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

16 The Hunters

It was still dark out. The early morning chill was a relief after the stuffy indoor air, but Josie shivered without her jacket. Perhaps it was the adrenaline rush wearing off. It was time to replace it with a good old dose of stress.

When the guard shut the door behind her, a dozen of men and two women wearing matching tactical suits and blue berets looked at her.

"Josie?" Her brother ran over to give her a hug. He noticed dried-up blood on her hand. "Are you hurt?"

"It's not mine. It's nice to see you, Mark."

Their father stood at the center of the group with his feet planted firmly and arms crossed. "Josephine."

"Good morning," she said, bracing herself for the incoming lecture.

"Do you realize the worry you've caused us? Going off on a rogue suicide mission—solo. Who do you think you are?"

"I had a fresh trail to the Banshee," she lied. "I had to take the chance."

"So this is where she's been hiding out?" Mark asked, looking up at the club. "We're not supposed to be here. How'd you convince them to let you go?"

"I don't have a clan tattoo, remember? They couldn't prove I was a hunter." She stared at her father while saying that.

Mark sighed. "I wish you'd stop taking these risks."

"Dad," she asked, "why did you assign me the Banshee bounty? Mark had a much easier assignment for his initiation. For years no one has been able to capture her, not even the elite, and you thought a trainee could?"

Her father looked away, shaking his head at her.

She continued, "You hoped I'd give up, didn't you? Or did you hope that Banshee would kill me to get me off your hands?"

"Don't be absurd," he scoffed.

"Why do I always have to doubly prove myself to you?"

"Because of stunts like this, Josephine." He pointed out the club. "Do we have a situation there right now because of you? Do I have to negotiate peace because of your recklessness?"

Josie didn't get to reply as the door opened behind her, stealing everyone's attention.

"You!" Banshee stumbled out, wailing incomprehensibly, reminding everyone of the origins of her nickname. The wound in her chest was healed, leaving behind only a red mark and dried-up blood splatter.

The hunters pulled out their weapons. Her brother retrieved his favorite machete from the car.

Josie took it from him. "She's mine."

"Don't be ridiculous," he said.

"Let her," their father stopped him. "This is her initiation and her mess to clean up."

The others listened and stood with their weapons ready to go.

"You got this, Josie. Just like we trained," Mark encouraged.

Banshee stalked forward in a crooked gait. She lacked her usual grace and confidence but made up for it with her rabid expression. "You and your hair model ruined everything." Her voice was shaky and pitiful. "You ruined me!"

Josie secured her grip on the weapon. Under normal circumstances, she'd have no chance against an old vampire. Her only hope was that what Lailoken had done had weakened her enough to even out the match. Whatever she did, she had to be quick and decisive.

Banshee lunged forward, fangs bared. Years of training kicked in and muscle memory took over. Josie rolled on the ground and immediately turned, swinging her weapon at the neck level. Banshee didn't even get to scream. Her body crumpled to the ground while her head rolled away.

Josie stood there for a moment in disbelief, blood dripping from her blade, the wind caressing her flushed skin. Was it really over? Just like that? After years of hunting the vampire, had she finally done it?

Everyone stared in shock at first. Her brother was the first to react. "That's my Josie!"

Hoots and whistles followed, along with compliments and laughs. Josie felt an empty sense of victory. She was relieved that she'd finally gotten to finish what she started, but it wasn't as big of an accomplishment as the others thought. In fact, it was merciful to put the vampire out of her misery. She felt more like an executioner than a fighter.

Only her father wasn't celebrating. "You were supposed to capture her for the bounty!" he boomed, pointing out the severed head. "How are we supposed to explain this? This is a diplomatic nightmare."

"It was self-defense," she said, handing the weapon back to her brother.

Mark clapped her on the back. "Bloodsucker had it coming. She's broken the treaty many times over. In fact, The Red Den could be in trouble for sheltering her. Let's go home and celebrate. It's about damn time you got your tattoo."

She hugged him back, feeling exhausted. Her father still had a scowl on his face, as if he was disappointed that he had no excuse to exclude her from the clan anymore. Seeing his disapproval cemented her resolve. She didn't want to be a part of his clan. She was starting to doubt if she wanted to be a hunter at all, but she'd never considered being anything else. It was the only life she knew, and she hated it already.

She let her brother go and said, "Stay safe, Mark. I need to take care of something." She clapped him on the shoulder, gave everyone a wave, and started walking away.

"Where do you think you're going?" her father called after her.

"Wherever the wind takes me," she said without turning around. For the first time ever, she felt free. Without the failed initiation weighing her down she could be anyone and do anything with anyone she wanted. Even a vampire.

The question was if the vampire awaiting her at the moment was the one she should take on the journey of self-discovery with. Could she picture herself with someone whose morals were that gray?

She slowed down on her way to the van as another thought occurred to her. What exactly was going on between them? In some moments, it felt like Lailoken was clearly flirting with her, but in other moments, he felt cool and unaffected, like he had no expectations of their relationship at all. Was the attraction only one-sided? Was he even capable of love? She wished she had the same effect on him as he had on her. Perhaps she should try to flirt back. Perhaps she should test their chemistry...

She shook those thoughts off. Even if he felt the same, it was a risk to love a vampire. His world was bloody and dangerous, and he would pull her down to his level of questionable morals. She would bend her own rules and forget everything she once stood for. No man was worth becoming less than what she was, certainly not a vampire.