Hunter (1st Book of the Supernatural Hunters)

Midnight Trips EDITING

*Warning! Language!*

Snores echo around me, the remaining vampires sleeping peacefully. The group was split in half in order to fit everyone in two different bedrooms, 25 here and 25 there. Glancing around the room, I check every contestant to see if they're sleeping. I can tell by their breathing through the rise of their chests. Even if they're attempting to fake it, I would know. Content that they're all asleep, I slide from the bed making sure to keep quiet.

I need to get back to that journal. My time with it was cut short before so I didn't get a chance to read through it. If the author really is the first vampire, he should know a trick or two on how to kill an old one. In the passages I did read, he sounded confused, but they were the first few entries. There has to be information in there somewhere, something that can help me. Tip toeing out of the room, I stealthily shut the door, not one sound made.

There's only one problem. I don't know how to get back there. Being the idiot I am, I didn't keep track of where I was going. My only clues are the candles and the condition the halls were left in. God damn it! This could take me all night; it could take multiple nights. Cursing my stupidity beneath my breath, I scan the next corridor before trotting through it.

I don't even know where the throne room is, much less the entrance. Fuck! How am I going to get back to the room? This plan really wasn't thought out....

Breathing besides my own comes farther down the hallway. Fortunately, the lights are out, giving me the coverage of the night. With quick thinking, I jump beside the window and disguise myself within the folds of the drapes. The footsteps near me as I slow my breathing and try to lessen the pounding of my heart.

The blackened figure passes my hiding spot without hesitation. They walk off, farther down the hall and turn the corner. I press my back further into the wall, waiting.

That was close, too close. If I hadn't heard the breathing, I would've been caught. Not that they would know my true reason for being out here, but they would keep me from searching for the journal. I don't know when the next challenge is or how many there will be so my time is limited. There's always the choice of winning, but I will not marry that bastard; I refuse to.

Peeking out from the drapes, I squint through the darkness. Even with enhanced senses, it's hard to see. Unlike a normal city, there aren't any lights here to illuminate the streets and such, so when it's night, it's pitch black. See, if I was older, it would've been easier, but I still wouldn't have seen far.

Wait.

If I heard that figure's breathing...... doesn't that mean they would've heard mine?

Oh, God.

Maybe, just maybe they didn't hear me. Hopefully.

Sneaking out from my concealment, I quickly make my way down the hall the opposite direction the figure went. Not hearing anything, I relax and slow down.

A hand grabs my shoulder and spins me around, cornering me against the wall with arms on either side of my body. I nervously gulp and look up at the figure's face.

Kieran glowers down at my shrinking physique. At this point, I'm wishing I could sink through the wall to get away from his heated glare.

"What do you think you're doing?"

His tone sends shivers down my spine. This guy really does not like me.

"Answer me, hunter."

"I got lost," I whisper, unable to meet his blue orbs.

"Lost. Lost going where exactly?"

"The bathroom."

"Oh, I see. Isn't it funny that the bathroom is right across from your room?"

"Really? Silly me! I must have missed the tour."

"Enough," he hisses through clenched teeth. "I know you're not here for the tournament. I don't know what your plan is, but what I do know is that someone is going to end up hurt in the end. You're a hunter and nothing good can come from that. Now, are you going to tell me what you're really doing out here?"

"I already told you though...... I got lost going to the-"

"Enough with your lies! I know your kind! I know hunters."

My eyes widen at the emotion in his voice. It isn't just anger anymore. There's a mixture of sadness and raw pain. I can't help but wonder, what happened to this guy?

"Mystics claim they're doing the right thing, that they're the good guys. Why don't we deserve to live? Just like humans, there are wrongdoers in our society. Why do all of us deserve to die for their actions?"

Mystics are what all hunters are called. There are other hunters besides vampire ones, such as werewolf and witch slayers. All mystics are referred to by different names based on who they hunt; vampire slayers are known as hunters.

"I-I...."

I'm left at a loss for words. Of course what he's saying is true, there are wrongdoers within the human society, but I never thought of it in the way he's explaining. My hate for vampires blinded me when I was still human, it still does to this day. Before Jared and his daughter, I never met a vampire who was good.

"You know what? Forget it. You're just like the others. "

"You don't know me," I speak up, finding my voice which is filled with anger. "You don't know what I've been through. I'm assuming from your little rant, you've lost those close to your heart. Well, guess what? So have I. I watched them get murdered before my very eyes by a vampire. So don't act all high and mighty like you're the only one who's ever been hurt. And for your information, when I was a hunter, I never killed an innocent vampire. I know good ones exist, I didn't then, but I only hunted those who terrorized humans and slaughtered them like animals. You do realize that vampires aren't the only ones who are murdered, right? Plenty of hunters have died at your kind's hands, hunters who were good and trying to save lives."

Kieran steps back and drops his arms, releasing me from his trap. Shock covers his features, but he quickly wipes it away. I smirk in triumph. He isn't as tough as he acts.

"Don't think that lets you off the hook, Vick. I'll be watching you."

Grabbing a hold of my wrist, he leads me down the winding halls until he reaches familiar looking doors. The bedroom. His hand unclasps from my arm, gesturing for me to enter the room. Nodding in gratitude for getting me back, I quietly open the door and turn around to face him.

His glare burns through me, but I ignore it and simply smile at him. This catches him off guard, his eyes widening. Before he can react, I shut the door in his face and skip over to the bed. Kieran is interesting; I hope this won't be the last meeting we'll have.

~

Brain still struggling to stay awake, I trudge behind the rest of the contestants. They woke us up early, never explaining why. If I was allowed to, I would have attacked them. I'm not an 'early bird' or whatever the hell it's called. Quite the opposite, I hate mornings.

All the vampires including myself file into the dining room and find a seat. Not long after, Aeron enters for once without the company of his 'sons'.

"Good morning.... my future brides," he says in a fakely sweet voice. The tone does not fit him at all, he should just stick with being sarcastic.

"I'm sure you're all wondering why you have been brought here."

A few women verbalize their agreement.

"The second competition is going to be held tomorrow. All of today will be given to prepare for the match."

"Why is it so soon, your highness?"

"How many us will be eliminated this time, my king?"

"How many more are there going to be, my future husband?"

Aeron ignores the round of questions (some being advances) and speaks up over the noise. "It will be open to the public."

They woke me up for this. It wasn't even worth it!