging over her flesh. Desire flooded her limbs, a quick outburst that put strength in her weakened knees. When he didn’t claim her blood, she pulled indecisively back. She gazed at his mouth, expecting to find it stained crimson. It was not.
The Jaded Hunter Page 2