Tainted Hunter (The Huntress Bane Book 1)

by Derek Shupert

  We split up and put the settlers to rest, ensuring that they do not come back as demons of the night. A painful process, which I have unfortunately grown accustomed to over the years. It never gets any easier. One just goes on autopilot and does what is needed.

  Lucian is on the opposite side of the circular space. He has hands pressed together with the handle of his sword sandwiched between his palms. The tip of his blade is pointed down, hovering about a woman whose face is slathered in blood.

  He thrusts the sword down, impaling the women clean through her chest.

  The silhouette of a shadow catches my attention from the top of the gangway near the entrance of the corridor. I cock my head toward the blackness, but see nothing. My instincts demand that I check it out. The vampires are like cockroaches at times. When you think you’ve squashed them, they find a way to survive.

  I leave Lucian and head up the staircase. The kukri stays at the ready as my boots hit the landing. I follow along the gangway and approach the corridor with cautious footing.

  I stay close to the wall and inch my way to the edge of the façade. I peer out into the dark space, and find a body flat on its stomach crawling away from me. It stops, and glances back over its right shoulder.

  It’s red eyes lock onto mine as it struggles to move faster. Its body is severely burned. Smoke rises from its torn and threadbare rags and skull.

  And just where do you think you’re going?

  The kukri stays taut in my grasp. The vampire grunts and groans, trying to move faster as my feet tromp the steel grating after it. I flip the kukri about, with the tip of the blade facing down, and bury it into the meaty part of its right calf muscle.

  It twists its head back toward me and hisses. Its charred hand reaches for the blade and tries to free itself. The tips of its claws scrape along the side of the steel weapon franticly.

  I yank the kukri free of its lower leg and strike at its blackened hand. The broad edge of the blade amputates the appendage with one clean slice.

  It reels its severed limb back in and cradles the bloodied stump.

  “Oh, I’m sorry. Did that hurt?”

  I bend down, and grab a handful of its rags. I flip it over onto its back and place the edge of the kukri to the side of its neck.

  The vampire bears its fangs. It struggles to lift its body off the ground to attack me. I ram the sole of my boot into its burnt face, knocking it hard to the ground.

  Heavy footsteps pound the gangway from behind me. Lucian approaches with his sword at the ready.

  “Everything all right?”

  I place the sole of my right boot on the demon’s chest, pinning it to the floor.

  “This one was trying to flee. Not sure where he thinks he’s heading since it’s daylight outside.”

  Lucian steps off to my right. He points the tip of his sword just under the vampire’s crispy, burnt chin. He presses the blade into its skin, drawing a thin line of blood that surfaces over the damaged flesh.

  It grimaces and growls. Blood runs out of its mouth and down the charred remains of its face. It tries to sit up once more, but I apply more of my weight onto its chest.

  “Think we should see what it knows before we kill it?” Lucian inquires.

  My eyes stay deadlocked on the creature. A smirk forms through the singed flesh of what remains of its face, followed by a low muttered chuckle that escapes its black lips.

  “You stupid humans,” it mutters through a heavy wince of pain. “You are only delaying the inevitable. Do what you will to me, huntress, but it is not going to matter in the end.”

  “Why are the vampires and raiders working together? What is Mathesis planning?” I demand.

  It remains silent. Only its curt smile and slight chuckle are given in return.

  Lucian pulls back his sword and bends.

  “The lady asked you a question. I advise you to answer.”

  The creature remains tight lipped. Not that I was expecting it to spill every useful detail just because I asked.

  I glance back over my shoulder to the strident light that is filling the space just beyond the corridor.

  “What are you thinking?” Lucian probes.

  I remove my boot from the creature’s chest, and grab its injured leg. My thumb burrows into the exposed muscle, and digs into the mangled meat. Blood rushes out and down the sides of its rags as I drag it over the grating.

  It thrashes about. Grunts and groans blare from its mouth. The demon’s fingers claw at the narrow slits in the floor, hoping to thwart my forward movement. I continue dragging the vampire out of the corridor, and stop just shy of where the sun is able to reach.

  My taut grip releases from the vampire’s leg. I reach up, and grab a handful of the dingy coat it’s wearing. I yank it off the ground, and turn it toward the light.

  “I’m going to ask one last time. Why are the raiders and vampires working together? What is Mathesis planning?” I growl through clenched teeth.

  The sun narrowly washes over the back of its sallow, sweaty, bald head. Smoke plumes in the air from its burning flesh.

  The creature yowls out in agony. Its elongated fangs drip with spit as its eyes seal shut.

  “Do what you will to me, hunter, but your efforts will be all for not in the end.”

  Lost in the darkness of my own rage and utter contempt for the wicked demons, I take a step back and plunge the tip of the kukri into its heart. I pull the blade free and kick it square in the chest.

  It’s lifeless body stumbles back, and tumbles over the railing of the gangway. The daylight engulfs the undead creature, scorching the remainder of its pale flesh.

  I look at Lucian.

  “Take me to the raider.”

  SEVEN

  We leave the tomb of death, and make our way out of the settlers’ bunker. Outside, two more of the raiders lay face down in the sand. Their black leather jackets are stained with blood.

  Lucian points toward the structure at a body that is slumped over and leaning against the concrete wall.

  “That’s your guy, there.”

  We head across the gangway and down the steps to the sand. His body flinches and slightly moves. He slowly raises his head upward as we approach. He reaches for the pistol to his right, which is just out of arm’s length.

  I secure the kukri in its sheath. I wrap my fingers up in his dark brown jacket, and pull him up off his ass. I slam his body hard against the unforgiving structure’s exterior.

  His face contorts, his eyes remain sealed as he reaches up and cradles the back of his head. His tan skin is caked with sand that has formed a slight paste from the beads of sweat racing down from under his black, scraggly hair.

  “Jesus Christ, lady,” he grumbles.

  My eyes narrow at him, and my lips purse as he finally looks at me.

  “Why are you helping the vampires? What do they have planned?” He blinks rapidly, and glances to either side of me. “Hey, focus here.”

  I slap him hard in the face.

  His head jerks to the left as he grimaces from the sharp strike. He raises his hands in the air, and sinks into the wall.

  “All right, shit. Just stop hitting me, will ya?”

  “If you don’t answer my questions, I’ll do much worse than that,” I growl.

  He tilts his head to the left and spits a wad of blood and saliva to the sand.

  “Why wouldn’t we help them? I don’t know if you’ve noticed or not, but things are pretty shitty now. We’re no closer to defeating the vampires than we were when they nuked the planet. So, if we agree to help them, they’ll leave us be when they finally take over the remaining cities.”

  Delusional.

  That’s all I can think while listening to this scumbag try to rationalize why they’re working with the demons.

  “How are they planning to do that?” I retort.

  He looks to Lucian, then back to me.

  “I can’t tell you that. Do you know what they’ll do to me if
I tell you? They’re not exactly forgiving.”

  I remove my right hand from the raider’s lapel, and motion toward the pistol. Lucian retrieves the weapon, and places the grip in my palm. I take a step back and train the barrel at the raider’s skull, square between his wide, frightened gaze.

  “I promise you that it will not be any worse than what I will do to you if you don’t tell me. Now talk!”

  With his arms shielding his face, and his body shaking, he repeats himself.

  “Listen lady, I can’t. They’ll-”

  I move the pistol to the right and down slightly toward his open palm. My finger pulls back on the trigger.

  Fire spits from the muzzle. The bullet tears through the middle of his hand, and exits through the other side. A red mist follows in its wake as he howls out in pain.

  “Fuck!” He growls while cradling the injured appendage.

  Blood races down each digit, and drips from the tips to the sand, staining it red.

  Lucian stands off to my left, and watches without a single protest.

  “This is your last chance, or I’m going to empty this clip into various portions of your body.” I keep the pistol trained in his direction. “I’d imagine when those bloodsuckers down there don’t return, more will come looking for them. Wouldn’t want to be bleeding and all when they arrive.”

  “All right, fine,” he angrily shouts. “The vamps have a nest a few miles east of Black Fields. In the ruins of Old City. Our contact there is a vampire by the name of Remus. All I know is that they are planning to infiltrate Black Fields somehow.”

  That name, Remus, claws at my brain. It sounds familiar, from a time long ago when I was Mathesis’s pet.

  The pistol lowers to the ground. My eyes glaze over as I sift through the painful memories of my time spent with the demons.

  Lucian glances at me, and places his hand on my shoulder.

  “What is it? Do you know of this Remus?”

  I nod.

  “Yes. He’s about as old as Mathesis and just as deadly. He’s not like the lower minions that Mathesis has. He’s a shapeshifter and a powerful psychic. Supposedly, he perished many years ago. Guess it didn’t stick. Whatever Mathesis has planned, it can’t be good.”

  The raider goes for something behind his back, which catches my eye. I bring the pistol back up, and press the muzzle flush to his sticky flesh.

  “I’m just grabbing a rag to bandage my hand with,” he protests.

  I leave the pistol where it is as he slowly pulls a red bandana out from behind him. I remove the pistol, and lower it to my side as he tends to his injured hand.

  Lucian leans in close.

  “How do you think they’re planning to gain entry into the city?”

  I chew the side of my lip, trying to decipher what the undead creatures are planning. There’s too much at stake for them to get inside the city. All of those innocent people. The cure. I need to figure out what they’re up to and stop them.

  “Not sure, but we need to get to Old City and find out before they make their move on Black Fields.”

  “How are we going to find their nest?” Lucian inquires. “There are so many places the vampires could be holed up in. It’s like finding a needle in a haystack.”

  My eyes cut back to the raider, who secures the dingy rag over the gunshot wound. He pulls it taut, clenching his yellowish stained teeth as he catches us staring at him.

  “He’s going to show us.”

  EIGHT

  The raider freezes. He narrows his eyes at us, and turns his head to the side with his mouth slightly agape. He looks confused, as if he heard me wrong.

  I think I was pretty clear with what I said. Still, the expression on his face is priceless.

  His eyes go wide with horror as he figures out that I’m not joking.

  “The fuck I am,” he barks with a hoarse growl. “I’m not going anywhere near that place with you two.”

  I ball my hand and punch him in the face. His nose crunches, and his head snaps back. He yelps from the sharp strike as blood rushes out both nostrils. His hand covers the broken bone.

  “I wasn’t asking. Besides, you’re fucking lucky I haven’t killed you yet.” I point toward the bunker where the settlers were slaughtered by the demons. “Because of you and your pathetic band of inhuman rejects, men, women, and children were bled out like stuck pigs. Unless you want to have a similar, or worse fate, I suggest you shut your fucking mouth and cooperate.”

  Still favoring the bloodied nose, and his eyes red from the stinging sweat invading them, he retorts, “Fine. I’ll take you to their nest. Just stop hitting me, damn it.”

  “That all depends on you.”

  I grab him by the collar of his coat and jerk him off the wall. He stumbles forward and catches himself before falling to the ground.

  “It’s going to take a while on foot to get to Old City. Not sure we’re going to make it before sundown,” Lucian advises.

  I glance over to the raider as he brushes the sleeve of his coat across his face. Blood smears over his mouth and chin.

  “Where’s your ride at?” I demand.

  He points toward the concrete structure behind me.

  “It’s just outside the wall over there.”

  “Lead the way, then.”

  I motion with the pistol for him to get moving. He narrows his eyes at me and starts heading toward the gate. He spits another wad of blood and saliva to the sand.

  “Do you think he’s telling the truth about all of this?” Lucian asks.

  “Not sure, but we need to find out. If humans are helping the vampires, then that’s another big problem to add to the shit storm we already have.” I hand the pistol to Lucian. “If he tries anything, shoot a finger off.”

  Lucian takes the pistol from me as we fall in line behind the raider. He leads us out of the settlers’ compound, and to the right. We follow along the wall until we come to multiple vehicles parked close to the steel barrier.

  He points to the modified rust bucket to the left—a dune buggy that has been spliced together with various parts from other vehicles. Looking at it, you wouldn’t think it was functional. Then again, most, if not all modes of transportation in the wastelands look similar, if not worse. Only in the few major cities can one find a decent ride.

  “The solar panels mounted on that one has more of a charge.” He heads for the driver’s side of the buggy.

  I grab his arm, and glance over two bucket seats up front and one just behind in the middle.

  “Yeah, I don’t think so. I’ll drive.” I cut my eyes over to Lucian. “You mind taking the backseat and keeping an eye on our guide here?”

  “Not at all.” Lucian motions with the pistol for the raider to move to his right. “Come on. Get moving.”

  Placing his hands in the air, the raider complies with a tilt of his head.

  “All right. Whatever.”

  Lucian presses the barrel of the pistol between the raider’s shoulder blades. They head for the opposite side of the buggy. Lucian removes his pack and secures it into a narrow gap between the backseat and the rear wheel well. He climbs up and into the back of the buggy and settles into the tattered black leather seat. The raider plops down in the cracked bucket seat up front.

  I grab the roll bars and slip into the driver’s side seat. The padding is all but gone. It feels as though I’m sitting directly on the springs of the seat itself.

  Portions of the yellowish white foam protrude from the numerous gashes and tears that cover the dingy black leather. Dust and tiny grains of sand cover the floorboard and gauges before me. Goggles dangle from a hook to my right from the roll bar that moves toward the rear of the buggy.

  The raider reaches for the clear plastic protective eyewear and removes them from the hook. He grimaces in pain, the rag he has wrapped over his hand soaked through.

  “You’ll want to put these on unless you want your eyes sandblasted with dirt.”

  Both Lucian and
I take the goggles and slip them on. The lenses are filthy, and caked with dirt. It hampers my vision slightly, but not enough to cause any worry.

  A single key resides in the ignition on the column of the steering wheel. I turn the key forward, which brings to life the bright digital gauges before me. Each offers a different read out of the vehicle’s status, and most importantly, the charge of the solar battery. It’s at fifty-five percent.

  I turn the key farther, and kick over the engine. It grumbles. The frame of the buggy vibrates intensely as it finally comes to life. It’s loud, drowning out a lot of the noise outside of the vehicle’s radius. I pump the gas pedal a few times, revving the engine. It doesn’t sound that reliable, but given our time restriction and the circumstances, it’s better than going at it on foot.

  I move the gearshift into drive and mash the pedal to the floor. The oversized tires spin wildly, digging into the earth. Chunks of dirt are hurled out from the massive treads as we take off.

  The steering is loose and near non-responsive. I thumb through each gear quickly as I try to tame the mechanized beast. I finally bring the buggy under submission as we drive along the settlers’ compound. We bolt past the gate and into the openness of the wastelands.

  My foot stays planted to the floorboard as the buggy surges past 100 miles per hour. A massive wall of dust trails us as we leave the compound in our wake.

  Our bodies jostle from side to side with each rut and bump off the ground. I try to avoid any large pits in the earth as we make for the road that Lucian and I were traveling along.

  The tires find the pavement. A loud squealing radiates from the tread as the bulky vehicle hops up onto the sand-covered blacktop. The rear of the buggy fishtails wildly before the tires find traction.

  The swaying ceases. Our trajectory straightens out. The rigid and bumpy terrain of the derelict earth has smoothed out. I press the buggy to its limit, opening the engine fully as the digital speedometer climbs past 125.

  The raider points straight and to the left slightly as he plots out our course to Old City.

  “It shouldn’t take much more than an hour or so to arrive there,” he yells out.