The Crimson Hunt

by Smith, Victoria H.

  I didn’t care about his reason. I was just so glad he was here. Stepping back from our embrace, I took in his attire. He wore the same black uniform as I did, but damn did he make it look good with the way his body fit snuggly into it. I shook my head to clear it of that thought. I had to focus.

  “What is this place?” I gazed around the darkness.

  “We are in one of the training rooms. I figured this would be the best place to meet undetected. No one comes to these anymore since the new rooms were made on Level 6.”

  “How do you train in here?” The place was pretty unremarkable, to say the least.

  “Just watch.” He closed his eyes.

  The room transformed around us. The sunshine was what I saw first, then the fields. Finally, the white-walled Grinaldi farmhouse with green shutters came into view. I could even smell the fruit trees in the distance. We were back home again. Looking around, I smiled, but then my smile faded. This wasn’t the beautiful farm. This was a place where other Hunters practiced killing the people I knew and loved.

  “I want to go.” I looked away.

  Instantly, the room changed back to the all-black room with the spotlight in the middle.

  Luca gazed into my eyes. “I am sorry. I did not realize it would upset you.”

  “It’s fine. I didn’t realize it would upset me, either. I guess I really miss them, and it just feels wrong pretending like we’re back there.”

  “I understand.”

  The time was getting away from us. “Where are we headed? Where do you think Serene’s connection is?” I forgot all my training now that he was here to guide me.

  “I think we should go to the records room to start. All important documentation is kept there.”

  For some reason, that didn’t seem right. “Whatever Serene told me to get wouldn’t be accessible to just anyone. It wouldn’t be left out in the open. It would be kept protected.”

  “What do you suggest?”

  “I think we need to go to your boss’ office, Anchor Craven.”

  Luca grabbed my shoulders. “Ariel, we cannot go there. You might as well announce to them who you are.”

  “The woman at the front desk said he was away on business today. It might be our only opportunity. Luca, something is telling me what we’re looking for is right there in his office. He would never let something that important out of his sight.”

  “Ariel, you do not understand. Anchor Craven is very powerful. If he catches us, we are done for. He has the entire Hunter force under his control. Not to mention, the great powers he himself possesses. It is too dangerous. I will not let you.”

  I placed my hand on his cheek. “You promised.”

  He slid his lips into my hand and forever went by before he responded. “I think I know a back way.”

  “Thank you.”

  “We need to go, now. The quicker we are out the better.” He grabbed my hand, and we left the training room.

  The hallway was still empty. We skirted into another hallway, then took a sharp left into another. My feet stumbled with every quick turn.

  We raced down another hallway to the right and then made a tight left. Thank goodness Luca was here with me. I would have never known where to go with the hallways being as intricate as they were. It felt like we were in a maze. When we came across a service elevator, Luca keyed in a four digit PIN code. We were let in and stepped inside.

  Once the door closed, Luca pulled the emergency stop button. He stood on the handrail and hit a patch on the ceiling with his fist. The chrome tile went in, and he lifted himself gracefully into the crevice with no sound.

  God, he was hot when he was in his element. “What are you doing?” I asked, looking up.

  He didn’t respond and kept working.

  I felt it best to keep silent until he was done.

  He jumped back down to the rail and replaced the tile back. Gently, he lowered himself to the floor. “I was making us invisible.” He pointed to the wall of the elevator.

  The small camera screen located on the wall flashed and we were gone. The image of the elevator’s interior remained, but we were no longer inside it. We were invisible.

  “I felt it best to go undetected from here. The other cameras along the way should not give us any problems, either, but we do not have much time. The override is only temporary. I did not want to arise any suspicion by having them out too long,” he said.

  He really was amazing. I felt like I was in some kind of cool spy movie. Except, I was brought back to reality that I might die today, and the thrill quickly went away.

  He started the elevator again, and we quickly ascended. The elevator came to a stop and Luca stepped out. He held up a hand for me to wait. When the coast was clear, he signaled me to come.

  How close is it? I whispered in my head, though no one could hear our internal speech.

  Just down the hall, he whispered back.

  This hall was empty, as well. I guessed Anchor Craven liked his privacy. Luca dragged me toward Craven’s office, but I hesitated upon seeing her.

  Down the hallway was a tall, slender woman with short blonde hair. The style was one of those pageboy haircuts. She had a set of gorgeous, midnight eyes, and wore the same uniform as we did but hers was covered in shining metals. Who was she? I felt like I knew her from somewhere.

  Luca stalled and looked back at me. What is it, Ariel? We have to go.

  I shook my head and he continued to lead us. Sorry, I thought I saw someone I knew.

  Someone you knew?

  Yeah, but it’s nothing. Let’s keep moving.

  We approached Craven’s door undetected. This was definitely his door, all right. It even looked powerful. It was all black, shining in chrome metal, and had a matching chrome arch surrounding it. I gazed at the door and noticed the obstacle near the knob. The same light blue liquid from downstairs was right there. The square section was meant for a hand, just as before.

  They changed the access, Ariel. It used to be coded. I could have given us access to that, but this is completely out of my element, Luca said.

  My heart jolted. I beat this before. I checked my hand, hoping the same good luck would happen twice. To my good fortune, my hand glowed once again. The lines changed like before.

  I’ve seen this before. I can do this.

  He stared at my hand, his brows knit. How?

  There was this same identification pad downstairs at the front desk. I can do this.

  Ariel ….

  I slipped my other hand in his. I can do this. Trust me.

  He nodded and stepped back.

  I took in a deep breath and placed my hand into the liquid. My hand was locked into place once again. Before I knew it, I was set free.

  “Welcome, Ara,” said the female voice of the door.

  I grabbed a stunned Luca and we hurried inside. Once there, I released our mind connection. There was no one inside, and it was safe to talk.

  “How did you do that?” Luca asked in awe.

  “I don’t know. I did it downstairs, too. We don’t have time to think about it, though. We have to look for the connection.”

  “Why did the command call you Ara? She does not have access to this room,” he said, ignoring my response.

  My eyes scanned the room. “Who’s Ara?”

  “She is an Admiral Hunter. One of the most privileged and respected for her talents.”

  I didn’t really take in much of what he said. I was entranced by our surroundings. Craven’s office was really amazing. Anyone could tell he was the big cheese. The room glowed red, and the lights bounced off the dark bricks. The place felt reminiscent of a really swanky dungeon.

  I went to Craven’s desk and searched through everything I believed looked important. I stopped when I saw a note with silver writing. “I think I know why Ara has access.” I handed Luca the note.

  His brows shot up. “This is—”

  “An affair if I’ve ever seen one,” I said, judging by the
risqué content of the letter. I guessed when Luca said talents he didn’t realize how correct he was. “We have to keep looking.” I took the letter from him.

  He nodded and we continued our search.

  We ran throughout the room quickly, but cautiously. If someone came in and found us, it wouldn’t be easy to talk our way out. Luca looked through Craven’s desk again while I walked over to the bookshelf. My scanning of the area stopped on a bronze-metal book with a metal flower on the top. It was displayed in glass casing. “Luca, I think I found something.”

  He came over to the bookshelf and gazed at the book.

  “What if her connection is a book?” I asked.

  He shrugged.

  I lifted my hand to the glass door, but Luca grabbed my hand.

  “Be careful. It could be a trap of some kind.” He released me.

  I didn’t feel like it was a trap. I couldn’t really describe it, but there was this strange connection I felt inside to it. Like the book was meant for me to have it. Maybe this was Serene telling me this was what I was supposed to find. I lifted my hand again and opened the glass door.

  Nothing peculiar happened, and we both let out a sigh of relief. I pulled out the bronze book and the weight of it surprised me. It really was pure metal. I walked over to Craven’s desk and relieved the weight from my hands. Since this was a book, it only seemed logical to try and open the cover. I gave it a try, but it wouldn’t budge.

  Luca sighed. “Maybe this is not it?”

  I felt like it was, though. That strange connection was still there and I couldn’t shake the feeling. I scrutinized the cover and stopped my search on the bloom on the top. It looked like one of the blooms Luca always gave me. Maybe, just maybe …. “Luca, put your hand on the flower.”

  He looked at me, then the book. Not hesitating again, he placed his palm down.

  A clasp release sound clicked in the air.

  Luca lifted his hand, and the top of the metal box opened just like a book.

  We both gazed at the contents. Inside, was an old worn book with the same bloom molded into its leather cover. I reached for it and placed its soft body in my hands. Nothing happened after I picked it up. Again, it only seemed logical to open it. My fingers curled under the cover. The book blasted open to its middle pages, and I snapped my hand back.

  Luca pulled me in close. The light of the pages illuminated the room and surrounded us in blinding light. A heavy wind breezed about the room. The light grew even brighter, and Luca and I held each other tightly. There was nothing else we could do.

  The room spun, then settled, and out of the pages came the ethereal being known as Serene. She was just as beautiful as in my dreams. Her threads shimmered and the light, which surrounded her, was breathtaking.

  Luca and I both released our hold of each other and approached her. Neither one of us spoke. Her aura took our words away. It was she who spoke first with her beautiful voice.

  “Hello again, Pure One,” she said to me, then turned to Luca. “And hello, Brave One.”

  Luca’s expression froze. He looked as stunned as I felt the day I met her in my dreams.

  I believed the duty was mine to speak to her. “Hello, Serene.”

  She smiled at me. “You have both made a long journey to find me. Through your love, you have desired to seek the truth. Your journey has not been easy, but it was necessary.”

  Luca took a hesitant step forward. “You have been challenging us?”

  “Your struggle was necessary. Your assignment as the Pure One’s Hunter was required for you to find her, and for you to aid her on her new journey as the Bringer of Peace.”

  My eyebrows narrowed. “What do you mean? How am I the ‘Bringer of Peace’? The Bringer of Peace to whom?”

  “A great lie has been told, Pure One. You are needed to help rectify it.” She lifted her arms to the air.

  The room spun again. I grabbed Luca’s hand and closed my eyes. When I opened them, we were in a room with an old man in tan robes. He looked to be writing something down at an old desk. There was a double of Serene in the room with him. It seemed as if we stepped into the past.

  “He is Josiah Craven, one of Elda’s first elders. He is Anchor Ivan Craven’s ancestor,” Luca whispered, marveling at the images he saw.

  What was Serene trying to show us?

  “Long ago, I prophesized of a great tragedy in which Elda would be destroyed,” said our Serene.

  “This is why the Hunter Program was created,” said Luca.

  “The destruction I prophesied was a direct result of a powerful family on Elda, Brave One,” said Serene.

  Neither Serene’s nor Josiah’s mouths moved. They were communicating mentally, but as Luca and I both watched the silent reenactment of Serene’s prophesy, the anger on Josiah’s face said it all. The Craven’s will somehow cause the great disaster. We watched the scene play out for a few moments and rage reflected across Luca’s face. Serene, then let us completely into the darkness of that day, allowing us to mentally hear them.

  “I have discovered your deceit, Josiah. Your actions will ruin your world,” said the Serene of the past.

  “You know nothing, Serene. You are just as blinded as they are. The people of Elda know not of the value of this great land. They are wasting it. It is up to me to make sure Elda is the most powerful it can become,” said Josiah, frustration in his voice.

  “Your lust for power is driven by nothing but events from the past, and you leave me no choice.” Serene closed her crystal-like eyes.

  The room around Josiah spun. The pages on his desk flew around the room. Josiah fell to the ground and cowered. Serene descended upon him.

  There was fire in her eyes and ice in her words. “You will not succeed. A Bringer of Peace from Earth will stop your evil reign, and you will cower before the eyes of your people. Their army will leave you destroyed in its wake. It is then when the light will come for you, and your family will be forever shamed in the eyes of Elda!” she shouted.

  She disappeared into nothing, leaving the pathetic likes of Josiah Craven.

  The scene changed. It was Josiah again, but this time he was in the room with another man. They both looked to be discussing something. Again, their mouths didn’t move, but again, Serene allowed us to hear.

  Josiah eyes were worried and he collapsed to a chair. “Serene has cursed us brother. Our legacy is doomed.”

  “She will not win Josiah. I have devised our solution to ultimate power,” said the other man, his voice sounding calm.

  Josiah gazed up. “How brother?”

  “Serene has said a citizen of Earth will come to Elda, bringing warriors in their wake,” said the brother.

  Josiah’s eyebrows perked up. “Yes, brother?”

  “We will tell the people citizens of Earth will cause this great disaster and develop a system that will allow us to send our own people to Earth. They will look for this ‘Bringer of Peace’ and the members of their army,” said the brother, evil gleaming in his golden eyes.

  Josiah’s eyes shifted and a glimmer of hope formed within them. “They will destroy the Bringer and their army—”

  “And in the process, we will become the most powerful family on Elda, brother.”

  Josiah stood and hugged his brother.

  “I also have more good news, brother. Serene has given herself up to us. We now control her prophecies. The people will have no choice, but to succumb to us,” said the brother.

  The scene faded out, and Luca and I stood there in silence.

  I looked at Luca. He was fighting the tears of frustration filling his eyes.

  “How could this be? How could you give yourself up to them!” he shouted.

  I grabbed him and pulled him into an embrace. It will be okay. I’m here with you. I spoke to him with our minds. Stay strong.

  He pulled away calmly and focused on Serene.

  “I did what needed to be done, Brave One. I gave my power and left myself vulnerable.�
�� Serene gestured toward me with her hand.

  What could she have meant? I focused on her hand. She gestured toward my moonstone necklace. “How could this be? My parents gave this to me.”

  “I summoned it to Earth for them to find and give to you, Pure One. Believe in its power, and it will both aid you and protect you. It has already assisted you to gain entry to this place.”

  I gazed down at my hand. The blue had long faded. Now I understand. Holding the stone, I watched it through new eyes. Its value was far beyond what I believed before.

  “You must be strong, Pure One. Elda needs your guidance.”

  I tore my vision from the necklace and nodded.

  She gazed at Luca and smiled warmly. “You must be strong, Brave One. The Bringer needs your love, and Elda needs your light.”

  Luca glanced at me and slipped his hand in mine. Turning toward Serene, he nodded.

  “You must both believe in the power of each other. Use my connection and you will know what to do.” Serene raised her arms and the room spun once again. Her essence disappeared back into the old leather book.

  Standing there, neither one of us said a word.

  “Curiosity can be very dangerous if left to wander,” said a chilling voice in the shadows.

  Chapter Thirty-Four

  Luca pulled me in and placed me behind him.

  “There is no need for that, Luca. You know I do not bother getting my hands dirty with the likes of them. I have people who do that for me, and up until a little while ago, you were one of those people,” said his dark voice.

  The man wore a dark suit with a deep red tie. He had a full black beard and a jagged scar cut across his face. The eye underneath was opaque with cloudy liquid. His handicap did nothing to demean his intense stare. My chills were proof of that. His darkness overshadowed us. I felt pulled into his evil heart just by being in his presence. This was Anchor Ivan Craven. He had to be.

  “So, it all begins to make sense ….” Craven paraded the room in front of us, looking down.

  Luca and I remained in silence, watching him.

  He gazed up. “The sudden level of activity here. It would only make sense that if the Bringer herself were here, her warriors would be nearby.”