“We’ll get cleared to fly in a few minutes or so. Make yourself comfortable.” Fly told me before motioning to go to the cabin.
About three hours into the flight, I walked up the cockpit to ask Fly where we were headed for.
“All you need to know is that we’re going to Hawk Headquarters. Anything beyond that will be revealed to you in time.”
I returned to my seat and looked out the window. We were about to land. On the ground below I could make out a large private estate somewhere in the country. Acres upon acres of orchards lined one side of the estate, while a vineyard lined the other. Rows of various villas lined one area of the estate while what looked like an interconnection of buildings with one big dome in the middle represented what I assumed was the center of the hunters’ headquarters. It wasn’t long before we touched down on the the estate’s runway.
The moment I got off the plane and stepped onto the tarmac, I was greeted by a petite young woman with short, blue-streaked black hair and a wide smile.
“You must be Ben Hudson!” she exclaimed. “We’re so excited that you’re finally here! I’m Zinnia Wolfe.”
I immediately noticed the small scar on her left cheek as we shook hands. I thought to ask about it, but decided not to. I was still somewhat bewildered by the warm welcome. Why are they expecting me? Why do they even know me? “I’d introduce myself, but it seems you already know me.”
“Well…” she shrugged one shoulder. “Who doesn’t?”
I motioned to get my bags but she shook her head and waved the notion off.
“Don’t worry about your luggage. We’ll have them brought to your room later.”
We began walking side by side out of the runway toward the ‘Hawk Headquarters’. I still couldn’t wrap my mind around the responses I was getting from her.
“After Vivienne Novak was captured, you and Sofia have been the talk of the town.”
About a thousand internal warning alarms went off at that statement and I found myself stopping on my tracks before we could reach a block section of the estate. It had steel gray exteriors and large glass windows from floor to ceiling. I gave the building a wary glance, no longer certain if I wanted to be there.
Who are these people? What have I gotten myself into?
“How do you know about Sofia?” The mere mention of her name caused an inescapable ache to settle in my chest.
Zinnia smiled, long dark lashes fluttering over her big hazelnut brown eyes. “I think I’ve said too much…” Her pupils rolled to the edge of her upper eyelids as she chastised herself. “I do that a lot.”
“Well?” I asked, unwilling to let her off the hook.
“All I know is that you and Sofia Claremont have been on our watch list for quite some time now.” Her hip swayed to one side, her weight falling on one leg. “Especially after you disappeared and magically showed up again, some of our best hunters were deployed to keep you under surveillance twenty-four seven.”
“Why?” I stepped forward, fists balled, brows furrowed. I found the idea of being watched disturbing. “How did we even get on your watch list?”
“I honestly don’t know. Good thing you are both on the watch list though, because we never would’ve caught Vivienne Novak if you weren’t.” She had a way of talking about issues as if they didn’t matter and that the best way to tackle all of it was to laugh about it. She reminded me a lot of myself – my former self.
“So if you were keeping Sofia and me under your watch, you know where she is right now?”
She froze and shook her head. “Unfortunately, we were too preoccupied with getting Vivienne here. By the time we got hunters to go back to keep an eye on you, Sofia was gone and you were already driving for LAX…”
I gave her my most menacing stare, annoyed that she was unable to give me more of the information I needed to hear from her.
“Are you always so serious and intense?” She playfully chucked a fist over my jaw. “Relax, handsome. Reuben will answer all your questions later.”
Serious and intense. I never thought anyone would ever describe me that way. Ease up, Ben. You got this. “Fine,” I relented, one side of my lips curving up in a smile. “So when exactly will I meet Reuben? I get the impression he’s the hunters’ almighty leader?”
“I wouldn’t say almighty but yeah… he’s pretty close,” she chuckled. “And yes, he gets to call the shots. Here at US headquarters at least.”
“US headquarters?” I asked. “So there are other headquarters? Outside the country?”
Zinnia’s nose wrinkled as she gave some thought about answering my question. “I think I’m going to get myself in trouble if I keep on answering your questions, so please… stop asking them. I’ve already told you too much.”
“So what exactly are you for, Zinnia?”
“I’m your welcoming committee,” she said. “I’m going to take you to your room in the dormitories. And until Reuben’s ready to see you, I’m the person you go to in case you need anything.”
“Anything?” I squinted one eye suggestively at her as glass doors slid open in front of us, allowing us entrance to the large private estate.
She gave me a curious look as we headed for a door that required a key combination or a card swipe to unlock. She came up with a metallic card and swiped it over the lock. A beep followed and we were through. “Something tells me that you’re a lot of trouble, Hudson.”
“You have no idea.”
“Then we’re going to get along just fine.”
We took turns past several corridors before leading to one that showed a massive glass-covered atrium. From the ground floor, I could see several men and women wearing identical black jumpsuits undergoing martial arts training.
Judo.
“The atrium basically serves as one of the academy’s many training areas. Those are some of the new recruits.”
“Academy?”
“Everyone who wants to become a hunter has to go through the academy first. Aside from basic combat training, it’s the organization’s primary way of allocating recruits. Your skills are evaluated and after you go through at least a year’s training, you are assigned to a position within the organization.”
I was stunned at the level of organization the hunters had. At the back of my mind, I always pictured the hunters as some clandestine group of thugs who lived in dark underground basements, randomly hunting and killing off vampires. What I got instead was what seemed like a worldwide organization of highly trained vampire killers.
Zinnia and I stepped into an elevator, with large glass windows that still allowed us a view of the atrium. I held the metal banister that lined the walls of the elevator as it rose three floors above ground. We walked out of the lift and Zinnia led me through a maze of corridors and walkways connecting one building to another until we reached the dormitory.
She stopped in front of a door that had a brass number eight identifying the room.
“This is one of the suites. They’re for guests. Once you’re an official recruit, you’re going to be transferred to one of the regular dorm rooms.” She opened the door. “For now, you’ll just have to bear with this one.”
Stepping into the suite, I was quite impressed. The cool blue and white tones and the dark wood paneling gave the room a bright, airy feel, especially through the full-length glass windows that covered one side of the wall. A wide flat screen TV, a plush semi-circular couch, a great view of what looked like a sprawling vineyard outside, and modern art decorating the walls were only some of the amenities that gave a clear impression: Hunters have some filthy rich backers.
Zinnia began pointing out the rest of the room’s amenities. “Bedroom’s over there… Terrace… Kitchen… Not that you’ll need to cook. You can have lunch with the rest of us at the mess hall later. Anything you need, you can just call me.” She took my hand, retrieved a pen from her jacket pocket and scribbled her number on my palm. She’d barely finished writing the last digit over my palm whe
n someone knocked on the door.
“Who on earth could that be?” She muttered to herself.
She headed off to open the door while I made myself comfortable on the living room couch. I could hear an exchange of words between Zinnia and a man with a deep, gravelly voice. I couldn’t hear much, although I did make out the man saying:
“I figured it’s best to just get it over with as soon as possible. Time is of the essence.”
I tuned them out while they finished their conversation. I focused on the view outside. I wonder how Sofia is doing. I shut the unwelcome thought out. I still found her betrayal of me painful. Though I knew that it was impossible not to eventually think of her, I wanted to stray from all thoughts of her for the moment.
I didn’t realize how impossible forgetting Sofia would be – even for just that morning – until Zinnia came back from the door and said, “Ben, I guess you won’t have to wait long. This is Mr. Reuben Lincoln, otherwise known as The Boss.”
Amusement laced her voice, but not a trace of it could be found in his face or mine. My blood began to boil at the sight of the man who called himself Reuben.
“It’s been a long time, Ben.”
“Too long,” I responded through gritted teeth, glaring at the hand he was extending towards me.
His presence answered many of my questions, but it also added dozens more. Standing in front of me - tall, suave, imposing and with green eyes that reminded me of the girl I loved and lost - was Sofia’s father.
Aiden Claremont.
Chapter 36: Derek
When my feet landed on one of the boulders outside the fortress, the way Sofia’s slender form was trembling in my arms was the first thing that registered on my mind.
Her arms clung tight around me, both her hands gripping clumps of my hair. Her face was nuzzled against my neck, her erratic breathing hot against my skin. I leaned my head backwards to get a better look at her face and found her eyes shut tight with terror. She was biting on her lip so hard, I was afraid she might draw blood.
As if everything about you isn’t already temptation enough… The last thing I need is to get another whiff of your blood.
I couldn’t help but smile at how badly her knees were shaking as I placed her on her feet. She opened her eyes, her breaths raspy, as she took in her surroundings. When she saw the smile on my face, she let go of her death hold on my hair and pushed me on the shoulder with one hand. I chuckled, amused by how terrified she looked. That seemed to annoy her.
“Are you crazy?! If you want to commit suicide by jumping off a cliff, you can’t just go do it and take me along for the ride!”
Her outburst only served to amuse me further. “First of all,” I pointed at the wall, “that’s not a cliff. Second, didn’t I tell you I was going to take you to my sanctuary? The leap was a shortcut. Third, you’re alive, aren’t you?”
“Barely!” Her rosy red lips formed into a pout as she crossed her arms over her stomach, her hands clinging to her elbows. Her eyes moist, she looked like she was about to cry. She glared at me. “Stop laughing. I’m still mad at you.”
I made an attempt to keep a straight face if only to appease her. It was never my intention to make light of the emotional outburst she threw at me back at the woods. Truth be told, the encounter was still gnawing at me.
However, I took one look at the crimson blush on her cheeks and the way she was hugging herself as if it would somehow help ward off whatever fears were terrorizing her, and I just couldn’t help myself. It was too precious a sight not to at least grin at. She caught sight of the smile I was trying to keep from my face and slapped her palm over my arm – something annoyed teenage girls seemed to enjoy doing. I tried to hold back a chuckle as I glared at her. This time, however, her mouth twitched. It was easy to see that she was trying hard not to smile. She rolled her eyes and then there it was… She gave in. Lighting up her face was that radiant smile of hers.
I took a few seconds to stare. I wondered if she knew the effect her smile had on me. I didn’t realize how much I missed seeing that momentary flicker of delight on her face whenever she looked at me until I was once again privileged to witness it. We locked eyes for a split second before she stomped her foot over the stone ledge we were standing on. Agitation marred her face as she muttered a rebuke more to herself than to me.
“I’m supposed to be mad at you.”
“You can get mad again later. Plenty of time for that. For now, come with me.” I held the hand she used to assault me and began to assist her as we navigated past the jagged boulders. “The lighthouse isn’t far from here.”
“The lighthouse?” Despite her attempts to stay irritated, I could hear the curiosity in her voice.
“It’s the only establishment on the island located outside the fortress. Apart from me, I think only Vivienne knows it still exists.”
I jumped down a particularly high boulder onto the rocky path below. I held Sofia by the waist and helped her down. I was grateful that the full moon was giving enough illumination for her to see where we were going. Living on an island with no mornings did have its unique set of disadvantages.
As her feet once again settled on the ground, she gave me an odd look. Sympathetic. Then a small smile appeared on her lips. Affectionate.
I swallowed hard, wondering what it was that she saw in me. How can you look at me that way, Sofia? I shifted my gaze forward, focused on the trail ahead. Her hold on my hand tightened as we moved forward on a narrow stony path that was much easier to walk on than the slippery boulders we left behind. I could only guess what was going through her mind.
“It would be much easier if you just sped us right to your lighthouse you know,” she whispered. “Since you’re so fond of shortcuts…”
“And miss out on this?”
“This?”
I squeezed her hand, enjoying the warmth it exuded. I then looked at her and gave her a short, pointed nod. “This.”
That smile. That blush. The things you do to me. The things you make me do.
We continued the walk in silence. It didn’t take long for us to reach the lighthouse. The sight of it made me ache with all the memories linked to it.
I woke up clinging to a plank of wood. Recollections of the explosions, the burning fire, the screams and the chaos revisited my mind. The ship was gone. The last thing I remembered was the look of horror in my sister’s eyes before someone knocked me unconscious and threw me overboard.
The sea was much calmer, rocking me in its waves as if it were trying to soothe me for all the lives it swallowed the night before. I gulped at the implication. The night before. I looked at the horizon and shuddered. The sun will rise soon.
I scoped my surroundings and saw it. A lighthouse among jagged boulders. The only shelter that could shield me from the burning sun. It was at least a mile’s swim. I didn’t have much time. I pushed away the plank that was keeping me afloat, hurriedly making my way to the shore. By the time I reached it, the first rays of dawn were beginning to show and I could immediately feel its weakening effect on me.
I was about to speed toward the lighthouse when I heard it. A whimper followed by a loud, chilling growl. Despite my need to immediately find shelter before the sun could rob me of all my defenses, I couldn’t ignore the urge to follow the sound. Behind a large rock was an semi-unconscious woman slowly coming to her senses. Just a few steps away from her was a black panther, ready to devour her.
Instinct took over. I lunged for the beast before it could pounce on the woman. The panther’s teeth sunk into my biceps and tore out my flesh. I screamed in pain. The sun was hampering my abilities to heal. I had to finish the fight soon or I would lose both my life and the stranger’s. Blood flowed from the panther’s teeth as its sharp claws tore through my chest. With a growl of my own, I pushed against its chest and ripped its heart out. Standing over the beast’s lifeless form, I threw its heart onto the ground and faced the stranger.
She stared at me with unvei
led hatred – something that surprised me considering I just saved her life. I pushed away any doubts I had regarding her. I didn’t have time to make introductions or figure out why she was looking me with so much anger. The sun was rising and I had to shelter myself with darkness. I sped towards the lighthouse, leaving her by the shore. I soon reached the top of the lighthouse. After pulling heavy drapes over its windows, I sought refuge in the octagonal room’s most shadowy corners.
The wounds the panther inflicted on me still weren’t healing. Blood still covered my clothes and my hands. I trembled as I wondered how long my body would recover from the harm even the smallest of the sun’s rays did to a creature of darkness like me.
I barely heard the footsteps that slowly approached me. Tentative footsteps.
“You’re a vampire,” a sultry, female voice spoke.
“Yes. I am.” I hated to admit the truth. I was a hunter – the best one they ever had. Now, I became their hunted and in their hatred of the creature that I’d become, they destroyed my family.
She stopped in front of me and lifted her hand toward me. She was holding something in her hand. A wooden stake. She placed its pointed end against my heart. I looked up, straight into her eyes. Big brown ones, peering through long thick lashes. She was an exotic beauty, olive-skinned, beautiful heart-shaped face, full lips, long wavy brown hair…
“You’re a hunter.” I said. It was rhetoric. I wondered what was keeping her from driving the stake right through my heart. Was it because I just saved her life from that panther? She didn’t even seem to be grateful for it back at the shore.
“You’re cursed.”
“That I am.” I scoffed.
She pushed the stake forward, just enough to break my skin and draw blood. I saw bewilderment in her eyes.
“You just killed a panther with your bare hands…” she spoke. “What’s keeping you from killing me?”
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