A Hunter's Heart [The Hunters 1] (Siren Publishing Classic)

by Suzy Shearer

  Charlotte was concerned how Katie and Stuart now felt after they had time to talk things through, but Katie said after their initial shock and, she admitted, horror, they had concluded that it was a great thing. To know they would not lose her to old age and that she could keep watch over their future generations had tipped the scales in favor of her converting.

  She told Katie that she had made the decision to complete the blood exchanges. When they returned from their brief holiday, she would be immortal. She also told Katie she wanted her help in planning for her wedding. It felt funny to be discussing something as far out as immortality as if it was an everyday occurrence, but it felt good to be able to discuss it rationally with Katie. She told Katie in front of the children she would appear as her current age so they would not be confused or frightened.

  Katie agreed that was the sensible way to go. Katie promised they would text that they had arrived safely. They expected to be back late afternoon on Thursday. They chatted about nothing in particular for another fifteen minutes before saying good-bye.

  Charlotte got to her feet to check she had enough food for tonight. Michael and Louisa were coming once the sun was low enough for them to tolerate being in it. She hoped Louisa had found some clues with her hacking. She was not sure if they would eat first or after but she decided to prep things to save time tonight.

  Around four Matei wandered out to find her. Kissing her soundly, he said that Louisa and Michael were on their way and would be there soon. He had dressed in dark clothing with high, heavy laced boots. His hair was loose and trailed over his shoulders to his waist. He had a long black coat in his hand, which he threw over a couch.

  “If Louisa has got wind of where Vasilecu is, Mihăiță and I will go there. He won’t be expecting two Hunters and we should be able to take him by surprise, it won’t take long to destroy him.”

  “You will be careful won’t you? Now that I have you I have decided I don’t want to let you go,” Charlotte joked, but inside she was terrified something would happen and he would be hurt or worse, killed.

  He put his arms around her, resting his head on the top of hers. “Iubită, nothing will happen. Mihăiță and I are both very experienced Hunters. We never take unnecessary risks. We have fought together countless times. We are a good team, one of the best.”

  She sighed as she drew comfort from his closeness.

  “Just be aware if you come with the slightest scratch I will be very angry.”

  Harley began barking and wagging his tail in excitement just as Michael and Louisa materialised in the family room. Michael and Matei exchanged Hunter greetings while Charlotte and Louisa kissed each other’s cheeks. Michael was dressed similar to Matei but had his black duster over his dark clothing, which he removed and tossed over a chair. He had a large battered wooden case in one hand, which he placed on the table. He came over and kissed Charlotte’s cheeks before throwing himself beside Harley and giving the dog a good rub.

  “What is it with these men and dogs?” Charlotte asked Louisa.

  “I know. Doesn’t matter where we go, if there is a dog there I swear it gets more attention than I do.”

  She laughed in reply. Michael stood and walked over to the table. He drew some papers from the pocket of his coat.

  “Louisa was able to find some information which I think is a good lead. There have been three bodies found in a five-kilometre radius about seventy-five kilometres from here.”

  He spread the papers on the table as he and Matei studied them.

  “You’re right, it looks good. I think we should go there and investigate. What did the police reports say, Louisa?”

  “All three bodies were drained of blood, two of them had numerous bite marks over their bodies and the third had a large wound of the neck as if its throat had been torn. The police think it may be a large wild dog, although they can’t account for the blood loss. I studied the pictures taken at the scene and they have all the hallmarks of a strigoi.”

  “In that event, even if it is not Vasilecu, it will be a vampire with those wounds and the blood loss. We’ll have to destroy it,” Matei remarked. “I think we should leave now. It should take us under an hour to get there so we should arrive not long after sunset.”

  Michael agreed and opened the wooden case. Inside were an assortment of lethal-looking knives and two glass bottles filled with clear liquid. He and Matei distributed the knives about their bodies and both took a bottle. Then Michael put his coat back on before turning to Louisa and hugging her.

  Matei pulled a leather thong from his pocket and tied back his hair. He picked up his black duster and put it on then walked over to Charlotte. Placing his arms around her, he drew her into his embrace. Charlotte had been worried before, but when she saw the assortment of weapons in the case and those he was now carrying, her fear shot sky high.

  “Don’t worry, Iubită, we should be successful and will return as soon as we can. I’ll let you know when we arrive and what is happening.”

  His kissed her passionately, and Charlotte clung to him then released him regretfully.

  “What’s in the bottle?”

  “Holy water. Remember I told you it could keep a vampire from disappearing. We will use it to hold the vampire in its form so we can kill it.”

  Both men blew the girls a kiss and vanished.

  Charlotte was worried but Louisa said, “Don’t be concerned, Charlotte, they have done this thousands of times. Neither man will take any risks. Before you know it they’ll be back with us.”

  Charlotte was grateful for Louisa’s words and her company. She doubted she could have handled being alone and knowing Matei was trying to destroy a vampire.

  “I was okay until I saw the knives. Matei has never had them on him that I know of.”

  Louisa grinned. “The box is his, he asked Michael to bring it from his house. He had a couple of knives on him the night in the car park, apparently he hid them in the yard so you would not be upset.”

  “Oh.” Charlotte did not know what to say. “I guess I thought they just used their hands. Seeing those knives…” She shuddered.

  Louisa grinned. “He told Michael he didn’t want you to worry so he kept most of them at his home.”

  Louisa patted the couch alongside her. “Come, sit down and talk to me. Tell me of your family, Charlotte.”

  The two women spent some time in idle talk but Charlotte was distracted all the time and would not be able to tell anyone what they had talked of. Matei spoke to her a few times to let her know where they were.

  “Cara, we have arrived. I will not talk to you until we have finished our search, so don’t be concerned or fearful if you don’t hear from me. Te iubesc Cara. “

  “I love you too. Come back to me soon.”

  “Come let’s make some tea,” Louisa jumped to her feet. “You must give me the recipe for that meal we had last night, Michael was very fond of it.”

  Charlotte knew Louisa was trying to distract her and she was grateful for the chance.

  Just then, Harley started to bark. He ran out through the dog door into the backyard, barking all the while.

  Charlotte called him but he ignored her. “It must be the cat from two doors up. It likes to come and annoy him,” she said as she went to the door. “Harley, get in here now.”

  The dog barking became more urgent, more aggressive, and he was close to the back door. Charlotte opened it. As she was about to step outside Louisa shouted, “Wait, Charlotte!” but it was too late as Charlotte went through.

  So much happened in a matter of seconds.

  Charlotte felt paralysing fear, then something slammed into the back of her head and she lost consciousness.

  Louisa screamed, “Mihăiță!” and raced to the door in time to see a vampire lifting an unconscious Charlotte into his arms. Harley raced over and sank his teeth deep into the vampire’s leg.

  The vampire sneered at Louisa and kicked the dog away from him. With a sickening thud, Har
ley hit the wall and lay still.

  “Tell the mighty Hunter that he has lost. I will delight in torturing this one before I drain her. She will scream in agony while I fuck her and tear her limbs. She will be dead soon but not before she suffers. Then I may return for you.”

  With that, they disappeared.

  Louisa ran outside, frantically screaming for Michael. She went to the dog’s side and was fearful when she could barely feel a pulse.

  “Louisa my love, tell me all!” Michael demanded.

  She related all that had happened all the while sobbing. “I couldn’t stop him. He took her, I couldn’t stop him.”

  “Be calm, dragostea mea. I need you calm. Is there anything you can tell us to help us find him?”

  Louisa took a deep breath. She could feel Matei’s rage and fear on the open channel.

  “Listen, dragostea mea. It will take us a short while to get back to you. Is there anything that you can tell us, anything? Take a breath and then tell me.”

  “No, nothing. It happened so fast and he just laughed and disappeared before I could do anything. I never expected him, Michael. I couldn’t stop him!” She cried.

  “No, wait! Harley, Harley bit him and he is bleeding, I don’t think he realised it. Michael, Harley is hurt. I don’t know if I can save him.”

  Her sobbing was uncontrollable as she ran her hands over the dog.

  “Louisa, we will be there as soon as we can. We will follow the blood trail but first I must calm Matei. His anger and rage is dangerous. Do what you can for the dog until we get there.”

  She felt his arms around her and the kiss he placed on her brow.

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Michael was worried. Matei was dangerously close to losing control. As soon as Charlotte had lost consciousness, Matei had felt it. He knew something was wrong and had begun to curse and shout. They both had heard Louisa’s scream for Michael, knowing when she had used his Romanian name that something terrible had happened.

  Louisa had used the common channel without realising, so Matei had heard her conversation with Michael and knew the worst. He had let his rage take over and Michael knew he must get through to him and calm him.

  “Matei! Matei! Listen to me. You must calm down. You are no use to Charlotte like this.” He grabbed his friend’s shoulders. “Matei, listen to me!”

  Matei looked at him through burning red eyes, his fangs visible, his hands lengthened into claws. He looked at Michael, not really seeing him.

  He looked ready to attack anything and anyone.

  “Matei!”

  He shouted at him but still Matei looked through him. Michael hit him on the jaw and finally got a reaction. Matei drew a breath, looked as if he would hit back but then screamed to the heavens. As he had done before, he released his anger into the sky. As he roared, lightning leapt from one side of the sky to the other until he sank to his knees, head bowed, drained.

  Michael knelt by his friend, his arm laid across his shoulders, “Matei, my brother. We will find her. You heard what Louisa said, he is bleeding. We can follow that trail. Come let us fly swiftly as we have never flown before.”

  He stood and reached down a hand to Matei. Matei looked up at his friend and then took his hand and allowed Michael to pull him to his feet and the two of them took to the air.

  Michael told Louisa that they were on their way. He hoped they would arrive before the hour was up. Both of them were flying as if the very devils of hell were on their coattails.

  * * * *

  Louisa was relieved to know they were returning. She had felt Matei’s rage. Any Hunter awake would have felt and heard it. She had been fearful that Michael might not have been able to control his friend. She was frightened that Matei would turn rogue if Charlotte were to die. And if Charlotte were to die, she then feared for Michael.

  He would have to gauge if his friend was lost in his wrath and gone rogue. He would have to try to control his friend or else kill him and the odds would be against Michael. Matei was a mighty Hunter, one of the greatest alive and few could best him. Once under the thrall he would be unstoppable.

  Louisa tried to push her fear aside. She looked once more at Harley. She would spend the time trying to heal the dog. It would help her block all that was happening. Centering herself, she took a breath and released her spirit into Harley. When she saw his pelvis was fractured, she was glad she had not moved the dog. There was a nasty splinter of bone close to his bowel. Louisa took her time to repair the damage. She did not want the dog to suffer with any aches from the injury.

  Once she had repaired the break, she checked him all over. There was a tear to one of his kidneys, which she closed. Thankfully, there was nothing else. He would be stiff for a day or so as long as he just lay quiet until he finished healing, but he would survive. Finally, she withdrew. Almost thirty minutes had passed and she felt drained of energy.

  Louisa was glad the dog would survive. Harley had proved himself with his attack on the vampire. Louisa knew very few dogs would attempt it, they were normally fearful of the strigoi. They would alert their masters, but to actually attack was against the norm. Carefully she carried him inside and placed him on one of the couches, and he rewarded her with a lick to her face. She leant into his fur and cried, pouring out all her fears.

  All at once, she felt a hand on her shoulder as Michael materialised alongside her. She raised her tear-stained face and threw herself into his arms.

  She looked across the room as Matei appeared. Cold hard anger emanated from him as he walked outside. She was glad it was not directed at her. When he found the vampire there would be no mercy in his actions.

  His eyes still blazed red, his fangs visible. Louisa shuddered.

  Michael kissed her and then went to Matei’s side. “How could he have found her? You removed the marker he left in her mind?”

  “Of course I did,” Matei replied curtly.

  Michael chose his words carefully as he watched Matei examine the bloodstains on the ground. “How long after you saved her did you remove them?”

  Matei looked at Michael with anger visible on his face, his fists clenched, and he took a step toward his friend. Michael held his ground but Louisa held her breath.

  Suddenly his shoulders sagged. “I brought her back here and gave her blood that was my first priority. Then I cleansed her blood from the poisons he had injected.”

  He punched his fist into the nearest wall and had the satisfaction of seeing the plaster crack. “Only after that did I remove the marker. It may have been a few hours.” his voice ragged with emotion, Matei realised the vampire must have followed them using the marker and planned his revenge. He realised it was his fault.

  Michael put his hands on his friend’s shoulders. “Put that aside. We must concentrate on finding her. Once she recovers consciousness you will be able to locate her.”

  Matei took a deep breath. He blocked all his emotions except cold seething anger. Gone was the Hunter and in his place was a remorseless executioner. Tonight Vasilecu would feel the true wrath of a Hunter. Nodding to Michael that he had the scent, together they vanished into the night leaving Louisa to wonder what terrors the remainder of this night would hold as she and Harley kept vigil.

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Charlotte was drowning in a sea of pain. Slowly she became aware of her surroundings. Her head felt split in two and when she lifted a hand to feel it came away wet with blood. She tried to remember what happened but it was hazy. She remembered Harley barking but after that it was blank.

  She looked around and saw she was in a small cave. She could see outside and feel the rock wall at her back. She tried to sit up but the place started spinning so she lay where she was. There was no one in sight but Charlotte could feel another’s presence nearby. She tried to stretch with her mind to see who it was but it hurt so she stopped.

  “Matei? Matei, where are you?” she cried weakly.

  “Iubită! Cara!” Relief flooded throu
gh her as she heard him in her mind. “I am coming, dragostea mea.”

  “Matei, I’m so frightened. I don’t know what happened, how did I get here? Oh, Matei, please hurry.”

  “Ah, the hero is coming to find you.”

  Charlotte cringed. She knew that voice, filled with malevolence!

  “Do not listen to him. Listen to my voice.”

  Danŭt Vasilecu strode into the shelter. Charlotte tried to pretend she was still unconscious.

  “I think a little taste is in order of what is about to happen to you.”

  He kicked her hard in the chest and she felt her ribs snap. She screamed in pain.

  “Foolish Hunter to think he could find me, I was hours away from where he is. He followed the trail of bodies I left for him. I knew he would not resist hunting me, so I left him some clues.” He gloated, “But I have taken what he loves most in this world and he will never see you alive again.”

  Charlotte shrank against the rock wall but the vampire grabbed her arm and dragged her toward him, into the cave entrance.

  “Now my fun begins.” He laughed cruelly. “You will wish you had died the last time we met.”

  He tore open her wrist and drank. Charlotte tried to concentrate on Matei’s voice in her mind but Vasilecu was inserting so much pain that she found it difficult. Her chest hurt each time she took a breath. She was scared the broken ribs were sticking into her heart or lungs or even both.

  All the while Matei keep shouting at her to listen only to him but Charlotte was inexperienced in blocking and she was so scared. The vampire tore at her clothing as she cowered before him. One breast was exposed and he laughed with cruel delight. With his nails, his raked across it leaving blood-raised welts. Charlotte screamed as he squeezed hard, digging his filthy claws into it, puncturing the soft skin.