The Last Vampire Hunter

Chapter 49

It's been a month since we've come out of the Inbetween. We were a few weeks away from my birthday...and the next selection. It's been almost a year since I first met Alex and Philip in that room. I could not believe how much has happened since then. How much I'd changed since that clueless little girl full of hope and curiosity.

For Sawyer and I, it's been a month since the explosion. For the rest of the world it's been nearly three. Callum had put his farm in the hands of one of his trusted friends. All of this year's harvest as payment, plus any of the meat from the livestock they culled for winter. I tried to argue that they didn't have to come with us. It might actually have been better if it were Alaric, Sawyer and I, but he'd insisted. And of course...once Kate heard me say I might be alone with Alaric, she'd quickly volunteered as well.

So now we were all well established in a cabin in the woods somewhere in Region 3. Turns out that the Mages actually had a ton of these cabins all over the mountains and countryside. Safe houses used during the war and updated from time to time in case the need ever came to use them again.

This particular cabin had three small rooms, an underground tunnel that led to about 2 miles out into the woods and a well. No electricity, but Mages didn't really need that anyway. Callum and Sawyer had done some work on the plumbing and Sawyer even added a padded seat to the outhouse.

I smiled at the thought of it. He'd made it pretty for the ladies he'd bragged. God. I loved these guys so much. Alaric had been staying in touch with my parents. They were safe. My father was going to join the fight. He'd been working closely with Alaric on the planning.

I've been working with Callum on fighting techniques. He's been teaching me general hand to hand combat skills. Callum has been stoic every time I've tripped over my own feet or squealed and shut my eyes when he delivered a blow. Sawyer and Alaric on the other hand have much less kind. I'm starting to get less apprehensive about hitting and being hit, but we've decided that my best strategy in case of a one to one fight with an enemy was to try to run and hide.

To my credit, I'm better with swords and the crossbow and although Callum hasn't given up on teaching me some hand to hand combat, he tries to mix up some of the training so that after I suffer the humiliation of being in a ring with him, I get to shoot some arrows with the crossbow. I'm not so I'm not discouraged afterwards.

Alaric has been training me in using my Magic. Here is where I can actually shine. There is no doubt I have a talent for spells. Since my ability is so innate, we've found that Alaric has only to show me a spell once or twice before I become proficient. As a result we've covered quite a bit of ground on that front.

Sawyer and Kate have joined in on my training as well. Sawyer and I go for a run every morning. He's also working on strengthening my body and building muscle. Slowly, my soft body and curvy body has become more defined and muscular. I'm also less winded during practices.

Kate has been teaching me about potion making. I already have a healthy knowledge of all the plants and herbs in the area. Kate is teaching me their powers and how to mix them to get desired results. Together we've made several potions, elixirs and salves designed to increase healing, increase energy and even a balm you can use to enhance sight in the darkness.

I've been stuck here as my face is pretty much plastered on all the wanted posters and there are still soldiers looking for me in every town. Apparently Lord Alexander had spared no expense in trying to find me. Likely with the pressure of Philip and the Council.

Sawyer said that the story of the explosion and the new female Hunter has spread across the land. Humans everywhere were beginning to rise up. Especially as the Vampires cracked down on the villages as they searched for me and Sawyer. Mages have been coming out of the woodwork to offer themselves and their abilities for our cause. It seemed that war was in the air and it wasn't just the humans who felt it. Vampires seemed to be preparing as well. Many of the Originals were coming to stay at the palace. Safety in numbers and a fortress that would be easier to defend.