The Madman of the Woods | ONC 2024 Shortlist | Vampire Romantasy | Supernatural

4 Peculiar Passenger

What in the ever-loving fuck? Josie thought, utterly bewildered by her situation. Her passenger was a murderous vampire, who did not mind at all that she'd captured him, and who, despite being powerful, was dumb as a nail. Her father had always warned the trainees that the old vampires were the smartest because it took wisdom and resourcefulness for them to avoid getting in trouble and live long enough for their hair to turn gray. Her passenger defied that rule.

Perhaps that fog power was enough to get him out of the situations that lack of intellect got him into. It was an incredible power. She didn't know vampires were even capable of it. She'd assumed that shapeshifting was a myth since no one could provide tangible proof of a vampire possessing that gift, but there was her proof sitting right next to her packaged in a whole lot of weird.

She wanted to get to her clan's headquarters immediately before the idiot turned on her or decided he didn't want to come willfully, but the busted windshield slowed her down as the wind assaulted her eyes. At least it was still dark out. No one would see the blood smeared all over her car. Any sane person would assume she'd been in a hit-and-run.

"Does this window open?" the vampire asked, not even trying to push the button.

She opened it for him.

Seeing the window slide down, he broke into a grin, revealing his long fangs. "Ooh. I like this magic. Very practical." Once it rolled down all the way, he stuck his whole head and shoulders out like a dog. His long hair flapped in the wind while he laughed. He was like a child.

While he was distracted, Josie pulled out her phone, intending to text her brother to get a vamp cage ready and to play along with the ruse that they were a witch coven. But then she saw a message from her father.

Where the fuck r u? You know what? I don't care. There was a vamp attack at the lumberyard. 2 dead. We're on a hunt. Stay the fuck out of our way.

Josie's eyes stung—from the wind, surely. Even if she explained that she had single-handedly captured the vamp responsible, it wouldn't change anything. Knowing her father, he would find a reason to point out a fault in her achievement. Why did you allow him to kill those people? he'd demand. Or he'd berate her for nearly becoming the fifth victim.

She didn't want to go home anymore. The stress she'd endured ever since her failed initiation assaulted her all at once. She was tired of being the black sheep of the family. The Banshee assignment was impossible. Even elite hunters couldn't take that vampire down, but that was the initiation test her father had chosen for her. It was a punishment for being born a daughter. Without The Banshee, Josie would never become a real hunter or a part of her father's clan.

"Are you okay?" Lailoken asked, looking at her with concern. "Any way I can help? I have many talents."

She gritted her teeth. Her family may have rejected her from birth, but the Hunter's Guild was a large organization. She had skills. She could get into other clans. She just needed to prove her worth to show everyone that her father was wrong about her. Bringing in a rogue vampire who had no care for the Sup Treaty laws and killed humans without a second thought was exactly the type of achievement the Guild would recognize.

She raised her phone, "Just family drama. Anyway, I don't think we can continue in this car. It's too conspicuous with the broken windshield and the... blood. We'll have to switch our ride at the first chance."

He looked to the east with worry. "Is it a long journey? I'd love to come, but the sun will come up soon."

"Of course," she said, realizing her oversight. Contrary to the myths, vampires didn't burn in the sun, but their eyes were too sensitive for daylight, rendering them blind. She hesitated. The prospect of being indoors with him made her stomach twist into knots, but he was a flight risk. She had to keep an eye on him. "We'll stop at a motel."

"Thank you. What's a motel?"

His clueless smile calmed her nerves. "You'll see."