The Witch Hunter (The Witch Hunter Saga #1)

by Nicole R. Taylor

  After dessert she excused herself to the bathroom to get some distance and some air. Zac's constant hovering was driving her insane, it was all she could do to tune out the annoying hum of his blood.

  Closing the bathroom door behind her she sighed loudly. Looking at her reflection in the mirror she weighed up the information she had learnt. She still didn't have any clue as to their motivation for calling her.

  Walking into the house as she had had certainly thrown them off the scent. The wine and the food had been spiked with something that Zac had obviously thought would have an effect on her. Silver and garlic? She smiled to herself when she recalled the look of mingled confusion and anger on his face. She had developed a liking for infuriating him. He always rose to the occasion, not the other way round. He would be furious when he finally caught on that he was the one being played. She couldn't wait to see the look on his face.

  Alex was being very attentive, but she knew without a doubt it was because he was developing a crush on her. He had no idea that his friends were vampires. Especially Liz, who seemed to be a friend of his since early childhood. She felt a little sorry for him, but it could be difficult to understand those that would usually hunt you for food. He would find out sooner or later, when he grew old and she did not. Liz would have to leave town eventually before people started to ask questions about the eternal twenty-one year old.

  Splashing cool water on her face, she wondered what their problem could be. She hadn't sensed anything malicious in the town at all, other than the werewolves. She'd dealt with them easily enough, but the vampires were still sniffing around, trying to expose what she was. Were they working with someone else who was out to get her? Even that didn't sit right. Looking up into the mirror, she jumped as she caught sight of a figure standing directly behind her.

  Without turning, she knew that no one was there. Not really. She glared at the woman and finally understood. She was just as she remembered, the day she had delivered her death sentence. Tall and slim, fiery auburn hair that fell in waves over her shoulders and that same cold calculated expression that never shifted.

  "Katrin," Aya rolled her eyes. "You don't look a day over a billion, you old hag."

  "My dear," Katrin purred. "I've been looking for you for a very long time. You've been a very naughty little vampire."

  Aya couldn't help but laugh, "It was a shame you weren't home when I killed your demon spawn, you murderous bitch."

  "Oh, but dear, I'm already dead," her expression didn't waver. "Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine that that boy in all his ignorance would deliver you to me."

  Aya stiffened.

  "Oh, he hasn't told you about his little predicament?" Katrin said with mock surprise.

  She didn't reply.

  "It's past due that I should send my children to pay you a visit," Katrin continued. "All four of you together again, how wonderful. Now that we know your location, I'm sure they won't be long. Perhaps I will just send your favorite? I know he is longing to see your pretty face again."

  "Send them all. I'm collecting the whole set," Aya snarled. "And I will enjoy killing him most of all."

  "So be it. You will regret using your power again, little girl. This time it will destroy you."

  "It's a bit late for that," she spat.

  Katrin laughed, "It's only just begun." Her form began to shimmer and evaporate until Aya was finally alone.

  Taking a deep breath to control her emotions, she hit the bench top with her fist. It would do no good to become angry. She knew that Katrin wouldn't focus on Zac anymore, but would use all of them to get to her. She had unwittingly implicated her new friends in an age old blood feud. She was a much greater prize.

  For the rest of the evening she fought to keep herself in check, exchanging pleasantries with the vampires, the witch and their human host. Her heart wasn't in it, the need for her previous charade slipping. When it was time to say goodnight, she asked Gabby for a ride to town. She needed some alone time with the elusive witch.

  As they filed out of the house and down the driveway, Aya heard the annoying buzz that announced Zac was following them from the house.

  "Aya," he called. "Can I speak to you a moment?"

  Gabby looked at her, a note of sympathy on her face and kept walking to the car. Aya turned and raised her eyebrows at Zac, who stood with his hands jammed into the pockets of his jeans. He was nervous.

  "I just want to apologize for the other night," he grimaced.

  She looked him up and down, "You say that like you don't mean it."

  "I do." He wasn't even convincing himself.

  "You don't apologize often, do you?"

  He sighed through his teeth.

  "What's your deal, Zac?" Aya prodded, when he didn't say anything.

  "What do you mean?" he frowned.

  "I mightn't know you very well, but I'm switched on enough to tell that you're acting weird," she crossed her arms. "What do you want?"

  She knew very well that he wouldn't come straight out and ask her the fifty thousand dollar question. It would mean that he had to reveal himself, but she was curious to see what lie he would come up with.

  "I..." He couldn't bring himself to say anything.

  "Why can't you just act like a normal person?" she shook her head in annoyance, speaking more to herself than Zac.

  "Like Alex?" he said like it was an insult.

  "Not that it’s any of your business, but Alex speaks to me because he likes to, not because he wants something. Perhaps you should take a leaf out of his book." Aya turned on her heel and strode to Gabby's car, getting into the passenger seat.

  Gabby glanced at her and started the car. Pulling away from the curb she said, "He's the biggest ass in the entire town. I wouldn't take anything he says to heart."

  Aya glanced at her, annoyed, "So people keep telling me." She wasn't worried that much about Zac and his mood swings. Katrin had unsettled her entirely and it was time to out herself. Gabby, she knew, would be the most understanding. They were so alike in many ways. "Gabby, there is something that I need to tell you. I think it would be best if you pull over."

  Gabby glanced over to her, concern etched in her face. The car came to a stop and she pulled the handbrake on, turning off the engine. "Aya, what is it?" she asked warily, the note of fear in her voice. She knew she had more than a notion about what she was going to divulge.

  Aya took a deep breath, "I am the one known as the Witch Hunter and I know it was you and Zac who called me. Not half an hour ago, I was threatened by the witch Katrin. I believe you know who I'm talking about."

  Gabby's face drained of color.

  Aya continued, "You have nothing to fear from me, Gabby. I wish to help you."

  It took a few minutes for Gabby to work up the courage to speak. "Then we have a lot to talk about."

  CHAPTER TEN

  Gabby opened the front door to the manor. It bothered her that the brothers never locked it, but they were vampires. Surely it didn't matter either way. Walking into the parlor, she found everyone assembled, waiting for her. She wasn't sure how she should break the news to them. Aya's confession the previous night had come as a shock, but deep down she was scarcely surprised.

  She was more than a vampire, Gabby knew this, but what else was a mystery. That much Aya had proved at dinner. They had talked for a long time once she had admitted who she was. Gabby remembered how much she had said, but how little she had revealed. She had convinced Aya to come to the manor to speak with them all, she still had a lot of questions and she was sure that everyone else would have just as many.

  "So, what's the big scandal, Gabby?" Zac was lounging back on the couch, clearly annoyed.

  Gabby crossed the room and dumped her bag on the coffee table, placing her grimore carefully beside it. It was best she just came out with it. Rip it off like a band aid. "Last night after leaving Alex's, Aya confessed to me that she is the Witch Hunter."

  "What?" Sam exclaimed, standi
ng up to face her. "And you believed her?"

  Gabby shrunk back slightly, "She gave me no reason not to. She told me that she had been threatened by Katrin while she was at Alex's. While we were all there in the house."

  "Katrin was in the house?" Zac had sat forward at this, worry etched on his face.

  "She said she appeared to her in the bathroom mirror. She couldn't touch her, she was only a projection," Gabby took a few steps back before saying. "I told her to meet us here today."

  Zac was on his feet, "Gabby, be careful what you say next."

  "She can answer a lot of our questions, Zac." Sam placed a reassuring hand on his arm. "If she is the Witch Hunter as she says, then we would have no chance against her if she really wanted us dead."

  Zac glared at Gabby, "Well, she sure has a talent for manipulation. She could be anyone or anything."

  "Well, she's coming here any moment, so you can ask her yourself," Gabby crossed her arms across her chest defensively.

  "We don't even know who she is! She could be coming here to kill us all!" exclaimed Liz, who had been listening in horrified silence.

  "I for one don't believe that the spell would be in the grimore unless we could trust it," said Gabby. "It hasn't lead me astray yet and now more than ever, I truly believe it was our only option."

  "Oh, now you agree with the spell," Zac huffed.

  "Now that I've spoken with Aya, yes," she said evenly, her eyes narrowed. "Now who's the one with regrets?" Zac snorted and she continued her scolding. "You begged me to cast the damn spell, Zac. Besides, I don't think she's just a vampire. She can do things that you can't."

  "And what else could she be? You think she's some kind of super freaky hybrid?"

  Gabby frowned, "I'm not entirely sure."

  "Nice work, Gabby. You're a wealth of knowledge," Zac rolled his eyes and clapped his hands.

  "Oh, shut up, Zac. It's your fault we're in this mess. Next time be careful who you piss off and you wouldn't need my help."

  "What can I say? I do a lot of things I don't need to do, but I do 'em anyway."

  "That's enough you two," Sam's calm voice cut through the tension. "We should hear what Aya has to say first before jumping to any conclusions."

  Aya had arrived some minutes ago. The front door had been unlocked, as a seemingly abandoned house with two vampires didn't need any security. She remembered the house that had once stood here near the edge of the swamp and its current incarnation was dilapidated. She wondered what had happened, but she suspected that vampires had. The walls seemed to echo some kind of supernatural interference.

  She could hear raised voices coming from down the hall. Of course they would be arguing. The brothers especially, they seemed as different as night and day. Aya strolled towards the action, taking in the old paintings along the walls, landscapes and portraits of long dead southern plantation owners. Very French.

  She stood in the doorway to the large sitting room and surveyed the scene. Zac and Gabby bickering like children in front of the massive fireplace, which was popping away merrily. Sam was being the level headed mediator and Liz was rolling her eyes with frustration. Liz had so much to learn about life, her stupidity made her gag. Although no one had noticed her, she feigned throwing up on the carpet. Silently, she made herself comfortable on the ancient brocaded couch and sat and watched the show.

  "We at least need to ask her what she knows," Gabby was saying. "She told me she knew the witch Katrin. If she knows her, she might at least know where we might look next."

  "I don't trust her," Zac growled. "She played us for fools."

  "She's the female version of you," said Sam, earning himself a menacing glare.

  "And you are a fool," snapped Liz.

  "Oh, yeah, Liz. Your entire life was my fault," Zac snarled.

  Liz went to slap him but Sam put his hand on her shoulder to calm her, "Shut it, Zac. I don't care whose fault this is, but you're my brother and that makes it my problem as well."

  Zac begrudgingly took a step back and raised his hands, "Fine. The sooner we talk to this ancient bitch, the sooner we can kill Katrin."

  "I wouldn't call her that to her face," Gabby raised her eyebrows. "I bet she could snap you in half."

  Aya lounged back on the couch and watched them argue about her. They still hadn't noticed that she was a mere two meters away. She really was too sneaky for her own good. "You know," she quipped. "It's extremely impolite to talk about someone behind their back." She grinned in satisfaction as they all jumped.

  "Fucking hell, Aya. How long have you been there?" Zac exclaimed.

  She smiled wickedly, "A while."

  "Do you want us to trust you or not?"

  She paused a second and pretended that she was thinking it over. Shaking her head, she said, "Doesn't faze me. We want the same thing, to a certain extent. Trust is optional."

  "To you, maybe," Liz stepped forward. "But it's important to us."

  "To twenty first century do-gooders, maybe. Trust is not a huge priority when dealing with vampires," Aya moved forward fluidly, until she was directly in front of Liz. "Is it exhausting holding onto so much of your humanity? Denying what you have become?"

  "Back off," warned Sam as Liz visibly cringed under her imposing presence.

  Aya glared at him from under her eyelashes. The light from the fire made her expression almost demonic. "You decided to cast a spell in a moment of desperation, not knowing what would happen. Now I am here and here I will stay." she sneered as if saying, deal with it.

  "But we don't know anything about you, Aya." Liz said protectively.

  Aya narrowed her eyes at the young vampire, "And what would you know? You've been a vampire less than a year. To me, that's a blink of an eye. A piss in the ocean."

  "Then, how old are you really?" asked Zac from behind her.

  Looking back over her shoulder she stated, "I think it was about the year 46. Anno domini. But I could be mistaken, your mind starts to deteriorate when you're an ancient bitch."

  Zac narrowed his eyes and didn't say anything.

  "But that would mean you're nearly two thousand years old." Sam said in a small voice.

  "Is it really so hard to believe?" Aya sneered. It felt good not having to hide herself anymore letting her anger guide her words. They all looked worried, they mustn't know much about their own kind at all. "And how old are you?"

  "Why do they call you the Witch Hunter?" Gabby said, changing the subject before it came to blows.

  "That's self explanatory," she said sarcastically. "If a witch uses their power for evil, then its curtains for them." Aya dragged her finger across her throat.

  "Why witches?" asked Liz.

  "Why not?" she raised her eyebrows. The tone in her voice suggested that this was her final answer on the subject.

  "And why is Katrin after you?" Sam asked gently.

  "Probably the same reason she's after him," she pointed to Zac, avoiding his question. "Because we all pissed her off."

  "And now she knows you're working with us," huffed Zac.

  "Am I now?" scoffed Aya.

  "Two birds, one stone," Gabby whispered, shaking her head.

  "We don't really have an option. That's why they used the spell," Sam said reluctantly.

  Aya curled her lip in a snarl at the memory of being forced awake by it.

  "Do you know who wrote the spell in my grimore?" asked Gabby, picking it up and turning to the place marked by a slip of paper.

  Aya looked at the page Gabby pointed out and sighed, "I helped your ancestor, once upon a time. I can't believe that idiot wrote a spell. At least it's not specific, but troublesome."

  "What do you mean, troublesome?"

  "I've done a lot of things to annoy many people. None more so than Katrin," Aya sighed. "I get followed by her thugs more often than not. So you can understand why this spell is inconvenient."

  "Is that why you hid yourself from us? For fear that we were working with Katrin?" Sam asked g
ently.

  "One reason," Aya confirmed. "Though, fear had no part in it."

  "Of course not," Zac snorted.

  "Why could you come into Alex's house without being invited?" Liz said, remembering the night before. Nothing at all had an effect on her, not even the silver, which would have burnt any other vampire.

  Aya thought for a moment, then said, "I can walk wherever I want."

  "But, why?"

  "Because I can." The statement was final.

  "Zac, remember the vampire you killed. He was one of Katrin's, wasn't he looking for someone?" Sam prodded, "And he's what started the mess with the werewolves."

  "And what happened to them?" Aya asked, knowing full well she was what happened.

  "Gone. They won't bother us again," Zac glowered as if remembering something horrible, "The vampire was looking for you, Aya. No doubt about it."

  "What makes you say that?" she asked.

  "I remember because I made fun of him. He said he was looking for a woman; black of hair, blue of eye. And you're the only one fitting that description around here."

  "What was his name?"

  "Alistair something. Payne? I don't really remember," Zac shook his head.

  "And you killed him?" Aya cocked her head.

  "Yes."

  "Good. He was annoying," she seemed satisfied.

  "You knew him?" Sam asked.

  Aya snorted in frustration, "It doesn't really matter, now. Unfortunately, I've lost the element of surprise, but we can work with that. Katrin was watching you somehow." How the hell had they tracked her here? Again?

  "How could she be watching us?" Liz looked horrified.

  "Katrin is a very old witch, Liz. She found a way to stop her spirit passing on, thus remaining in an in-between place to continue influencing the living. She has many vampires and witches in her following and can see many places through the eyes of others."