Midnight Guardian

by Tamara White

  Once the door is closed, my little paperclip firmly positioned between the door and doorjamb, I straighten to see the guy from earlier watching me from his room across the hall with a scowl on his face. His arms are crossed as he surveys my every move like a predator. Little does he know, he’s the prey.

  I smirk, strutting down the hall, not one fuck given. I don’t have time in my life for yet another male when there are already two firmly in my mind…even if the stranger looks more delicious than a lollypop.

  He could be a sex god and I wouldn’t give a damn. Scratch that, I haven’t met a sex god yet, so I could give that a spin, you know, for research purposes. It’s better to know your prey and all that.

  When I reach the end of the hall, I can’t help but glance back to see him still watching me. His eyes pierce me, like he can see through my very being and into my soul. I shiver involuntarily from the lust and anger in their depths.

  Shaking my head to break his stare, I turn away and enter the stairwell, taking the steps two at a time. I reach the ground floor in no time, glad I’m still somewhat in shape. There used to be a time where one flight of steps exhausted me. Now, though, I couldn’t even imagine if I got lazy. I’d be unable to hunt and be frigging useless to stay far from the council and the slimy clutches of Drake.

  I need my body on full alert, which is why I do my best to train at least three times a week, strengthening my core and keeping my muscle mass at an optimum level. Not that you can tell unless you actually train with me. If you walked by me on the street, I would be just a regular girl.

  I doubt my prey are even afraid of me until they see the hunger in my eyes, then they realize just what I’m hiding under the surface.

  I keep walking, watching all the people still up even though it’s almost midnight. It takes me a moment of wondering why they’re all awake for it to click. Vampires, while a pain in my ass, must have a lot more unauthorized turnings than most. And while the old myths about them burning instantly in the sun are false, they are still hurt by its rays. Only with time and age can they withstand it for long periods of time. Although, in this day and age, with hats and sunscreen, it’s a hell of a lot easier for them to be outside without any ill effects, but it still doesn’t stop them from sticking to the shadows, only hunting at night to keep the fear around their name from waning. But there are always the occasional outliers. One out of every hundred vampires chooses to live in the daylight, not that I’ve met one who was willing to do such.

  As I pass them and take note of the familiarity and playfulness among them, I’m taken aback. I knew there would be a mix of supernaturals that had just been turned here, but I thought for sure there would be nothing but anger and hostility.

  To see such happiness surprises me. Why wouldn’t they be pissed as hell after being taken from their homes to be a monster? I know I am!

  With each step toward the gates, I let my senses roam out, searching the individuals for anyone who may hold enough power to be a threat. No one out here has even an ounce of strength that Drake, Jordan, or the council wield. Well, the guy in my dorm does, but if he was a threat, he would have made a move by now. He could have easily attacked me in the dorm tonight. Even when I opened my door to him earlier, he could have effortlessly barged his way in while I was caught unawares, but he didn’t, which leads me to believe he must not have any motive to come after me. And if he’s biding his time to pounce, then I’ll show him just what happens when a supe attacks the Supreme Alpha. Just as I’ll show the council.

  I still don’t understand why they feared me, why I’m so different, but I know they don’t want me, a woman, being their Supreme Alpha. They want me to bite another human and turn them into the very monster I am. Then when they have their new little lackey, they’d kill me as if I never existed.

  I told them they could shove that idea so far up their ass that I hope it bleeds. There is no way in hell I would inflict this curse on another without sufficient reason to do so. I will not just go out and bite someone tied to a chair, which is what they tried to force me to do.

  I thought Drake was on my side, because when he rushed in and saw what they were trying to make me do, he lost it. But I should have known it was just a ploy. After all, it was the council who introduced me to Drake and Jordan. I should have known they only put them in my path so I would fall for one of them, and when I crushed hard on both, I bet those little beady fuckers on the council giggled in glee.

  With my heart attached to people, they had a way to control me, so when Drake broke my heart, it made it a hell of a lot easier to leave. Jordan tried to convince me to stay, but he knew just as well as I did that if I stayed, I would kill them all. So while it pained me to leave him, I had no choice.

  Still, now that I’ve left, I have to be on the lookout for Drake because he’s one tenacious bastard and he won’t stop until he drags me back to the council. But I’ll kill him before I allow such a thing.

  He may come for me soon, but I’ll be ready when he does. I can only hope that Jordan is on my side and was able to convince him that I went somewhere on the other side of the country. I grin at the thought of Jordan taking him to some arctic wasteland while I’m here in bright and vibrant Vegas.

  As I leave the safety of whatever magical barrier surrounds Midnight Society, I push all my thoughts of Drake away as I jump on the bus idling at the end of the gravel drive.

  I swipe my ID card on the little device the driver points to and move to the back and take my seat, relaxing as I stare out the window. I’m glad this school has such a good financial system in place, as well as transportation for those who wish to go into the city.

  On the back of the school map, it tells you how to use your ID card/room key/debit card.

  Apparently, the humans tap and go features were wired into each card, which is what enables you to purchase food, pay for the bus fare, and have your room assigned to you. Based on what I saw when I was in the system, the cards are loaded by room. So once your dorm room is appointed, funds are loaded to that card, along with your name, date of turning, and supe species. Not only that, but it seems that businesses in the heart of Vegas also use the funded cards. Something which appeals to me greatly. I may just be able to get myself a new assortment of hunting gear. I doubt I’d be able to buy ammo with the card, but that just means the supply of cash I have could go towards it. I’m running low on bullets, and while I have the casts I need to make them, I still need all the materials. Pure iron and silver are not exactly easy to get in large amounts, not to mention the foxglove flowers and larkspur. They are the key ingredients in making my bullets fatal.

  The supes would be decimated if the humans knew what was in these bullets, and while I may hate the fucker who turned me, and the council who let it happen, I couldn’t sentence the rest of a species to die because of them. Instead, I planned to kill them instead. The council thinks that because they are important, that means no harm will befall them, but I’ve learned from both Drake and Jordan that the council isn’t the thing that’s irreplaceable—I am. I could kill them all and make my own damn council, rewrite the laws and make sure the new council are strict supporters of me and only me. But such ambition takes time and knowledge.

  As the bus pulls away from the school, an eagerness fills me. The night’s hunting activities are going to be fun as hell. It sucks that I have to take the bus into the city, but it beats walking, especially in a new place. It’s going to take me a while to figure out the best ways to get around this city on foot.

  Though, I wouldn’t need to go into the city at all if the supes could control themselves. But no, I’m left to hunt them and ensure they don’t hurt another living being.

  My life revolves around keeping the supes in line, and stopping them from killing the humans that can’t protect themselves. I’m the only enforcement the supes have since the council just sits idly by. They are content to rest on their asses and let the killings happen, so long as the humans don’t find out
about our races.

  Instead, I have become a hunter, the executioner in the dark who will weed the bad from the good. And I get to feed while I do so.

  In fact, I’ve been doing a lot better than I hoped. My skills have been used for good and I’ve prevented many human deaths. My very name sends fear into the supes’ hearts. Well, the vigilante name a few supes gave me.

  The first time I heard it, I thought the panther I was stalking had lost his fucking mind. He kept going on and on about some “Midnight Guardian” the protector of humans. Then I heard it again, and this time I demanded answers from my wolf victim before I stole his life. He told me that the supernatural community had become aware of others in their clans going missing. He said I was named such because all my kills generally happened after the stroke of midnight and were people known to kill humans or feed on them painfully.

  I felt proud that in such a short time I’d made an impact, even if it was just to scare the shit out of the supernaturals. They needed to fear me, only then would the ruthless killing of humans stop. One day they will know me as their Alpha, but until then, as a vigilante works for me.

  As the trees begin to disappear, replaced with buildings and bright lights, I study the streets, hoping I find myself a target that stands out. My sixth sense for supes is pretty good when I walk among them. I can sense the intent behind most supes, whether they are simply hunting for a quick harmless meal, or whether they intend to take the life of their victim. However, if you pay enough attention by watching the supes, you can see the subtle differences in the way they hunt. Like a vampire hunting for its next meal will get as close as possible to its victims, subtly sniffing them to ensure they are healthy. If they were intent on killing their victim, such a thing would be unnecessary. They’d just stalk their victims into a secluded place and attack.

  Shifters looking for a light meal generally look for people who are fit, someone who can run and add to the thrill of the chase. They choose people near long stretches of road or woods so the shifter can turn into its animal form and chase them. Shifters looking to take a human to kill and feed on will attack quickly, and generally isolate their victim.

  Witches look for the elderly, since an older person’s blood contains more power for spells than younger people’s does, and makes the death magic even stronger.

  The Fae are rarely out hunting humans, trying to stay hidden unless it’s a blue moon. I’m not even sure what kind of abilities a Fae has, because, in all honesty, they seem like a passive race unless they are building their numbers.

  The only other supernatural I’ve caught hunting was a gargoyle who had lost his son and wanted a replacement. He had kidnapped a young boy who looked exactly like the picture of his son that he carried. I tried to reason with him, but he grew too angry to be rational and almost hurt the boy. I had no choice but to take him out and return the boy to his home.

  None of the people on the streets strike me as predators at first glance, so I look around the bus, wondering if one of the students who had boarded before me is going to end up being my prey.

  I quickly dismiss them all, feeling no intent of harm from them. If they were going to hunt humans, there would be an edge of anxiety, eagerness, or something to clue me in, but there are just simple emotions, mainly desire, running through them.

  The bus travels another ten minutes before it stops outside a massive building that’s illuminated in lights of various colors. I don’t pay attention to it as I get off the bus and stretch out my body. It was only a relatively short ride, but I want to be nimble and ready.

  The other supes who disembarked all join up in a group, laughing and taking off to the left. So I do the opposite and go to the right.

  I stroll down street after street, trying to navigate my way toward lanes that are darker and quieter, more likely to have a supe hiding in the dark. Finally, after what seems like forever, I find what I’m looking for.

  Chapter Eight

  Isobel

  There’s nothing more exhilarating than the sensation of absorbing someone’s energy into mine after saving a human who couldn’t protect themselves, and looking at the scene before me, that adrenaline comes rising to the surface.

  A vampire is hidden down a darkened street, feeding on a helpless girl. She’s dressed in club clothes, a small pink tube top, and a black skirt. She probably set out for a night of fun, maybe to pick up a guy for the night, but she’s gotten a lot more than she bargained for.

  I reach down and pull one of my daggers out before sauntering down the street. I make sure the sound of my boots hitting the ground echoes down to the vampire, hoping it will be enough to halt his feeding frenzy.

  I need him to let go of the girl without exchanging blood or killing her. If he does either of those things, I can still end him quickly, but I would like to minimize the human’s pain as much as I can.

  My body pulses with each step I take, craving the energy that gives the vampire life. I want this feed to last. It’s no fun if it’s over too quickly.

  As I get closer, I realize the damn vamp is too engrossed in his feeding that he doesn’t even hear me approaching. He’s consumed with his victim, and even when she cries out a plea for help, her eyes meeting mine, he still doesn’t let her go.

  I sigh, exasperated, crossing my hands behind my back to hide my dagger. “Just how much longer do you think you’ll be? I have other plans, ya know?”

  The vampire releases the girl and spins to face me with a rabid growl. When he sees me standing there, all innocent with my hands behind my back as I rock on my feet, he grins and drops the girl to the ground.

  I wince as her head hits the pavement. That’s got to hurt.

  “What’s wrong, sugar? Don’t like what you see? Maybe I’ll have you next,” he snarls, blood dripping down either side of his mouth.

  I shake my head with a cocky smirk. “I’ve met some crazy ass vamps in my time, but you’d have to be a new level of crazy if you think I’d let you touch me with your filthy hands.”

  He laughs, the haunting sound echoing down the alley. “Oh, sugar, I’m going to enjoy ripping your throat out and bathing in your blood.”

  This time it’s my turn to laugh. Why do they have to be so cliché? Oh, I’ll bathe in your blood. I shake my head at the ridiculousness of the situation.

  I move lightning fast, appearing behind him and slicing my blade across his neck. Blood sprays out and I turn him, latching my mouth onto the open wound, draining his life force. When I’m done, I simply let go and watch as his body disintegrates to dust. I throw my head back with an orgasmic sigh as the life from the vamp soaks into my very being. Death keeps me alive.

  A sound catches my attention and I jerk in the direction it came from, staring into the dark and letting my senses stretch out. I could have sworn I heard someone snickering. After glaring in the direction it came from for a few minutes, my instincts tell me there is no one around, so I turn my attention back to the poor girl on the ground.

  She’s still breathing, judging by the rise and fall of her chest, so I lean down and put away my dagger before hauling her up in my arms. She’s unconscious from the knock to her head, but otherwise, she’ll be fine. She may crave a little more meat than usual and be tired for a few days, but after that, she should be as good as new.

  I carry her to the entryway of the alley, within view of the closest club, and hail a bouncer.

  He notices me, then his gaze quickly drops to the girl in my arms as he hurries over.

  He takes her from me with a furrowed brow, most likely wondering how she ended up in this state.

  “What happened?” he asks, looking down at the girl worriedly.

  I shrug, playing it off as just another drunk girl who wandered out of a club. “No clue. Just walked by the back of a club and saw her passed out next to a pile of vomit. Must not have known her own tolerance,” I tell him jokingly.

  The bouncer immediately relaxes, like it’s a perfectly valid excuse to
be holding an unconscious girl. The silly man should have at least questioned me a little. I mean, how does he know I wasn’t the one to put her in this state?

  I shake my head at the man’s naivety for believing she was simply found this way, and that the girl he now holds was stupid enough to leave the club with a stranger. You’d think a woman these days would know to be more careful. Even without the knowledge of supes, humans on their own are despicable beings, men preying on the weak, women praying on children, while children preyed on other children. It’s a fucking cruel world we live in.

  It makes me wonder if it’s worth saving them when they do such reckless things, but then my mind is brought back to the attack on my family. There was no reason behind the ruthless killing.

  The council said they did research on my family and found out my brother was an only child and a victim of child abuse, which is why we were targeted, but after hearing all that, I knew they never even lifted a finger to look into my family. However they found us, it wasn’t done through good intentions. Which is why I knew deep in my heart that they had targeted us for some reason.

  When the bouncer turns away with the girl in his arms, I use that moment to disappear. I shrink back in the night, letting the dark swallow me again as I move among the alleys, looking for my next feed of the night.

  It didn’t take me long before I found two more vamps. They hadn’t yet gotten their hands on a victim, but I heard them talking about the group of women they had been stalking all night. Apparently, there were four of them out celebrating the engagement of one of them, and the vampires were hell-bent on feeding on them.

  I only had a split second to take them out, which really sucked because I didn’t get a chance to feed on them. My dagger sliced clean through their necks, taking their heads off. In seconds, they were disposed of but I still had to feed from them so their bodies turned to dust. Sometimes I forget that I have to actually drink from my victims to make them cease existing. Otherwise, I’d be leaving dead bodies all over the place.