I spread my wings and took flight just as rays of sun began to peek over the distant hills and forest treetops. Victor and his clan would have gone with Brian into the mansion to catch up on things and share information. They regard each other as brothers. The amazing things my mother was capable of.
I spent a few hours flying southeast. The latest information we received indicated that a vampire matching Lucian's description was taking up residence somewhere out there. Supposedly he wasn't there alone, either. It was said that he had the company of another, much older vampire.
Bastard was probably trying to revive the Reaper group.
As I began to get closer to residential areas, I took a dive and landed in a patch of trees in a city park. Near the outskirts of the town. I pulled out my thin leather jacket from my bag and threw it on. It wasn't the usual trench coat. It was just a simple black jacket that came just past my waist. I can't draw attention to myself. After all, people don't know about vampires and in turn, don't know about hunters. Anything out of the ordinary would draw attention from humans and any vampire and hunter nearby. I just don't need a crowd.
I began walking out of the woods and soon out of the park. The road quickly lead to the residential sections, houses lining the streets.
It was a weekday just out of winter. The air was cool and the only sounds were housewives seeing off their husbands or working in the yards or taking care of their babies.
Hmph, I thought. Those children have no idea how lucky they are to have their mothers holding them.
Clouds were beginning to come in through the west, covering the sky and cooling the autumn air even more. Shadows darkened in the crevasses between houses, beneath trees, and along alleyways.
Easy for vampires to walk about, I told myself.
I hiked my bag higher up on my shoulder as I continued down, keeping my senses open and alert for all the vampires wondering around nearby. My heavy boots padded softly down the cement sidewalk.
Just before I turned a corner, I picked up two scents. One was of light blood masked by Axe spray. Vampire. The other was soft with a sweet scent. But the sweet scent masked something as well. I just couldn't place it.
As I turned the corner, I caught a glimpse of two bodies walking into a narrow alley between two small business stores.
I put my hand into my bag, fishing around for a small, conservative dagger. When I turned the corner into the alley, I stopped. Mouth opened. Eyes wide...sorta. Before me was something I didn't quite expect. The girl was standing over a simple small pile of blood and ash. She had a three-and-a-half inch pocketknife in her hand and her hand at her side. Blood dripping off the tip.
"Next time, don't grab my arse," she said to the ash and turned around, bumping into me. She immediately jumped back and looked me in the eyes. "Oh, um...hi..?" she asked nervously. Then her eyes trailed down my arm and to my hand, getting a glimpse of the shiny hilt of the dagger barely peeking out of my bag. "Oh! You're a hunter!" she said cheerfully. "That is so freakin' cool. How long have you been one? Do you work around here or are you new in town?"
I stayed still, not sure of what was up with this girl.
I finally snapped out of my daze and looked her over. She had a pale complexion with vibrant blue hair. And a...nose piercing...through the middle of her nose.
Whoah.
I focused back up at her and noticed that she was still talking.
"And then I told hi--"
"Look," I said, interrupting her, "I guess you have yourself covered so I'll just go." And I started backing out of the alley.
And she followed. Like a cat to its prey.
"You have very light brown eyes. I've never seen eyes like that. The closest to that would be gold," she informed me, emotion suddenly absent from her face. "You look familiar."
I stopped my movements of retreat and looked straight into her eyes. I couldn't believe what I saw. Okay, so that was a lie. I could believe it. Anger. Fear. Hatred. A need for revenge.
Her eyes narrowed as she spoke. "You wouldn't happen to know a vampire named Lucian, would you?"
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