The Huntress

Chapter 8

Chapter 8

Johanna’s POV

“He’s been in plain sight this whole time?” I asked when I found out he was living in one of the huge mansions at the center of Vermont. Diablos was smart. Hunters would assume he’s hiding out in the ghettos, not in a high class mansion.

“He didn’t want to live in some dirty old warehouse.” Dmitri told me before handing me a glass of wine and lying down beside me on the bed.

He had bought a room at another nice hotel so we could plan everything alone. He said he’d stay here for a while so I could visit anytime. “Well, your father always wants the best.” I let out a sigh and glanced at Dmitri who was eyeing his glass of wine. He had a distant look in his eyes, letting me know he wasn’t staring at the glass rather he was deep in thought.

“Are you sure you’re okay with this?” I asked. “I’m about to kill your father. I know that doesn’t sit well with you. It can’t.”

“It doesn’t.” He admitted and downed the wine in one gulp. “But he wants you dead and I can’t live with someone who wants to take what’s mine away from me.”

I stared at him a little longer before grabbing his empty glass and setting them down on the table beside the bed. He kept his eyes on me as I did and they stayed on me until I climbed on top of him, straddling his waist. I slowly unbuttoned his black dress shirt, revealing his lean and pale body. I leaned over, starting from his belly button, and kissed up his chest. When I made it to his neck, I leaned away to look at him. He let out a groan and I knew it was because he wasn’t fully satisfied.

“I’m not going to make you choose between your father and me. That wouldn’t be fair.” I told him. “Unless you want me to make the choice for you.”

He searched my eyes, pursing his lips. “I can make my own choices, Johanna. I choose you.”

I wriggled against him and he let another groan in response. “Are sure it’s not because I’m on top of you right now?”

“I’m not sure.” He teased. “Move around a couple more times and let’s see.”

I couldn’t hide my smile. “I’m serious, Dmitri.” I said, my expression going serious rather quickly. “You’re really ready for me to kill the man you grew up with and loved for decades?”

He furrowed his brows. “Why does it seem like you’re trying to get me to back out?”

“Like I said, I could make the choice for you.” I offered him. “If I kill your father, you’ll hate me—“

Dmitri leaned up and grabbed my face between his hands. “I’m not going to hate you. I can never hate you. You have to know that.”

I let out a sigh. “That’s not the only thing I’m worried about. You don’t understand that I could die trying to kill your father.”

“Nothing will happen to you.”

“How are you so sure?” I pulled his hands away from my face, lowering my head. “I think we should stop whatever this is now while we still have a chance. That way we won’t hurt the other if something does happen. I really think that’s best.”

I didn’t look up to see his reaction to my proposal, but I could only imagine the look on his face. I honestly didn’t feel too happy about it either but it had to be done. He lifted a hand to my face and with shaking hands, I covered both my hands around his. “What we have is fate. Even if we stay away from eachother and something does happen, it will hurt worse living and knowing that you weren’t there to save them.”

“Dmitri—“

“You know, I love it when you say my name.” He suddenly admitted softly.

I let out a short laugh and drew his hand to my lips, kissing each of his fingers as I slowly said, “Do. Not. Change. The. Subject.”

He chuckled, his body shaking under me. “I’m not. I just wanted to tell you that.” He said. “Do you want to end this? Honestly?”

I shook my head. “I hate just thinking about leaving you for too long. I…” I moved myself so that I could rest my head against Dmitri’s chest. I didn’t expect to feel a heartbeat because I knew his was dead. “I just don’t know what to do.”

He ran his fingers gently through my hair. “Yes, you do. You kill my father. I may not want to be the one to do it, but I know it has to be done. He’s stealing girls for their powers. That’s not right.”

“What about your brother, Raziel?” I asked, remembering a couple of nights ago I was out to kill him.

“He doesn’t know who you are.” He answered simply. “We’ll keep it that way.”

“Then what will happen to us afterwards?”

“We’ll run away together.”

I sat up to look at him. “What will you do when I die?”

He furrowed his brows. “What do you mean?”

“You’re a vampire and I’m…human.” I reminded him.

“I told you I’ll make you change your mind.”

“You won’t.” I told him, fisting my hands against his chest. “I’ve hated vampires since I was little. If I became one, the first thing I’d do is stab myself in the heart with my wooden dagger.”

“Then when it comes down to it, I’ll make the choice for you.”

I moved from on top of him quickly as if touching him burned. I stared at him like he’d gone crazy. “You will not change me against my own will, Dmitri.”

“I can and I will.” He said, getting to his feet too and coming towards me. I moved away, not in fear of him, but what he promises to do. He stopped in his tracks as he noticed the look on my face. In frustration, he asked, “If you were in my position, what would you do?”

“I would never change you.” I said sternly. “Because I would want you to live as a normal human!”

“You want me to just watch you slowly wither away and die? Even if I know there’s another way to keep you alive and with me?”

“Yes!” I shouted at him just as soon as he pressed me against the wall with his body. I’d tried to make a run for the door, but he was too fast. I let out a strangled cry and squeezed my eyes shut, my thoughts going back to my childhood. “I watched as a vampire slaughtered my family, Dmitri. One by one. Piece by bloody piece. I can’t…I don’t want to become like that. No one would ever want to become like that.”

“You don’t have to be like that.” Dmitri assured me, pulling me into his arms.

I pressed my face into his chest in attempt to hide from all of this. But we both knew that wasn’t possible. “You don’t understand. I will become like that. I will. I know it. I know it.”

“I’ll make sure you don’t.” He promised softly into my ear.

I held onto him as tightly as I could. He was wrong. I would turn into that no matter what anyone says. Which means I can’t trust him anymore to help me stop Diablos. I need someone that I do trust.

And I know exactly who to go to.