TODAY

14 Guilty

Carter looked to the now sleeping Alice she was curled on her side, her delicate body started to show the imprints of his hands where he had held her. There was faint bruising on her hips and thighs from where he had pressed upon her. Carter smiled knowing that she was his no one would touch her unless they wish to deal with him.

Carter dressed to go out tomorrow they would hunt the rebels that where planning the assassination of Prince Richard.

Carter drew in a breath, he was the son of no other though he had been raised by another as a human thinking this was his true father. The man who raised him was Phillip Hunter he was lord of his land ruling over others a proud man who had knowing raised Carter knowing that he was not his true first son. (That was Steven.)

Phillips words haunted him long after the man had faded “A father will always share a bond with his child giving him life but it is the lessons that a father will teach a son that will create the man who he is shaping, respect, honor, courage above others is the Hunter’s arms and will always be yours. Carter you must understand who you are and what you are made of to allow you to know what other men are made of. Good men act badly and bad men can do good deeds. The true secret of being a Hunter son is to have the courage above all others to respect yourself and the honor to ensure other to live as they should.”

Phillip removed his hand from Carter and step forward to look at the battlefield covered in bodies and blood the stench of sweat and death filled the air.

“Son I will always be proud of you, you are the image of me all that is right and good. You will lead men, fight strong yet have the knowledge to be kind to others understanding they have their own story and destiny to follow. Son today I will die and all I own is yours to rule over be the man you are for you are a Hunter.” Phillip raised his sword and cried his name the rally of his men echoed behind him. Phillip turned to Carter’s cry of “Father.” Phillip smiled and strode forward. Carter stood still as his father disappeared along with the fighting men.

It was not till later that morning the sight of his father came into view fighting to save other from enslavement. Carter watched his father turn to see him Phillip bowed to him which made Carter smile formality still even when surrounded by men at their worst image.

Phillip rose pulled his arm back sending his sword flying to Carter, missing him barely slamming into the man behind him saving his life. Carter turn to pull his fathers sword from the man hearing the suction from the body and the thump as the man fell back to the ground time slowed as he raced to his fathers side fighting with both swards in the vain attempt to get to his father. Men fell under him as he reached his fathers side but Phillip was already dead the blood pouring from his body as he fought with his hand blade. Carter stepped in slayed the remaining men, which surrounded his father.

Phillip sunk to the ground Carter hovered above him cradling his father tears streamed down his face. Phillip raised his hand to Carter's cheek “My son.” Staring deep in his eyes as his hand slowly fell limp to the ground. Grief filled his heart rage surged in his veins and anger gripped his sword his father’s sward, the death of all others followed Carter as he swept the field of his entire enemy sparing no lives.

Victory was won on the field that day Hunter’s would rule for another day fighting the evils of the world. But Carter knew that the world would change under his rule as he cried Hunter and the men turned to kneel in front of him showing their allegiance to him. Deep down he knew he was evil deep down he knew that he was cold he only wished that he could be more understanding as his father.

Carter shock his head bring the image of Alice back into his sight. It had been many years that he had thought of his Father as the words Respect Honor Courage above all others, whispered in his mind teach your children Respect Honor and Courage above all others.

Carter frowned as he truly looked at Alice he had shown her no respect he had not honored her and he had no courage to act, as he should. Misery swept over him as Alice moved to lie on her back as her body rolled her hand moved to fall over her belly cupping it.

Carter gasped realization hit she was in heat for lack of a better word and he HE had slept with her what was he thinking. Carter ran his hand through his hair. Images of Phillip Hunter his father ran in his mind as he raised him. Then it was flooded with the true image of his father Prince Richard, as he had found out later. The Prince had taken his mother Eve who had been in heat the Prince had planted his seed and left only to return when Carter had turned 20 five years after his father death.

Now Carter had done the same would he allow Alice her life or make her stay with him would she bare his child, did he wont it?

Carter spun around as Steven bust though the door he had heard him coming.

‘Today, we move today, now.’ Steven cried but Carter knew no other would have heard it. Steven looked to Alice, ‘Brother what have you done?’ Steven gathered Alice and listened to her his ear to her chest the scent of Carter filled his nostrils. ‘Well you have truly masked her smell but now she reeks of you, you cant bring her you have drained her to the brink of life. She would not even be able to raise her hand to save herself. Leave her here.’ Steven commanded

‘Don’t tell me what to do brother.’ Carter said as Steven left the room to prepare for the fight arming himself.

Carter moved to the bed. ‘Alice,’ as he gently raised her Alice’s eyes opened she smiled placing her hand on Carter's face ‘Carter.’ She said dreamily. Carter blinked thinking of his father’s same actions seconds before he died. ‘Please don’t die Alice.’ He whispered.

‘Never.’ Sipped from her lips.

‘I have to go,’ he looked to the door then back to her. ‘I will be in Briston in three days. The car keys are in the draw don’t leave to room tonight, only travel in the night so you can see what is around sleep in the day don’t leave the car you will be safe inside keep the doors locked and fuel it during the day.’

Alice smiled.

‘Do you understand?’ Carter shook her slightly.

‘Yes, gentle please.’ As she closed her eyes as dizziness took over.

‘Alice.’ Carter asked in a panic.

‘Yes?’ Alice whispered

‘Goodbye.’ Carter said standing moving to meet Steven

‘I love you.’ Alice whispered so faintly.

Carter tensed as he just heard the words his spine going stiff as his paused in the doorway he could not face her, ‘I am so sorry.’

Sadness flooded her and the room gripping Carter making him unable to move. He knew she was crying.

‘No I am sorry Carter please forgive me.’ Alice said turning away from him as the darkness took over as she fell into oblivion.

Carter turned finally to look at Alice seeing the girl for who she was the fragile human girl that he had tortured and enslaved, who had deified him at every turn survived his feedings and then as the final act of taking her innocents her stole her virginity. He felt guilty for the first time as a vampire. He Carter Bennett Hunter was an evil man the very creature his father Phillip Bennett Hunter had stood against and taught him not to become.

Carter turned step into the other room stood with his feet apart arm held out wide dressing for the fight, as Steven strapped weapons to his body the routine was automatic now done countless times in the past the only difference now where the weapons. As he mental prepared himself for battle he severely hope she would run from him.

Carter stood at the window Steven to his right and slightly behind where a sight to be seen. Their shirts where the colour of brilliant blue of the sky embroidered in sliver, weapons where silver and held brilliant blue gems. The colours of the Hunter. The crest of a shield blue outlined in sliver with a silver arrow straight up, the words Respect Honor Courage above all others. Their was no mistake in who they where name for Hunter moved down from time of greats, to the hunters that they where now, all feared the name Hunter for they where the unbending force that ruled and concurred all.