Eternal Huntress

Chapter 2

The man's footsteps faded into the distance, swallowed by the swell of music and the hum of conversation. I watched him until he disappeared into the crowd, my mind already shifting gears. The information he had given me was valuable, but it was only the beginning. There was more to uncover, more to understand before I could make my next move.

I rose from the table, my senses heightened, attuned to the energy of the room. The concert was winding down, the last song playing out to a crowd still eager for more. But I had no time for encores. There was work to be done.

As I slipped out of the venue, the cool night air greeted me like an old friend. London was alive with its usual nocturnal bustle—taxis whizzing by, people spilling out of pubs, laughter echoing down the narrow streets. But beneath the surface, the city had another rhythm, a darker pulse that only a few could feel.

I was one of those few.

The streets were my hunting ground, and tonight, I was after more than just a simple kill. Rogue vampires had been growing more reckless, more desperate, and that meant they were becoming more dangerous. They were no longer content to feed in the shadows—they were making themselves known, drawing attention that could jeopardize everything.

And that was something I could not allow.

As I walked, my boots clicking softly against the pavement, I reached into my coat and pulled out my phone. The device was a necessary evil, a link to the modern world that I had grudgingly accepted. A quick swipe, and I was scrolling through messages from my network of informants—humans and vampires alike who fed me information, whether they knew it or not.

One message stood out, a name that caught my eye: Samuel.

Samuel was an old contact, one who had proven reliable in the past. He had his ear to the ground in the vampire underworld, and if there was something brewing among the rogues, he would know. His message was brief, as always: Trouble in the East End. Meet me at the usual place.

The East End. Of course. It was always the East End.

I changed direction, heading towards the part of the city where the shadows were longest, and the danger was highest. The streets grew quieter as I moved further from the center, the noise of the nightlife fading into a distant memory. Here, the buildings were older, the alleys narrower, and the air carried the scent of something ancient and forgotten.

It didn't take long to reach the meeting spot—a small, nondescript pub tucked away in a back alley. The sign above the door was weathered, the paint peeling, but it was still legible: The Black Rose. It was a place where those who knew how to survive in this world gathered, where deals were made, and secrets traded.

I pushed open the door, stepping into the dimly lit interior. The smell of stale beer and cigarette smoke greeted me, along with the low murmur of voices. The patrons barely glanced up as I entered, their attention focused on their drinks or the quiet conversations happening in dark corners.

Samuel was easy to spot, sitting in a booth at the back, his hands wrapped around a pint of ale. He was a tall man, lean and wiry, with dark hair that was beginning to gray at the temples. His eyes, however, were as sharp as ever, a deep, penetrating blue that missed nothing.

I slid into the seat across from him without a word. He nodded in greeting, his expression grim.

"You got my message," he said, his voice low.

"I did," I replied. "What's happening?"

Samuel leaned forward, his gaze intense. "It's bad, Helena. Worse than I've seen in years. The rogues... they're organizing. Someone's pulling them together, giving them orders."

A chill ran down my spine, but I kept my face impassive. "Who?"

"That's the problem," he said, shaking his head. "No one knows. Whoever it is, they're staying hidden, but their influence is spreading. The East End is just the beginning. If we don't stop them now..."

He didn't need to finish the sentence. I understood the stakes all too well. If the rogues were uniting under a leader, it could mean war—open conflict between vampires that would spill into the human world. The chaos would be unimaginable.

"Do you have a lead?" I asked, already knowing the answer.

"Maybe," he said, and I caught the hesitation in his voice. "There's someone you need to talk to. A rogue who's been trying to leave the group. He's scared, Helena. Real scared."

"Where is he?"

Samuel took a deep breath. "He's hiding out in a warehouse by the docks. But be careful. He's not the only one there."

I nodded, slipping out of the booth. "Thanks, Samuel."

"Helena," he called after me, and I paused, turning back to him. His eyes were filled with concern. "Be careful. This feels different. More dangerous."

"I will," I promised, though we both knew it was a lie. Danger was a constant in my life, a shadow that followed me wherever I went. But I had never let it stop me before, and I wasn't about to start now.

The docks were a good distance away, but I made it there quickly, using shortcuts I had learned over decades of moving through this city. By the time I arrived, the moon was high, casting a silver light over the water and the rows of abandoned warehouses that lined the docks.

I could feel the tension in the air, the way the shadows seemed to press closer, as if they knew something was about to happen. I reached the warehouse Samuel had mentioned and paused, letting my senses extend, searching for any sign of life.

There it was—a faint heartbeat, quick and erratic. And another, slower, steadier. More than one.

I moved silently, slipping into the building through a broken window. The interior was dark, the only light coming from the moon filtering through cracks in the walls. I could see shapes moving in the gloom, hear the soft whispers of voices.

And then I heard it—a voice, low and pleading.

"Please, I don't want to be part of this anymore."

That had to be the rogue. I crept closer, staying in the shadows, until I could make out the figures ahead. Three of them. Two were standing, their postures menacing, while the third—a younger vampire, by the looks of him—was on his knees, his hands raised in surrender.

One of the standing vampires leaned down, grabbing the younger one by the collar. "You think you can just walk away? You know too much."

"I'll disappear," the rogue begged. "I won't tell anyone, I swear!"

The other vampire sneered. "Too late for that."

Before he could strike, I stepped out of the shadows, my voice cutting through the tension like a blade. "I wouldn't do that if I were you."

The vampires whirled around, their eyes widening in shock as they saw me. The one holding the rogue released him, his lips curling into a snarl.

"Who the hell are you?"

"Helena," I said simply, watching as recognition dawned in their eyes. The older vampire took a step back, fear flashing across his face.

"Helena..." he repeated, his voice trembling. "The hunter."

I smiled, but there was no warmth in it. "That's right. Now, why don't you tell me who sent you?"

The vampire hesitated, and in that moment, the rogue saw his chance. He bolted, darting past me towards the exit. I let him go—he wasn't the one I was after. The other two, however, weren't so lucky.

They lunged at me simultaneously, but I was ready. I moved with the speed and precision of someone who had been doing this for centuries. My blade flashed in the moonlight, and within moments, it was over. The bodies crumpled to the floor, lifeless, as I stood over them, my breath steady.

I wiped my blade clean and sheathed it, my mind already turning to the next step. The rogue had information, and I needed it. I could only hope he was still running—because I was very good at hunting, and he wouldn't get far.

The hunt was on.