by R. Sullins
I couldn’t help but wonder what happened to the clothes I wore yesterday when I picked up the folded robe that I had washed today in order to return it to the vampire. Who undressed me and cleaned me? Even my hair was clean and brushed. I tried not to think about the broody vampire seeing me undressed. Surely, he wouldn’t have brushed my hair? Most likely he had staff members to do his bidding and that included dealing with dirty and damaged young women in his care.
I saw the same black car pull up outside with the same large driver. I quietly closed and locked the front door and took a deep breath before walking up to the waiting open back door.
Chapter 6
*****
Crispin licked the puncture wounds closed in the donor before him. The tall blonde woman looked at him with lust-filled eyes. He looked at her for a moment to assess his needs, but he thanked her and dismissed her from the room. He got up from his desk chair and stared out the window of his study to look at the dark sky outside. It was close to an hour after dusk and he was expecting the little Hunter to show up at any time. While looking at the donor he felt no needs. With his hunger sated, he was satisfied with sending her away but thinking about his little Hunter, a new need flared to life within. A low growl rumbled in his chest.
*****
I sat brooding in the back of the sleek black car for the drive to the vampire’s house. I doubt house was the proper term for the place though. I didn’t see much after leaving the one room I was in and I was in a bit of a daze when I left, but the impression it left me was of grandeur and very large. So, obviously my new guide into this world was rich. And I remember, very much, him being handsome. No, handsome didn’t cover it. He was gorgeous in a rugged way. Dark, almost black hair, gray eyes that could look silver or like a stormy sky. Strong, broad shoulders that stretched out his, obviously made for him, shirt. Rich and devastatingly handsome. Sandy’s plea to date ran across my mind and I almost snorted out loud. I caught the eye of the driver in the rearview mirror. He must have seen the derisive look on my face at the thought of the vampire wanting to date me.
I gave the driver a small smile. “Can I ask what your name is? Are you Rhys?” He looked back at me again and stared for a good minute. I was starting to get nervous and remind him to keep his eyes on the road when he finally looked forward again.
“Yes, my name is Rhys.” Yay! I got something! I thought he was just going to ignore me the entire time.
“Are you a vampire too?” He narrowed his eyes as he looked back through the mirror at me again.
“You can’t tell?”
“What do you mean?” I was really tired of being confused all the time. It felt like I was dropped into an alternate reality where everyone already knew the rules except me. I needed a crash course so I could stop this feeling.
“As a Hunter, you should have certain abilities. You should be able to tell a vampire within a mile of your location. You should feel it in your chest and head, like a buzzing awareness.” He glanced at the road and then back at me again before raising his eyebrows. “You really can’t feel it?”
Inwardly, I studied myself. I examined what I was feeling and what my internal system was telling me. He was right, there was an awareness. I remembered feeling the same sensation last night, though much stronger when I was sitting in front of the vampire. A vibe is what I had thought to myself. “Is it the Power he was telling me about last night?”
The driver shook his head, “Yes, and no. You would still feel someone even if they didn’t have Power. Power is completely different and is something the vampire who is wielding it can lessen if he chooses. Most with Power don’t walk around broadcasting it. That would be like a rich man walking around holding piles of money in his hand to prove he’s rich. Of course, there are always the pretentious so that does happen, but most don’t feel the need to push it out, especially since it can be felt regardless.” He flashed his eyes between the road and the mirror again before continuing. “But the feeling of a vampire in general, like I said, is a buzzing awareness.” He looked back at me in the mirror again and raised one eyebrow. Ah, he’s asking if I feel this now. I nodded my head.
“Yes, apparently I do feel it. Come to think of it, I felt it last night too, right before the ghouls showed up.” I shuddered at the memory. “My back tingled, and all the hairs on my body stood up. That was a lot stronger than I feel with you or the vampire from last night.”
He nodded in agreement. “Yes, revenants are your natural enemy whereas vampires are more your colleagues, for lack of a better description. We have no problems with Hunters. There are so few of them, actually, most vampires have never seen one or rarely have.”
I felt the car slow down and looked through the windshield to see us entering a gate on a private road. The road looked like it continued a bit more up a slight incline. The road was smooth and well cared for. It was obvious that this vampire that was in charge took care of the things he owned. The house, the car, even the driver. Everything was impeccable. I looked down at my old running gear. My shoes were worn out, but I didn’t have my newer ones since they got left behind at the mansion last night along with my clothes. I didn’t fit. It shouldn’t bother me but after his comments last night, I didn’t want to feel inadequate any more than I had already. I squared back my shoulders. I couldn’t do anything about my belongings being worn out but I could prove that I was worthy of any title I have. I could be the best Hunter I could be and would show him that I was necessary and that he did need me.
When the car came to a stop in the large circular driveway, directly in front of the double entryway doors to the mansion, I paused after I stepped out and did a slow circle. We were surrounded by trees and were obviously a decent way up the mountain. I could see dots of lights in the distance that could only be the city of Chambers. I turned the opposite direction towards what should be the town I live in, but the trees obscured the view. It was a beautiful location, even in the dark. Isolated and peaceful. I turned back toward the doorway, finally ready to head in and came up short, my breath stilling in my chest. There, in the now open doorway, stood the vampire that had been on my mind for nearly every waking moment since meeting him last night. He was holding a small duffle bag that I assumed held my clothing and shoes. I walked forward, determined to not appear weak to this vampire any longer.
“I’d address you but I still don’t even know your name and continuing to call you “The Vampire” in my head is getting annoying.” I walked to the base of the steps and stared up at him. I knew I held a challenge in my gaze and that was something that I knew you should never, ever do with a predator. But I was a predator too, wasn't I? I knew he was stronger than me in every way right now, and likely always will be, but I would show I would not be dismissed as weak.
We stared into each other’s eyes for what felt like several long moments. I was trembling inside but stood straight and proud on the outside, my spine like reinforced steel. My jaw clamped tightly shut to prevent my lip from trembling and betraying my absolute terror at making this man angry.
Chapter 7
*****
Crispin looked down into the crystal clear blue eyes of the Hunter staring up at him with challenge and defiance. She was a magnificent sight with her pale skin and delicate features, wisps of her golden-brown hair falling around her face from her ponytail. Her shapely rose-colored lips were held tightly closed but couldn’t quite disguise the tremble in the fuller bottom one. The longer he stared her down the rosier her cheeks became, the high cheekbones flushing with color, but never once did she look away. Increasingly, he became entranced by his little Hunter. Her inner strength was something he greatly admired.
He had research done on her through that day and had just finished reading the file on her. Though not much was in there, there was enough to show him that she was a proud woman and hard working. She lost her entire family in the one night that changed her life forever. His search did not reveal what happened to her mother, but it
did outline the difficulties she had with her sister. He was tempted to visit the ungrateful girl himself, but he knew he could not interfere.
One conclusion he came to by the end of her file was that he wanted to get to know her better on a personal level. He had known many beautiful women throughout his centuries of life, but it was rare to come across one with such inner strength and beauty. The choices she’d made since that night showed determination, loyalty, and strength of character. Seeing her standing there defiantly, like a kitten hissing at a wolf, made him want to hold her and protect her. But, it was her destiny to become a Hunter, a killer. Her training started tonight, but that didn’t mean he couldn’t give her what she didn’t even know she needed.
*****
I stood facing the vampire, Crispin, trying to catch my breath. He was trying to teach me “the basics” of self-defense. What that entailed was me being grabbed and thrown down onto the mats while he stood over me with a scowl on his handsome face. Ugh.
We were in a large room a floor below the main house level. It was like a gym that someone would pay a lot of money in monthly fees. There wasn’t a lot of equipment but what there was had to be state of the art with its gleaming chrome, buttons, and LED screens. The rest of the giant room was a couple of boxing bags, fighter dummies, and lots and lots of shiny and dull weapons hanging on the walls. Any type of sword I could possibly have ever imagined in my lifetime was hanging along one wall. The other wall was just mirrors. Mirrors that reflected back my humiliation.
“Again.”
I was supposed to grab his arm as he reached my neck and break his hold. I was supposed to attack his eyes, nose, throat, and/or groin before stomping on his foot. Basic self-defense moves that thousands of college-age girls learn every day. Those girls didn’t have a freaking vampire master tossing them around.
I stood facing the massive man before me. I was panting and sweaty, my hair sticking to my face and back. He, of course, looked bored and irritated. His body was like carved marble that could easily be seen through the clothes he wore. His chest was broad and strong and his legs were thick tree trunks. When grappling with him it wasn’t exactly a hardship to touch his firm body.
He came at me again in a blur of speed that I was somehow able to still see due to my Hunter genetics. He made a grab for my neck again. This time instead of waiting for him to grab me I sidestepped and twisted my body so I came up behind him. I was only five foot four to his impressive – and intimidating – six-foot five-inch height so I was facing a solid wall of back muscles. Even through the black t-shirt he wore I could see the muscles grouped underneath and gave a slight shudder. I thanked the gods for creating something so beautiful to look at. I may have drooled a little.
I didn’t even have a split second to decide my next move before he was turning back around. I don’t know why I did, maybe I was sick of being bested, tired of having him look at me like I was worthless, but I jumped on his back and wrapped my legs around his waist. Unfortunately, before I could get my arms wrapped around his head and neck I found myself flung down on my back and facing the bright white lights in the ceiling.
“Impressive that you are capable of moving as fast as you just did. Too bad you didn’t show that kind of speed every other time I attacked. What were you hoping to accomplish?” Crispin’s voice was condescending, and I just wanted to scream in frustration. To my horror, I felt my nose sting and my eyes well up. No! I would not cry in front of this man! I rolled over to my hands and knees and took a minute to breathe and calm myself. We’d been doing this for a couple of hours already and I was tired and sweaty.
I slowly rose to my feet and turned to face the master vampire again. I was filled with equal parts determination and defeat. For some reason I wanted to prove myself to this man, show him I was capable of being what he needed from me. At the same time, I wanted to hang my head in shame that he found me so lacking. Part of that was because I needed to feel worthy of my title, that I was more than just a waitress and sister and so far haven’t managed to. Part of it was because the man was gorgeous and powerful and what any woman would crave…and he looked at me like I disgusted him.
“Again!” he demanded. A whole second before lunging forward.
I felt his hand grab my neck and I nearly forgot the moves I was supposed to apply to counteract his attack. It had to be what prey felt like when ensnared by a predator, a rabbit grabbed by a wolf. But I reminded myself, I, too, am a predator. He might be at the top of the food chain, but I wasn’t at the bottom.
I shot my hand out and twisted his arm free from my throat with the moves he’d made me practice over and over before we started. The defensive moves flowing through my mind, reminding me, finally, of each step I needed to take to escape. Without even thinking, with each grab he made for me, each time he managed to capture a part of my body, I escaped with twists, pulls, ducks, flowing like silk through his fingers.
At one point he had my back pinned to his front with a hand around my neck and an arm across my chest to my shoulder. Even though I was, once again, sliding from his grasp, I relished the feeling of being held by him. I knew it was pathetic to lust after a man that thought of me as pathetic, but the mind is obstinate in what it wanted. My body seemed to be on par with my mind. In my heart I felt desire. Desire to be what he wanted. Desire to own and be owned by the most alpha male I’d likely ever meet. It was pure biology, really. Nothing that thousands of years didn’t hardwire into the human race. Even though neither of us was truly human. It still worked the same way, right?
I continued to slither out of each hold he placed on me. Each time he got a firm hold on some part of my body I escaped like smoke drifting and spiraling around his strong male body. Finally, I went on the offense, catching him off guard. I had no idea how long we had been dancing around each other, slipping and sliding in a dance of sorts. I grabbed his arm, twisted and pulled it up behind him. I kicked out the back of his knee until he fell to the floor. I immediately let go and jumped back. And, chest heaving, knees knocking, waited.
He didn’t immediately jump up, but rather, stayed upright on his knees facing away from me. I heard clapping and jerked in surprise and glanced around. There were several people gathered around. More than I knew were even in the mansion. Most were vampires, I could feel the tingling awareness that told me, but some were humans. That surprised me but perhaps it shouldn’t have. The mansion was in the mountains, a good 45-minute drive from the nearest town. Humans would be necessary for food.
Most of the faces showed awe. A few of the male's faces showed lust as their gazes roamed over my body. A couple of the females showed anger or jealousy. I wondered if any of them – or all of them – were his lovers.
A hand laid on my shoulder and gripped tightly. I looked up to see Crispin, to see if he was angry that I had put him on his knees but he wasn’t looking at me. His eyes were glowing silver and his fangs were exposed. A thrill shot through me and I wasn’t quite sure if it was fear or excitement at seeing the dangerous man displaying his feral side. Glancing around again I saw each of the people bowing their heads in submission and not meeting my eyes. Well, most of them. A young guy with curly brown hair and brown eyes, about my age who I was sure was human, grinned cheekily and gave me two thumbs up. I laughed out loud at the display. I felt Crispin’s hand on my shoulder spasm and looked back up at him, afraid he would be angry but his eyes were twinkling down at me from his stoic face. He may not be laughing on the outside but he was on the inside.
I looked back at the smiling guy but he was already walking out the door with the others. There was only one couple that stayed back. Vampires. A man that was average in every way with blond hair and blue eyes and no discernable Power. Next to him was the most beautiful woman I had ever seen. She was tiny and so pale blond her hair was practically translucent. She also had no Power radiating from her either. They looked like they were waiting for Crispin’s attention.
“You did very well. It appear
s you have tapped into your abilities.” Crispin grabbed my attention away from the couple as he waved at them, dismissing them from the room. I saw the disappointment on their faces as they turned to leave.
I turned back to face Crispin. The pride lacing his voice had surprised me.
“I wasn’t aware that I was able to move like that.” I told him honestly.
He took his hand off my shoulder but took my elbow to lead me over to the bench that held our water bottles. I took a long drink, not realizing how thirsty I was and watched while he took a long drink as well. I didn’t think I could ever get tired of looking at his throat muscles work as he swallowed. He had a day's old-growth on his face and jaw. I watched as a drop of sweat slid slowly from his temple. It wasn’t fair that I was soaked but he had barely broken a sweat at all. I wanted to pout.
“What you showed,” his deep voice interrupted my intense focus on that lone bead of sweat that had been making its way slowly down to his jaw. “Is a Hunter’s natural ability of foresight while in battle. A Hunter can anticipate an opponent’s next move and adjust their attack accordingly. Even a vampire does not have that ability unless it was a gift received when Turning.”
Now I was intrigued. I raised my eyebrow. “A gift? What does that mean?”
“We are not speaking of vampires right now, Miss Moore. Right now we are discussing Hunter abilities. If you had been trained properly you would have been ready for the revenants when they came after you. I am curious though, before a Hunter reaches maturity their blood does not scent as a Hunter’s. It is nature’s way, I suppose, to protect her until she is fully ready as her body is still growing in strength and power. She doesn’t become fully ready to hunt until she reaches maturity. That is signaled by the scent of her blood changing.” He paused and then said, “And she physically matures.”