Hunter of the Dark

by Graham, J A

  Her legs involuntarily carried her up the porch steps, avoiding the gaping holes. She opened the door, the touch of rotting wood making her fingers tingle. Tanitha began to feel sorry for the people who lived here; it seemed as bad as her own apartment in the big city.

  “Hello?”

  Her voice came out trembling and shaky. She cleared her smarting throat with a couple of dry coughs. She would have given anything for even a drop of water at that moment.

  “Hello? Anyone home?”

  There was a sound of sobbing. She immediately rushed into the small dingy foyer to sight a familiar figure. He seemed smaller, more vulnerable, and more alone somehow. He looked nothing like the Christian she knew from school. She was immediately crouching down beside him, taking him into her arms. She noted with agony the painful bruise spreading over his left cheek. Tanitha stroked his face and Christian merely clung to her, desperate to be close to someone, sobbing.

  “I…I’m sorry.”

  “What for?”

  He looked into her eyes, gaze meeting gaze, and Tanitha fell into the deep brilliance and sheer intelligence that was hidden there. Sadness, though, ruled over any other emotion and Tanitha choked back her own sobs.

  “For letting you see me like this.” He whispered, his gaze still on her. She was speechless and she merely wrapped him into a tighter hug, too afraid to let go.

  “Who was the fool who did this to you?” Tanitha said, venting her anger into her words.

  “Is my bloody kai ready, woman?” Clifton’s voice rang loud and clear throughout the house. Tanitha looked from the door, back to Christian.

  “You’ve gotta get out of here.” Christian whispered. “If he catches you here…”

  His voice trailed off, leaving the phrase hanging in the air. Stubbornness, the same stubbornness Tanitha had been born with, made her push her chin forward determinedly, her eyes flashing coldly.

  “I am not leaving you like this, Chris…”

  “Please, I don’t want to see you get hurt.”

  “I won’t, Chris. I love you and I’m not letting go.”

  Tanitha’s eyes widened. Had she really just said that? She felt horrified and stared at Christian, waiting to see what his response was. But he said nothing, merely looked her over, seeing for the first time a lost, scared little girl who had never been in this position before. He sighed, with a slight smile on his handsome face.

  “Come then, but for God’s sake, be quiet.”

  Tanitha nodded. She followed Christian up some stairs, as badly littered as the front porch.

  The room she entered was small, but well kept. She immediately noted that it was nothing like she had expected a guy’s room to be. Everything was so tidy and all that adorned the pale pastel blue walls was a poster of the All Blacks, New Zealand’s favourite rugby team, and a photo of…

  She couldn’t believe it. It was a photo of her.

  Chapter Eleven

  Tanitha looked at Christian curiously as he shut the door softly, so as to not take a sound, then as he turned to her. He noticed what she had been looking at and gave a weak half smile.

  “Why?”

  He stuttered and actually had the grace to blush. Then, unable to find any words, he sat down on his bed and cradled his head with his hands. Tanitha came and sat down beside him. She picked up a silver locket, intricately carved and woven so it resembled a heart. Christian smiled at her.

  “It’s yours, if you want it.”

  Tanitha was shocked. She didn’t know what to say so she merely slipped the locket into the pocket of her jeans before looking back at Christian.

  “I really should be fixing up those wounds.” She said, glancing at the blood on his t-shirt that she hadn’t noticed before. He nodded.

  “Take your top off.” He did so and she noted the bandage on his arm, the source of the bleeding. She wandered into the adjoining bathroom and dampened a flannel before returning. She entwined the piece of cloth around her hands before reseating herself beside him. She stroked the blood away carefully, lovingly, and then moved her way slowly up to the bandage.

  “I’m going to have to take this off.”

  Christian winced but didn’t say anything. Tanitha’s hands reached up, trembling, to encompass the bandage and remove it, slowly for it seemed to be sticking with the warmth of the blood. Inch by painful inch she unwrapped it until she reached his skin, her touch still feather-light. The closeness sent shivers down her spine but upon viewing the arm she instantaneously shuddered back with revulsion. Christian turned his head away from her.

  “How did this happen?”

  Her voice was as calm and soft as her touch as she reached up to bathe the edges of the wound with warm water. An image of Seleena flashed into her mind.

  “You got bitten, didn’t you?”

  He looked up at her, nodding. She noted the paleness of his skin where the bandage had been sitting in contrast to the tan he gained from being outdoors.

  “How long ago?”

  “A few months back.”

  “Shouldn’t it have healed by then?”

  Christian shrugged.

  “You should go see a doctor.” Tanitha stated in a matter-of-fact manner. Christian stood up.

  “No.” He said coldly.

  Suddenly the door swung open, slamming against the wall and Clifton’s angered face was there.

  “Who the hell is she?!” He yelled. Tanitha made herself look as small as possible, scared for both herself and Christian. Christian’s eyes were wide open with surprise. He shoved Tanitha into the bathroom and locked the door behind them. There were thumps and bangs as Clifton pounded the solid wood door, clearly outraged.

  “Let me in!”

  Christian wouldn’t. He turned to Tanitha and whispered to her, “Through the window. Go.”

  He grabbed a singlet off the floor and slid it on. Tanitha opened the small window and Christian helped her stand on the sink to get through. She slid through, looking around the back yard. She heard the thump as Christian landed beside her. Her mouth gaped slightly open.

  “Wow. You guys own all this?”

  The whole countryside seemed to open up before her. Rolling hills enclosed the small household. The grass rippled the same emerald as Christian’s eyes and the trees rippled as a refreshing breeze rolled through them. Christian shook his head.

  “Council land but no one ever comes up here. This is my escape. We’d better be off before Cliff comes.”

  Tanitha agreed and they set off through acres of land.

  Finally they reached a small clearing through some bushes. A tiny river twisted through the landscape and the grass reached their waists. Christian flopped down by the riverbank, spreading out, the grass caressing his arms, his legs, and his face. Tanitha followed in a similar manner, except she rolled onto one side and looked at him, drinking him in.

  “I was wondering if you would be able to go with me to the game on Saturday.”

  Christian would know what she was talking about. The big All Blacks game. Everyone was buzzing about it. Christian looked at her.

  “Sure. Why not?” He shrugged. Tanitha felt her spirits soar. Maybe he really did like her as much as she liked him! But soon her whole being came crashing to a thud as Christian propped himself on his good arm and said quite clearly, “But we have to get this straight. I’d love to go with you but only as friends. Nothing more.”

  Tanitha was speechless for a moment. Her words all abandoned her and her heart swelled with sadness.

  “I’m…I’m sorry for being too forward.” She managed to choke out before Christian thought she was a real idiot.

  “Yeah, well, I guess you’re not my type of girl.”

  Now that hurt. The pain cut a jagged line straight to her heart, ripped it out and stole away with it. The sadness and loneliness she now felt was unbearable. She always knew there was something about Christian. She never knew he was capable of causing so much pain.

  “How coul
d you ever hurt me like that? What have I done wrong to you? Answer me so that I know never to make the same mistake again!”

  She swallowed the sob that was threatening to surface, stood up and ran. Christian stood up too but Tanitha paid no attention.

  “Tanitha! That wasn’t what it was meant to sound like! Tanitha!!!”

  But Tanitha didn’t pause. She ran and ran until she got to the road, and then she collapsed into a heap and sobbed her heart out.

  Chapter Twelve

  She finally came around to Sorsa licking the dampness from her face. She petted him comfortingly, the ache in her heart still strong. Tanitha glanced over her shoulder, her eyes stained red with forbidden tears. Finally, she stood up and walked, slowly and sadly, in the direction of the nearby forest. It didn’t matter what Christian said, or did, it was perfect. He was perfect, absolute perfection. Tanitha was more in love than ever. How could someone she knew as a friend cause so much pain? She didn’t know but she wasn’t going to leave herself that vulnerable again. Oh no, once she had a taste of it, it was all to stop her from supping the entire meal. If this was what love was like, then she wanted no part in it.

  She merely kept on walking. There was no longer a bounce in her stride, a spring in her step. No longer a fierce intelligence captivated in her eyes. No longer pain burning her heart. She had calmed down and all that mattered was the dull throb, a semi-reminder of the cruel pain she once felt. Her feeling seemed to communicate itself to the dogs, for they both followed a distance behind her with heads down, and Sorsa had his tail between his legs. She heard a car and she looked up, the dust from the roadside clinging to where the tears once ran. She was a mess and she knew it. All of a sudden, the pain felt ready to burst into a waterfall of tears again but she held it back and looked down, her hair veiling her face from view.

  The car slowed, and then purred to a halt. She recognised the four-wheel drive from the noise of the engine alone. She didn’t look up but kept her pacing, hoping that the driver would just pass her by. But, no, her wishes weren’t answered as the driver’s door opened.

  “Hey, Tanitha!”

  She didn’t answer. She kept walking, past the BMW and past Cameron. She suddenly felt Cameron’s steady hand on her shoulder and she jumped, before spinning around to face him. She hadn’t been expecting that. Her sadness turned into a frown but when Cameron saw her face, he instinctively reached a hand up and wiped the dust away.

  “What happened?”

  The whirlwind of sadness residing inside her exploded and Cameron pulled her into a hug, rubbing her back comfortingly, as she cried onto his Gucci sweatshirt.

  “Ssh. Come on. We’ll go for a drive and you can get everything off your mind, hmm?”

  Tanitha pulled away as Cameron held her at arm’s length, surveying the damage. Finally she nodded and he helped her into the black BMW, before letting the dogs in the back.

  The first thing she noticed was Cheyne and, of course, his shoes. He took one look at her face and wrapped her into a hug from the back seat. It took all Tanitha had to stop her from crying again.

  “What’s wrong?”

  Tanitha found herself pouring out all that happened to the brothers. She started from the first day at school, including the photo on Christian’s wall and finished right up to what Christian had said. Once finished, both story and tears, Cameron sat there silently, his hands lightly gripping the steering wheel. Finally Cheyne, obviously the more impetuous of the two, burst out in impatience.

  “We can’t let him get away with this, Cam. It’s just wrong! Does Chris know how much he hurt you?”

  Tanitha shook her head numbly. She didn’t think he did.

  “We have to go round there, Cam!”

  “No,” Cameron said, quietly but powerfully. “I think it will just make things worse.”

  Tanitha looked at him in shock. His voice was so cold. What had made the change in him? Obviously Cheyne knew because he toned down and looked at Cameron knowingly.

  “Come on, Cam. Let’s go home.”

  Cameron looked at Tanitha.

  “Would you like to come over? The dogs are more than welcome too.”

  Tanitha looked at the sun that was slowly rolling behind on of the hills and felt sadness washing over her again.

  “Sure.” She whispered quietly.

  Chapter Thirteen

  Awakening in a strange house felt weird to Tanitha. It felt unnatural, eerie. And, try as she might, she just couldn’t stop thinking about Christian. He plagued every precipice in her mind unrelentingly. She finally dragged herself out of bed. Two pairs of eyes greeted her, and Sorsa immediately rushed up to her, to be entwined in a hug. Sadie held back a bit, before she too was embraced. Tanitha pulled back, and Sadie put a paw on her shoulder, as if to tell her things would be fine. It was all Tanitha could do to keep from bursting out into tears again. She finally picked herself up and made her way down a rather windy set of stairs.

  Two pairs of eyes greeted her as she entered the kitchen. She loved the kitchen here. It was all new and modern, no expenses left unpaid. She sat down on a chair next to Cheyne, who was reading a car magazine, and Cameron, who was eating a huge breakfast of sausages and eggs.

  “Morning, gorgeous.” Cameron quipped, drawing an inquisitive glance from Cheyne. Tanitha looked at Cameron’s platter and felt her mouth water hungrily. Cheyne smiled, obviously not missing the look of longing on Tanitha’s face.

  “Hungry?” He asked. Tanitha nodded eagerly, she hadn’t eaten since breakfast the day before. Cameron handed her his plate.

  “I’m sorry. This is the last of the sausages. You can have mine.”

  Tanitha began to protest but was stopped in mid-sentence by Cheyne.

  “It’s fine. He’s already had a serving.”

  Cameron looked at Tanitha with a grin.

  “He’s right, you know. I would be lying if I said he wasn’t.”

  Tanitha, feeling much better, wolfed the whole lot down. Cheyne laughed.

  “You must be hungry.”

  Tanitha beamed with high spirits. She leaned back on her seat and watched with a nervous giggle as Cameron casually draped his arm over the back of it. Cheyne raised an eyebrow.

  “Isn’t it a bit early for that stuff?”

  Cameron winked at Tanitha before telling Cheyne, “Don’t worry. We’ll be quiet about it.”

  Cheyne made a gagging noise and Tanitha laughed loudly. Cameron smiled, his eyes twinkling.

  “I see you’re feeling much better about yourself today.”

  “Yes, thank you. Thank you for letting me stay.” She said, nodding at Cameron and Cheyne. Cheyne leant forwards.

  “Hey, sis. It’s no prob. You can stay anytime. I’m sure Cameron wouldn’t mind…”

  “Quite the contrary, my dear. You could move in if you wish.”

  “I’m sure Cameron wouldn’t mind sharing his bed.”

  As the brotherly bantering went on, Tanitha couldn’t help herself. She burst out laughing and the two brothers grinned at each other, pleased with themselves. Tanitha smiled back, deep in thought. She felt strangely comfortable within the presence of the two brothers.

  “So, are you going to the ball?”

  Tanitha looked up in shock, Cameron’s words snapping her out of her thoughts. Up till then she hadn’t given the ball any thought. She wasn’t one who could go, could she? She was Tanitha, high school nobody. The ball was for the popular kids. She looked at Cheyne, clearly confused, but Cheyne was just nodding his head, serious for once. She looked back down at the table.

  “I don’t know.” She whispered. She felt Cameron’s hand cover hers and she met his eyes.

  “Because I’d really love you to go with me.” He said softly, caressing her soul with his voice, enchanting her mind with his words. She wondered whether she was falling for him but decided that such a thing was preposterous.

  “I couldn’t afford it.”

  “Oh no, no. Really. Cheyne and I will
pay all expenses.” Cameron replied, regaining some of his confidence and flashing a grin at his brother. Cheyne nodded happily.

  “Believe me.” He said, looking at Tanitha and Cameron with a wry grin. “You don’t want to miss out on the ball. It’s a once in a lifetime opportunity. And to be all paid for, you can’t lose. What do you say?”

  Tanitha looked at the two brothers, gazing expectantly at her. Finally she caved in.

  “Oh, all right.” She mumbled. The two siblings slapped their hands together in achievement from across the table.

  Home. The very words struck chills through Tanitha. What the hell was her mother going to say? She didn’t know, didn’t want to know, but she thought now was as good a time as any to face her.

  She leaped out of Cameron’s car, thanking him once again, before turning towards the house. What she saw made her blood run cold. A policewoman was standing there, obviously waiting for someone, and Tanitha knew that someone was her. Sorsa picked up on her mood instantly, and a growl rumbled in his throat. Tanitha shushed him, and sidled up to the blonde cop nervously.

  “What’s wrong?”

  The blonde looked up from her clipboard and then offered a hand formally for Tanitha to shake. Tanitha shook her head and the cop’s hand dropped to her side.

  “Are you Tanitha Robinswar?”

  Tanitha nodded and gulped loudly. Was she in trouble? The cop moved forward with her clipboard, the paper’s minty scent reaching into her nostrils and making her sneeze.

  “I am afraid your mother…”

  Tanitha’s eyes opened and she fought tears. This couldn’t be happening. This was just a dream. If she pinched herself hard enough she’d wake up from this awful nightmare.