THE HUNTMAN

Chapter 6 : Nate

Just after my outing with Jochen, if you can call it that, I heard a noise in April's room. Since the house is partially deserted, I grab my gun and point it in front of me. The door is open, a pencil holder and a dozen pens are moving throughout the room. I remove my pistol and then look around the room when I see a face that I haven't seen for a long time in the mirror that serves as a bookend.

"Ruby ?"

"Hello brother."

What is this shit? I take the mirror and go sit in the kitchen, I still have a hard time staying in April's room even if she is alive. I empty my pockets and smile.

"I was supposed to get you back by supplying April, but Blake changed the contract. I'm sorry, my god."

"I don't care, it wasn't even me who called you but your nephew. How are you ?"

A nephew ? But she is only twenty-five years old, I widen my eyes when a nightmarish image hits my mind.

"We don't care, how are you? Who is the father of your son? Why are you wet? Does Blake feed you well? Do you want me to bring you some things with the mirror?"

Ruby snickers, she's grown up so much, where has the girl who played with the doll gone? She gave way to a young woman with children. A tear runs down my cheek attracting the attention of Jochen who appears behind me.

"Be careful, there is a Titan behind you." She jokes.

"The Titan is back, how are you Ruby?"

"Pregnant, tired, disturbed but it's okay. I'm used to being here, in nine years I've seen some green and some unripe ones."

That's not reassuring, I'm going to get her out of there, that's my goal since I worked for Blake. Freeing my sister from the shit I put her in.

"Congratulations on the baby."

"This is the third, I had Sunny seven months ago and Light is two years old. I would have liked to introduce them to you but it was time for them to go home."

I signal Jochen to go back and put away the groceries while I abuse the bridge of my nose. I align the elements but always come to the same conclusion.

"These are Blake's children!"

"He is less violent when I am pregnant and he pays for the children's education. Don't make that face, Nate. Sometimes he is gentle, I don't like him, I even wanted to kill him but I preferred to help the princess."

"Princess ? Which princess?"

There aren't many princesses in the Seven Kingdoms, and even fewer close to the most monstrous hunter.

"April, Princess April. She's here, Blake has been chasing her all afternoon and early evening with her friends. I gave her a knife, she's good, really powerful."

April was seen by my sister, I widened my eyes imagining Soléne's cousin walking in the forest among the hunters with her throat cut. I want to taste her pink lips and touch her fine skin. I hope his throat has closed up, it's hard to get a hard-on thinking about the fact that I killed him. I clear my throat and grab a can of soda. I hydrate, crack my knuckles and my neck.

" Is she fine ?"

"I haven't asked her yet, but it seems okay. Do you know her ?

"He murdered her." Said Jochen, "he cut her throat. He likes her a lot and so do I."

"Blake wants to marry her."

"So he made you a child?"

"I'm the one, I will never marry a rich man and I have no desire to have a Blake in my life. He disgusts me, I almost feel nauseous when I see him, don't worry about me. Nate, I'm an adult."