Vampire Hunts

Chapter Twelve

They searched the entire house. There was no sign of them. They had found out nothing of the human, no trace that she was a hunter.

“Any clue?" one of the guards asked. Estoban, the head of the guards, shook his head. He threw the photo frame to the ground, shattering it.

“Nothing."

He stepped on the broken glass, and walked away from the living room. It was a mess, they had rearranged the furniture.

The guards followed him out. Estoban was desperate. He had to find them before the sun sets on the seventh day. The first day started tomorrow, and the Supreme had promised him that they would sweep him and his guards from the face of the earth if they don't find the traitor. Estoban could not allow such a thing. He had lived way too long to die now.

“We search the entire town, they could not have gone far. In the morning, we migrate to the forest." Estoban said. The guards were scattered now, they were divided into different groups and searched the entire night.

Meanwhile...

Francesca thought of hiding in her father's house, it was deep into the forest and no one would search there. You had to have knowledge of the forest in order to find it, and she had that knowledge imprinted on the back of her head. The forest was basically her home.

Troy was thanking his friend for letting them sleep in his cellar. There was a collection of good quality wine down here. There were bottles that have been here for decades.

She wasn't a fan, though. Wine was too sour, and didn't taste anything like grapes. She preferred classic flavours, fruity ones.

Troy didn't have a plan. He knew he couldn't stay in the cellar another night. It was too risky, and it wasn't a very comfortable place. There was hay on the floor and the shelves and windows and floors were dusty.

His place was a terrible idea. Vampires aren't loyal creatures. They will sell you out, and he knew that if the guard wished to find them, they easily would if he went to his place. Most of his neighbors were vampires, and word spreads out quickly.

“What now?" Francesca asked him expectantly.

“We...I don't know." he sighed.

“I have an idea."

*

“Are you sure this is a good idea?" Troy asked her. She nod her head. “It's safe and it's the only alternative we have at this moment."

The place was old, and smelled of rotting wood. It was humid, and dirty. The air was unstable, and Troy was going to be suffocating any moment now.

“What is this place?" he asked.

“I used to live here...with my father."

Her eyes held so much emotion. Troy almost felt sorry for her. He remembered her mentioning her father once or twice, so he didn't push it any further.

“Safe? Any wild animals around here?"

“Why, are you afraid?"she asked, cocking her head to the side.

“No, not at all."

“Good. Now go get some wood, be sure to be back by eight, that's when dinner's served."

**

Estoban was bleeding. He couldn't feel his body, he was in excruciating pain. The Supreme were extremely strong, and tortured him all morning.

They asked him the same question. Where the traitor was. Unfortunately for Estoban, he had no clue. His men were already in the forest, but they were unsuccessful.

“I'll find him, I swear I will." he spat out blood. The Supreme approached him slowly, their small eyes glaring daggers at him. Estoban cringed.

The Supreme spoke to him again, and this time he shook his head and said, “The message is perfectly clear. I will not disappoint you."

The Supreme walked away, leaving him alone and defenseless. He contacted one of his assistants, and he was assisted as soon as they arrived.

“Where's Castelbranco?" he barred his teeth. The guard cringed slightly, and cleared his throat.

“No sign of him yet, sir. He simply disappeared." he said.

“Disappeared? How can a simple vampire disappear? You incompetent! You fool. I want you to go deeper into the forest. I want him here, alive!" Estoban shouted. The guard lowered his head and skipped off. Estoban groaned internally. His team wouldn't suffice. He needed more.

He had to get more vampires, to form an even bigger team. It would be easy, vampires love a good challenge. He would start with his neighbors, luckily he would even find him there. All he needed was a little bit of luck.

***

Troy had plenty of time before eight. It was only four, and he had done a lot. He didn't understand why Francesca said dinner would be at eight, she knew he couldn't eat mortal food.

He had to warn his friends first.

Running back to his apartment, he realized that the building was guard-free. He had some time.

Only problem was, they weren't home. It was odd, they were usually home in the afternoon. They hunt in the evenings, like all vampires do. Odd.

He heard voices, so he his in the broom's closet. He looked through the crack, and saw the guard's uniforms. They were already here. Following them were his neighbors, Lyn and Phil. They looked quite doubtful. One of the guards turned to them.

“Is this his apartment?" he asked

“Yes." Lyn said.

Troy felt betrayed. He never thought they would sell him out. Looks like the myths were true, vampires are not friends, they're enemies.

“Is he here?" the guard asked them.

“No. He didn't sleep in," Phil began, “but if what I think is true, he'll come here to warn us."

“Yes, it's true." Lyn agreed.

The bastards knew him well. He had been so foolish, but how would he have guessed? Now he knows, and he had to get to Francesca and keep her and the baby safe.

They walked into his apartment and closed the door behind them. An opportunity to escape, he thought. He slowly made his way out of the closet, without mustering a sound, and light-footed it out of the place.

All that was on his mind, was Francesca.

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~Stephanie