Hunting Jessica

by Elizabeth St. John

  “Oh, well, okay if you don’t want me to be with you,” he said starting to walk away. I reached for his arm. Touching him was power-driven. I didn’t want to let go.

  “Don’t go. I would love to have you with me. Thank you,” I said blushing. I could feel his heat through the jacket he wore. He was so hot, in more ways than one.

  He smiled and opened the gate. He put his arm in front of me so I would be standing behind him. The pack rushed into the gate at great speed. Every touch he gave me, made my body react. I found myself craving more.

  “Rayce?”

  “Yes.”

  “Thanks for being here.”

  “I would be with you every day if I could,” he said. I was standing there with broken words on my tongue. I had no rebuttal to his words.

  I pulled my gun and we entered the dump. Everything was quiet, even the hounds that crept slowly and sniffing the rank air. We moved in a little further. Rayce was right on my heels. I could hear something running up behind us, a little jumpy, I pointed my gun. Once I realized it was Marie I could breathe again and I turned back around. She was jumping with anticipation. I could tell that she wanted to change into her hellhound form. Her entire body was almost vibrating.

  “Marie, do what you need to do. I will be fine.”

  “Are you sure?” she asked in a pant.

  “I’ve got her,” Rayce assured. I looked back at him and he was still smiling at me. I truly loved his smile. It was nothing like Gages’. It was kind, not mischievous.

  Marie stripped her clothes and dropped down to the ground. Once I turned back around to face her, she was a beautiful scary cream-colored hellhound. She came up on my side and looked at me with one eye.

  “Go on ahead and check it out,” I said. She snarled and jolted forward.

  Once we caught up with the pack, I knew we had found it. The landfill seemed to now mix with the scrap yard. There were dangers everywhere you looked. Broken glass, sharp metal, and trash. We had found it. I followed in Marie’s direction but she was gone. A vampire could attack from anywhere. The darkness was overwhelming, to say the least. The only light we had was Rayce’s flashlight. I really needed to invest in one for myself.

  “Do you realize I don’t have a weapon of any kind?” Rayce asked, startling me.

  “Damn it, don’t do that to me, Rayce,” I demanded with my free hand over my racing heart. I liked saying his name. It rolled off my tongue nicely. He gave a little snicker.

  “Sorry,” he said softly.

  “Why don’t you have a gun?”

  “I was supposed to be in my hound form for this, remember?”

  “Oh, yeah.” I got down on one knee, unzipped my boot, and pulled out the eight-inch blade. I handed it to him.

  “Shit, Jessica. Do you have a sword under your jacket too?” he questioned in a teasing tone.

  “Would you like to check?” I teased.

  “Maybe later,” he winked.

  I adored the playful banter between us. It was nice to finally see the real person and not the uptight snob I thought he was.

  Before I could reply, what I heard next was the all too familiar growling and snapping of jaws. I remembered the sound from when the hellhounds came to my rescue when Dawn came the first time. They had found the nest.

  “This way.”

  “Jessica, slow down,” Rayce called but I spotted a female vampire. She faced us and hissed before charging. I fired my gun four times and she finally landed at my feet. Rayce chopped off her head. He charged in front of me and threw my knife, hitting another female vampire in the chest. I put a bullet in her brain and he finished the job by severing her head from her body. “This knife is sharp as hell,” he stated and whistled in amazement. It was adorable.

  As if fate had a hand to play, I watched Dawn run passed us and disappear behind a large mound of trash. “There she is,” I growled, grabbing Rayce’s flashlight, and bolted forward. Rayce was on my tail.

  “Jessica, slow down,” Rayce called but I couldn’t stop. I heard a growl from behind me and a hellhound I had never seen before was charging me. Rayce turned and clocked it right in the jaw. It went down to the ground whining.

  He turned back to me, “Jessica, it’s Jade. You need to get out of here. Run!”

  “What about Dawn?”

  “I will be right behind you,” he stated and I took off in the direction she went. I saw a slight wisp of her blonde hair go behind another pile. I pushed after her but my foot caught a garbage bag and I tumbled forward, cutting my hands up as I tried to catch myself.

  “Shit,” I grumbled and got to my feet quickly. As I turned the corner, there was a light pole with a yellowish bulb. It illuminated the large area enough for me to see her and the motionless body of a hellhound she was standing over. I didn’t recognize them but I was furious. She bent down and started to drain the body of the lifeless hellhound. After a short moment, the animal body faded away and on the cold dirty ground at her feet laid a body of a man I had only seen one other time.

  I aimed my weapon at her head, but before I could get my shot off, I was hit from behind. As I hit the ground, my gun fired. My element of surprise was gone. Dawn looked up from the dead man and hissed. I turned around and saw that it was Jade who had hit me. She was taking her chance on killing me now. Unfortunately for me, I didn’t have anything to defend myself with. My gun was too far away for me to reach before she lunged. I scanned the ground quickly and found a shard of glass. Drool dripped out of her mouth as she eyed the weapon in my hand. Her color was fitting as it was the color of shit, a nasty dirty brown. She slashed at me with her large claws, missing me by only inches. I stumbled back. I knew Dawn was watching but I didn’t have time to think about her with a vicious hellhound trying to kill me.

  Jade was circling me, toying with me. Blood dripped from my hand as I held tightly to the glass, waiting for her to attack.

  “Come on,” I yelled and slashed the glass at her face. “I don’t have all fucking night.”

  Her body crouched, a growl rumbled deep in her chest, her talons dug deep into the dirty ground. The instant she lunged, another hellhound collided with her. It was Rayce. I dropped the glass and ran to where my gun lay in the dirt. As I watched the hellhounds go at each other, fear clawed at my gut. He went for her throat and pinned her to the ground. She wasn’t fighting with him, but against him. She was trying to get to me. She kicked him off and came at me again. Her jaws snapped an inch from my face when he grabbed her and pulled her away.

  “Have you come back for more, Jessica?” Dawn called from atop an old rusted car.

  “You’re gonna die tonight, bitch,” I barked at her. “Come down here so I can finish you off properly.”

  “I think I’ll enjoy the show from where I’m at,” she smiled and pointed to the two hellhounds. They were a huge ball of snarling and snapping. Rayce bit into Jade’s leg and flung her into a large mound of garbage. She cried out but she attacked again. This time, going for his throat. My heart jumped when she got ahold of him and slammed him to the ground. If he didn’t have extra hair around his neck and head, she would have penetrated his skin.

  With little effort, Rayce placed his rear feet up on her stomach and kicked her off. He got on top and began to bite random parts of her body, causing her to cry in pain. He was also clawing at her body. She was a matted mess of blood and dirt, but it was as if she was healing quickly. She would have bursts of energy and attack again. Jade got her feet under him and tossed him several feet away. She quickly got to her feet and charged at me. I fired my gun but she slid to the side and the bullet missed the target. I turned to run but there was no use. She tackled me and began tearing at my leather jacket with her claws. I could hear the fabric ripped. Suddenly, she made contact with my skin. I cried out in pain as she sliced into the back flesh of my right arm. Her hot breath was on the back of my neck as she continued to practically dig into my back. My life force, my blood, was pooling beneath me. I was growing
weak and knew I was going to die.

  “I guess your friends have turned on you,” Dawn accused.

  Jade’s weight was lifted off my back abruptly. I took a much-needed breath but pain pulsed through my body. I struggled but turned over to see my savior standing over me in a protective way. Rayce was snapping and growling at Jade, ready to attack her again if needed. He was scary as hell but beautiful. His unique reddish color was striking.

  I reached my left arm up, took hold of the mane-like hair around his neck, and used it as an anchor as I pulled myself up to my knees. “Rayce. I’m…bleeding,” I whispered as the world grew dark around me. My vision was fuzzy and all I wanted to do was sleep. Dawn could smell my blood and was moving closer. I had to fight to stay awake. “Dawn, you don’t want to kill me.”

  She showed me her fangs, “Oh, yes, I do. And then I’m going after Gage and he will be mine.”

  Jade turned around and growled at Dawn. Dawn hissed at her. If I played my cards right, I could have them fighting and I could get the hell out of there. Hopefully, I wouldn’t pass out before.

  “Dawn, be careful, this is Jade. Gage’s girlfriend,” I said in a slur. I was beginning to lose my motor functions. I could barely stand. Rayce used his head to help me stand up. My grip on his fur tightened but I wouldn’t last long. Blood was dripping on the toe of my boot. It was almost a steady flow. “Jade, she wants to turn Gage. You know what that will do to him.”

  My words seemed to infuriate Jade even more. She charged Dawn and they started to fight. Dawn got Jade on her back went for her throat but she couldn’t get a hold of her. Jade was quick, she was going for the kill. She wanted to drink Dawn’s blood.

  Rayce started to push my body with his in the other direction. I didn’t want to turn my back on either of the bitches on a mission to kill me. On a huge mound of trash, I caught a glimpse of Gage in his human form. He was watching his two biggest fans fight over him.

  As Rayce ushered me away from the fight, I could see Dawn had the upper hand. She was going for her signature kill of breaking Jade’s jaw. Gage jumped down, grabbed Dawn by the hair, and in an instant, everything stopped. He had ripped her throat out with his bare hands. Vampire blood gushed like a fountain all over Jade.

  I woke up in the warm cab of the truck. Rayce was holding me in his lap and Marie was driving. As we bumped down the road he had a tight grip on my bleeding arm.

  “Thank you, Rayce,” I said sleepily.

  He smiled down at me, “It’s no problem, babe.”

  Securely in his arms, I passed out again.

  I wasn’t sure how I got there but I was in my bed. Marie was sitting with me and holding my hand.

  “She lives,” she announced happily.

  “Yeah, I guess,” I said as I pushed the sleep from my eyes. I was surprised to see Jay sitting on my right side, stitching up my arm.

  “I didn’t know you could do that,” I said.

  “I have learned over time,” he said as he tied the thread. I couldn’t feel a thing. “We couldn’t exactly explain this at a hospital.”

  “He even put in an IV,” Marie said proudly.

  “Oh,” I said and looked down at my left arm and the sight was at my wrist. The bag was hanging on the bed post. While Jay worked on my arm, I kept my eyes on my ceiling. I thought about what had happened. I remember Rayce saving me and helping to the exit. After that, everything went dark. “Did we win?”

  “Oh, yeah, we won alright,” Marie said.

  “We killed all we could find,” Jay said as he put down his tools in a metal bowl on my nightstand. He picked up a syringe and a small bottle. He plunged the needle into the clear liquid and withdrew some into the syringe. “Alright, turn over.”

  “Why?”

  “You need a tetanus shot,” he explained.

  “Can’t you put it into the IV?” He cut me a loaded look. “Fine,” I sighed and rolled toward Marie. Jay pulled my pants down off my hip and touched me with something cold. It was an alcohol prep pad. Then he stuck me.

  “Alright,” you’re all set,” he said and pulled my pants back up. “How is your pain?”

  “I don’t know about my arm. It’s numb but my back is killing me,” I confessed.

  “Are you allergic to Demerol?”

  “Not that I know of.” He gave me two pills and handed me a glass of water. I gladly took them. My body ached.

  “Rest for a little while. You lost a lot of blood.”

  “She’ll be fine,” Marie said.

  “You may also want to eat something with that medicine,” Jay stated as he gathered his tools. “Get some rest, Jessica.”

  “Thanks, Jay.”

  “I’ll be back in a minute to check on you. Get some rest,” Marie said as she pushed my hair back from my face.

  “Thanks, guys,” I said and closed my eyes. I was startled awake by a light knock on my door. “Yeah?”

  Rayce poked his head in, “May I come inside?”

  “Sure,” I said a little too excited and tried to sit up. A wave of nausea hit me and my head began to spin. “Woah.”

  “No. Don’t get up. Lay down,” he said and sat down on the edge of my bed. He gently took my right hand in his. I tried to focus on his face but I could barely keep my eyes open.

  “I’m so tired.”

  “You lost a lot of blood, Jessica. Plus, Jay said he gave you some meds.”

  My face felt numb but I smiled the best I could. I felt high. “Yes,” I sighed and snuggled into the softness of my mattress. “Thank you for being here.”

  “There is no need to thank me,” he explained. “It is my pleasure to sit next to you.”

  I closed my eyes and patted the mattress next to me, “Come lay down with me.”

  “Alright,” he said softly. His weight shifted and I felt him slip into the bed next to me. I couldn’t open my eyes but I reached for his hand with my left. Feeling secure with Rayce next to me, I finally relaxed and sleep took me.

  I woke up alone. My IV was gone and my room was still dark. I listened to my home and could clearly hear people talking downstairs. I lifted myself slowly out of my bed. I had to pee in the worst way. Stumbling to the bathroom was a little bit of a chore as the pain killer still lingered in my system.

  After washing up, I attempted to make my way downstairs. I grabbed the banister and took the first step. I still felt weak but trying to fight it. It took me a minute but I finally made it to the kitchen. I leaned up against the door frame and watched Marie and Rayce sitting at my kitchen table.

  Tank jumped up from under it and trotted up to me. All eyes were on me but they were quiet. My dog sniffed and licked my right hand. I took a moment to assure him that I was alright by scratching behind his floppy ears.

  Rayce stood from his chair and offered it to me. I gladly accepted and sat down among my friends. I was extremely tired. The medicine Jay gave me was still in my system but I did my best to fight it.

  “Where is Jay?”

  “He had to go back and help with the cleanup,” Marie replied.

  I nodded, “Was I asleep long?”

  “You have only been out a couple hours,” Rayce said and sat down in the chair next to mine. “How are you feeling?”

  I took a deep breath. My ribs hurt from the weight of Jade on top of me, “I’m alive. Thanks to you.”

  “It’s all perks of the job,” he said with a smile and lifted a beer bottle to his lips. He took a long drink and his eyes never faltered as they remained locked in my gaze. Watching him made me thirsty, but not only for a drink of water. My body craved something much more quenching. Clearing my mind, I lifted myself out of my seat. Rayce stood. “What do you need? I will get it for you.”

  “I appreciate that but I need to walk these painkillers off. I hate feeling like this,” I confessed and made my way to the fridge. I could have grabbed a beer but I chose bottled water. “Do y’all need another?” I lifted a bottle of beer.

  “I’m good,” Marie
replied.

  “Sure. Thanks,” Rayce said and tried to come over to get it.

  “Sit your ass down. I got this,” I said and carried over the bottles. I set his beer down in front of him and plopped down into my chair. The water washed down my dry throat, cooling it instantly. My mouth was so dry. Pain killers not only made me feel horrible, but they also gave me a bad case of cotton mouth.

  “Better?” Marie asked with a smile.

  “Much,” I sighed and allowed myself to think back on the night. Everything that happened to me was enough to kill someone else. I was not only battered physically but my mental state, my mind, felt a little like scrambled eggs. Knowing that Dawn was dead was a relief. I wouldn’t have to worry about her anymore, but there was something else I had to worry about. Jade.

  “What’s wrong?” Marie asked.

  “Just thinking about tonight. I can’t help but worry.”

  “The remainder of her nest will be captured and exposed of if that’s what you’re worried about,” she said.

  “That’s not what worries me.”

  “What is it?” Rayce asked.

  “Jade is still out for blood and I also have that asshole Gage to worry about.”

  Rayce made an audible sigh. “Ah, that.”

  “I’m lost,” Marie confessed.

  “You know we were dating, right?”

  “Yes, but why do you have to worry about him?”

  “Well, he is or was living here. I mean, all his shit is still here, “I stated with disgust. I couldn’t stand the thought of him coming back. “What a dick.”

  “Agreed,” Rayce stated with a tip of his beer. “I wish you could have seen his face when I saw them.”

  “Wait, what did I miss?” Marie asked.

  “Ok, When Gage and I started dating, he was still seeing Jade. He has this delusional idea of being with the both of us.”

  “Oh, no, I don’t think so,” she snapped.