Ashkin

"How many?" Alex asked me, her dark brown eyes boring into mine. She crouched across from me in the small house and fiddled with her hair, clearly excited.

"Sixteen." I answered, pulling on my soft leather boots and walking to the door of the hut. "I get ten, you get the other six?" One of the many benefits of the Nobles was we were entitled to more food. That, and we could do pretty much anything we wanted. The rules were more... flexible wherever Nobles were involved. As they should be. I didn't just get the position for sitting around killing anything that moved, like Alex did.   

"Sure! I'm just glad to finally hunt!" She laughed and stood quickly, clapping her hands. "Let's go, let's go! I'm sure the kitty will be waiting!"

I hid a smile. "We hunted a few days ago, you pig."

"Well, I get thirsty." She moped and yanked her brown hair back and I did the same with my fiery red hair, securing it in a high ponytail. She followed me out the door and onto the dirt path where Ren, my Bengal tiger, was waiting impatiently. Not only witches have familiars in this World. 

"It's about time." His deep voice reverberated in my mind, sarcastic, as he raked his claws along a tree trunk. Although we hadn't gone for a hunt in days, he never really lost weight. Not like there was much to lose. The prissy feline was all teeth and muscle, and he'd never let you forget it either.

I rolled my eyes and started walking out of the dark forest where we made our home towards where we'd scented the human tribe yesterday. We passed the gates of our small village and I waved at the sentry as I walked past. He looked half asleep. I would be too, though, if I was stuck with that mind-numbing job all day. It's not like any humans would come, and if they did, then we'd have our feast a little early this year.  

"How far is it? I'm starving." Ren walked silently alongside me, snapping at butterflies that came too close. I swear, he had the attention span of a troll.

"A few miles. Quit complaining." I replied. "Remember, I get the humans. Whatever animals they have are yours." My green eyes flashed a warning. The last time I had hunted with Ren, he took two of my humans and didn't save a drop of blood for me. If anyone other than him had done that, I'd feed them to the Ashkins. He's lucky I love him.

"Fine,fine." He bounded ahead, purring, and I lost sight of him.  

I scoffed, glaring after him. "Stupid feline."  

Alex laughed and quickened her pace to match mine. "So, how did you find these humans? Our scouts saw no sign of Tribes south of the river in our territory." 

"They clearly weren't looking hard enough. I barely had to widen my senses to find them clustered in that cave like animals." The sun shone brightly in my eyes and I quickly averted my gaze. Sunlight doesn't kill us, but that doesn't mean that we are immune to it.  

"I don't know." Alex was skeptical. "What if it's Ashkins?"  

"It's not." I snapped.

She didn't seem convinced. "How are you so sure? Maybe you're missing something." Alex was actually serious for once.

I looked at her sharply, my aura of Power swelling with my anger, darkening and surrounding us like a cloak. I showed my teeth as I answered,"No. I could clearly tell. It's humans."  

Alex let it go and dropped her gaze. I sighed. I understood her concern, of course. She was just nervous because we'd never hunted in this area before, and Ashkins weren't something to take too lightly. But that doesn't give her reason to question my judgement.

She fiddled with the torn edge of her tunic; the garment's original color was unrecognizable beneath the rustic color of dried blood. She had a strange habit of smearing her food on her clothes as a souvenier of the victim. Waste of perfectly good blood if you ask me.

We continued in a strained silence, her staring at her feet and me expanding my Power, double-checking that I was right. I silently thanked the stars that I was, and smiled, embarrassed at my self-doubt. There was no way that I could have made a mistake that serious. Humans and Ashkins have drastically differing scents. After all, Ashkins are vampires too. Although they are unworthy of the name.  

My thoughts were interrupted as Ren padded back into sight. He stopped in front of me, kneading his huge claws in the dirt, tearing up the soil. "They're right over the hill." He stared at me impatiently, awaiting my orders.  

"As many as expected?" 

"Yes, plus a couple horses for me." He licked his striped muzzle and lashed his tail like an excited kitten. 

"Good. Maybe this time you will keep your filthy claws off my prey." He purred loudly and flicked his tail in acknowledgement. I turned to Alex, who was quietly watching our silent exchange, having been used to it by now. "Just as planned. Shall we?" 

She smiled broadly, showing her fangs, and nodded. Her eyes darkened with bloodlust as she turned and ran over the hill and out of sight. I could hear her gleeful laugh as she caught scent of their blood. I hoped she wouldn't make as big of a mess this time.

I couldn't help but laugh as I took off after her. Alex was, of course, my best friend and favorite hunting companion. Her animal behavior and careless attitude made her amusing to watch and be around. But it was her fierce loyalty that made her my favorite companion, second only to Ren, who had been by my side since I was Awakened. She was wild and borderline crazy at times, but was always ready to fight for me and what she believed in. 

I crested the top of the hill and stood there for a moment, surveying the situation. Ren circled the humans below, herding them in close as Alex prowled around them, her eyes narrowed, focused entirely on the task at hand. She darted in and out of range of their pathetic mortal weapons, toying with them as she often did. The humans were afraid. Pathetic creatures. The young ones were even squacking like animals, but a growl from Ren shut them up quickly enough. I smiled as Alex finally stopped messing around and got to the point. I closed my eyes, relishing the screams as Alex approached the humans and chose her first victim.

I opened my eyes and tasted the air, drinking in their fear. It wasn't often that we found a human herd this big up this far north, so this was a nice treat for us. I savored the moment for as long as possible before giving in to my thirst.   

 Ren had downed both horses already and was tearing them up with his hind paws, obviously enjoying the kill. Alex, of course, had emptied half of her humans already. I snorted and watched her grab another. The girl practically inhaled her food. I wondered if she even tasted it before going through a half a dozen vermin.

  It took me less than a second to reach the clearing, already stained with blood from humans and horses alike. I spotted a young human boy, covered in blood and attempting to escape the fate of his people. I laughed and released my Power.