by K A Young
My heart stops in my chest for a moment, my breathing shallow as I continue to see the one who fired the gun step forward.
My father walks up with caution to the corpses and kicks the vampire's body, so she is face up. He brings his gun forward and shots her twice more in the head, clenching his teeth in rage.
At least he knows how to double tap.
To lose another hunter...my father hates having to make the tough decisions, taking Shaw's life so he won't unexpectedly turn into a vampire somehow.
Horrified, I step backward and knock into a small crate. I yelp in surprise and quickly throw my hand over my mouth, stifling my own voice. I'm silently cursing myself at the sudden sound I make, trying to steady my heart while my eyes scan around me.
I see it out of the corner of my eye. A shadow stops in its tracks to my right as a figure rounds the edge of a large crate at the end of the walkway.
Shit!
He stands there, staring at me with an unblinking stare. He does not appear like the vampires my family is currently fighting. He looks to be about the age of twenty-five with short spiky, snowy white hair. His ice blue eyes lock onto me, watching me closely like a predator does his prey, right before it strikes.
My hand subconsciously lifts to the handle of the dagger tightly, ready to fight if necessary. I can still hear much commotion in the distance, knowing my parents have no idea what I've gotten myself into.
Not yet anyway.
He narrows his eyes and whispers with a seductive undertone, "You're going to need a lot more than that dagger if you want to live tonight."
Well, it's a damn good thing you don't know what you're up against!
I hesitate though, my mother's words coming back to haunt me.
He startles me, and in that moment of self-doubt and hesitation, he dashes forward unexpectedly, fangs bared while his irises slowly shift to the color of a black rose.
I think I nearly shit myself at the astounding speed he uses to close the distance between us. I am entirely unprepared for this night, thinking I was ready when clearly...I am not.
I recover quickly, pulling the dagger from its holster and drawing the blade across the open palm of my left hand. Blood seeps out, a warm connection sparking within the center of my chest and in a single motion, I create an arc in front of me. The blood appears to be frozen in time, stopping in mid-air.
The vampire abruptly stops his advancement, looking dubiously at the arc in front of him. His eyes flicker from me behind my weapon, cautiously analyzing what I've created.
Before he can react, both our heads snap in the direction of a single scream coming from the center of the warehouse.
No...
"Alyssa!" I scream out, faltering my connection as the sound of her voice pierces through my heart like a knife. There is a vampire, one that looks very similar to the one in my presence only he appears to be much older. He has Alyssa's wrists pinned tightly at the small of her back, a look of severe pain crossing her features, blood coming from the left corner of her lips. Immobilized, Alyssa's fear was clearly written on her face.
"Let her go," my mother is standing about twenty feet away from them, her sword at the ready. Erin is standing a little closer than my mother but has no real advantage in this situation. He holsters his pistol away, a sword the only weapon of choice he points directly at the one restraining my sister.
Why not shoot him?
Erin growls dangerously, "She's dead either way."
Alyssa struggles hard in the vampire's grip, but he does not budge for a second. "Mother, please..." Alyssa begs her with a grimace on her face, her muscles becoming slack and a cry leaving her lips, "Just kill me..."
Alyssa...wait that means...
I glance back at the vampire across from me. His attention is not on my sister but still focused on the arc of blood I had created. My heart skips a beat, I can't believe I let my guard down, the mere thought setting off alarms in my head.
He could have easily killed me.
But why didn't he?
"What lord are you?" My mother speaks with hate, taking a step closer, "Are you, Lord Enos?"
The assumption...does she know more about these specific vampires than she is letting on?
"Why yes, I am. I really do not appreciate you stalking members of my coven. It looks like I'm going to have to kill your lovely daughter here to get the message across," Lord Enos speaks low, danger lurking in his black rose eyes.
Erin takes a single step toward Alyssa, cautiously gaining a small amount of distance.
Lord Enos' free hand emerges from behind her back and makes its way up to cup Alyssa's right breast over her scarlet shirt. "Should I keep her as my own to punish your family?" He roughly squeezes her breast firmly and she yelps in response.
The mere sight sickens me.
"Lord Enos, don't-," my mother starts to plead with him, but he quickly interrupts her, growling, "Or should we roll the dice and let fate decide? I think she'd make a lovely vampire...if she doesn't die in the process."
With that, Lord Enos releases her breast and takes hold of the front of her throat, yanking her head to the side. The low lighting reflects the deadly sharp fangs that can be seen through his parted lips, sinking them into Alyssa's flesh. Her blood spills, the smell of it filling the entire warehouse as my muscles tense.
I scream once again and quickly try to run toward her, but the vampire starts to run toward me again, not allowing me to further assist my family. I stop reluctantly and open my left hand wide and then clench it tightly. The arc of blood separates into two spikes at my command.
My wrist rolls before I quickly flick it, sending the first spike flying at the vampire head-on. He reacts quickly and weaves to the right, entirely bypassing him. Cursing under my breath, the glint in his eyes reflects amusement, a smirk playing dangerously across his lips.
"Mother!" Alyssa's voice is hoarse, blood trickling down the front of her chin.
I flick my wrist a second time, and the next spike flies straight at the vampire. This time, it catches him in the side, not able to sidestep away in time like before when his distance was much further. He stops dead in his tracks, the spike coming out the back and the front of his body.
The look in his eyes stirs confidence within me, the shock remaining on his features as his eyes lift to meet with mine.
Alyssa screams one last time before there is complete silence. I hear two thuds as I turn my attention to where Alyssa and Lord Enos were once standing. My father is now standing beside two bodies. His sword is coated in thick blood, and that is when I notice he has decapitated both my sister and the vampire with one fell swoop.
"ALYSSA!" I scream, tears streaming down my cheeks, the pain in my heart becoming unbearable as it pounds loudly.
I allow myself to lose my concentration and hear lowly, "Bitch," I quickly glance back in fear and anger at the vampire, my blood is on the ground, and his wound sealed shut. A startled scream rips away from my lungs as once again, I've allowed myself to let down my guard. I had an advantage, but now it's wasted.
I can't think straight.
I attempt to concentrate and pull the blood toward me, but I can't morph it.
He lunges at me, and I tumble backward over the crates, a loud crash I leave in my wake.
Alyssa...
I try to calm down, taking the dagger into my already cut-up left hand and slicing open my right palm. The vampire glares at me, reaching out to take hold of my arm.
I don't give him the opportunity to lay a single finger on me, flinging the blood from my right palm around me, encasing the small area surrounding my body in a blood shield. I clench my palm, and the shield hardens, my eyes looking with bewilderment at the sudden halt the vampire makes with his steps.
The vampire reaches out and touches the blood before he angrily draws his fingers into a fist trying to smash it to pieces with his inhuman strength.
Much to my surprise, the bloody shield is much too stro
ng for him to shatter.
Score one point for the rookie hunter!
"Mother! Father!" I call for aid at the top of my lungs, not knowing exactly how long I can hold this connection, letting my head fall into my hands, attempting with all my strength to keep the link alive between the barrier and me.
The only thing preventing me from ending up exactly like my sister.
My parents spring into action and dash at the vampire, my heartbeat skipping every other beat as I continue to hold out and wait for their support. This night was supposed to be easy...
This night was supposed to be about learning...
I learned one thing...I don't want this.
"You'll regret this day, bitch," the vampire snarls with venom laced into each word before he turns away from me and takes off in the opposite direction, two more falling in behind him, one with long fiery red hair that falls in curls down her back while the other's brown hair shields his eyes as they make their escape from the warehouse.
Before I can wrap my head around what had just happened, they are gone. Vanished into thin air...
"Annika!" I can hear my mother distantly as she touches the shield, my head lifting from my hands as I shake uncontrollably.
At that moment, I let go of my connection, the warmth in my chest flickering away.
The blood drops around me, uncovering my form like a veil. Both of my parents kneel on either side of me, their arms comforting as they wrap around me with a sense of security.
That was a pureblood vampire.
My heart is beating much faster now, a chilling realization...
Father killed Alyssa...just to kill the pureblood.
Chapter 2
~Present Day~2030
-Annika
My phone vibrates loudly on my bedside table while I sit at the edge of my bed, adjusting the strap on my black high heels. Lifting my chin, I take a quick glance at the screen, my best friend Susie's picture lighting up the screen in her baby blue bikini she'd worn on our trip to Hawaii last summer.
That was one hell of a trip...
With the call missed, it went to voicemail. Rising to my feet, I take a quick glance down and smooth out the material of my Ready Net Go Off-Shoulder High-Low Dress, admiring the way it accents my curves, the slit of the material drawing up higher to expose the creamy skin of my left thigh.
With a small sigh, I take the phone into my hand, reaching for my purse but halt the second the screen lights up once again.
Susie...
Being the youngest of five within the circle of my friends, it was quite often I had been left behind while they all went out drinking and clubbing. However, I was left to study alone in the wee hours of the morning, attaining my bachelor’s in science with an emphasis in immunology just a month ago.
I'm not one to break the rules, bidding my time for the day I legally turn twenty-one...which happens to be today. It is Susie idea, taking me out to a local club with the rest of the gang, though I don't feel really that up to it tonight.
Another voice message.
I snap the purse shut the second after shoving my phone into it, taking a deep breath...I wish my parents were here.
I gave up everything that night, Alyssa's death weighing too heavily on my shoulders to even begin to move forward in my training. The fear paralyzed me, leading me to believe that a hidden life might be better than one in plain sight fighting the creatures of the night. My mother made it clear, allowing for me to move away from the memories that turn into nightmares as soon as the sun fades down behind the horizon.
I left California, calling Florida my new home, my grandparents providing me sanctuary from the only life I knew.
My blood runs cold though, the moment I recall my mother's final parting words of, "You can run from what you are, but you can't hide it. Being a hunter isn't a choice, it's what we are born as and with that right, a certain expectation placed upon our shoulders. One day, I hope you understand."
I still don't understand, and that was our parting farewell eight years ago.
"Annika?" My grandmother's melodic voice travels up the staircase to my ajar bedroom door, "I believe Susie is here to pick you up, her car is running in the driveway."
Figures, she was always one of those people...sitting in their cars honking the horn until you come out. What? Her legs don't work or something?
"I'll be down in a second," I reassure her, making sure everything is situated before walking down the wooden floorboards to the end of the hallway. Just as I reach the turnabout to head down the stairs, I catch my reflection in the floor length oval mirror, my white irises widening at how careless I had almost been.
Without a second thought, I quickly duck back into my bedroom and retrieve my contacts. Mother mentioned that the brown one's suit me best, taking her advice and blinking my eyes a few times after slipping them in.
A few moments later and I'm standing at the bottom of the staircase, my grandmother popping her head out of the kitchen. My mouth waters at the sweet aroma of chocolate chip cookies, spotting the tray she is holding with an oven mitt while my grandfather rises from his recliner, setting the book he was reading down on the armrest.
They both sport silvering hair, their brown contacts reflecting my own as a soft smile makes its way onto my grandmother's lips. Despite her heart condition, she's healthier than anyone else I know, my grandfather wrapping an arm around her shoulders.
"I can't believe you're twenty-one..." my grandfather's voice trails off, the both raising me like their own child. However, I wasn't forced to train any longer. My grandparents are what you could consider, 'retired,' in a sense, they keep to themselves and don't antagonize any vampires that may or may not be in the area. Thankfully, they wear their contacts all the time, except for when they're sleeping.
I can't stand them.
At least my vision is good aside from the disguise I wear, more than likely electing for glasses if my sight ever decides to betray me.
"You've worked so hard this last semester," my grandmother nods in agreement with my grandfather, "all your hard work will pay off. Just enjoy yourself tonight, you really have earned it."
I nod and reply shortly, "Thank you."
"Promise to be safe," grandmother is quite hesitant the moment I take a step toward the front door, my heart rate beginning to speed up the second those words leave her mouth.
Thankfully...she isn't just referring to the vampires when grandfather chuckles, "Just don't do anything I wouldn't do, and you'll be just fine."
My cheeks redden, and I gasp with surprise, "Grandpa!"
He shrugs his shoulders and looks at the two of us like, 'what?' and grandmother quickly scoffs, "By those standards, as long as you don't jump on everything that moves, you're doing quite well."
The flush in my cheeks spread to my ears, and I quickly escape out the front door, standing on the front porch as I let the cold air fight off the embarrassment. For an old couple, they don't let that stop them from banging it out a couple of nights a week.
Thin walls...lord help me.
They get more action than I could ever dream off, wallowing in the pity of my virginity status. There wasn't much free time I had in college, focusing on my studies because waiting for the right guy would come easily once I paved the pathway for my career.
The sound of a car horn blaring startles me from my thoughts, lifting my chin to see Susie waving her hand through the open window of the slate 2030 Toyota Corolla.
"Better not keep her waiting any longer," grandfather's chuckle echoes from behind me, glancing over my shoulder to see both grandparents standing in the doorway. A warm smile appears on grandmother's lips, waving me goodbye as I finally gather the courage to approach Susie's car.
The music is loud, the bass shaking the car frame while I open the passenger door and slip into the seat beside her. She turns to me slightly in her seat, arching a brow as I ask, "What?"
"Really? Ignoring my calls?" She rolls her ey
es, releasing the parking brake and putting the car into reverse. Smiling while I wave goodbye to my grandparents, Susie taps her thumb against the top of the steering wheel, the freeway practically hers considering it's nine o'clock at night.
"I wasn't ignoring them..." my voice trails off, the lie easy to see through when she shoots me a quick look before returning her attention to the road. I pause a moment and then let out a sigh and admit, "Alright, fine. I'm just not feeling up to going out..."
Susie pulls up to a red stop light once we come off the freeway off-ramp, pausing while she looks at me as if I have two heads. When she finally does speak, she states, "You've been complaining for...I can't even keep track any longer...to come out and go clubbing with the rest of us. Now that it's your birthday, you simply aren't 'feeling up to it'? Please, Annika, come up with a better excuse."
Eh...
Susie is a great friend...really...she's just extraordinarily pushy and self-centered for the most part. If it weren't for her, I probably would have walled myself up in my room aside from attending school. Even then, I tried to debate with my grandparents that the online school would be a better option for me.
Their response was a simple no, stating it's better for me to socialize with others. The moment they told me that, I grabbed my blanket and pulled it over my head, wanting to dissolve away from the rest of society.
"And your final excuse is...?" Susie's voice drawls, not having realized she'd parked the car around the corner of the club, killing the engine and staring at me intently.
I sigh, "I have no excuse, except that I don't want to-"
"A few drinks will change your mind," she rolls her eyes while cutting me off, grasping the handle of her door before exiting the vehicle and letting the door fall shut behind her. She adjusts her well fit light blue dress, her heels clicking against the pavement as she comes around the passenger side of the car. I'm still sitting there, my hands clutching the purse, my knuckles turning white at how tight I am holding it.
The door swings open and Susie leans down for a second. Her eyes search me, her features softening as she lets out a very long sigh, standing straight up, "If you really don't want to, we can spend your birthday night doing something else."
