Changed (The Hunters #1)

by Rose J. Bell

  Rosa looked at him surprised. “How do you know that something happened?”

  He gave her a mischievous smile. “I could see how your mood changed when Sergei said Lord Constantine wanted to see you.”

  Again, it surprised her that Colin knew her so well. At the same time, she wished that he did not know her so well.

  “I have a sixth sense for things like that,” he added, as they climbed the stairs.

  Rosa frowned. “I always thought it was called the seventh sense.”

  He looked at her. “You could call it that, too. Actually, we only have five senses: sight, smell, taste, hearing, and touch. The sixth and seventh sense expressions are often used when someone noticed something without using any of the five senses.

  “Actually the sixth sense is a colloquial term, and is used to describe an everyday situation. It shouldn’t definite statements about how perception works, but only that in the given situation wasn’t obvious to explain.”

  Rosa stared at Colin. “I’m getting a headache again.”

  He laughed and pulled her closer to him. Colin was inclined to explain everything long and detailed. This was the reason why she didn’t ask him many questions, though Rosa did not mind this characteristic. On the contrary, she found it quite amusing.

  They stopped in front of Lord Constantine’s room.

  Suddenly her mood diminished. She swallowed hard and made herself willing to meet him.

  Sergei knocked and entered the room. “Lord Constantine, Rosa is here.”

  She and Colin entered the room. Lord Constantine sat at the table, flipping through pages. He nodded without looking up.

  “Let me alone with her,” he demanded.

  Colin gave Rosa an encouraging smile and released her. Rosa held the edge of the table, because she was still unsure on her feet.

  Colin and Sergei disappeared from the room and she was alone with Lord Constantine. He still seemed not to notice her, leafing through his papers.

  Rosa looked him over. How could a person be so cruel? How could he kill his hunters who had broken a rule once? Why was there not a second chance by Lord Constantine?

  “Why are you staring at me, Rosa?” he asked, raising his head.

  She winced. “I...” she stammered. Then put on a fake smile. “I was just asking myself if you’ve trained. You look pretty good in the suit.”

  Lord Constantine smiled blandly and stood up. “You know, Rosa, I really like your humor.” He stopped directly in front of her. His eyes were like two black lakes. Deep and full of danger.

  “I was just like you, when I was your age.” His smile disappeared. “But I was never disrespectful toward my superiors. I have never rebelled against them. I’ve always followed their rules, and now I am the head of all hunter clans.” His eyes turned hard and cold. Rosa’s heart was pounding wildly in her chest.

  “Are you thinking, just because you have the gift to fight, I am not going to kill you?” He grabbed Rosa by the arm. His eyes were filled with hatred.

  “Do you think your gift can save you?”

  Without waiting for her answer, he continued. “I do not give a damn thing about you being the best hunter! I want a hunter that listens to me and shows me respect—nothing like you!” He spat the last word, as if he had acid in his mouth.

  Rosa shut her mouth and said nothing, because she knew if she would say something now, she would only give a snappy answer that would only annoy him even more.

  “Give me one reason why I should not kick you out of the hunter clan?” he asked, looking into her eyes. He raised his forefinger. “A single reason, Rosa. And your gift does not count anymore.”

  One reason! One reason! One reason! Damn! I don’t know!

  Then Rosa remembered the book that she had stolen from Jason’s room.

  She looked at him. “I can give you a reason.”

  He arched an eyebrow. “And that would be?”

  “I know with whom the archangels are working.”

  His gaze changed. “And with whom?”

  “With the fire users.”

  Lord Constantine growled. “I knew it.”

  “I have also the book.”

  His eyes widened. “Where? Where is it? “

  “In my apartment,” Rosa replied.

  He smiled at her now. “Well done, huntress. Your vest is getting white again.”

  She smiled weakly.

  “You will bring me the book. We will talk about what happened in the dungeon when you return from Vancouver. The talisman is more important than the incident in the dungeon.”

  He let go off her arm and opened the door. “See you then.”

  He disappeared from the room, leaving Rosa alone. She sat down on the chair and wondered how her vest had ever gone so black.

  Rosa packed for the trip to Vancouver. After she’d handed the book to Lord Constantine and Andrea had healed her shoulder, she told Colin and Valerie what was happening.

  She had told them the truth, and their reaction was different than she had expected. Rosa had expected them to accuse her that she had saved a Nephilim, but they understood her and her behavior.

  Rosa was conscious that she had the best friends in the world.

  She also tried repeatedly to call Matt, but couldn’t reach him. Concern welled up in her and she hoped that she would see him at the airport.

  Rosa strapped her bag on and shoved the letter and the card in the pocket of her leather jacket. From Andrea she had the paralysis spell, and asked her to heal her wounded shoulder. Her shoulder was now as good as before.

  The clock told her that it was time to head off to the airport. With one last look at her room, she grabbed her keys and left her apartment. The taxi she had ordered was waiting outside. She climbed in and told the driver where she wanted to go.

  After an hour ride, the taxi stopped at the airport. Rosa paid him and got out. Although it was not time for holidays, many people were at the airport.

  Rosa entered the airport and watched for familiar faces. She discovered Matt, standing with others from her class at a closed gate.

  Her concern for Matt changed into anger. She worried about him and he did not even considered telling her that he was all right.

  Rosa headed straight toward him and stopped behind him. Matt turned around and smiled at her, but his smile faded when he saw her face.

  “Is everything okay?” he asked.

  “You ask me if everything is okay?” she replied sharply, glaring at him. “Let me think: In our last conversation you act weird and disappear without telling me what’s going on. I tried to reach you for days, but you didn’t pick up your phone. I was worried about you! And you don’t even think it was necessary to tell me how you’re doing. And now you can answer the question if everything is OK!” She crossed her arms over her chest.

  Matt opened his mouth to say something then closed it again. Rosa could see he felt guilty, which he should, of course.

  “Rosa, I’m sorry,” he apologized. “I don’t want you to worry about me.”

  She snorted. “Sure you don’t. Then at least you can tell me what’s wrong with you?”

  Matt sank his head. “I ... I can’t.”

  Rosa frowned. “What? Why not? “

  He lifted his head and looked at her helplessly. “I can’t tell you yet. Please understand.”

  She nodded, feeling hurt and disappointed. “I understand. You don’t trust me. She had never expected this from Matt. He was her best friend!

  He shook his head. “No! No, I trust you. Only...”

  “Only what?” Rosa persisted.

  Matt sighed deeply. “Please, just don’t ask.” His voice was pleading, but it left Rosa cold.

  “I really thought you would trust me. How easy it is to deceive, isn’t it, Matt?”

  Just as he started to speak, he was interrupted by someone.

  “Trouble’s brewing?” Jason asked.

  Rosa turned around. He stood beside Philip, and
this time there was not a smile on his lips. He seemed to be tired. The dark shadows under his eyes weren’t to be overlooked.

  “You came, and like magic, the thick air disappeared,” Rosa replied caustically. She didn’t want to take out her anger on Jason, but could not help it.

  “Ice Princess is throwing her icicles,” Jason said and smiled. Rosa snorted and turned away.

  No one said a word as they walked onto the plane. Rosa was glad that she did not sit next to Matt, but her luck left her, when Jason sat down beside her.

  “Are you really sitting here or have you changed your ticket?” she asked annoyed, buckling her seatbelt.

  Jason chuckled. “No, I’m really sitting next to you.”

  Rosa looked at him suspiciously. “I don’t believe you.”

  He let out a sigh. “I’m honest for the first time and nobody wants to believe me. What’s happening with society?”

  “You’re happening. So arrogant, only thinking of themselves men are ruining our society.”

  Jason raised an eyebrow and looked at her. “Who drove you crazy? Was it Matt?”

  She shrugged and looked out the window. She didn’t want to talk to Jason about her problems.

  “Did he tell you he loves you?”

  Rosa looked at him surprised. “How do you come up with this?”

  He smiled smugly. “You can see it how he always looks at you. And once again I was right.”

  “I didn’t say if you’re right or not.”

  “Your eyes, they had betrayed you.”

  Jason’s eyes fixed on hers and he leaned forward. He has put down his dark glasses and now Rosa could see his golden eyes, which were beautiful and shone. His golden eyes fascinated her.

  Look away! Look away! But she couldn’t. Next time she would avoid looking straight in his beautiful eyes.

  “And are you also in love with him?” he asked, raising his eyebrows.

  She arched an eyebrow. “That’s none of your business, Nephilim.”

  He smiled and leaned back. “I just wanted to ask.”

  “And are you in love with somebody?” Rosa asked.

  He smirked. “Unfortunately not. I’m just too hot for everyone.”

  Involuntarily Rosa laughed. “You’re so arrogant.”

  He nodded approvingly. “Exactly. My arrogance is so big that it might already have its own zip code. It would be: Jason’s Arrogance, 43567.”

  Rosa laughed until her stomach hurt. She could not help it. It felt so good to laugh. She could not remember the last time she had laughed so much.

  “Oh God,” Rosa gasped and wiped her watery eyes. “For an idiot you’re pretty funny, Jason.”

  He smiled at her, a wonderful and warm smile. “It’s a pleasure to see you smile, Ice Princess.”

  She smiled back at him and her heart suddenly beat faster in her chest. For the first time she noticed how handsome Jason looked when he smiled. Okay, all Nephilim were pretty, but Jason had something else in him. Rosa just couldn’t quite put her finger on it.

  Usually, when she saw a Nephilim, she wasn’t impressed by their beauty, but Jason was different.

  She was impressed.

  By his golden eyes.

  And by his beautiful smile.

  Rosa’s pulse took off, as their eyes locked, their gaze holding for far too long than two enemies should. Her cheeks felt warm … also some others parts of her body.

  Pulling her eyes from Jason, Rosa glanced out at the workers who loaded the plan with many bags.

  What happened, she wondered silently. Why does my heart pound like that? She didn’t know, and she didn't think she wanted to know, either.

  Rosa could still feel Jason’s gaze on her, but she forced herself not to look back at him. She was afraid that the same thing would happen, like a few seconds before.

  “Dear passengers,” the voice of the pilot came from the speaker. “I’m your pilot, Daniel Morris. Due to the heavy traffic, the flight will be delayed by ten minutes. We thank you for your understanding and wish you a pleasant flight.”

  Rosa sighed deeply. She actually liked to fly, but the wait got on her nerves.

  Ten minutes, twenty minutes passed, and Rosa was at the end of her patience.

  “Come on, pilot! Fly finally! If I had known that this would take so long, I would have walked to Vancouver!” she yelled through the whole plane, before she could restrain her tongue.

  Some passengers laughed. Jason looked at her for a second then began to laugh too. A stewardess stopped at her seat.

  “Could you please be quiet? Some passengers have complained,” she said, smiling.

  Rosa glared at her. “I’ll be quiet when this damn plane is finally in the air!”

  “Miss Petrova,” Ms. Franklin hissed and came up behind the stewardess. “Calm down.”

  “But—”

  “No buts. Shut up.”

  Rosa crossed her arms angry over her chest and glared out the window. Jason was still laughing next to her.

  She slapped him on the chest. “Stop it! It wasn’t that funny,” she muttered.

  He stopped laughing, but he found it difficult to stop smiling. “I’m sorry, Ice Princess, but I didn’t know you could be so funny, too.”

  “You don’t know much about me, Jason,” she said.

  “Yes, that’s true. But I would like to know you better.” His voice was low and sexy, sending an unfamiliar shot of feelings across her chest. The sexual intent was not hard to miss.

  She flushed and looked away. “Idiot.”

  “You’ve said that before.”

  “And not one time too many.”

  He laughed again.

  It was a good feeling to feel the solid ground under her feet again. The sun was just about to go down and blanket the world in a soft pink light.

  “Everybody to passport control!” Ms. Franklin called.

  Rosa followed Ms. Franklin with the others. The passport control lasted more than thirty minutes, but they found their luggage quickly.

  “The bus is out there,” said Ms. Franklin. Rosa walked out of the airport and looked up to the sky—the sight was breathtaking.

  Innumerable angels were flying in the sky and they looked so beautiful with their wings. Although she knew a lot about the Nephilim, she’d never seen them flying.

  Secretly, Rosa wished to be able to fly—to be weightless just once. This was just one of her dreams that would never be fulfilled.

  “Beautiful, isn’t it?” Jason asked her. Rosa hadn’t even noticed him standing beside her. He stood very close to her, his arm brushing hers, and a tingle shot through her body.

  Why am I reacting so… intensely to Jason?

  She turned her head to face him. Jason looked at her. Her heart hammered in her chest. His eyes had already made her nervous from the beginning, but now it made her more nervous.

  Get a grip, Rosa.

  “Yes, it is,” she said. “I wish I could fly.”

  He looked surprised. “Really?”

  She nodded and looked back into the sky. “Yes. But unfortunately my wish will never be fulfilled.”

  “Actually, it can.”

  She raised her brows and looked at him. “How will that work? I can’t fly.”

  A small smile appeared on his lips. “But I can fly. We could fly together in the sky.”

  Rosa was too surprised to say anything. She searched his eyes for signs that he was not serious, but his gaze was honest and friendly. He had intended his offer seriously.

  Suddenly she was embarrassed. “Maybe,” she murmured, turning away. When she walked to the bus, she met Matt’s eyes. Rosa could not pinpoint the look in his eyes, but it was obvious that he did not like what he had seen.

  Had he overheard the conversation between her and Jason? And was he jealous?

  If she hadn’t been angry with him, she would now go to him—but she was angry, so she climbed onto the bus without looking at Matt even once.

  “Welcome t
o the Cascadia Hotel and Suites! We are pleased to have you as our guests,” the receptionist greeted the class, smiling.

  Rosa shifted from one foot to another. She was so tired! Last night and today, she hadn’t slept very well. She had difficulties keeping her eyes open.

  When Rosa saw the hotel, she almost jumped for joy. Finally, they had arrived and she was able to sleep! The hotel was big and luxurious. The front facade consisted of large, dark glasses that reflected the lights of the city.

  A bellhop had offered them something to drink. Rosa had refused graciously. Jason had grabbed two cocktails at once. And now Rosa was standing in the entrance hall, listening to the receptionist give her speech.

  “Our hotel has much to offer,” she continued. Rosa’s eyes closed and her mind drifted to a warm bed.

  “Are you asleep, Ice Princess?” Jason asked softly.

  She winced, terrified, and instinctively grabbed the hand on her shoulder, and threw Jason over her shoulder to the ground.

  Jason grunted and rolled on his side. The receptionist stopped talking and looked at Rosa, shocked.

  “Miss Petrova!” Ms. Franklin called, and shook her head in disbelief.

  “Everything’s okay,” said Jason and stood up. He was rubbing his right shoulder. Philip was laughing behind them.

  “Sorry, Jason,” Rosa said, flashing him a cocky grin. “I hurt people, I don’t quite like.”

  His eyes watched her with a slight irritation and a shadow of amusement. “Yeah, I see that.”

  Rosa smiled and he returned her smile

  After some ten minutes—though it felt like an hour for Rosa—the receptionist finished her speech and gave them their keys for the rooms. Rosa was lucky to get a room of her own.

  Without looking at anybody else, Rosa grabbed her bag and rushed for the elevator to her room on the sixth floor.

  She opened the door of her room and went inside. The room was large and modern. In the middle, a large double bed stood with red sheets. Opposite of the bed there was a huge dresser. The bathroom was on the left side of the room.

  Rosa closed the door and threw her bag in the corner. She took off her leather jacket and shoes and threw herself on the bed.

  She closed her eyes and fell asleep immediately.