The Immortal Huntress

by Kelly Hall

  “Theodore Canter Jackson.” The mage calling his friend’s name turned his attention back to the ceremony, where several other seniors had already received their marks. He smiled with pride and respect for his best friend as he walked by. Jarreth knew how much this moment meant to him.

  Canter walked up to the stone and took a knee. He had worked so hard to get to this day and couldn’t wait for his final year of training to be over so he could be out in the field. But more than that, he was ready to work with Rebekah in finding who or what killed Paul and the others. His earlier escape with the vodka had merely been a way to ease his pain, and he had realized in the hours after that his anger toward Sister Frankie was only because he did feel shame. He had felt useless to do anything, but not anymore. Once Rebekah gave him his mark, he would be a new man, one worthy of finding justice for his friends. He lifted his eyes to hers and held his fist over his heart.

  Rebekah met Canter’s eyes and knew a brave hunter was about to be made. Of all the others, this one had a sense of honor and dignity she hadn’t seen in at least a century. His beautiful brown eyes, which held so much wisdom, were indicative of the old soul he carried inside, as if he’d already seen years of battle with the hunt.

  “Theodore Canter Jackson, in the name of the Immortal Huntress, I mark you. You shall hereby be remade as Hunter. Do you vow your undying devotion to the Huntress and her cause?”

  A great swell of pride filled him. “Yes, I vow.”

  Rebekah reached up and undid the clasp, smoothing the fabric down to bare his taut, dark skin which was a beautiful contrast to her own. She readied the blade and met his eyes as she pierced his flesh. He didn’t even flinch as the blade stabbed deep.

  She withdrew the blade and passed it to Ignis as she watched the wound heal and the mark appear. She gave him his first salute, and once he’d given his, the crowd applauded.

  He savored the feeling of being remade and renewed into the man he’d always hoped to be. The staticky feeling of the magic coursed through him as he made his way back to his seat.

  Canter didn’t even want to look out at the crowd. He didn’t expect anyone to be there for him. He returned to his seat, and Katie placed her hand over his. He turned to look at her, and his eyes caught something behind her: a pale face standing near the dark curtains. He met his uncle’s gaze, and the old man gave him a simple thumbs-up and a warm smile.

  “Katherine Anne Kelly,” Ignis called out.

  Canter felt her warm hand leave him, and when Katie moved out of the way, his uncle, Father Melvin Mitchell, was still there watching from the sidelines. He’d never been much for showing up to school functions or award ceremonies, but he always seemed to be there when it mattered most to Canter. He considered himself fortunate for having such an honorable man in his life. He was the first one who had told him about the hunt, taught him that there were greater purposes in life, and that with hard work, he could pursue any one of them.

  Since then, the hunt had always called to Canter. From the time he was a small boy, he’d sought out as much information as he could about weapons and war, especially from ancient Rome, which was his favorite era. Father Melvin would take him to the library where he would read while the man did his visitations for his congregation. Canter had spent hours lost in pages and feeding his head.

  He glanced down to his mark, and the corners of his lips twitched as he realized all of his studying and all of his training had paid off. He had reached his goal.

  Katie’s voice sounded above his thoughts. “Yes, I vow.”

  While Rebekah unclasped her robe, Canter wondered if she could really like him as much as he liked her. He had never bothered much with relationships, though he’d been known to charm a few ladies, but he just couldn’t see himself devoting the kind of time to anyone the way Jarreth and Delilah did each to other.

  Those two weren’t even together, and they were still joined at the hip. And if they thought they were fooling anyone but themselves with the whole let’s break up and give each other space bullshit, they were sorely mistaken. Even Jarreth’s preoccupation with Rebekah was specially designed to fail because deep down, Jarreth knew there was only one girl he wanted and that was Delilah. Canter didn’t know if he had what it took to make Katie happy, at least not in the way she deserved.

  She walked back to the chair beside him and smiled, her robe still open to show her mark. She was beautiful, and as much as he didn’t know about a relationship, he knew he wanted her. He heard a throat clear and realized it came from the row in front of them as Grady turned his head and looked right at her and smiled. She blushed and got a silly grin for the guy, who then turned his head and gave Canter a look so hard he felt it.

  “Delilah Marie Miller.” Ignis was starting to sound more and more robotic as he called the names, and Canter wondered how the mage, who must have been really special to Rebekah, had gotten the honor.

  Delilah got to her feet, and though she felt a bit shaky, she took a few deep breaths before stepping forward. She had wanted to be a hunter like her mother for as long as she could remember, and even though her mother had chewed her ass out earlier, that hadn’t changed.

  Jarreth had taken her back to her room where they found the woman waiting with his own mother. Once the two found out what was going on and that their kids were sauced, they had given them a stern lecture, both together, and then separately.

  “Is this what’s been going on in this place?” Her mother hadn’t been done with the lecture simply because Jarreth and his mother Cindy had gone. “If I had known that the two of you couldn’t act like adults living here together, I’d have sent you to a different academy. I had hoped that your shenanigans would stop once you got here, but I can see they haven’t.”

  Delilah’s head had still been buzzing from the vodka. “We’re not even together. I ended the relationship like you suggested.” Too bad you couldn’t do the same, she had wanted to add. Her mother hadn’t let anything, not even Brock Barnes and a marriage, come between her relationship with Cindy. The secret had been burning inside of Delilah for too long now, and she was sure this slow ache would one day kill her.

  “Right, so you say, but I’m not sure that’s doing any good.” Her mother had told her that if their relationship was meant to be, it would be, and so far, she and Jarreth had managed to remain friends, despite how complicated things had become.

  “What are you saying?” Delilah asked.

  “I’m saying that once you get your mark, perhaps you should change academies. Let’s face it, this place is a shit hole, Delilah. You’re Sage Miller’s daughter, and you deserve better.”

  “I don’t want to leave this academy. I want to stay here with Jarreth and Canter and all of my other friends. We’re a team.” Not only that, but she knew by leaving, she would never be a part of getting justice for her fallen friends. She’d been accepted into Rebekah’s fold and finally felt like she had a greater purpose than just being the daughter of Sage fucking Miller.

  She knelt on the stone before Rebekah, lifted her chin a little, and wished that Jarreth would lust for her the way he’d been lusting for the woman in front of her. Even though she doubted Rebekah wanted him, when she could have anyone it seemed, the thought of Jarreth being with the woman broke her heart. The women exchanged salutes.

  “Delilah Marie Miller, in the name of the Immortal Huntress, I mark you. You shall hereby be remade as Hunter. Do you vow your undying devotion to the Huntress and her cause?”

  Delilah realized she wasn’t taking this vow for her mother, she was taking it for herself, and no amount of pressure was going to take her from her squad or her mission. She was staying in Nevada with her friends. “Yes, I vow.”

  Rebekah’s smile was so warm and motherly as she undid the clasp that Delilah, for the first time, felt like the young woman before her was so much older than she appeared. Finally, she understood what it was in Rebekah that had made her a leader. She wanted the same admiration and res
pect, and if she strived to be like anyone, she wanted it to be her.

  After Rebekah had smoothed down the fabric of her toga, she took the dagger and met Delilah’s eyes. This girl was as full of determination as she had once been, and Rebekah admired her for it. Being a woman in the hunt wasn’t easy, and even though there were now more women than ever, they were still the minority. They still had to work a bit harder to earn respect and to get their proper credit. Even the Immortal Huntress had to prove herself. Back when Ethan was leader, even though the hunters were made from her blood, she wasn’t respected as much as him. The men in the camps had still treated her like a delicate flower, even though she gutted wolves and staked vampires, wearing the blood of their enemies as they did, and racked up more kills than any of them.

  She pressed the dagger into the girl’s shoulder, and Delilah fought the urge to flinch. When the dagger was pulled free, the wound stitched itself closed, leaving the scar. Delilah felt the power coursing through her veins, her body changing as all the others had. She had knelt a young lady, and now she would rise a huntress.

  The crowd cheered as she gave her salute and got to her feet. And even though it was nice to have her mother in the crowd cheering her on, this moment was hers, and not even the great Sage Miller could cast a shadow on it.

  Jarreth smiled and gave her a wink as she passed him. All of the planning and playing as children had gotten them here, and she knew no matter where they ended up in the future, she would always love him more than anyone.

  As the last trainees were called, Delilah glanced over to her mother, who gave her a nod. Cindy, who had been a part of her life as long as she could remember, waved and then wiped a tear. Delilah forced a smile as Jarreth’s mother took Sage’s hand.

  Chapter 18

  Once the ceremony was complete, they all stood and raised their fists and their voices in a warrior’s cry.

  “That’s a fine bunch, indeed,” said Ignis with a smile. “And have I got news for you.”

  Rebekah turned to the mage, who seemed a little too pleased with himself. “What?”

  “That cocky shit who went first? I recognized his blood.”

  He was speaking of Jarreth. “Yeah, his father was supposed to have been a great hunter in his day. I suppose you would find a trace of me in there somewhere.”

  “Oh, not you, Bexy dear. Ethan. You always knew that man was spreading his seed.”

  Rebekah turned to look at Jarreth across the room. “Well, that explains a lot.” What it didn’t explain was why Ethan could give others children but not her. Every attempt between Ethan and Rebekah had failed. She had blamed it on the change that made her immortal but wondered if it were a curse from God, because of her parents’ sins or perhaps her own.

  As the crowd dispersed and everyone went to the Fellowship Hall for refreshments, Rebekah noticed Sister Frankie still sitting in her seat.

  “Ignis, I’ll catch up with you.” She gave him a pat on the back and went to sit with the nun.

  “Forgive me,” Frankie said, wiping her tears.

  “Don’t apologize for crying. I know you miss your friends.”

  “No, I’m asking you to forgive me for my indiscretion. I’ve done something horrible.”

  Rebekah put her arm around the woman, but she continued to cry. She was ever a ball of emotions, and Rebekah couldn’t imagine what she had done that warranted this kind of breakdown.

  “Tell me, and I will forgive you.” The words reminded her of her father.

  “I lied about where Merik was the night he was murdered. I mean, I lied about why he was where he was. I realize now, tonight, after seeing these young men and women so eager to become like him, that I was wrong.”

  “I’m afraid I don’t understand, but if you know something about Merik’s death, anything at all, you need to tell me. I can’t find out who did this if you don’t.” Rebekah’s temper flared, but she had to keep her calm. This was a lady of the Church like her own mother had been, and she’d been taught to respect them. “Please, tell me.”

  “Merik and James had planned to take Paul and his friends out for a night on the town. They weren’t on a mission. They were out to have a good time.”

  Rebekah felt as if ice water had been thrown in her face. “What?” She stood and began to pace. “How do you know this?”

  “He told me. He’d promised Paul and his squad that if they came in first last semester, he would take them out on the town. I didn’t want to tell anyone because everyone just assumed it was a mission and that Merik died with honor. The truth was, he’d taken the guys out to a show in Vegas and hit a few casinos. They went to that club after.”

  “You sure know a lot,” Rebekah said.

  Frankie kept her face toward her lap, and Rebekah could tell the woman was intimidated by her. “He called me from Debauchery when they first arrived. He’d promised to check in.”

  Rebekah’s eyes narrowed. “And why would he check in with you?”

  “Because we were in love.” The nun’s voice broke. “I am so ashamed. I’ve broken my vows. I’m a disgrace.” She thought of how she’d screamed at Delilah, scolding the young girl for doing no worse than she had. She had yelled at Canter, too, a good kid who Merik adored, simply because she was mad at Merik for his stupid decision to go out that night, as well as her own cowardice.

  Rebekah looked at the sister, thinking it must have been a lot like her mother had felt when she realized her love for her father. Being a priest and nun, they’d both betrayed not only their vows to God, but broken Roman law.

  Rebekah sat and put her arm around the woman. “I will tell you something that my father told me. God knows our heart, and if our only sin is that we loved too greatly, then we should not be ashamed.”

  No one had ever been so kind to Frankie as Rebekah, and while her words warmed her heart, she still couldn’t help feeling like a disappointment. “I’ve asked to leave the academy and the Church. I blamed it on the incident, but the truth is, I just can’t stand to walk past his office and not see him there. Everywhere I look, I see him. I begged him not to go out. We even fought. He reminded me that I was the only one who had pledged myself to God. He knew I wasn’t happy about the show they wanted to see. He told me that I had nothing to worry about. He was just honoring his promise and nothing more. When I didn’t hear from him again, I thought he was proving a point, but when the police called, I fainted dead away, and a part of me died inside.”

  “I’m so sorry. I’m sorry you feel you have to leave the Church.”

  “I don’t know where I’ll go.”

  The woman was so lost that Rebekah couldn’t help but feel bad for her. “You’re welcome to counsel here, even if you choose not to continue your vows.”

  “No, like I said, I can’t bear to pass his office, to remember my shame, and the way he made me feel.”

  “I understand.” Rebekah knew what it was like to need a change, and how much the guilt of the heart could weigh on someone. “When will you be leaving?”

  “It will take a couple of weeks for them to find my replacement, and since I didn’t tell them everything, I’m going to wait it out. I hope you’re okay with that, but if you find me shameful, I can leave right away.”

  Rebekah wondered if the same shame burned in her mother’s heart. “I do not find you shameful, Mary Frances. I find you human, and you are welcome here anytime.”

  She wiped her eyes, the handkerchief gripped tightly in her hand with her rosary. “Thank you.”

  “I just have one thing to ask. Do not tell the Church any of this, and do not mention Father Timms. I’ve decided to stay on at this academy, and with his help, I’m going to turn this place around, starting with finding out who killed our people.”

  “I hope you do, and I shall not report anything to the Church or Elder John. God forgive me, but I can’t stand that man.”

  Rebekah didn’t blame her one bit. “I’ve taken care of Merik, and I have an appointment to see
Estelle. Once he’s ready to lay to rest, I could call you if you like. I think you need that closure. I think you need to say goodbye.”

  Rebekah pulled her into her arms and held her tight. She knew she needed closure too, as much as she needed justice, as much as she needed to save her bloodline.

  After a moment, the sister excused herself and went to the bathroom to dry her eyes. Rebekah joined the others in the Fellowship Hall where most were already enjoying their refreshments and gathered in groups with their family and friends.

  Delilah stood with a huntress who was busy praising her daughter. “My Delilah is the highest-ranking huntress of the class, and I’m looking forward to her future with the hunt.”

  Sage Miller turned and saw the young commander enter the room. Sage excused herself, dragging Delilah along behind her.

  She put out her hand. “Hello, Commander. Sage Miller. It’s nice to meet you.”

  “It’s very nice to meet you as well. Delilah is one of our finest huntresses.”

  “I’ve always pushed her to do her best. And that’s why I wanted to talk to you. I’m putting in a request for her transfer. It’s no offense to you, of course. I’m aware you’re simply filling in because of the tragedy, but it is my intention to put Delilah someplace she can live up to her potential without certain distractions, such as young men and a facility that is obviously lacking.”

  “No.” Rebekah met the woman’s eyes, her tone so deadpan that the woman was taken aback.

  Delilah’s eyes widened, and she pulled her lips in tight, knowing better than to smile. Her mother did a doubletake, as if she hadn’t heard Rebekah clearly.

  “I beg your pardon?” Sage’s upper lip stiffened.

  Rebekah stood a bit taller, though she was already a few inches over Sage. “I said no. Delilah is not transferring.”