Demon Hunter

Chapter 19

"Deep breathes, little girl." I nodded, grimacing as Dad pushed the needle into my arm. I bit down on my lip hard, trying not to cry out. Henry hadn't cried, so neither could I. I was the only girl in a house full of boys. I had to be strong. I had to be tough.

Dad stroked my hair as he worked the needle through my skin, suing me back together. "It's alright, princess." He kissed the top of my head and I squeezed my eyes shut. I hadn't wanted to go. I was too little. Henry had already started growing taller than me and I hated it. "Daddy?" I whimpered, keeping my eyes shut. "What is it?" He asked, distracted. He never took Henry and me to hospitals when we got hurt. They'd see the multiple fractions and heals to our bones. The scars lining our skin. They'd take us away from our dad and then he'd truly be alone.

"I'm sorry I couldn't do it." I whispered, ashamed. He'd given me one task, an easy one. Kill anything that came outside of the warehouse doors. But I just couldn't do it. He'd looked at me with those onyx eyes. How dangerous could he be?

Dad sighs and I peak one eye open as he stops working my stitches. "It's not your fault. You didn't know and I hadn't taught you." He stared down at his lap, his shoulders sunk in defeat.

"Daddy! Look what I made!" Henry rushed into the room holding up a necklace made of sharp, fanged teeth. Vampire. Dad frowned as Henry stopped in front of him. He took the necklace from his hands and Henry looked at him, begging for approval. "What we do, it's not to be rewarded. It's not about glory or fame, or anything like that." He sets Henry's necklace on the table and pulls him into his lap. I sit in my chair, wondering if it's ok to move my arm yet.

"What we do is about saving people. It's about all the innocent lives that are torn from this world by creatures that could care less about it. We were put here to protect people. As many as we can. I know you guys are really little now, but one day you won't be. One day you'll all be bigger and giving this speech to younger Hunters. I love you, Rora, Hen." Dad squeezes Henry to his chest and kisses his forehead. He winks at me before sighing. I could see the formation of tears in his eyes. "You guys mean the world to me, Gabe too. I don't know where I would be without you." He shakes and I frown. Dad never cried.

"I want you both to know that no matter what happens, you three are my top priority. Nothing will change that. I know that hunting is what you were taught to put first, but never forget that you two share the same blood." Dad points at me sternly. "You're my little ass kicker, Rora. But you will never stop being daddies little girl. No matter how many shifters you let get away. I will always be here for you, and I will always love you." As dad finished the sentence there is a loud crash. The smile on his face vanishes as a scream rips through the small apartment. Dad's eyes go wide. He sets Henry on the floor a kneels in front of him. He pulls a knife from his back pocket. "Take this and your sister, go." Henry opens his mouth to protest but nods his head when Dad gives him a stern look. He places another kiss on his forehead before running further into the apartment.

"Come on Rora." Henry grabs my hand and I try desperately to keep my arm still. Henry leads us into our room. He pauses, unsure of what to do. "Come on." He whispers as the crashing comes closer. My heart beat kicks into overdrive as Henry pushes me into the closet. He pressed the knife into my hand. "Don't make a sound Rora. I mean it." He says before closing the closet doors. Where was he going? I gulped down a greedy breath of air and held it. I gripped the knife tightly and scooted to the back of the near empty closet. My eyes began to water and I wiped away the beginning of tears. If Dad saw me cry he would be angry. I couldn't cry.

"Get back here!" Someone shouted. Blood rushed to my ears and I couldn't identify the voice. The banging continued until I saw someone fall right in front of the closet door. I gasped and quickly covered my mouth with one hand. It was a man. He had dark blonde hair and deathly black eyes. He fought someone above him but I couldn't tear my eyes off of him. As his head whipped to the side, they settled on me. They flickered from black to the most beautiful shade of blue I had ever seen. But in those deep oceanic depths all I could see was pain. He was hurt. There was a man inside of that monster who desperately wanted out. He was hurting and my father was the one inflicting the pain. His eyes screamed for help but I could do nothing. I wouldn't disobey my father twice in the same night.